By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the top 75 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Team: Fremd
Preseason Rank: 66
2013 Record: 20-12
Conference: Mid-Suburban League - West
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Chris Piggott
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectional Semifinal (Libertyville)
2013 Final Rank: Not Ranked

Returning Starters: 2
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Austin Jetel, 1B/LHP, 2014 (Butler)
Mack Rosman, RHP/OF, 2015 (Northwestern)
Ian Bohn, C, 2015
Marcus Middlebook, INF, 2014
Jeff Gill, OF, 2015
Jack Molnar, OF/RHP, 2016
Ethan Haducavich, LHP, 2016

X-FACTOR
Mack Rosman.  The 6-foot, 195-pound junior has the stuff to one of the most dominant arms in his area. At the Preseason All-State Showcase, he sat 88-90, touching 91, while flashing a wipeout upper-70s slider. As a sophomore, he struck out 76 in 53 innings and finished with a 2.51 ERA.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Jack Molnar, OF/RHP, 2016. The 6-foot-1, 170-pounder is one of the more promising sophomore prospects in Illinois.

STAT RAT
Left-handed hitting Austin Jetel finished with a .404 batting average with 22 RBI as a junior last spring.

OUTLOOK
The Vikings’ strength rests in their pitching, as coach Chris Piggott has solid depth and a potential shut-down ace in Rosman. The team will have some inexperience on the field, but Fremd features a talented sophomore class that has the ability to make an impact this year. Jetel, a Butler recruit, should be one of the top offensive forces in the Mid-Suburban League, and look for junior C Ian Bohn to have a breakout year. Bohn possesses a strong arm and offensive ability as well. INF Marcus Middlebrook returns from a solid junior campaign in which he batted .301 with 16 RBI.

BOTTOM LINE
Last year, Fremd finished second behind Barrington in the MSL West race. The two clubs should again vie for the crown this spring. The big question for the Vikings is their inexperience in the infield. 

Season Countdown

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule

Make sure you follow @PBRillinois on Twitter for complete Illinois high school baseball coverage throughout the season.