By Sean Duncan
Executive Director 

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 50 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Team: Normal West
Preseason Rank: 39
2014 Record: 21-15
Conference: Big 12
IHSA Class:  4A
Head Coach: Chris Hawkins
2014 Final Rank: Not Ranked 
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Reid Birlingmair, SS/RHP, 2015 (Illinois-Chicago)
Mitch Fairfield, C, 2016 (Southern Illinois)
Arion Worthman, 3B, 2015
Dante Ruffin, 2B, 2016
Nick Bronson, RHP, 2015
Cody Rogers, OF, 2015
Evan Mucciolo, OF, 2015

X-FACTOR
Reid Birlingmair. The two-way talent will be relied on heavily, both as the team’s starting shortstop and as the No. 1 pitcher. The athletic UIC recruit batted .363 with 29 runs, 23 RBI and 8 doubles as a junior.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Arion Worthman. A transfer from Normal U-High, Worthman is a top-level athlete and standout football player.

KEY PLAYERS LOST
1B Reed Rogers (Heartland CC)
OF Ryan Frye (Evangel)

STAT RAT
Last year was the first time in four years the Wildcats did not win at least 30 games.

OUTLOOK
With the exception of last season, the Wildcats have been a mainstay in the Top 25 for nearly a decade. No matter the talent level, coach Chris Hawkins always puts a winning team on the field. Normal West returns seven starters from last year, and features good team speed and defense. Fairfield (.295 BA, 7 doubles, 15 RBI) is a solid defensive backstop and will be a middle-of-the-lineup bat. Rogers (.320 BA, 29 runs) and Mucciolo (.385 BA, 19 runs) return in the outfield. Athletically, Ruffin, Worthman and Birlingmair should give opposing catchers problems. And speaking of Birlingmair, he is the key to the Wildcats’ success, serving as the team’s ace, starting shortstop and offensive catalyst. The big question surrounding the Wildcats is pitching depth. Bronson, a strong 6-foot-5, 185-pounder, will be counted on to log significant innings. The rest of the staff is untested.

BOTTOM LINE
You can always pencil the Wildcats in for 20-plus wins. In most years, they’d be the preseason favorites to win the Big 12, but Champaign Central is the prohibitive favorites this year. In order for Normal West to make a run at a conference crown, they will need a lot of their untested arms to have success.

Preseason Countdown

+ Top 50 Preseason Countdown Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2015 Rankings

+ June Event Schedule