By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Last week was a busy span of games, as the weather began to break around Illinois. The top of the Illinois Power 25 Team Rankings remained intact for the most part, while there were some significant risers and new teams who emerged.

A quick recap of the week that was:

+ Lincoln-Way North remained perfect and stays at the top spot after shutting out Lyons Township 3-0 last Wednesday. SIU-Edwardsville-bound RHP Mike Miller tossed a one-hit masterpiece at the Lions, who were the preseason No. 1 team. The Phoenix looks like they have the pitching depth and balanced lineup built for the long haul. On Tuesday North will receive another significant test when it hosts No. 4 Sandburg.

+ Providence (6-1), which won the WJOL Area Invite Tournament, moves up a spot to No. 2.

+ Mundelein is unquestionably the biggest surprise of the season so far. Ranked No. 47 in the preseason, the Mustangs are now No. 3 after they improved to 9-0. Coach Todd Parola’s club lacks the talent of other ranked teams, but they are well-disciplined and hard-nosed. Mundelein continued to add quality wins to its resume, too. On Saturday, the Mustangs blanked Rockton Hononegah, 1-0. Hononegah was ranked No. 13 in the preseason. Mundelein also easily handled Simeon the week before.

+ Sandburg moves to No. 4. The Eagles’ pitching has been lights out this spring behind junior RHPs Bryan Pall and Sean Leland. SS Austin Cangelosi (Indiana) and 2B David Cronin (UIC) provide a strong up-the-middle presence.

+ Rock Island Alleman (9-0) jumps eight spots to No. 6. The Pioneers look to be the favorite in Class 2A after their impressive doubleheader sweep of Moline on Saturday. They return the bulk of last year’s 2A runner-up squad, including Illinois-bound ace RHP Cody Sedlock.

+ Nazareth stayed perfect at 9-0 and moves into the top 10 at No. 8. The Roadrunners have the talent to claim their third consecutive Class 3A state trophy. Hard-throwing sophomore RHP Mike Kogut has added depth to their pitching staff, which is anchored by junior RHP Jake Bartels.

+ Class 2A power Teutopolis is again in the top 10 after the Wooden Shoes improved to 11-1. RHP Kyle Pruemer (Southern Illinois) and junior LHP/OF Bobby Wenthe are a formidable 1-2 duo. Teutopolis, now No. 9, is seeking its third 2A championship in four fours.

+ Lockport jumps 14 spots to No. 10 after the Porters crushed No. 11 St. Laurence on Saturday. The Porters (7-2) also took second place at the WJOL Area Invite.

+ Huntley moves up to No. 13 after improving to 8-0. The Red Raiders have the offense to hang with any team in the state.

+ Wheaton North (7-1) goes from unranked to No. 15. The defending DuPage Valley Conference champs continue to rack up quality wins.

+ Preseason No. 1 Lyons Township (5-3) dropped to No. 16 after splitting with Downers Grove North on Saturday. When RHP Keith Lehmann (3-0) pitches, the Lions seem unbeatable. Then again, the Lions had some rough patches last season, and wound up taking runner-up in 4A.

+ Glenbrook South (7-1) goes from unranked to No. 17. Dave Lindley, in his second stint as head coach at the Glenview school, has the team on a roll. Already the Titans have crushed defending champ Oak Park, and have accrued convincing quality wins so far.

+ No. 21 Jacobs is proving their summer run is no fluke. The Golden Eagles are 7-1 and have a senior-laden team that can challenge for the Fox Valley Conference title.

+ No. 22 Libertyville (6-1-1) was overlooked in the preseason, but not anymore. The Wildcats run-ruled Maine South last week.

+ Normal West and Metamora creep back into the top 25. Both teams’ records are 9-3.

+ Batavia is quietly knocking on the door at 8-0 this season.

A look at the Updated Top 25 Team Rankings