By: Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting 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: St. Joseph-Ogden
Preseason Rank:
2014 Record: 32-3
Conference: Okaw Valley
IHSA Class: 2A 
Head Coach: Josh Haley
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectionals
2014 Final Rank:  Not Ranked
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 5

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Cole Berry, RHP, 2015 (Eastern Illinois)
Chase Gadau, C, 2015 (Kaskaskia JC)
Dalton Parker, RHP/INF, 2016
Clayton Silfer, RHP/1B, 2015 (Lakeland College)
Brandon Sparks, OF, 2015
Austin Whitlock, RHP, 2015
Mason Coon, LHP, 2017

X-FACTOR
Cole Berry. The 6-foot-4, 180-pound Eastern Illinois recruit features dominant stuff. Coming from a 3/4 slot, Berry touched 90 mph at the PBR Illinois Top Prospect Showcase with considerable arm-side life. Berry emerged as the staff’s ace last season, posting an 8-1 record. He also batted .500 at the plate.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Mason Coon. The 6-foot-2 left-handed sophomore should see some mound time this spring.

KEY PLAYER LOST
Hunter Hart, RHP (Kaskaskia JC/Indiana)

STAT RAT
Chase Gadau led the team with a .469 batting average, 40 RBI and six home runs.

OUTLOOK
SJO returns five starters and five pitchers from last year’s 32-win club. Coach Todd Haley welcomes back his top two pitchers, Cole Berry and junior RHP Dalton Parker, who are both top 50 prospects in their respective classes. The 6-foot-4 Parker posted a 5-0 record as a sophomore last season. Aside from Berry and Parker, SJO has plenty of pitching options, including RHP Clayton Silfer, who may serve as the team’s closer. C Chase Gadau, Parker and OF Brandon Sparks power the offense.  

BOTTOM LINE
Last year’s linchpin, Hunter Hart, went down with a knee injury early in the season, and SJO went on to win 32 games and ascend into the Top 25 rankings for part of the season.  With deep and talented staff back in the fold, expect much of the same this season. Only this time, look for SJO to make a run at the Class 2A state semifinals.

Preseason Countdown

+ Top 50 Preseason Countdown Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2015 Rankings

+ June Event Schedule