Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 4 St. Laurence


By Andy Sroka
Staff Writer

The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 11, 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 2019 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 2019 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: St. Laurence
Preseason Rank: 4
2018 Record: 30-8
Conference: Chicago Catholic League (Blue)
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Pete Lotus
Playoff Run: Sectional Semifinal
2018 Final Rank: 10
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS

Name State School Class Pos Commitment

Matt McCormick

IL

St. Laurence

2019

C

West Virginia

Jake Vera

IL

St. Laurence

2019

OF


Matt Dornbos

IL

St. Laurence

2019

INF


Ryan McGrath

IL

St. Laurence

2019

LHP

South Suburban JC

Ryan Cummings

IL

St. Laurence

2019

INF


Max Engstrom

IL

St. Laurence

2019

LHP


Tyler Berg

IL

St. Laurence

2019

RHP


Matt Zahora

IL

St. Laurence

2020

3B/C/RHP


Luke Montgomery

IL

St. Laurence

2020

OF/LHP


Alex Gasbarro

IL

St. Laurence

2020

INF


Marc Babicz

IL

St. Laurence

2020

OF


Chris Seropian

IL

St. Laurence

2020

LHP/OF


Cole Anderson

IL

St. Laurence

2020

LHP


Edwin Alvarez

IL

St. Laurence

2020

1B


Vytas Valincius

IL

St. Laurence

2021

3B/1B/RHP

South Carolina


KEY PLAYERS LOST

Zach Verta, OF/1B/RHP (Calumet-St. Joseph’s)
Justin Rios, OF/LHP (North Central College)
Gage Olszak, 1B/RHP (Saint Xavier)
Nick Heiden, RHP (Webster)
Joe Hincks, OF/LHP
Nick Kolasa, RHP

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Up 44 spots in our most recent update to the state’s Class of 2020 rankings, two-way prospect Chris Seropian is in a unique position to help his high school team on both sides of the ball this spring. The left/left junior is a top-75-ranked prospect because he knows how to pitch. He was at last month’s Preseason All-State event where he worked in the low 80s, but showed feel for the strike zone and an ability to command his offspeed – a 12/6 breaking ball and a fading changeup.

On a staff lacking a go-to option, one that will be relying on juniors like Seropian to take steps forward in 2019, he has the chance to provide the Vikings with the consistent ability to keep any ballgame within reach while its machine-like offense goes to work. The feel he has for his repertoire is what can help him lift St. Laurence far in the team’s first season at the 3A level.

Seropian might also be a factor in the outfield and in the batter’s box, too. After graduating two of 2018’s starting outfielders, there are innings up for grabs, and the left/left prospect has the athleticism to fill a spot if needed.

Chris Seropian (2.10.19)


X-FACTOR

Presently the state’s top-ranked sophomore, Vytas Valincius has only really solidified his position as one of the nation’s best hitters, since St. Laurence’s season ended. Over that time, Valincius has committed to South Carolina and has become the No. 24-ranked prospect in the country, according to PBR’s national team. His elite arm strength plays will play on the mound in some capacity for St. Laurence, but his carrying tool is his imposing right-handed bat.

He’s a big 6-foot-3, 240-pound third baseman, but you’d think with that kind of size and that kind of bat strength (107 mph exit velocity) that Valincius would swing violently, with over-the-fence contact in mind – but that's not the case. He’s an impressive hitter in all facets and swings a forceful, but mostly effortless, bat that helps him find gaps as well as run into his fair share of home runs.

The sophomore has been up to 87 mph in the past in front of our staff on the mound, but given his size and brute strength, there’s definitely more in there. An injury prevented him from getting a full dose of varsity baseball last spring, but he’s going to be one of this team’s best run producers in a lineup full of established and experienced hitters.

Vytas Valincius (2.17.19)


OUTLOOK

Back-to-back 30-win seasons, a high school tournament title in Arizona, a Chicago Catholic League Blue championship, and a sectional semifinals appearance, the St. Laurence Vikings are going to look very similar to the team that has been hard at work decorating its trophy cases over the past couple of springs. They graduated three of their everyday bats – Zach Verta, Justin Rios, Gage Olszak – and all three were named to the all-conference team. While their absence from the order will be missed, the Vikings are absolutely fit to absorb those losses with their exceptional 2020 class, reinforced by one of the best seniors in the state: Matt McCormick.

McCormick is the reigning PBR Illinois Player of the Year, after putting up a ridiculous statistical campaign in arguably the state’s toughest conference, for one of the state’s best teams in 2018. The West Virginia-bound backstop hit .510 last spring and compiled an on-base percentage of .657. He also hit nine homers, tallied 17 doubles, and struck out just twice all year. His return to the middle of this lineup is paramount to the success St. Laurence has in 2019.

Encircling McCormick in the everyday lineup will no longer be Verta, Rios, and Olszak, instead senior Jake Vera should return to a spot near the top of the order. The uncommitted outfielder has an easy left-handed swing, geared for contact, and is the perfect piece to set the table ahead of McCormick – and he already has experience doing so. Fellow seniors Matt Dornbos and Ryan Cummings should make an impact as well, especially Dornbos, who saw plenty of action as a junior last spring.

Going back to this 2020 class, there are a number of incoming juniors who are set to ensure the 2018 grads are sufficiently replaced and the holes they left in this everyday lineup are filled and solidified. We already outlined what Seropian’s two-way production means to the Vikings, but the juniors in the dugout are deep.

Infielder Alex Gasbarro and outfielder Luke Montgomery both started St. Laurence’s sectional semifinals game against Mount Carmel as sophomores at the end of last May, and the two can be relied on again in 2019. Matt Zahora is a versatile piece for head coach Pete Lotus – he can cover the hot corner, relieve McCormick from behind the plate, or even come out of the bullpen for St. Laurence this spring. He was a trusted piece out of the bullpen last spring and after a quality summer for coach Lotus, do not be surprised if his role will be greatly expanded in his junior season. Marc Babicz is another name that could compete for a job in the outfield with Verta and Rios graduating. 

The pitching staff, while lacking a prototypical ace, is full of quality arms and dependable starters and the junior class will lift their weight (and then some) in this area, too. Seropian and Cole Anderson are the two lefty juniors who will likely support incumbent No. 1 starter and senior Max Engstrom, the third southpaw on this staff. Anderson was at last month’s Preseason All-State event, where he worked in the low 80s with a late-running fastball, complemented by enough offspeed that will help him compete on varsity. Montgomery, yet another lefty, should be able to pick up some innings as well. Senior righties Ryan McGrath and Tyler Berg should round out this rotation, in some form. Valincius is also more than capable of throwing quality innings for the Vikings if needed. 

And maybe the most notable storyline to follow in Burbank this spring will be the team’s adjustment to its 3A re-classification come the postseason. While their rigorous conference schedule will remain the same, the Vikings will realistically have a different path to Joliet than what they’re traditionally used to. Obviously, there are loaded teams throughout each of the four IHSA classes, but St. Laurence might be at a slight advantage in May, having been accustomed to the level of competition of the 4A programs that reside in the Chicagoland area.

BOTTOM LINE

Regardless of classification, St. Laurence is returning most of its lineup from a record-setting offense  a season ago. The Vikings have among the most potent batting orders in the state, led by one of the best players in Illinois, fortified by one of the Midwest’s best sophomores.

While St. Laurence’s pitching rotation is leaning on the development and progression of its juniors on staff, they have the quality in their arms to at least allow for their robust offense to smash its way to wins. Lotus’ 2019 edition of the Vikings looks like it’s capable of recording another 30-plus-win spring and is primed for a shot at a 3A state title as both a newcomer to the class, and a preseason favorite.

Make sure to follow @PBRIllinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2019 season.

Find more information on the 2019 Vikings below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ GameChanger
+ Team Twitter

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN