By Sean Duncan
 Executive Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 25 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

RHP/OF Trey Riley

Team: Edwardsville
Preseason Rank: 2
2015 Record: 35-2
Conference: Southwestern
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Tim Funkhouser
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectional to O’Fallon
2015 Final Rank: 3
Returning Starters: 3
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Trey Riley, RHP/INF/OF, 2016 (Oklahoma State)
Collin Clayton, CF/SS, 2016 (John A. Logan)
Jake Garella, RHP/3B, 2016 (University of Mobile)
Tyler Hosto, LHP, 2016
Cole Cimarolli, OF, 2016 (Quincy)
Tyler Stamer, CIF/OF, 2016
Mark Smith, RHP/OF, 2017 (Missouri)
Austin Ruesch, RHP 2017
Kade Burns, INF, 2017  
Dylan Burris, OF, 2017
Joel Quirin, INF, 2017
Joe Wallace, C, 2016
Daniel Reed, C/INF, 2017
Cole Hansel, 1B, 2016
Andrew Frank, RHP, 2017
Andrew Yancik, INF/RHP, 2017

X-FACTOR
Trey Riley. The 6-foot-2 Oklahoma State recruit emerged over the summer as a high-level national prospect as his fastball velocity spiked in the 88-91 range. On a staff that is extremely deep and talented, Riley gives the Tigers a true No. 1 pitcher. As a junior, he posted a 5-1 record with a 2.31 ERA. In 30.1 innings, he struck out 37. A left-handed hitter, Riley should factor at the plate as well.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Austin Ruesch. The 6-foot-4, 186-pound junior right-hander topped out at 90 mph at a PBR event this winter. His emergence gives the Tigers yet another high-level arm to choose from.

KEY PLAYERS LOST
SS Jordan Hovey (Missouri State)
3B Aaron Jackson (SIU-Edwardsville)
LHP Daniel Lloyd (Parkland)

STAT RAT
Senior INF/RHP Jake Garella delivered at the plate and on the mound last spring for the Tigers. The 6-foot-1, 185-pound University of Mobile recruit batted .366 with nine doubles, two triples, one homer and 26 RBI at the plate, while posting a 5-1 record with a 1.89 ERA on the mound. He finished with a 1.20 WHIP in 40.2 innings as a junior.

OUTLOOK
The Tigers are coming off a dominant season in which they went 35-2 while running the table in the tough Southwestern Conference (14-0), only to fall to conference rival O’Fallon in the sectional final. While recently inducted IHSBCA Hall of Fame coach Tim Funkhouser only returns three starters and three pitchers with significant experience, don’t let that fool you. The Tigers are the deepest team in the state. The program is flush with talent at all levels, both positionally and on the mound. Although Funkhouser graduated ace Daniel Lloyd (13-1) and SS/RHP Jordan Hovey (Missouri State), the Tigers have considerable premium pitching depth. RHP Trey Riley, an Oklahoma State recruit, leads the staff. Hard-throwing junior RHPs Mark Smith (Missouri) and Austin Ruesch are highly ranked 2017 prospects who, if they throw consistent strikes, give the Tigers three 90-plus arms. RHP/INF Jake Garella, senior LHP Tyler Hosto, junior RHP Andrew Frank and junior RHP/INF Andrew Yancik provide further depth. Positionally, Funkhouser said 14-15 players will be competing for at-bats. Defensively, the Tigers are strong. SS/OF Collin Clayton (.389 BA, 29 RBI, 13 SB) is a high-level athlete at top of the lineup, and junior left-handed hitting OF Dylan Burris (19 RBI, 14 SB) and senior OF Cole Cimaroli add more speed. Junior left-handed hitting middle infielder Kade Burns, Garella, junior INF Joel Quinn, OF/INF Tyler Stamer and a host of others give the Tigers a lot of quality options.

BOTTOM LINE
The Tigers have the depth and talent to win the Class 4A state championship, especially if Smith and Ruesch step up on the mound.

Make sure to follow @pbrillinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the season.

SEASON COUNTDOWN

+ Preseason Top 25 Team Countdown Previews 

+ Updated Illinois 2016 Rankings

+ Complete Illinois High School Schedules