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: Alton
Preseason Rank: 41
2013 Record: 28-10
Conference: Southwestern
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Todd Haug
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectional Final (Moline)
2013 Final Rank: 25

Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS
Matt Hopkins, 1B/OF, 2015
Bryan Hudson, LHP/1B, 2015
Clint Cress, SS, 2014
Nick Paulda, C, 2014
Will Lewis, 3B, 2014
Nick Cauley, RHP, 2016
Ben Cusac, RHP, 2015
Jacob Skrabacz, 2B, 2015

X-FACTOR
LHP Bryan Hudson. The 6-foot-7, 220-pound left-hander has added weight and, subsequently, velocity since last year when he posted a 6-1 record with a 1.50 ERA as a sophomore. Coach Todd Haug said that’s Hudson’s velocity has been in the 86-88 range, to go along with his already solid curveball. Hudson will be counted on to be Alton’s No. 1.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Nick Cauley, RHP, 2016. The 6-foot, 175-pounder should see significant innings as a sophomore this spring.

KEY PLAYERS LOST
Brent Gibbs, C (Indiana)
Brad Henry, LHP (McKendree)

STAT RAT
The 6-foot-2, 210-pound Matt Hopkins is one of the premier left-handed power bats in Illinois’ 2016 class. As a sophomore, Hopkins batted .380 with 32 RBI last spring.

OUTLOOK
Alton enjoyed a stellar campaign last spring, finished No. 25 in the state, ultimately falling to Moline in the sectional finals. The Redbirds graduated 13 players from last year’s 28-win club, but they welcome back five starters, including two highly ranked junior prospects, Hudson and Hopkins. Left-handed hitting senior SS Clint Cress is coming off an injury-plagued junior year, but he earned all-conference honors as a sophomore. Losing Brent Gibbs is a blow, but Nick Paulda will fill the void. Paulda batted .385 with 30 RBI from the leadoff spot last year.

BOTTOM LINE
If Hudson emerges as a shut-down ace, then the Redbirds should compete for the Southwestern Conference crown. While they have some holes to fill, the core is there for another stellar season.

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

Season Countdown

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule