Updated Illinois Power 25 Team Rankings

May 29, 2017

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

This is the ninth and final installment of the Illinois Power 25 Team Rankings until the state playoffs conclude in the middle of June. Neuqua Valley, remains No. 1 once again and is now 33-1-1 on the season. The Wildcats survived a tough Minooka team on Saturday, eventually winning 5-4 in extra innings to take home the Regional Championship.

The final four teams will be set for Class 1A and 2A after today’s Super-Sectional matchups. The state finals for both classes get underway this Friday at O’Brien Field in Peoria.

Class 3A/4A Region Champions have been crowned and Sectional Semifinals start Wednesday around the state. 20 of the 25 teams in the Power 25 are still alive in the postseason.

Below is a breakdown of the movement in this week’s Power 25:

CLICK HERE to view updated Power 25 Team Rankings

WHO’S HOT

+ St. Rita (29-8) - The Mustangs dismantled No. 19 Lyons Township (24-5-1) 5-0, en-route to their Regional Championship. St. Rita is led by senior left-handed pitcher Steven Washilewski, a Kansas commit.

+ O’Fallon (32-5) - The Panthers, No. 5 in the Power 25, cruised to the Regional Championship, getting by Belleville East 10-3 and Collinsville 11-2.

+ Brother Rice (28-9) - The Crusaders did not allow a run en-route to their Regional Championship. Defeated Kenwood 5-0 and Kennedy 11-0.

+ St. Charles North (30-4) - Went 2-0 on the week and outscored their two opponents 24-2 to easy advance to the sectional semi-final. The North Stars, who finished third in class 4A last year, are poised for yet another run.

+ Lemont (30-5) - In the highly anticipated 3A Regional Championship game against Joliet Catholic, the Indians got an all-world start out of senior Ryan Sublette. The Texas Tech commit, twirled a one-hit, complete-game shutout with 10 strikeouts. The performance propelled the Indians to a 3-0 victory and a spot in the Sectional Semi-finals.

+ The Fox Valley Conference - No. 12 Huntley (30-6) and No. 13 Crystal Lake South (31-5) both won region championships on Saturday. McHenry (26-10), another Fox Valley team sitting just outside the Top 25, won their Regional as well. McHenry will take on Huntley, Wednesday in a Sectional Semi-Final matchup.

+ Chicago Christian (38-1) - The Knights, now sitting at No. 22, won the Sectional Championship on Saturday beating Herscher by the score of 4-3 in 11 innings. They face off against Timothy Christian in a Class 2A Super-Sectional game today.

+ Sacred Heart-Griffin (29-7) - Avenged two earlier losses to Rochester, beating them 4-0 to take a 3A Region Championship. The Cyclones went 3-0 on the week.

NEW TO THE TOP 25

+ Carmel Catholic (23-7) - The Corsairs are one of the hottest teams in class 3A. Last week they went 3-0 beating Richmond-Burton 17-2, Marian Central Catholic 4-1 and Fremd 11-0. Carmel takes on St. Viator in a Sectional semi-final on Wednesday at Kerry Wood field.

DROPPED OUT

+ Barrington

ON THE BUBBLE

+ Buffalo Grove (29-4-1)

+ McHenry (26-10)

+ South Elgin (23-4)

+ Yorkville (30-4)

+ Normal University (26-8)

+ Warren (28-9)

+ Effingham (26-5)

+ Champaign Central (27-9-1)

+ Lincoln-Way West (23-11-1)