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: Chatham-Glenwood
Preseason Rank: 21
2017 Record: 24-10
Conference: Central State Eight
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Pat Moomey
Playoff Run: Sectional Finals
2017 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 5

KEY PLAYERS LOST

Karson Aherin, LHP (Lindenwood, MO)
Reid Detmers, LHP (Louisville)
Jacob Ryan, C (Case Western)

TOP PLAYERS

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

One Detmers leaves and the other enters. LHP Reid Detmers, Illinois’ top-ranked recruit last spring, graduated and was drafted in the 32nd round of the MLB Draft before deciding to opt for college ball instead at Louisville. Reid’s brother and sophomore RHP Drew Detmers emerged at an event this fall and winter as a 2020 to watch moving forward. It’s not known how much of an impact he’ll make on varsity this spring, given how deep the 2018 Glenwood pitching staff is, but he certainly has the talent to keep an eye on regardless. His arm works fast and live and this winter he ran his fastball up to 86 mph. Below is a video from that event.

Drew Detmers (2.18.18)

X-FACTOR

The rotation is rock solid, but it always helps to have someone like junior RHP Evan Rightnowar in the ranks. Rightnowar attended our Preseason All-State event in February and turned heads with his out-of-nowhere 89 mph fastball. His secondary offerings look more than capable to keep hitters off the fastball as well. If he can consistently pound the zone and harness his three-pitch mix, Glenwood with have another upper-80s arm to pair with Jacob Maton (Coastal Carolina). What his role will be this spring is to be decided, but it must be nice to know that, even after Maton graduates, Glenwood still has highly competitive arms waiting on deck.

OUTLOOK

It’s going to be tough to recreate the Mike Tyson-like one-two punch Chatham-Glenwood had atop its rotation in 2017 that featured the since-graduated Reid Detmers (who’s roughly 15 innings into his collegiate career at Louisville) and this year’s senior ace Jacob Maton (Coastal Carolina commit). Having Maton back is enormously important for the Titans. He’s currently the top-ranked right-handed pitcher (No. 3 overall) on our board in Illinois because of his low-90s fastball, sharp, late-action slider, and an advanced changeup. He’s stirring some genuine MLB Draft interest, so this spring is going to be important for him.

Maton alone is going to make Glenwood a tough out once the postseason rolls around, provided the Titans get there again. In last May’s sectional semi-final game against Effingham, he struck out 12 batters in a complete game shutout.

Despite the loss of Detmers, this team’s biggest strength remains its pitching. Maton will be joined on staff by fellow seniors Kyle Werries and Graham Bender. Both Werries and Bender are committed to Lincoln Land Community College and help out the rotation as well as the left side of the infield -- Werries is the team’s third baseman and Bender is slated to spend some time at shortstop. Maton is a fully capable hitter, too, actually. Another reliable arm Coach Moomey can turn to is junior RHP Gavin Wahlbrink. Wahlbrink was the fourth most used arm as a sophomore last season and during the regular season got the victory against Edwardsville, who went on to finish runner-up in class 4A. Wahlbrink works from a 3/4 slot, pitches in the low 80's and has above-average feel for his three-pitch mix.

It’s useful to mention the rotation’s ability at the plate because it remains to be seen how many runs this team is going to be able to score, so they’re going to take the offense wherever they can get it. Senior Todd Fowler (Delta State) should be able to supply more than his share of offense. He hit a three-run homer in last year’s sectional semis to help push them through that day. His contributions from the batter’s box will be heavily relied upon this spring. He’ll be joined by senior Cole Hembrough in the outfield, who should lighten the load a bit.

This junior class is critical to the success of the team, too. Whether it’s C Jalen Ping, INF Nolan Rooney, or OF Adam Holm, head coach Pat Moomey will be inserting them into his lineup where they’ll reinforce the seemingly never-ending army of quality arms on the mound.

BOTTOM LINE

With its postseason hopes in the hands of so many of its seniors, including its ace Maton, the 2018 season is in secure, experienced arms. The staff is mostly locked in and each gameday will start someone capable of suppressing that day’s opposition and, most importantly, gets to pencil in one of the state’s fiercest righties for its biggest games. A rotation like this can carry any team to a deep playoff run and especially when it’s captained by a bonafide No. 1.

But the distance the Titans are able to go this season will ultimately be decided by its offense. Fowler and Hembrough are probably going to be lineup mainstays and will stir the offense just enough to take some of the pressure off its staff. If they’re able to lead things, while getting some key hits here and there from some juniors, good things are coming to Glenwood.

Find more information on the 2018 Titans 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