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: O’Fallon
Preseason Rank: 29
2013 Record: 23-13
Conference: Southwestern
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Jason Portz
Playoff Run: Lost in first round (Granite City)
2013 Final Rank: Not Ranked
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS
Jeff Hahs, RHP/OF, 2014 (John A. Logan JC)
Colin Holton, MIF, 2014 (Southwestern Illinois College)
Tyler Herbert, RHP, 2014
Blake Deatherage, RHP/OF, 2014 (McKendree)
Bradley Harrison, OF/1B/LHP, 2016 (Southern Illinois)
Camden Bauer, 3B/SS, 2016
Bradley Snyder, 1B, 2016

X-FACTOR
Jeff Hahs. A two-way standout, Hahs has the potential to be the biggest impact player in the Southwestern Conference. The athletic 6-foot-4, 215-pounder batted .370 with 8 doubles, 3 homers, 35 RBI while going 4-1 with a 2.70 ERA. He pitches in the upper-80s, touching 90, and if he can throw consistent strikes, O’Fallon will be in very good shape.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Bradley Snyder, 1B, 2016

KEY PLAYERS LOST
Tanner Hudson, 3B (Heartland CC)
Ethan Wild, RHP (Oakton CC)
Brenndon Tindall (Kansas City CC)

STAT RAT
Three-year starting INF Colin Holton tallied 32 runs, 39 hits, batted .322 and had a .401 on-base percentage as a junior last year.

OUTLOOK
The Panthers have pitching depth and bring back 23 of their 35 games started from last year. While Hahs is the centerpiece and has game-breaking abilities, senior RHP Tyler Herbert will be the key to their ultimate success. Herbert posted a 1.95 ERA in 57.1 innings, going a tough-luck 4-5 as a junior. RHP Blake Deatherage went 6-1 last year, and look for junior RHP Chris Holba to contribute. Sophomore left-handed hitter Bradley Harrison, who’s already committed to Southern Illinois, was the first freshman starter in coach Jason Portz’s 12 years at the school. 3B/SS Camden Bauer and Bradley Snyder are two other impressive sophomore prospects to keep an eye on. Up and down the lineup, Portz said he should receive solid contributions.

BOTTOM LINE
O’Fallon’s program has been a model of consistency over the years. The Panthers have more pitching depth than they’ve had in recent years, which should make them the team to beat in the Southwestern Conference, slightly edging out Edwardsville, Alton and Belleville West. The way the playoffs set up in the St. Louis-metro area, the Panthers will likely see the same Southwestern Conference foes in regional play - which is a tough draw early in the playoffs.

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