By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the top 75 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage: 

Team: Huntley
Preseason Rank: 18
2013 Record: 25-7
Conference: Fox Valley - Valley Division
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Andy Jakubowski
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Championship (Dundee-Crown)
2013 Final Rank: Not Ranked (ranked in Top 25 for much of the season)

Returning Starters: 3
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS
Mark Skonieczny, C/OF, 2014 (Illinois)
Eric Luecht, RHP, 2014 (Lewis)
Nick Constantino, RHP, 2014 (Drury University)
Matt Sullivan, SS, 2014 (Chicago State)
Troy Cantu, 2B, 2014 (Illinois-Springfield)
Tommy Kiriakopolus, 1B, 2014
Adam Kalish, RHP, 2014
Mason Martin, P, 2014 (St. Francis)

X-FACTOR
Eric Luecht. The right-hander will need to pick up where he left off last season as a junior, when he posted a 7-3 record with a 2.17 ERA.

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Matt Blain, RHP/C/OF, 2015
Bobby Hecker, 3B, 2015

KEY PLAYERS LOST
Colin Lyman, OF (Louisville)
Bryce Only, 3B/RHP (Nebraska)

STAT RAT
Mark Skonieczny batted .432 with 43 runs, 11 doubles, 7 homers, 36 RBI and 12 stolen bases as a junior.

OUTLOOK
After being ranked in the Top 25 for much of the season last year, the Red Raiders’ season ended with a relative thud, losing in regional play. Although they graduated some high-level prospects, coach Andy Jakubowski has another talented, senior-laden squad, one that features pitching depth and some key positional players. Huntley proved its mettle over the summer when it advanced to the IHSBCA summer state Elite Eight. It returns 13 wins on the mound, seven of which comes from Luecht. Skonieczny, an Illinois recruit, is an offensive force, one that features power and speed. Huntley should be particularly strong up the middle with the return of Sullivan (.393 BA, 7 doubles, 3 HR, 23 RBI) and Cantu.

BOTTOM LINE
If the Red Raiders play as they did during the summer playoffs, then they should be in for another stellar regular season, and should be the favorite to win the Fox Valley Division title. But to avoid a postseason collapse, they will need need some of their more untested arms to step up behind Luecht.

Make sure you follow @PBRillinois on Twitter for complete Illinois high school baseball coverage throughout the season.

Season Countdown

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2015 Player Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule