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The prep baseball season has begun, as teams begin their quest toward the state finals at the Joliet Slammers Stadium in Joliet. Here is a preview of area teams:
BENET REDWINGS
Coach: Scott Lawler
2017 record: 25-12
Top Players
Name Year Pos.
Jack Schneider sr. 3B/SS
Brandon Gorz sr. C
Paddy Hincks sr. 2B
Collin Berry sr. OF
Thomas Snell sr. OF
Dolan Glasgow jr. SS
Gio Ahern sr. P
Quinn Moriarty sr. P
Anthony Adams sr. P
Outlook: The Redwings are coming off their deepest playoff run since 1989, losing in the supersectional to eventual Class 3A champion St. Viator. The bad news is Benet is now being bumped up to Class 4A, but the talent is in place for another big season.
Benet will have experienced bats in the middle of the order with Schneider, a starter since he was a sophomore who hit over .300 last year, and Gorz, who hit .340 as the Redwings' primary catcher. Lefty Ahern, who will play collegiately at MIT, will anchor the staff with Moriarty and Adams. Up to four sophomores could be up, three pitching.
DOWNERS GROVE NORTH TROJANS
Coach: Kyle Briscoe
2017 record: 18-16
Top Players
Name Year Pos.
Sam Cogger sr. 3B/P
Nick Bacarella sr. 1B/P
Matt Carbon P
Jake Young sr. P/IF/C
Scott Jacobsze jr. P/IF
Outlook: Briscoe, a 2003 Downers North graduate and the program's sophomore coach the last five seasons, takes over the reins for Chad Isaacson, who stepped down after 18 seasons.
Briscoe inherits a bit of an inexperienced club with only two every day starters – Bacarella and Cogger – returning. Lewis recruit Bacarella pitched to a 2.69 ERA in 52 innings last spring, and is by far the Trojans' most experenced pitcher. Bacarella and Cogger both hit over .300 last year, and Briscoe called Albion College commit Cogger, "a rock" at third base. The Trojans have 13 other seniors on the roster that are looking to prove themselves.
"We have been preaching early in the spring about doing the little things – we don't have the power arms like Hinsdale Central, Lyons and Oak Park," Briscoe said. "We will have to be fundamentally sound across the board."
DOWNERS GROVE SOUTH MUSTANGS
Coach: Darren Orel
2017 record: 24-12
Top Players
Name Year Pos.
Brett Riegler sr. C
Nick Stacey sr. P/OF
Cameron Crowley sr. P/OF/IF
Michael Hoes jr. 3B/P
Anthony Stellato jr. SS
Jake Pileggi jr. 1B
Outlook: The Mustangs won 24 games with five sophomores on varsity last year, and are set for another strong year.
Stacey and Crowley should lead the pitching staff. Stacey posted a 1.82 ERA in 34.2 innings last spring, Crowley a 2.66 ERA in 58 innings. Junior Andrew Alfini is another experienced arm back. Stacey also was second on the Mustangs in hitting with a .345 average. Stacey, Riegler and Stellato were Downers Grove South's top three run producers last spring.
HINSDALE CENTRAL RED DEVILS
Coach: Jason Ziemer
2017 record: 21-10
Top Players
Name Year Pos.
Kyle Wisch jr. P/IF
Andrew Harris sr. OF
Murphy Juska, sr., P
Tyler Jurack sr. IF
Joey Malcolm sr. 1B
Peter Mercurio sr. P/OF
Matt Deiss sr. OF/1B/P
Outlook: The Red Devils' pitching depth is as good as its been in years, and it starts with Wisch. The hard-throwing junior has a number of Big Ten offers after going 3-0 last year with a 2.70 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 23.1 innings. Juska is a solid No. 2. Harris, who hit .360 with 14 doubles and a .992 OPS last year, and Jurack, who hit .338, lead an offense for a team that returns 12 players total.
"Our offense is pretty good top to bottom," Ziemer said. "The only true question is whether we will field the ball consistently."
HINSDALE SOUTH HORNETS
Coach: Paul Hoel
2017 record: 17-14
Top Players
Name Year Pos.
John Colucci sr. P/IF
Matt Uba sr. P/SS
Ryan Kuhlman sr. 3B
Michael McCormack jr. P
Frankie Klemm jr. OF/P
Bobby O'Donnell sr. OF
Outlook: The Hornets, fourth in the West Suburban Gold, will look to compete again on the strength of Colucci and Uba.
Colucci, in his fourth varsity season, posted a 2.86 ERA last year and won four games. Uba pitched to a 3.69 ERA, with three wins and three saves. They're also two of Hinsdale South's top hitters. Colucci hit .364 last year and Uba .333.
The rest of the lineup is inexperienced, but received some good seasoning during summer ball.
WESTMONT SENTINELS
Coach: D.J. Cocks
2017 record: 19-17
Top Players
Name Year Pos.
Matt O'Leary jr. SS/P
Michael Kokoszka sr. 2B/P
Caden Anderson jr. 1B/P
Alex Marotta jr. OF/P
Malek Mostafa sr. 1B/P
Robbie Burns jr. OF/P
Outlook: There is no Donovan on the roster for the first time in seven years – but with 2017 Suburban Life Player of the Year Joe Donovan one of just two starters to graduate the Sentinels are poised for another big season. Kokoskza is a returning all-conference player who hit .429 with 36 RBIs as a junior. Anderson, O'Leary and Marotta are all in their third varsity season. The Sentinels are very deep and very experienced on the mound.
"We're looking to win a lot of games with a talented group," Cocks said. "Almost all of the roster has plenty of varsity experience. We are hoping to win 20 games and compete for a regional championship."