By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Follow @PBRIllinois

The Illinois high school season kicks off on March 13, the first day for regular season games.

Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, 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 have been sending out our annual Preseason Questionnaire to coaches all across the state and as the responses flood in we will bring you a snapshot of what to expect along with top players and keys to success for that particular team.

Team: Huntley
Preseason Rank: 17
2016 Record: 25-15
Conference: Fox Valley Conference (Valley)
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Andy Jakubowski
Playoff Run: Lost in Super-Sectional
2016 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 8

Top Players

KEY PLAYERs LOST
RHP Patrick Sexton, (Oakton CC) 
2B Trevor Ranallo (JC of Lake County)
INF Charlie Nugent

X-FACTORs/stat rats
INF Jeff Heinrich and C Joe Rizzo are two senior leaders who will be counted on to lead the way offensively for the Red Raiders.  Last season, Heinrich hit .461 with 10 doubles, three triples, 32 runs scored, 21 runs batted in and 23 stolen bases. Heinrich, a McHenry County College recruit, is an athletic, toosly infielder (runs a 6.73 60, 96 mph exit velocity). In 2016, Rizzo, a North Central College commit, hit .402 with six doubles, one home run and 36 runs batted in.  Rizzo also has a strong arm behind the plate, clocked at 80 mph from the crouch.

Joe Rizzo (8.9.16)

 

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
RHP Keegan Garcelon (2018). The 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-handed pitches in the low-to-mid 80’s with a solid three-pitch mix. Yet another quality arm that Coach Jakubowski will have at his disposal.

OUTLOOK
The Red Raiders have one of the deepest and most complete teams in the state. Although they don’t have any top-end, high-level recruits, they return their top eight pitchers from last season and six starting position players. We are picking the Red Raiders to win the loaded Fox Valley conference this season and will have plenty of quality depth come playoff time. There are already nine players committed to play at the next level on the roster with more surely to come. The offense will be led by Heinrich and Rizzo who both hit over .400 as juniors. Offensively, they have athletes who will look to play small ball and put pressure on the opposing defense. On the mound they are as deep as anyone in the state. LHP’s Adam Smylie (2017), Noah Konie (2017), Brad Model (2017), and Kyle Morgan (2018) should all see innings. The RHP’s set to contribute are Nick Laxner (2018), Cameron Reed (2017), Logan DeWulf (2017),  Cole Raines (2017), Ethan Sund (2017) and Keegan Garcelon (2018).

Coach's Comment 
“We have always prided ourselves on pitching and defense as a program.  We have a deep pitching staff as well as having a strong defensive unit.  This team is full of character guys who are unselfish, and the expectation is to go further than the 2016 team. We are going to push ourselves to get better 1% each day and play our best baseball at the end of the season. We are very excited about this team and the possibilities that they can attain.”

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

preseason countdown