By Sean Duncan

In preparation for our sixth-annual season preview magazine, we’ve spent countless hours polling the coaches, crunching numbers, examining playoff runs, dissecting pitching, and analyzing schedules. Our hard work, of course, means nothing, because only time will tell who the state’s top teams will be when it really matters – in June.

Until that happens, let the debating begin. Below is just snapshot of what the 2010 Season Preview magazine has to offer. While preseason prognostications are only really good for selling magazines – in theory, that is – you can bet that these teams will be tough to beat this season.

Naperville Central gets the preseason nod, slightly edging out last year’s preseason No. 1 St. Rita, which finished runner-up in 4A last year.

With the high school season beginning, here’s a glance at our preseason top 25 teams. Complete write-ups and stories of the top 50 teams can be read in the 2010 Season Preview print magazine.

1.) Naperville Central (24-15) – The RedHawks return the nucleus of their team that fell to O’Fallon in the supersectionals. But expectations are sky high thanks to the return of LHP/1B Shane Conlon, a St. Rita transfer who is signed at Kansas State. Aside from Conlon, the RedHawks return six starters and a deep pitching staff that includes senior RHP/3B Marc Mantucca and junior LHP Dan Ludwig. Northwestern-bound OF/INF Nick Linne and OF Matt Cmiel bolster the lineup.

2.) St. Rita (35-7) – The Mustangs are fresh off of winning the IHSBCA summer state title and return five starters from last year’s team that finished runner-up in 4A. Arizona State-bound OF/LHP Mark Payton leads the way, along with Northern Illinois-bound LHP/OF Anthony Andres, junior LHP/1B Joey Filomeno (committed to Louisville), Holy Cross recruit Kyle Stearns and RHP John Starcevich.

3.) Sandburg (30-3) – Even though the Eagles graduated a lot from last year’s dominant team, they are again primed for another big season, evidenced by their runner-up finish at the IHSBCA summer state tournament.  Evansville-bound RHP Ryan Billo, RHP Joe Greenfield, OF Brett Huff, SS Vince Kmiec and INF Brant Valach lead a very deep and talented group.

4.) Glenwood (32-6) – With a team full of juniors last season, the Titans came painfully close to winning the Class 3A title. With the return of C Jacob Reese (Eastern Illinois), OF Jared Turner (St. Joseph’s College), 3B Jake Ingold, RHP/1B Bryce Sablotny and hard-throwing junior RHP/1B Phil Maton, the Titans are our pick to win the 3A crown this time around.

5.) Downers Grove South (24-11) – The Mustangs advanced to the Final Four of the IHSBCA summer tournament, and with the return of Miami of Ohio-bound SS Dan Walsh and a strong pitching staff led by top-rated junior RHP Nick Burdi (committed to Louisville) and RHP Jake Rone (Parkland College), the Mustangs should enjoy a similar run this spring.

6.) Harrisburg (27-5) – Behind arguably the state’s most potent offense, the Bulldogs are our pick to win the Class 2A state crown. SS/RHP Reid Roper (Illinois), OF Kollin Dowdy (Southern Illinois), 1B Dawson Montfort, C Noah King, and top-level junior 3B/OF Keelin Rasch pave the way.

7.) Stevenson (29-7) – The Patriots graduated three D-I arms, yet they still have one of the best staffs in the state. Northwestern-bound SS/RHP Kyle Ruchim is the catalyst, followed by junior LHP Jeremy Scheck (committed to Clemson) and junior RHP Tyler Radtke.

8.) Providence Catholic (21-16) – Behind a team full of sophomores, the Celtics advanced to the sectional finals last season. With arguably the state’s deepest junior class, Providence may be a year away; nevertheless, they have the overall talent to make a serious push this spring.

9.) Illinois Valley Central (30-5) – The Grey Ghosts have been one of the state’s most dominant programs over the last five years, and this season should be no exception. Though they graduated a lot of offense, Illinois-bound RHP Drasen Johnson and LHP Cody Kenzel head a deep pitching staff.  Bradley-bound C Derek Sprout anchors their inexperienced offense.

10.) Warren (20-12) – The Blue Devils advanced to the Eilite Eight of the summer state tournament, and they should be primed for a similar run this spring thanks to the return of six starters and a deep pitching rotation. Virginia Tech-bound C Scott Heelan leads the way.

11.) Barrington (21-15) – The Broncos feature one of the state’s best pitching duos, LHP Rob McDonnell (Illinois) and RHP Sean Buccholz (John A. Logan JC). The same duo, in fact, that led them to the supersectionals last spring. OF Anthony Brignola (John A. Logan JC) and junior OF Ricky Alfonso pace the offense for our pick to win the Mid-Suburban League title.

12.) New Trier (32-7) – The defending Class 4A state champions graduated a chunk of last year’s squad, including All-Stater Bob Cook. Then again, the Trevians graduate a lot every year. Top-level junior OF/LHP Charlie Tilson (committed to Illinois), senior OF Gordie Campbell, SS J.B McCallum and senior LHP Ryder Borre return to lead their repeat bid.

