Updated Illinois Power 25 Team Rankings

In our third installment of the season, we see a new No. 1 team in the state for the first time in 2021; No. 1 Huntley. The Red Raiders were a perfect 5-0 on the week and now sit at 16-1 on the year. This week Huntley has two, two-game conference series with Cary-Grove and McHenry and a non-conference single game with new No. 20 Naperville Central on Saturday.

St. Charles North, the previous No. 1 team in the state, drops to No. 4 after a 3-2 week, which included a 3-2 loss to Geneva and an 8-1 loss to No. 9 Lake Park. The North Stars are still 15-2 on the year and one of the most talented teams we have seen this spring.

Brother Rice is surging and up a spot to No. 5 in the rankings. The Crusaders, who have played one of the toughest schedules in the state, sit at 17-4 and have won 12 straight games. 

A number of teams just outside the Top-25 have worthy cases to be included and will be watched closely moving forward. Plainfield South, St. Charles East, Prospect, Lake Zurich, Harrisburg and St. Joseph-Ogden, among others, have impressive records and just missed the cut. 

Below is a look at the rest of the notable Power 25 action from across the state.

CLIMBING

+ No. 2 Marist (17-2) & No. 3 Normal University (15-1) - Both teams, now sitting at No. 2 and No. 3 in the state, jumped two spots after perfect, undefeated weeks. Marist, the winner of the “Do It Stevie’s Way Tournament” at the beginning of the spring, continues to play impressive ball. This past week they went 5-0 with two wins over Lockport and Benet, along with a win over No. 18 St. Laurence. The Pioneers of Normal University went a perfect 4-0 while their pitching has been living up to expectations. In four games this week they outscored their opponents 40-2 with Illinois commit, RHP Jake Swartz, twirling a no-hitter with 12 strikeouts on Friday against Richwoods.

+ Edwardsville (17-3) - The Tigers, now No. 8, jumped a spot after another perfect 4-0 week. They have now won 11 straight games.

+ Lake Park (16-3-1) - The Lancers continue to prove they are for real and are up three more spots to No. 9 in the state after a 3-1 week that included an 8-1 win over St. Charles North, who was No. 1 at the time. The Lancers are led on the mound by Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit, LHP Jackson Kent, who struck out 18 in a complete-game, two hitter against St. Charles North.

+ Nazareth (16-4) - The Roadrunners are back into the top 10 thanks to a 4-1 week with two big conference wins over Marian Catholic. There one blemish on the week was a conference split with an 11-6 St. Viator club. Nazareth has yet another busy week ahead with two two-games sets against Joliet Catholic and Niles Notre Dame, as well as a mid-week non-con matchup against No. 21 Glenbrook North.

+ Lane Tech (14-2) - Lane Tech continues to look like the favorites in the Chicago Public League after another strong 4-0 week. LT picked up wins over Taft, Reavis and swept a two-game conference series against Lake View. Lane Tech has five games on the docket this upcoming week with a Saturday matchup against No. 19 Mundelein.

+ Downers Grove South (13-1) - The Mustangs of Downers Grove South continue to prove themselves as they go 4-0 on the week. Dominant wins against Morton (11-4, 11-1 and 10-0) as well as a demanding win over cross-town rival Downers Grove North 14-5, the Mustangs have found themselves cracking the top 20 for the first time this year in the No. 15 spot. 

+ St. Rita (10-5) - The Mustangs jumped two spots after a 4-1 week. Like all teams in the Chicago Catholic league, the Mustangs have played a gauntlet of a schedule, so their records wont look as impressive as some other teams across the state. The Mustangs collected some impressive wins last week taking two games from Loyola, one from Mount Carmel and one from previously ranked Marian Catholic. Rita’s one loss was a 2-1 defeat to Mount Carmel.

+ St. Laurence (12-4) - The Vikings, also in the Chicago Catholic league, have navigated a relentless schedule so far this spring and currently sit at 12-4 after consecutive 3-1 weeks. This week, the Vikings took two games from Mount Carmel and knocked off De La Salle 10-0. Their one loss came at the hands of No. 2 Marist.

SINKING

+ Homewood-Flossmoor - The Vikings of Homewood Flossmoor played a grueling six games this past week and went 4-2; the most games they have lost in a week all season. Tough losses to Andrew (9-5) and Lockport (16-2) resulted in the Vikings dropping back four spots to No. 12. They will be looking to bounce back this week and re-enter the top 10. 

+ Mundelein - Mundelein faced a tough Libertyville squad this past week, losing 3-1 and 5-1. Mundelein only played three games this past week going 1-2, so it is hard to say they are truly sinking. With five games scheduled for this week the Mustangs will be looking to make up some ground. 

+ Lockport - The Porter’s had perhaps their toughest weekly schedule of the year so far, having to play No. 2 Marist and No. 13 Lincoln-Way Central. With a loss to LWC 8-4 and two losses to Marist 9-6 and 3-0, the Porters have found themselves down seven spots, to No. 22 in the updated rankings. 

+ Mount Carmel - The Caravan went 2-3 this past week with losses to St. Laurence (5-1 and 6-3) and St. Rita (8-6). Having one of the toughest schedules in the state, the Caravan never really catch a break in their schedule. Mount Carmel’s schedule won’t get any easier this week however, having to square off against Providence Catholic and No. 5 Brother Rice for a 3 game series. 

NEW TO THE TOP 25

+ No. 16 Hinsdale Central (9-1) - The Red Devils enter the Top 25 for the first time after a perfect 4-0 week, which included a three-game sweep of York. The Red Devils have a deep lineup 1-9 and an emerging pitching staff including sophomore RHP Ben Oosterbaan, who impressed against York last week. Next up for Hinsdale Central is a three-game conference set against Lyons this week. 

+ No. 20 Naperville Central (12-3) - The RedHawks made a statement last week with a three-game conference sweep of Naperville North. The RedHawks now have a two game lead in the Dupage Valley Conference and their pitching staff has a 2.87 ERA. A pair of sophomores, Colin Barczi and Charalambos Nicoloudes have led the way offensively. 

+ No. 21 Glenbrook North (14-3) - The Spartans enter the frey for the first time this spring after a 4-1 week which included a conference split with New Trier and wins over Niles Notre Dame, Maine East and Holy Trinity. Some other noteworthy teams that the Spartans have knocked off this spring are Buffalo Grove, Loyola and Prospect.

+ No. 23 Jacobs (13-4) - The Preseason No. 24 team in the state are back in the Power 25 after consecutive 4-1 weeks. Over the last two weeks Jacobs has two wins over Crystal Lake South, Cary-Grove and Dundee-Crown as well as wins over Crystal Lake Central and Streamwood.

DROPPED OUT

+ Oak Park-River Forest 

+ Providence Catholic

+ Marian Catholic

+ Warren

JUST MISSED THE CUT

+ Plainfield South (9-1)

+ St. Charles East (13-3-1)

+ Harrisburg (13-0)

+ Prospect (11-3-1)

+ Lake Zurich (10-3)

+ St. Joseph-Ogden (15-2)

+ Effingham (9-1)

+ Manteno (14-1)

UPDATED TOP 10

2021 SEASON

+ Illinois Scout Blog

+ Illinois Daily Roundup

+ Player of the Week

+ Diamond Notes

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