The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 11, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2024 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a preseason questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2024 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Huntley Red Raiders
Preseason Rank: No. 10
Head Coach: Andy Jakubowski
Classification: 4A
Conference: Fox Valley
2023 Record (Finish): 29-8 (Lost in Sectional Semi-Finals)
Key Players Lost: Brayden Bakes (Indiana), Ryan Bakes (South Carolina), Andrew Ressler (SIUE), Joey Garlin, C.J. Filipek (Lawrence), Ryan Quinlan (Eastern Illinois), Derek Huber (Rock Valley JC), Parker Schuring (Northern Illinois), Vinny Costantino (Loras), Michael Dabe (Dubuque), Aiden Zimmerman (Judson), Aleks Gogola, Dillon Putty (McHenry CC), Jeremy Jaehnig, Sam Deligio (North Central), Nikko Ezell

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: Five
No. of Returning Pitchers: Five
Team Strengths: Well rounded.

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X-FACTOR

RHP Malachi Paplanus (2024; Wright State commit) will return in 2024 as the ace of the Red Raiders and will be relied upon heavily down the stretch and in the postseason. A standout two summers ago for Illinois at the Future Games, Paplanus was seen running his fastball up to 89 mph in the past paired with a sharp curveball and a fading changeup. Despite getting limited action last season, look for the No. 69 ranked player in the state to have a big senior season for the Red Raiders.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Fresh off an impressive winter showcase circuit, INF/RHP Drew Borkowski III (2026) is a newcomer to watch for Huntley entering 2024. Currently ranked No. 28 in the state, Borkowski displayed real two-way ability at both the McHenry Preseason ID and the recent Preseason All-State: Underclass. Here is what one of our scouts had to say after his most recent showing: “Another two-way standout from Saturday’s All-State was INF/RHP Drew Borkowski III (Huntley, 2026), who also stood out at the McHenry Preseason ID earlier this winter. At 6-foot-1, 168-pounds, Borkowski flashed bat strength at the plate with a max exit velocity of 99.1 mph and peak batted distance at 355 feet. He tied for the event lead in max infield velocity (T92 mph) and that arm strength showed on the mound too, pitching at 88-90 mph with his fastball. Borkowski’s slider showed heavy horizontal action; he threw it at 75-76 mph and reached -20.8 inches of horizontal movement at its’ peak, the highest mark of the event.”

Look for Borkowski’s two-way versatility to help him see varsity action early for Huntley this spring.

𝐌𝐜𝐇𝐞𝐧𝐫𝐲 𝐏𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧 𝐈𝐃: 𝐒𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭𝐬🌟

SS/RHP Drew Borkowski III (Huntley, 2026) showed well in all aspects of the #McHenryID.

◾️6-2 | 170 lbs
◾️91.3 mph max EV
◾️91 mph INF velo
◾️FB: 87-88 mph, T89.3
◾️CB: 75-78 mph

👤: https://t.co/LkQXwGa1bx pic.twitter.com/olHjP4G4t7

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) February 12, 2024

(Drew Borkowski III)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Huntley Red Raiders bring back ten players from last year’s team that won 29 games and finished the season as sectional semi-finalists. Led by Head Coach Andy Jakubowski, who is entering his 18th season at the helm, the Red Raiders expect to be a well rounded team in all areas heading into 2024.

On the offensive side of the ball, the Red Raiders return slugging CIF/RHP AJ Putty (2025; Illinois commit) who posted a .390 clip at the dish while totalling six home runs and driving in 36 in 35 games played last season. A 2023 Future Gamer, Putty continues to stand out in front of our staff whether it be at last summer’s State Games, or as recently as the Preseason All-State: Upperclass, and he will continue to be a name to follow this spring.

Also returning along the infield for Huntley will be senior SS/UTL Griffin Goldstein (2024; uncommitted) who batted .358 with 16 RBI in 28 games last season. Some other returning seniors to note offensively for Huntley are OF Haiden Janke (2024; uncommitted) and C/RHP Quinn Drews (2024; uncommitted).

Junior MIF/RHP T.J. Jakubowski (2025) was our newcomer to watch entering last season, and he turned in a .400 batting average in 18 games in 2023. The No. 116 player in the state will be expected to take another step forward this season offensively and also see time on the mound for Huntley in 2024.

Another steady middle-of-the-order bat to keep an eye on this spring for Huntley is OF Ryan Dabe (2025; uncommitted). Currently ranked No. 86 in the state, Dabe continues to trend in the right direction physically after slugging four homers and driving in 31 in 36 games last season, and looks primed for a big 2024.

Some other bats to know for Huntley entering the spring are 1B Alex Simios (2024; Wisconsin-Platteville commit), OF Kyle Larson (2024; College of Lake County commit), 2B/UTL Marco Stawski (2024; Dominican commit) and C Jack Lansu (Oakton CC commit).

Joining the previously mentioned Paplanus on the Huntley pitching staff in 2024 will be fellow seniors RHP Colby Aschenbach (2024; Loras commit), RHP Louis Siriano (2024; McHenry County JC commit), RHP Carter Piecuch (2024; uncommitted), and RHP Eddie Johnson (2024; uncommitted). Of this group, Aschenbach returns with the most innings from last season (19 ⅓), and posted a 1.09 ERA while punching out 13 batters in 2023.

Expected to take up the third spot in the rotation for Huntley is RHP Mason Leske (2025). Leske was another Red Raider who performed well at the recent McHenry Preseason ID where he sat 83-86 mph with his fastball, while pairing it with an 11/5 curveball that had sweep, and a late-sinking changeup. 

Huntley will also feature some young and exciting arms this spring as well. With sophomore newcomers RHP Travis Dudycha (2026) and RHP Josh Rudnick (2026) both expected to join the aforementioned Borkowski as potential mainstays on the Red Raiders pitching staff for years to come. Both prospects recently showed well at the McHenry Preseason ID with Dudycha sitting 86-87 mph with his fastball, and Rudnick sitting 82-84 mph at the event.

BOTTOM LINE

Huntley’s 2024 squad is expected to have a well-rounded mix of contributors from each class this season at all spots on the field. Their offense will be a dynamic one with Jakubowski, Putty, and Dabe leading the charge. Pitching will have senior stability at the top with arms like Paplanus, Aschenbach, and Leske while also providing intrigue and upside with younger arms such as Borkowski, Dudycha, and Rudnick expected to get innings as well. Overall, this will be a well-coached team that has stabilizing pieces across the diamond that should lead to a strong 2024 season.

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Find more information on the 2024 Providence Catholic program below:

+ Follow them on X: @huntley_bball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage

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