Updated Illinois Power 25 Team Rankings
May 24, 2021
In our fifth installment of the season, we have a new No. 1 team in the state, the Marist RedHawks (25-2). Marist has rattled off 15 straight wins and has played one of the toughest schedules in the state. In the RedHawks most recent week, they went 4-0 with East Suburban Catholic two-game sweeps of Joliet Catholic and St. Patrick. Marist put up a total of 54 runs in their four games last week.
No. 2 Huntley dropped out of the top spot after a 2-1 week which included a 2-1 loss to Crystal Lake South. The new No. 3 team in the state is Lincoln-Way East who continues to collect impressive wins on their resume. This past week they went 4-0 with wins over No. 9 Lincoln-Way Central, Lockport and Manteno who are currently 24-2.
Two other teams who keep trending in the right direction are No. 4 Sacred Heart-Griffin and No. 6 Edwardsville. Both were a perfect 3-0 last week and continue to solidify their spots towards the top of the Power 25. Sacred Heart had three solid wins over Rochester, Quincy and Glenwood. Edwardsville now has the most wins in the state at 26 after a two-game sweep of Belleville West and a win over Nashville.
Below is a look at the rest of the notable Power 25 action from across the state.
CLIMBING
+ Brother Rice (23-7) - The Crusaders got back on track last week going 4-0, moving up two spots to No. 10. All four wins were against quality opponents; Maine South, Neuqua, Glenbrook North and No. 25 St. Laurence. A big week lies ahead with game two of their CCL matchup with St. Laurence on Tuesday and a two-game set with St. Rita in the latter part of the week.
+ Mundelein (17-3-1) - The Mustangs continue to put together an impressive resume, jumping three spots to No. 12 after an impressive 3-0 week. The Mustangs pitching staff did not let up a run on the week with two wins over Warren (2-0 and 8-0) and a convincing 12-0 win over New Trier. Mundelein seems to be playing some of their best baseball with the playoffs in the not-so distant future.
+ Barrington (17-2) - Yet another team on the rise after a perfect week. The Broncos climbed four spots to No. 15 in the state after a 4-0 week. Barrington put up 53 runs in two wins over Palatine and wins over Elk Grove and Wheeling. Barrington has rattled off nine straight wins and has two games against Hoffman Estates and a single game against Lake Forest on tap for this week.
+ Naperville Central (19-4) - The Redhawks are officially the DuPage Valley conference champions after going an impressive 13-2 in league play this spring. After a 4-0 week, Naperville Central is up three spots to No. 17 in the state. On the week, the Redhawks outscored opponents 39-5, including a three-game sweep of Metea Valley and a win over Benet.
+ Springfield (21-3) - The Senators of Springfield made a huge statement last week, handing No. 5 Normal University their second loss of the season by a score of 5-3. The Senators parlayed that into a 4-0 week with other wins over Springfield Lanphier, Washington and New Berlin. Springfield made the biggest jump of anyone this week climbing seven spots to No. 18 in the updated rankings.
+ Chicago Christian (20-1) - The Knights continue to test themselves against quality 4A opponents and they continue to win. After yet another impressive undefeated week the Knights climb two spots to No. 22. This past week the Knights knocked off 4A Sandburg by a score of 2-1 and gave up a total of two runs in their other three wins. Chicago Christian continues to show they can play with some of the bigger schools in the state and should be one of the favorites in Class 2A.
SINKING
+ St. Laurence (16-8) - The Vikings were the only team in the Power 25 to lose more than one game this previous week. With that said, they arguably played the toughest schedule with three Chicago Catholic League (two to Providence Catholic and one to No. 10 Brother Rice) losses and a victory over Lockport. The Vikings will need a big upcoming week to hold onto their Power 25 ranking.
NEW TO THE TOP 25
+ Libertyville (21-6) - Our Preseason No. 18 team in the state is back in the rankings since a little hiatus, now sitting at No. 23 on the list. The Wildcats had a bit of a tough start to the season, sitting at 10-6 on May 7th. 11 straight wins since that point have Libertyville as one of the hottest teams in the state and No. 23 on our updated list.
+ St. Joseph-Ogden (24-2) - Traditional 2A power, St. Joseph-Ogden, gets into the Power 25 for the first time this season at No. 24 after continuing to pile up wins. Their most recent week was a perfect 4-0 where they outscored opponents 25-2. The Spartans have quality wins on the season over Champaign Central, Teutopolis, Mt. Zion, Pontiac and others.
DROPPED OUT
+ Harrisburg
+ Plainfield South
JUST MISSED THE CUT
+ Manteno (24-2)
+ Prospect (17-5-1)
+ Bartlett (16-6)
+ Oswego (15-6)
+ St. Rita (17-9)
+ New Trier (18-8)
+ Lemont (18-8)
+ St. Charles East (17-7-1)
UPDATED TOP 10
| RANK |
LAST WEEK | TEAM | CLASS |
2021 RECORD |
| 1 |
2 | Marist |
4A | 25-2 |
| 2 | 1 | Huntley |
4A | 23-2 |
| 3 | 4 | Lincoln-Way East |
4A | 20-2 |
| 4 | 5 | Sacred Heart-Griffin |
2A | 23-1 |
| 5 | 3 | Normal University |
2A | 23-2 |
| 6 | 6 | Edwardsville |
4A | 26-3 |
| 7 | 7 | Lake Park |
4A | 23-4-1 |
| 8 | 8 | St. Charles North |
4A | 23-3 |
| 9 | 9 | Lincoln-Way Central |
4A | 14-3-1 |
| 10 | 12 | Brother Rice |
4A | 23-7 |
CLICK HERE to view Entire Updated Power 25 Team Rankings.
2021 SEASON
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