13.) Oak Park-River Forest HS (27-12) - The Huskies feature a deep pitching staff, anchored by junior RHP/OF Will Polley, senior RHP/INF Jack Rogalla and RHP/C John Frueh. Sophomore C Jack Picchiotti and OF Andrew Godbold should help provide plenty of run support.

14.) Belleville West (26-7) – Senior LHP Sean Hulse, who was 9-0 last year, and top-level junior prospects Garret Schlecht and Kane Sweeney make the Maroons the Southwestern Conference favorites this spring and the team to beat in the St. Louis-metro area. Senior middle infielders Aaron Mundlein and Tony Kossina provide defensive stability.

15.) Mount Carmel (25-14) – OF/LHP Jeff Boehm (committed to Kentucky) and RHP John Kravetz (committed to Illinois) are two of the top junior prospects in the state and head a strong pitching rotation. SS/RHP Mike Kreuger and OF Brad Myjak are the Caravan’s offensive catalysts.

16.) Brother Rice (31-3) – The Crusaders graduated a talented class that helped them win 27-straight games and the Chicago Catholic League Blue title. Nevertheless, with the return of LSU-bound SS/RHP Kevin Koziol, senior 1B/RHP Brian Baldwin and top-level sophomore MIF/RHP Ryan Koziol, the Crusaders still should be awfully tough to beat.

17.) St. Laurence (26-11) –  

18.) Olympia (30-6) – The Spartans are seeking an unprecedented third consecutive state championship in Class 2A. Venerable coach Ron Smith, who’s retiring at season’s end, has the talent to make state history, as he returns five starters, including junior OF Chase Hainline, senior RHP Clint Stroud, SS/RHP Spencer Pratt, 3B Matt Glenn, 2B/RHP Josh Zimmer and OF Zach Zindel.

19.) St. Charles North (21-13) – The North Stars return seven starters and three frontline arms. SS Ryan Richardson (Nebraska) makes the team go, along with C Matt Stevens (Central Michigan). RHP/3B Kevin Borst (Heartland CC), LHP Ryan Hudspeth and RHP Jared Shurtleff headline their solid pitching staff.

20.) Rockford Boylan (23-9) – With seven starters back in the fold, the Titans should be the team to beat along with Harlem in the Rockford area. LHP Tyler Dray (Southern Illinois) is the team’s ace, while SS/OF Michael Morman (Valparaiso) and C Zach Domin anchor the offense.

21.) Plainfield North (27-7) – The Tigers were one of last year’s biggest surprises, as they went 21-0 in the Southwest Prairie Conference. With five starters back, including C Zac Pacanowski, 1B Jeff Paulson and 3B/RHP Alex Molek, the Tigers shouldn’t sneak up on anyone this year. Hard-throwing junior RHP Sean Renzi and RHP Scott Vachon lead a solid pitching rotation.

22.) Lakes (23-12) – The Eagles should be one of the best teams in Class 3A behind a stellar pitching staff that includes 6-6 LHP D.J. Snelton (Minnesota), 6-5 junior RHP Nick Hibbing (committed to Iowa) and senior RHP/INF Travis Vanderwall. In all, the Eagles return seven starters.

23.) St. Ignatius (22-14) – With SS/RHP Jack Fischer (Wake Forest), junior MIF/RHP Eric Jacobson, C Justin Meier (Bucknell), and OF/RHP Sean Brennan back, the Wolfpack are extremely strong up the middle. Hard-throwing RHP/3B Matt Lynch also returns to bolster their pitching staff.

24.) Joliet Catholic Academy (32-5) – The Hilltoppers are fresh off of winning the Class 3A state title, and finished the season as the PBR’s No. 1 team in the state. Although coach Jared Voss graduated a lot of talent from that team, he still returns staff ace RHP Kendall Paluch, C Nate Ruzich, INF Andrew Cecchi and OF John Gerl.

25. Machesney Park Harlem (23-12) – With two power arms at the top of the rotation – RHP John Lieske (Illinois State) and RHP/OF Bo Andrews (Northern Illinois) – and SS Keenan Kellett back, the Huskies should once again be a force in the Rockford area.

Other teams in the Prep Baseball Report’s Power 50 preseason rankings are: Minooka, Lemont, Granite City, Grayslake Central, Edwardsville, Carmel, O’Fallon, Cary-Grove, Waubonsie Valley, Normal West, Rock Falls, Willowbrook, Effingham, Benet Academy, Nazareth Academy, Lockport, Lincoln-Way East, Naperville North, Fremd, Moline, Mundelein, Loyola, Mt. Vernon, Prospect and Clemente.

Complete statistical breakdowns of the top 50 teams and much more can be found in the 2010 Season Preview print magazine. Don’t have a subscription? Click Here.

The 2010 Season Preview magazine features stories on all the top 50 teams, 65 other teams to watch, Class 3A and 2A team rankings, conference predictions and 2009 conference standings, expanded player rankings of the 2010, 2011 and 2012 classes, along with hundreds of other players to watch throughout the year.

The 2010 season preview magazine is your complete guide to the spring season.

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