The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on April 12, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2021 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Illinois Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2021 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Lockport Township
Preseason Rank: No. 11
2019 Record: 22-15
Conference: Southwest Suburban - Blue
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Andy Satunas

TOP PLAYERS

STAT RAT

102.08 mph / 95.08 mph. The max exit velocity and average exit velocity for Victor Izquierdo from an event in October of 2020. The numbers validate what we have come to realize with Izquierdo, he features some of the best raw power in the state, regardless of class. Izquierdo will be looked upon as a key piece to the dangerous offense that the Porters should be able to put together on a day-in, day-out basis. 

UNDERCLASSMAN TO WATCH

2023 RHP/INF Anthony Martinez. Lockport is one of a handful of programs who seem to have a plethora of talent come through their doors year-in and year-out. With that being the case, there can be plenty of depth at the varsity level making it that much more difficult for an underclassman to crack a varsity roster. On this year's Porter team, one sophomore who has a chance to do so is RHP/INF Anthony Martinez. 

X-FACTOR

RHP CJ Byrdak. Byrdak, a junior and new face to the Porter squad, could prove to be its most important. Byrdak looks to be in line to take the ball during the most important games this spring and his ability to provide ace-like results could go a long way. the strength of this squad should be the impact bats throughout the lineup, so Byrdak will need to carry the load on the mound, and from what we have seen, he has the ability to do so. Byrdak is extremely polished and competitive, pounding the strike zone with all of his offerings and his velocity has been on the rise over the last year. Expect Byrdak to have a breakout junior season for the Porters and give them a chance to make some noise come playoff time.

CJ Byrdak (9/13/20)

OUTLOOK

The Porters should be as dangerous at the top and middle-of-the-order as anyone else in the state. The top three bats, SS Ryan Moerman (Illinois), INF Matt Santarelli (Western Illinois) and C/1B Victor Izquierdo (Navy) are all division I commits. Moerman is a four-year starter and possesses the hard-nose leadership qualities every team and coach is looking for. Izquierdo, as mentioned above has some of the best power in the state and has the ability to leave the yard at any times. Santarelli is a smooth defender with present bat speed at the plate and a strong arm that will see some innnings on the mound as well. Junior Lucas Pajeau will slot in somewhere around the three listed above and from what we have seen, has a chance to be a division I type ballplayer down the road as well. Pajeau is a dynamic athlete with tools to match. At this winter's Preseason All-State, Pajeau ran a 6.85 60, was 95 mph from the outfield and registered a peak exit velocity of 100 mph off the bat during BP. Pajeau swings with controlled, aggression, has feel for the barrel and stays balanced and fluid throughout. 

Lucas Pajeau (3/20/21)

OF/RHP Michael Hughes, C Joe Fiorillo and INF Riley Pfeiffer are three seniors who should help fill out the rest of this dangerous lineup. Hughes should also see plenty of time on the mound as well. Some other names on the roster who could be fighting for offensive roles throughout the spring as well are senior OF Ricky Pospisil and juniors C/OF Dawson Bochenek (Olney CC commit), C/INF/OF Griffin Brown, C/OF Matthew Merk and INF Arnoldo Valzquez Jr., among others.

Despite the offense being viewed as the strength of the team, the pitching staff should be able to do more than just hold its own. After the aforementioned Byrdak, the Porters will have a number of arms to hand the ball too. Seniors Joe Seiber, Michael Hughes, Ryan Moerman and Matt Santarelli all should be in line to get plenty of innings. Junior RHP David Zaragoza has made strong impressions in the early goings so far this spring and will be fighting a spot in the rotation. Sophomore Anthony Martinez, who was noted as a underclassman to watch is another prospect on the rise and has a chance to impact the team on the mound and at the plate. Some other arms to keep an eye on this spring should be Kyle Kevish, Joe Mondrella (Joliet JC commit), Mark Tor and Ryan Vander Tuuk.

BOTTOM LINE

The Porters should be able to score plenty of runs with a senior-laden, talented lineup. They have a balanced group up-and-down the lineup who should be able to put pressure on an opposing defense in a number of different ways. They have depth behind the plate and at a number of spots throughout the diamond. The key will be on the mound. If Coach Satunas can find the right combination of arms and navigate the plethora of two-way players this lineup will feature, there is no reason why the Porters shouldn't be a team to be reckoned with in June.

Make sure to follow @PBRIllinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2021 season.

Find more information on the 2021 Porters below:

+ Team Website

+ Team Schedule

+ Team Twitter

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN