Preseason Bubble Teams: Normal West
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: Normal West
Preseason Rank: On The Bubble
2018 Record: 24-15
Conference: Big 12
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Chris Hawkins
Playoff Run: Sweet 16
2018 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 6
TOP PLAYERS
NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POSITION | COMMITMENT |
Austin Collinson | IL | Normal West | 2019 | SS | Carl Sandburg JC |
Dalton Corcoran | IL | Normal West | 2019 | RHP | - |
CJ Lewis | IL | Normal West | 2019 | 3B | Chicago State |
Brandon Roth | IL | Normal West | 2019 | OF | Black Hawk JC |
Brennan Diedrich | IL | Normal West | 2019 | C | - |
Cody Hardt | IL | Normal West | 2019 | OF | |
Cole Hernandez | IL | Normal West | 2020 | OF | - |
Evan Hutson | IL | Normal West | 2020 | 1B | - |
William Kafer | IL | Normal West | 2020 | OF | - |
Sean Shook | IL | Normal West | 2020 | 3B | - |
Evan Wallgren | IL | Normal West | 2020 | RHP | - |
KEY LOSSES
NAME | STATE | SCHOOL | CLASS | POSITION | COMMITMENT |
McCade Brown | IL | Normal West | 2018 | RHP | Indiana |
Jeremy Fischer | IL | Normal West | 2018 | SS | Elmhurst College |
Chase Hacker | IL | Normal West | 2018 | 1B | Elmhurst College |
Zack Jones | IL | Normal West | 2018 | LHP | Morton JC |
Jacob Marti | IL | Normal West | 2018 | OF | Heartland CC |
Ben Smith | IL | Normal West | 2018 | C | Kankakee CC |
OUTLOOK
Last year’s Big 12 conference champions are back at it, looking to build off their 24-win 2018 campaign and run to the Sectional Finals. The loss of PBR 1st Team All-State selection, McCade Brown, an Indiana commit, will certainly hurt heading into 2019 but head coach Chris Hawkins should have plenty of depth to work with. Six pitchers and six position players return and the Wildcats should be led by junior OF Will Kafer. Kafer, who also pitches, was the offensive player of the year in the Big 12 in 2018 thanks to collecting 34 hits, six doubles, four triples and knocking in 26.
Alongside Kafer will be senior, four-year starter SS/RHP Austin Collinson. Collinson, a Carl Sandburg JC commit, holds the school record in assists and was 1st Team All-Big 12 out of the leadoff spot last year. Collinson should also see meaningful innings on the mound.
A trio of Honorable mention All-Big 12 selections return in senior LF Brandon Roth (Black Hawk CC commit), senior RF Cody Hart (2019) and junior 3B/RHP Sean Shook. Roth scored 29 runs last year while Hart tied for the team lead in home runs with five and Shook collected 13 doubles.
Senior Brennan Diedrich and junior Connor Stephenson should handle the catching duties this spring. Diedrich sported a .432 on base percentage while Stephenson is the fastest player on the roster and has a high baseball IQ.
CJ Lewis should see himself fill in all over the diamond as he has the versatility and athleticism to help in the outfield and on the infield. Lewis, a senior committed to Chicago State, has a high-upside and quick bat.
Three juniors who should carve out a role for themselves this spring are 2B/RHP Evan Wallgren, 1B Evan Hutson and UTIL Cole Hernandez. Wallgren, who was limited due to injuries last spring should also play a major role on the mound. Hutson should be a power threat in the middle of the order and Hernandez is a three-sport athlete, that is athletic enough to play anywhere on the diamond.
It would not be a surprise if coach Hawkins club finds themselves quickly in the top-25 this spring if they can get off to a fast start and they have plenty of pieces to make a run at Joliet come June.
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Sean Shook (2.10.19)
Make sure to follow @PBRIllinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2019 season.
Find more information on the 2019 Wildcats below:
+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ GameChanger
+ Team Twitter
PRESEASON BUBBLE TEAMS
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Galesburg 3/04/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Glenwood 3/04/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Mundelein 3/03/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Normal West 3/03/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Lemont 3/03/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Morton 3/02/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Champaign Central 3/02/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Loyola Academy 3/02/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Aurora Christian 3/02/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Rochester 3/01/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Notre Dame 3/01/19
- IL Preseason Bubble Teams: Nazareth Academy 3/01/19