The Illinois high school season kicks off on March 12th, the first day for regular season games.

Leading up to the opening week of games we will be rolling out team previews of high school teams all across the state and across all classifications, eventually launching our Preseason Power 25.

We will bring you a snapshot of what to expect along with top players and keys to success for that particular team.

Team: St. Charles North
Preseason Rank: 15
2017 Record: 30-5
Conference: Upstate Eight
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Todd Genke
Playoff Run: Lost 1-0 in Sectional Final
2017 Final Rank: 13
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 5

KEY PLAYERS LOST

Bennett Christiansen, RHP
Sam Faith, INF, (Missouri State)
Tim Hasto, INF/RHP (Wisconsin-Oshkosh)
Ryan Litavecz, RHP (Benedictine)
Tyler Mettetal, LHP/1B (Memphis)
Zach Mettetal, SS (Memphis)
Westin Muir, RHP (Wisconsin-Whitewater)
Jason Shanner, RHP (North Central)
Sean Krueger, C/OF
Raph Rhoades, OF
Anthony Delisi, INF

TOP PLAYERS

STAT RAT

95. That is the total number of wins for Coach Genke and the North Stars over the last three seasons. In 2015 St. Charles North went 32-5, in 2016 they went 33-7 including a third place finish in class 4A and last season they finished 30-5. With the way this perennial power reloads talent, one would think this trend will continue in 2018.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

OF Ryan Thiesse. It is unclear if this sophomore will get a shot at playing varsity this season due to the depth the North Stars have but he is certainly one to keep an eye on the near future. Thiesse recently showed well at this winter’s Underclass Invitational and has a combination of tools that should fit in at the varsity level. Thiesse plays the game with a high-level of energy and intelligence.

X-FACTOR

LHP/OF Steven Hamer. The senior Miami (OH) commit, was one of the top arms and also saw some time in the outfield last year. On the mound, the southpaw went 5-1 with a 1.53 ERA. In 32 innings he struck out 40 hitters and gave up 26 hits. The North Stars will need that kind of performance and more out of Hamer this year if they expect to win 30+ games. They will also need him to take a more expanded role offensively. The Stars lost a lot of offensive firepower from last year’s club and Hamer is one of many who will have to step in and produce.

Steven Hamer (6.15.17)

OUTLOOK

When looking at the amount of key players who graduated from last season’s 30-5 season it makes a 30+ win 2018 season seem like a daunting task. The offense losses three, three-year starters, in infielder Sam Faith (.468 BA, 8 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 41 RBI, 30 R), SS Zach Mettetal (.387 BA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 31 RBI, 34 R) and Tyler Mettetal (.359 BA, 10 2B, 3B, HR, 21 RBI, 31 R). They also loss a number of other key pieces to the offense and a few important arms from the 2017 squad. So 2018 should be a down year, correct? Don’t tell St. Charles North that.

The perennial power is ready to reload and not rebuild. They had a miniscule 1.36 ERA in 2017 and bring back a number of innings from last years staff. On paper they do not have a clear-cut ace like some of the other teams in the Power 25 but the North Stars should be able to have success by committee. They will be led by senior left-handers Steven Hamer, Nick Skurka and Erik Larson as well as right-hander Christian Erickson. All four arms had a sub 1.70 ERA last spring. Skurka and Hamer both through over 25 innings last year and should see that number increase this spring. Larson only through 12.1 innings last spring but made the most of his opportunities. He struck out 17, walked only one, allowed four hits and one earned run good for a 0.68 ERA. Coach Genke is also looking to get some innings out of junior RHP’s Tristan Cazel, John Hamer and LHP Ethan Laria.

The lineup will be the biggest question mark as there are important holes needed to be filled, especially on the infield. Three, three-year starters, who hit at the top and in the middle of the order are gone to graduation. Senior’s Tommy Nelsen (OF), Hamer (OF) and Sean Nemetz (Catcher) will be relied upon heavily offensively. The Stars will also need a crop of juniors; 1B Lucas Heflen, OF Michael Gattuso, John Hamer to help ease the pain of the big bats no longer around. Who fills the spots across the infield remains to be seen but the junior class will be relied upon heavily to do so along with seniors RHP/INF Christian Erickson and 3B Ryan Piontek who should compete for time. That junior class did go 28-4 last season at the sophomore level, so they should have the talent to compete and help out right away.

BOTTOM LINE

Find more information on the 2018 Stars below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ Gamechanger
+ Twitter

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

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN