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: Lemont
Preseason Rank: 8
2013 Record: 23-7
Conference: South Suburban Blue
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Brian Storako
Playoff Run: Lost in Regional Final (Joliet Catholic)
2013 Final Rank: Not Ranked

Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS
Jake Latz, LHP, 2014 (Louisiana State)
Mike Papierski, C, 2014 (Louisiana State)
Mike Wisz, INF, 2014 (Houston)
Jake Terrazas, 1B, 2014 (St. Louis)
Charlie Wright, LHP, 2014 (Joliet Junior College)
Ryan Folliard, OF, 2014
Nate Broskovetz, RHP, 2015
Mike Gralla, INF, 2015
Eric Tucker, OF, 2014 (Pikeville)

X-FACTOR
Jake Latz. One of the top left-handed draft prospects in the Midwest, the 6-foot-2 Latz is that true No. 1 that a team can ride deep into the playoffs.

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Garrett Acton, RHP, 2016
Nick Wisz, INF/RHP, 2016

OUTLOOK
If Lemont is to finally break through and make it to the Class 3A state semifinals, this is the year. The Indians are loaded with high-end, experienced talent all over the field, augmented by an exciting crop of sophomores. Second-year coach Brian Storako has four Division I recruits, including a pair of LSU signees - Mike Papierski, a switch-hitting catcher with power, and Latz. Papierski, INF Mike Wisz and 1B Jake Terrazas give the Indians some middle-of-the-lineup thunder. Over the summer, Wisz showed he can flat rake against high-end pitching. Along with Latz, Charlie Wright is a Division I-caliber pitcher - low-to-mid-80s lefty with a curveball consistently thrown for strikes. While the Indians are senior-laden, look for a trio of sophomores to possibly make an impact. Over the winter, we saw RHP Garrett Acton up to 87 mph, and Austin Tittle, a 6-foot-3, 200-pound RHP/IF, is another intriguing prospect.

BOTTOM LINE
Few, if any team, has the high-end talent the Indians possess. No doubt they have the personnel to win the Class 3A state championship. Only one problem: They have to go through defending champion Joliet Catholic Academy, a local nemesis of sorts which knocked Lemont out in the regional championship game last year. If the playoff system doesn’t change this season, Lemont, JCA and Lincoln-Way West - all top 25 teams - will be in the same regional. Latz lost that regional game in a classic pitchers’ duel against JCA’s Sam Couch. With another year under his belt, Lemont has to feel good about its chances this time around.

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

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