Preseason Bubble Teams: Lemont
March 3, 2019
The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 11, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2019 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR 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 2019 preseason coverage continues today.
Team: Lemont
Preseason Rank: On The Bubble
2018 Record: 18-14
Conference: South Suburban Conference - Blue
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Brian Storako
Playoff Run: Lost in Regionals
2018 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 6
KEY LOSSES
Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Commitment |
IL |
Lemont |
2018 |
RHP |
- | |
IL |
Lemont |
2018 |
RHP |
- | |
IL |
Lemont |
2018 |
1B |
Heartland CC |
|
IL |
Lemont |
2018 |
1B |
- | |
IL |
Lemont |
2018 |
OF |
- |
TOP PLAYERS
Name | State | School | Class | Pos | Commitment |
IL |
Lemont |
2019 |
SS |
Triton JC |
|
IL |
Lemont |
2019 |
LHP |
Triton JC |
|
IL |
Lemont |
2019 |
OF |
Triton JC |
|
IL |
Lemont |
2019 |
RHP/INF |
Dominican University (IL) |
|
IL |
Lemont |
2020 |
INF |
- |
|
IL |
Lemont |
2020 |
OF |
- |
|
IL |
Lemont |
2020 |
INF |
- |
|
IL |
Lemont |
2020 |
C |
- |
|
Blaine Luevano |
IL |
Lemont |
2020 |
RHP/INF |
- |
Tyler Filippini |
IL |
Lemont |
2020 |
OF |
- |
Luke Guenther |
IL |
Lemont |
2021 |
LHP |
- |
IL |
Lemont |
2022 |
INF/RHP |
- |
OUTLOOK
The Indians will look to build on a successful 2018 season in which they claimed a tie for first place in conference play (14-4). Coach Storako is returning his starting shortstop in Bobby Wisz (Triton JC commit) and top arm in LHP Conrad Tauer (Triton JC commit). Wisz, a live-bodied LHH athlete, should be a staple at the prime position and atop Lemont’s lineup as he was last year every game leading the team in all offensive categories (.495 Avg, 1.392 OPS, 38 RBI, 39 R). Tauer, a 6-foot-4, 185-pound southpaw, will need to build on a successful Junior campaign where he tossed 41 innings of quality baseball seeing his 2.00 ERA. St. Rita transfer Daniel Brannigan will be a senior RHP that should be thrusted right into some serious innings for the Indians.
Offensively, Lemont will look for top to middle-of-the-order mainstays CIF Anthony Fornero, OF James Tauer, and OF Cameron Nagel to repeat their production from last season. Fornero is an athletic utility prospect with real gap-to-gap juice, Tauer will man an outfield position and look to lead on field as a senior, and Nagel will roam CF and hit leadoff for the Indians. C Michael Ciesla garnered plenty playing time starting second games of double headers last season and will most likely be penciled in as the starter more so this spring. In addition, three young faces to watch this season will be ‘20 RHP/INF Blaine Luevano, ‘21 LHP Luke Guenther and ‘22 RHP/INF Brady Small. Luevano is coming off a shoulder injury from last year, Guenther is a crafty lefty that could eat innings this spring and Small is an highly skilled underclassman that has the ability to be the third freshman ever to crack the varsity roster in school history.
This all being said, Lemont has a handful of 2020s on their roster already sporting Varsity playing time, a plus for skipper Storako who emphasizes team defense and putting pressure on the basepaths. The Indians lost seven one-run games last spring and those aforementioned traits, coupled with quality innings on the mound, should be a recipe for success as Lemont looks to repeat atop the conference come seasons end.
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Bobby Wisz (8.7.18)
Make sure to follow @PBRIllinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2019 season.
Find more information on the 2019 Indians below:
+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ GameChanger
+ Team Twitter
PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN