By Drake Skleba
Senior Writer

The 10th season of The Prep Baseball Report’s extensive coverage of Illinois high school baseball began on Monday, March 17. The season will end in Joliet at Silver Cross Field on Saturday, June 14, with the crowning of the 2014 Class 4A State Champion. In between, there will be numerous monster matchups throughout the state. Huge crowds, MLB scouts with their radar guns, and the media out in full force. Hopefully sunny, blue skies and 70-degree temps will be present, too, though not likely.
Here are a number of must-see showdowns I foresee coming to fruition this spring.

Wednesday March 26 - CUBE
No. 44 Simeon at No.4 St. Rita 4:15
Arizona-bound  LHP/OF Darius Day leads the Chicago Public School League defending champion Wolverines to 7740 South Western Avenue to meet the mighty Mustangs.The Wolverines will look to hard-throwing junior RHP Jamary McKinney to provide quality innings on the mound. De La Salle-transfer junior IF Jalin McMillan (Illinois) adds another quality bat to the Wolverine line-up.St. Rita made it a Chicago Catholic League Blue Division sweep in July winning the 2013 IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer State Championship defeating Lyons Township. The Mustangs are led by Austin Peay-bound LHP Mike Costanzo and Notre Dame-bound RHP Jake Shepski. Shepski took home the 2013 Jack Kaiser Most Valuable Player Award and Costanzo was All-Tournament in leading the Mustangs to their third IHSBCA Lawler Summer crown.Tennessee-recruit junior 3B Tyler Halas (IHSBCA All-Tournament) provides power in the Mustang powerhouse lineup.I will have the call on  this South-Side Chicago battle LIVE at www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com.  

Thursday March 27-  CUBE
No. 3 Joliet Catholic Academy at No. 11 Lincoln-Way North 4:30
The defending Class 3A state champion Hilltoppers travel to Frankfort to battle with the Phoenix and Purdue-recruit junior LHP Kyle Ostrowski. Ostrowski is currently ranked No. 5 in the Class of 2015. Marian Catholic-transfer David Calderon (RHP/IF provides another quality arm in the Phoenix arsenal and Richmond-bound DJ Lee provides some pop in the lineup.The Hilltoppers will answer with the No. 2-ranked junior in the Class of 2015 RHP/C Nick Dalesandro. The multi-talented RHP Dalesandro who features an upper-80s fastball on the mound also is one top catchers and centerfielders in the state. Dalesandro  and Ostrowski will be teammates in West Lafayette at Purdue in two years.The No. 2-ranked sophomore in the state 6-foot-5 RHP Drake Fellows (Vanderbilt-recruit) adds another monster arm for an already loaded Hilltopper rotation.

You can watch this Will County showdown LIVE at www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com.
I will be behind the mic in Frankfort for this Will County battle.

Thursday March 27
No. 21 Minooka at No. 13 Batavia 4:30
Defending Southwest Suburban Prairie Conference champion Minooka travels to the Fox River to face the powerful Bulldogs of Batavia in a battle of state-ranked teams. ISU-bound RHP Mitch Vogrin and Lewis University-bound SS Neal Tyrell lead the Indians. Batavia is led by Minnesota-bound IF Micah Coffey. Coffey, an All-Area QB for the Bulldog football team this fall, will be joined by the hard-hitting Indiana-bound OF Laren Eustace. Western Michigan-bound LHP Jake Piechota anchors the Upstate 8 Conference River-Division favorites pitching staff.  

Monday March 31 CUBE
No. 15 Metamora at  No.4 Joliet Catholic Academy 4:30
The Peoria-area Redbirds of Metamora  invade Gordie Gillespie Stadium to take on the defending Class 3A Champs in Joliet. Metamora is led by Arizona-recruit junior RHP PBR 2013 All-Stater Trent Johnson.The future Wildcat dominates on the mound and is one of the best power hitters in  the state. Kansas State-bound Ethan Skender hit .548 for the Mid-Illini Conference  co-champion Redbirds in 2013. Sophomore LHP Geremey Guerrero had a superb freshman season going 9-1 with a 1.90 ERA.

Joliet Catholic’s Palm Beach Atlantic-bound Kyle Polaski will serve as a solid No. 3 behind Dalesandro and Fellows in a solid JCA pitching rotation. You can watch this match-up LIVE @ www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com I will be at Gillespie Field on the call of this battle between the  Class 3A favorites  

Tuesday April 1 CUBE
3rd Annual Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament
First Round
No. 8 Lemont vs. No.1 Mount Carmel at Silver Cross Field Joliet 4
The defending Class 4A State Champion No. 1 Mount Carmel are led on the mound by Penn State-bound LHP Marko Boricich. Boricich led the Caravan to the Class 7A State Football Championship in November as their quarterback.Juniors Josh Stowers (Louisville recruit) and Ako Thomas (Michigan recruit) provide pop and speed to the Caravan lineup.

