Updated Illinois Power 25 Team Rankings

May 15, 2017

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

With the IHSA playoffs on the horizon, there was a lot of movement in the seventh installment of the Power 25, including a new No. 1, Neuqua Valley. The Wildcats are currently 28-1-1, with their only loss coming to Wheaton North by a score of 1-0. This past week Neuqua Valley went 4-0 outscoring opponents 31-2.

Below is a breakdown of the what happened over the past week.

CLICK HERE to view updated Power 25 Team Rankings.

CLIMBING

+ Brother Rice (24-7) - The Crusaders are 19-2 in their last 21 games and now sit at No. 2 in the Power 25. This past week Brother Rice knocked off then No. 1 St. Laurence and No. 6 Mount Carmel.

+ Libertyville (25-6) - The Wildcats are one of the hottest teams in the state and are now No. 3 in the Power 25. Libertyville went 5-0 this week, have won nine games in a row and are 20-3 since the beginning of April. Outscored opponents 49-5 in the five games this week.

+ Edwardsville (23-5) - The Tigers jumped two spots to No. 7 after a 4-0 week. The undefeated week included a 9-4 win over Southwest Conference rival, No. 6 O’Fallon.

+ Lyons Township (20-4-1) - The Lions jumped seven spots after a 4-0 week. The perfect week included a three-game sweep of a 19-10 York squad. The Lions pitching staff did not give up more than two runs in any game last week.

+ New Trier (22-4) - The Trevians have won 19 of their last 20 games and now sit at No. 11 in the Power 25. Last week, New Trier won two one run games over Maine West and Oak Park. They also shut out Niles West twice.

+ Plainfield South (21-7-1) - The Cougars have been up and down over the past month but made a statement this past week going 4-0 including a two-game sweep of No. 17 Plainfield North. Plainfield South also knocked off Lincoln-Way East and Oswego.

SINKING

+ The Catholic League Blue is in full swing and once again taking its toll on some of the top teams in Illinois. St. Laurence (26-4) and Mount Carmel (22-8) each lost three conference games on the week and dropped in the Power 25. St. Laurence, the previous No. 1 team in the Power 25, is now No. 5.

+ St. Charles North (25-4) - Dropped five spots in the Power 25 after a 2-2 week. The North Stars dropped two non-conference games to Downers Grove South and Cary Grove.

+ Crystal Lake South (26-3) - The Gators had only one loss heading into a week in which they went 2-2. Crystal Lake South split with No. 16 Huntley and Hampshire.

+ Plainfield North (21-8) - Went 1-2 on the week. Beat Plainfield East but lost to No. 13 Plainfield South twice.

+ Glenwood (18-8-1) - Went 2-2 on the week and now sit at No. 20 in the Power 25. Defeated Decatur Eisenhower twice but lost to Rochester 5-4 and Pleasant Plains 7-3.

NEW TO THE POWER 25

+ Sandburg (15-6) - The Eagles went 3-0 on the week and outscored opponents 26-4. Sandburg knocked off Homewood-Flossmoor twice and No. 21 Lincoln-Way Central once.

+ Barrington (25-7) - The Broncos went 3-1 on the week and put up six-plus runs in each game. Barrington is 9-2 in their last 11 games.

DROPPED OUT

+ McHenry

+ Oswego East

JUST MISSED THE CUT

+ Manteno (22-4)

+ Andrew (22-7)

+ Pleasant Plains (27-4)

+ Effingham (21-3)

+ Normal U-High (22-8)

+ Warren (23-8)

+ Belleville West (20-7)