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: Moline
Preseason Rank: 45
2013 Record: 27-11
Conference: Western Big 6
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Craig Schimmel
Playoff Run: Lost in Supersectional (Neuqua Valley)
2013 Final Rank: 10

Returning Starters: 3
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS
Braden Mosley, OF, 2014 (Southern Illinois)
Brett Newberg, LHP/1B, 2015 (Austin Peay)
Mitch Owens, 3B/RHP, 2016
Mitch Peterson, 1B, 2014
Brandon Eklof, C/OF, 2014
Evan Smith, RHP, 2014
Andy Brill, OF, 2015
Austin Fancher, RHP, 2015

X-FACTOR
Brett Newberg. The 6-foot-1, 220-pound junior is a two-way threat, but the Maroons will need for the left-hander to emerge as the team’s ace after graduating their top two Division I arms. As a sophomore, the Austin Peay recruit posted a 2-1 record with a 3.97 ERA. In 24.2 innings, he struck out 27 and walked 13. He also batted .250 with 5 doubles and 12 RBI.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Andy Brill, OF, 2015

KEY PLAYERS LOST
Matt Brill, OF/RHP (Appalachian State)
Dallas DeVrieze, LHP (Appalachian State)

STAT RAT
Mitch Owens, a 6-foot-3, 193-pound highly ranked two-way 2016 prospect, made an immediate impact as a freshman last spring. As the team’s starting third baseman, Owens batted .320 with 6 doubles and 15 RBI. Also mid-80s on the mound, Owens posted a 2-1 record with a 3.00 ERA in 14 innings.

OUTLOOK
The Maroons were one of the state’s most dangerous teams during the second half of the season. After knocking off then-No. 1-ranked Normal West in regionals, they advanced to the supersectionals before falling to Neuqua Valley. Moline finished the year ranked No. 10 in the state. While coach Craig Schimmel returns several key contributors from last year’s club, he will have a hard time replacing two-way star Matt Brill, a third-team All-State selection who was selected in the 24th round of the MLB Draft. Although the Maroons graduated their top two arms, they still have a solid rotation, beginning with Newberg, Owens and Evan Smith (4-0). Senior OF Braden Mosely, a Southern Illinois recruit, has high-level tools across the board. Mosely, who batted .298 with 8 doubles and 21 RBI as a junior, has game-changing speed and arm strength from the outfield.

BOTTOM LINE
The Maroons have some inexperience around the diamond, but they also have talent. It may take them a little to get their sea legs underneath them initially, but come the second half of the season, they should once again be a very dangerous team.

Season Countdown

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule

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