LSU-bound batterymates, LHP Jake Latz and C Mike Papierski lead the Indian attack in this First Round battle in the tournament that honors the memory of Mount Carmel’s-own Steve Bajenski (1992-2009). Joliet Catholic Academy defeated Mount Carmel to take home “Stevie’s Cup” in 2013. Watch the game LIVE @ www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com. I will have the call on this first-round battle of the Do it Stevie’s Tournament in Joliet.

No. 5 Oak Park at No. 2 St. Laurence 4:30
Tuesday April 1
The defending West Suburban Silver champion Huskies have a loaded pitching staff, which should make for a stellar matchup in this battle of top 5-ranked clubs. St. Laurence is led by RHP Mike Kornacker (Purdue) and RHP Brad Wood (NIU). Austin Peay-bound TJ Marik is one of the top catchers in the state for the defending Chicago Catholic League Blue Division champs.  

Thursday April 3 & 5 CUBE
10th Annual WJOL/Don Ladas Area Invitational
Tournament Director Scott Slocum has put together another 8-school Will County extravaganza which concludes on the 5th at Silver Cross Field. The home of the Joliet Slammers, which will also be host once again to the IHSA Class 3A/4A State Finals on June 13-14, will be rockin’ as No. 3 Joliet Catholic Academy and No.10 Providence headline the 10th edition of Will County-mania. No. 20 Plainfield South, No. 21 Minooka, No. 32 Lockport, Joliet West, Joliet Central and Plainfield Central make-up the rest of the field.

Providence won the tournament in 2013. No.1 2014 RHP Jake Godfrey (Notre Dame) will lead the Celtics in search of their fourth WJOL crown. The tournament honors the memory of WJOL legendary broadcaster Don Ladas. Ladas broadcasted Joliet-area sports on WJOL for over 50 years. Don passed away last month.

You can watch WJOL/Ladas Tournament action LIVE @ www.prepbaseballreport.highschoolcube.com  

No. 6 Libertyville vs. No.44 Stevenson
Tuesday April 8 at Libertyville; Wednesday April 9 at Stevenson
The North Suburban Conference Lake Division bitter-rivals meet in a huge early-season NSC-Lake series in Libertyville on Tuesday. The rematch will occur in Lincolnshire on Wednesday. Three-sport athlete junior Willie Bourbon leads the Patriots of Stevenson into Libertyville to face the defending Class 4A runner-ups from Libertyville. Harvard-bound OF Austin Black provides pop for the Patriot attack.

No. 3 in the Class of 2014, TCU-bound Libertyville C Evan Skoug returns in 2014 for his senior year. In 2013 Skoug garnered PBR All-State honors in leading the Wildcats to a second place finish in Class 4A falling to Mount Carmel 2-1 in the state championship finale. Junior SS Jimmy Govern is a vacuum cleaner at SS and hit .374 in 2013. Senior RHP Jeff Barton and junior LHP Mitch Townsend will anchor the Wildcat pitching staff.

No. 5 Oak Park-River Forest vs. No. 19 Lyons Township
Friday April 11, Saturday April 12 & Monday April 14
The two West Suburban Conference Silver Division bitter-rivals meet early in a crucial WSC-Silver three-game set beginning on Friday in Western Springs. The two clubs will return to Western Springs for an ACT Saturday 2 p.m. start. Oak Park will host game three of the series at 4:30 on Monday. In 2012 the two clubs met in the Class 4A State Championship Game at Silver Cross. In one of the best State Championship Games in IHSA history OPRF edged LT 4-3.
Lyons Township finished runner-up at the IHSBCA Phil Lawler Summer State Tournament.

No. 29 O’Fallon vs. No. 47 Edwardsville
Tuesday April 15 @ O’Fallon  & Thursday May 15 @ Edwardsville
The two Southwestern Conference powerhouses will probably decide the SWC title in this series although defending SWC champion No. 60 Belleville West will have something to say about it. Logan C.C-bound Jeff Hahs RHP/OF leads O’Fallon, who had their three-year reign as SWC champion ended by West. Blazier Park in O’Fallon and Tom Pile Stadium in Edwardsville are two of the most outstanding high school baseball facilities in the state. Great Baseball and great venues.

No. 24 Benet Academy at No. 14 Carmel
Saturday April 19 Doubleheader 10
A huge East Suburban Catholic Conference twin-bill between the two clubs who shared the ESCC title in 2013.The host Corsairs are led by batterymates, future Fighting Illini RHP Quintin Sefcik and Bradley-bound C Ian Kristan. Cal Coughlin RHP/3B, the top sophomore in the state of Illinois will add 92 mph-heat to an already deep Corsair pitching staff.  

Bradley-bound SS Chris Whelan and NIU-bound 3B Joe Boyle lead the defending ESCC Co-Champ Redwings. Dartmouth-bound RHP Pat Peterson is the ace of the Redwings staff.

Tuesday April 22 & Wednesday April 23
No. 8 Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin vs. No. 22 Chatham Glenwood
Once again, this series will have a major impact in determining the 2014 Central State 8 Conference champion. On Tuesday, Indiana-bound RHP Brian Hobbie,LHP Konnor Aherin and SS Nick Maton, will lead the Glenwood Titans to the Capital City to battle SHG.

On Wednesday, Louisville-bound C Mitch Trees, Notre Dame-bound SS Cole Daily and Belmont-bound Connor Etheridge will lead the SHG Cyclones into South Park in Chatham for a 4:30 battle with the Titans. The two clubs will be favored to meet a third time for the Class 3A regional crown on May 31.

No. 20 Plainfield South vs. No. 21 Minooka
Tuesday- Thursday April 22-24 4:15
The Southwest Suburban  Prairie Conference is loaded in 2014 and the two favorites meet in a crucial late-April series. Last season Minooka’s late-season surge roared past Plainfield South to claim the 2013 SWSC crown. Minooka had a super-summer, advancing to the Elite 8 of the Phil Lawler Summer State Tournament. Senior batterymates RHP Trevor Maly and C Tyler Desmarais were key contributors to the Indians summer drive.

Pitching is the main word to describe the 2014 Plainfield South Cougars. Led by Ball State-bound LHP Trevor Henderson and Iowa-recruit junior RHP Shane Ritter, the Cougars have a dominant 1-2. Tuesday and Thursday the two rivals will square off in Minooka. On Wednesday they will play in Plainfield.

No. 1 Mount Carmel vs. No. 2 St. Laurence 
Wednesday April 30 CUBE STL Sports Network & Saturday May 3
With five of the top 19 schools in the state residing in the Chicago Catholic League Blue Division, we could have listed the entire CCL Blue schedule as must-see games. Head out to Viking Field in  Burbank on Wednesday and see the colossal battle between the state’s top-ranked teams. The defending state champions from Mount Carmel vs. defending CCL Blue champion St. Laurence. The two teams move on to a Saturday morning affair at Haggerty Field at 11 on the Mount Carmel campus.

No.11 Lincoln-Way North vs. No. 12 Lincoln-Way West
Thursday May 8 & Monday May 12 4:30
The powerful Southwest Suburban Conference Red Division champion will emerge  from this crucial series between district rivals, although No. 42 Lincoln-Way Central may have something to say about that. No. 42 Lincoln-Way Central will host North in New Lenox on the 19th and then close out the regular season in Frankfort on the 22nd against the Phoenix.  

No. 15 Metamora vs. No. 74 Bartonville Limestone
Monday May 19 & Wednesday May 21
The 2013 Mid-Illini Conference defending co-champions square off in Bartonville at 4:15 on Monday, in what we predict will be a conference championship series. The two powerhouse Peoria-area clubs will close out the regular season in Metamora at 7 on Wednesday night.

Limestone is led by Concordia-bound SS Cody Rupp and RHP Adam Schmitt. Arizona-bound Trent Johnson and Kansas State-bound OF/IF Ethan Skender lead the  Redbirds. As in 2013 come over and say hi to PBR Executive Director Sean Duncan.

3rd Annual Steven M. Bajenski Memorial Tournament
May 22-24 Standard Bank Stadium-Crestwood; Silver Cross Stadium-Joliet; Benedictine University-Lisle and Wheaton College-Wheaton
The 3rd Annual monster post-season 12-team tournament concludes from the 22nd-24th with the Championship Game  to be played at Standard Bank Stadium in Crestwood on Saturday night at 7:30.The product of Tournament Director Mark  Bajanski, the tournament honors the memory of Mark’s beloved son Steven (1992-2009). “Do it Stevie’s Way” is the slogan for the tournament that celebrates the life of Steven Bajenski. Joliet Catholic Academy took home The Cup back to Larkin Avenue in Joliet .The Hilltoppers used the tournament championship as a  springboard for their 2013 Class 3A State Championship they won three weeks later at Silver Cross.

Defending champ No. 4 JCA is joined by defending Class 4A State Champion No.1 Mount Carmel, No.2 St. Laurence, No. 3 St.Rita, No. 5 Oak Park-River Forest, No. 8 Lemont,No. 10 Providence, No.11 Lincoln-Way North, No.19 Brother Rice, No. 23 Peoria Notre Dame, No. 31 New Trier and Marian Catholic. Seven of the Top 11 schools in the state all in one tournament.

If you can’t be there you can watch alll of the action LIVE at www.highschoolcube.com . The Guru will have all of the action of one of the premier high school baseball tournaments in the Midwest.

Season Countdown

+ Daily Game Schedule Page

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2016 Player Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2015 Player Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule