The 2025 IHSA season begins on Monday, March 17th, and with that ScoutConnect is eager to release its inaugural ‘Preseason Rankings’ for the upcoming season. Please note that these rankings are for what our staff considers to be ‘Large Schools’, which encompasses the 3A and 4A classifications in the state of Illinois. We will have a ‘Small School’ – 1A and 2A – in the coming days. 

Several factors were considered when ranking these programs in a top-10 list, such as roster talent, team history, strength of schedule, coaching staff, and much more. This list is not absolute by any means and will be updated on a week-to-week basis, except for at the beginning of the year, where an update may take place after two weeks of play. 

Teams taken into consideration are those that fall into our ‘Coverage Map’, which includes all of Southern Illinois, the Metro East area, Springfield, and up as high as Mt. Zion. This does not mean that our staff won’t provide coverage to all areas of the state, as well as Missouri, but for team rankings purposes, we will stick to all teams in 3A and 4A that fall underneath the Mt. Zion line. 

With all of that being said, continue reading below to learn more about the teams that slot inside our initial ‘Large School’ preseason list. 

NO. 1 EDWARDSVILLE

It’s not out of pocket to say that Edwardsville has been the state’s most successful program in the past few seasons. They won the state championship in 2019, went back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, and took third place in last year’s trip to Joliet. To nobody’s surprise, head coach Tim Funkhouser’s club is loaded with talent once again in 2025 and they enter our Large School Preseason Rankings at number one. 

We’ll start with Edwardsville’s senior class, a decorated group that’s been a huge part of the success this program has had in previous years. It starts with OF/RHP Joe Chiarodo (2025; Alabama), who figures to be a mainstay on both sides of the ball. Injuries cut his junior season short, but the Alabama recruit has high-impact two-way talents and is an early favorite for our ScoutConnect Player of the Year. INF Lucas Krebs (2025; Illinois) anchored this infield group last year and should do it again in ‘25, returning a .372/.500/.558 triple-slash with 14 extra-base hits, 34 RBI, and 22 stolen bases. RHP/1B Tyler Powell (2025; SIUE) has power stuff on the mound, pitching in the upper-80s with a firm slider, and he’s also expected to contribute offensively, likely seeing time at first base. OF Greyson Rathgeb (2025; Maryville) has the potential to be a real impact right-handed bat in the heart of this order, flashing power in spurts last season with the ability to play multiple outfield spots, too, while backstops C Augie Johnes (2025; UMSL) and C Max Waltenberger (2025) are two physical right-handed bats with juice. 

The depth in their senior class doesn’t stop there, especially on the mound. RHP Ethan Stewart (2025; SWIC) and RHP Eric Herman (2025; Lincoln Land CC) are two mid-to-upper-80s arms that can work around zone with their fastballs and spin above-average breaking balls off it, too. LHP Dax Dunnill (2025; John A. Logan JC) has the potential to show dynamic stuff on any given day, working an upper-80s fastball that’s crept into the low-90s in the past. LHP Tristan Lance (2025; Lincoln Land CC), RHP Tyler Rudd (2025; Illinois-Wesleyan), INF/OF Logan Porter (2025), RHP Gavin Ipanis (2025; Greenville), and OF Will Downs (2025) will all be names to watch. 

Even with the abundance of talent in their oldest class, the Tigers would not have made it to state last year without the stellar performances they got on the mound from RHP Chase Milburn (2026) and RHP Tony Eberlin (2026; TCU) as sophomores. We’ll start with Milburn, who was nothing short of sensational in ‘24, pitching to a 0.80 ERA over 61 ⅓ innings of work with a 9-0 record, 51 strikeouts, and 19 walks. Eberlin really impressed too, fanning 55 over 52 ⅔ frames with a 2.79 ERA and seven wins. The experience this duo gained, paired with their talent, gives Edwardsville arguably the state’s deepest pitching staff. Adding to that duo is INF/RHP Hunter Baugh (2026), a high IQ, grindy, gamer-type that’s one of the area’s all-around best players. He can really pick it on the infield, with the ability to play at multiple spots, and he swings a clean, direct right-handed bat that’s able to work on the barrel to the whole field. Adding to his winning talents are Baugh’s efforts on the hill, as he’s a mid-80s strike thrower with three pitches that isn’t scared of any moment. 

Edwardsville looks primed to continue their run as a dominant force atop of the 4A classification and the Tigers have a group as deep as the one that won it all in 2023. 

NO. 2 TRIAD

It’s the Knights that check-in at second overall on our preseason board with a loaded roster from top to bottom that extends across all of their grad classes. They won 24 games last spring before falling in their Regional Championship game, but a large majority of that group returns, and there’s some talented fresh faces who are more than ready to impact this group. 

In their senior class, RHP Drew Winslow (2025; Oklahoma State) is a dynamic, star-studded talent that’ll toe the rubber in plenty of key games for the Knights this spring. Fresh off leading their basketball team to a Sectional Championship, Winslow has been a major arrow-up name this winter. He sat in the low-90s from a true ¾ slot at the ScoutConnect Pro Day on February 19th and complimented that heater with a frisbee swing-and-miss slider, a darting upper-80s sinker, and a diving changeup that has the makings of a strong fourth pitch. If the stuff he’s shown this winter translates to the mound this spring, Winslow’s going to be one of the state’s best arms and firmly on all MLB Draft radars. 

A multitude of this team’s key pieces are seniors, which is always a positive. OF/LHP Hayden Bernreuter (2025; John A. Logan JC) swings an extremely physical left-handed barrel, slashing .380/.457/.628 in 121 at-bats with 16 doubles, four home runs, and 42 RBI. His juice translates to the mound as well, with a loud upper-80s fastball and firm slider that form a power pairing when he’s in the zone. Another loud left-handed barrel in this lineup is C/1B Landon Loomis (2025; Minnesota State), who’s expected to take the reins behind the plate and slashed .310/.430/.460 in 100 at-bats in 2024. OF Gabe Deaver (2025; McKendree) is a major breakout candidate that should have the opportunity to hit towards the top of this lineup. He’s one of the more polished left-handed hitters in the area with a clean, athletic left-handed swing that’s tacked on bat strength this winter. INF Hayden Bugger (2025; Kaskaskia) returns as the Knights’ starting shortstop and is another polished, experienced, and patient bat that’ll slot at the top of this order. RHP Sawyer Brunson (2025; Lewis & Clark CC) was impressive over 35 ⅔ innings on the mound last season and consistently competes, attacking hitters with a mid-80s fastball while pairing it with a sharp mid-70s breaking ball. 

Two transfers to keep an eye on are INF/RHP Nolan Keller (2026) and C/1B Keegan Seipp (2027). Like Winslow, Keller was a major part of Triad’s deep basketball playoff run and is a legitimate two-way talent on the diamond. He swings a strong right-handed barrel that really stood out across multiple looks last fall, can play a few positions on the infield, and he’s a mid-80s arm on the mound that can throw all three of his pitches for strikes. Seipp makes the move in from O’Fallon, where he saw regular playing time as a freshman last spring, and is one of the top ‘27 prospects in the Metro East. Packed with physicality at 6-foot-3, 221-pounds, Seipp was a standout at the ScoutConnect Winter Showcase, showing easy left-handed power in BP that should continue to translate to gameplay as he gets more varsity at-bats under his belt. 

The talent continues to extend from there for the Knights. RHP Nathan Klucker (2027) was nothing short of stellar throughout his freshman campaign, hurling 40 ⅔ innings to the tune of a 1.03 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, and 29 punchouts to 14 walks. RHP/1B Grayson Yank (2026) is a low-80s arm that can really spin a breaking ball and also swings a strong right-handed barrel. Another multi-sport athlete for this team is 3B/RHP Brody Hasquin (2027), who should be Triad’s QB1 next fall and played a role on their basketball team this winter, too. From a baseball perspective, Hasquin can really pitch, working in the zone with three pitches, including a low-80s fastball, and he adds more bat strength from the right side as well. INF Braxton Yates (2026), OF Auggie Bugger (2027), INF Kannon Seipp (2027), and 1B/RHP Jaxson Vaughan (2027) are four other names to watch for Triad this spring. 

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NO. 3 MASCOUTAH

Head coach Don Eddy and the Indians have established a culture of success at Mascoutah, winning 30 games in back-to-back seasons. A multitude of their sectional runner-up group from 2024 have departed due to graduation, but the Indians’ reload each year, and this club has a chance to be one of the area’s best. 

Everything Mascoutah does this year will start and end on the mound with a truly special one-two punch in RHP Austin Musso (2025; Arizona State) and RHP Darren Klein (2027). Musso has long been one of the most productive arms in the state, dating back to his freshman year, and he was absolutely spectacular in his junior campaign for Mascoutah. Across 56 innings of work, Musso pitched to a 0.75 ERA with 83 strikeouts and 26 walks. He was really impressive at the ScoutConnect Pro Day, filling up the strike zone with all four pitches, including a low-90s fastball and hard, two-plane low-80s slider that has the makings of an out-pitch at the next level. They’ll have an edge in almost any game he takes the mound, and the same can be said when Coach Eddy gives Klein the ball. As a freshman, Klein threw 54 ⅓ innings for the Indians, posting a 1.16 ERA with 34 strikes and, most impressively, walked just five batters. Since then, Klein has added 20+ pounds to his frame, jumping his fastball from sitting in the upper-70s to pitching at 85-87 mph across multiple looks this winter, including at the ScoutConnect Winter Showcase. He can really turnover a fading changeup, and put it where he wants, and his sharp mid-70s slider has flashed swing-and-miss spin at times. 

MIF Cameron Eddy (2025) and 1B Josh Amann (2025) are two regulars who return from last year’s group. Eddy can play multiple positions on the infield, though he’s likely to stick at shortstop this spring, and is a left-handed bat you’ll see atop this lineup. Amann, another left-handed hitter, hit .333 and reached base at a .432 clip last season and should also find himself near the middle of this order. Musso himself supplies plenty of power from the right side, slashing .309/.545/.593 with four home runs and 32 RBI in 2024. INF/RHP Nolan Lebert (2026) is a strong, athletic junior that can positively contribute on both sides of the ball, and the same can be said for C/RHP Carson Moll (2026), who should be a regular behind the plate for this group. OF/1B Nathan Walker (2026) and OF David Schulte (2026) are a pair of left-handed bats that have impressed our staff in our looks, and INF Gabe James (2027) can pick it on the infield and recently showed well at the ScoutConnect Winter Showcase. Two senior arms, RHP Brian Wuebbels (2025) and RHP Parker Henry (2025) both threw well at our ‘Fall Festival Tournament’ in October and have an opportunity to impact this team on the mound this spring.

NO. 4 GLENWOOD

Glenwood is a program that’s done nothing but win and produce high-level talent for the past several decades in Illinois. They’ve won 27 or more games in each of the past three seasons, including 30 wins last year, and a 33-win campaign in 2022 that included a 3A state runner-up finish. 

Speaking of premium talent, the Titans have one of the more talented arms in the entire country in LHP Cameron Appenzeller (2025; Tennessee), who’s in the middle of leading Glenwood’s basketball team to a trip to IHSA state. He’s an ultra free-and-easy mover down the mound with a quick, clean arm that’s done nothing but trend upward over the last 12 or so months. His fastball’s been up to 96 mph, though he’ll pitch in the low-to-mid-90s, and rip off a true swing-and-miss sweeper with sharp, late bite in the mid-to-upper-70s. Appenzeller’s changeup has made strides this winter, a pitch that’s amplified by his other two offerings and his ability to throw his entire arsenal in the zone when he wants to. It’s likely that his deep basketball playoff run stalls how much he’s on the mound early into the season, but once he gets rolling, the Titans will have the best arm in the Midwest at their disposal. 

Forming one of the state’s most talented duos on the mound with Appenzeller is RHP Dylan Huff (2026). Another multi-sport athlete, he was an all-conference selection on the football field in the fall, Huff is one of the top uncommitted junior arms in the state. It’s a clean, athletic, and low-effort delivery with balance/polish, producing an upper-80s fastball that’ll only continue to climb as he further fills out his 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. The separator for him is his ability to spin a true swing-and-miss slider with hard horizontal action that plays as a sweeper and is among the more impressive offerings in the state. Huff’s improved his changeup this winter, a low-80s pitch with subtle arm-side action that can be a complimentary third pitch to his arsenal. The strides Huff makes from an in-game perspective on the hill will play a huge factor into the success of this club, but the talented uncommitted junior certainly has the potential to be one of the top performers in Illinois. RHP Drew Wahlbrink (2025; Illinois-Springfield) is another upperclass arm to watch on this pitching staff. 

Positionally, the Titans are missing some pieces from last year’s club, but there are some upperclass names capable of filling in the mold. One name to keep an eye on is C Colten Knoedler (2026), who really impressed our staff at the ScoutConnect Winter Showcase. He’s the Titans’ starting quarterback and certainly looks like it, filling out the uniform with a physical, strength-packed frame. Knoedler’s calling card is his work behind the plate, as he’s a true defensive specialist that’s more than capable of captaining the talent on this pitching staff. With that said, his improvements at the plate showed at our event, and that should only lead to an uptick in his prospect status as a whole. CIF Joseph Sutton (2025; Montreat College) and CIF Blake Willan (2025; Spoon River JC) are a pair of senior bats committed to play baseball at the next level that are physical right-handed hitters. INF Daulton Nunes (2026) also showed well at our Winter Showcase in mid-February, and SS/2B Michael Lucas (2026) should return at some point this season from an injury suffered in the fall, with names like INF Joe Anderson (2025) and OF Alex Terlecki (2025) being two other names to know.

NO. 5 O’FALLON

Perennially one of the top teams in southern Illinois, the Panthers have a talented roster under new leadership, with head coach Dave Causey stepping into his first season at the helm of this program. 

O’Fallon is home to one of the area’s top arms in RHP Connor Blue (2025; Cincinnati). Long a staple on the hill for this program, Blue was his usual stellar self throughout last spring, posting a 1.90 ERA in 59 innings of work with 73 punchouts and 23 walks. He started to take another jump this winter, pitching in the low-90s consistently with improvements to an already lethal slider and budding changeup that may be his best pitch down the road. The Panthers will have a chance to win each game he’s on the mound, but he’s also one of their key bats, returning a .303 batting average and a team high 28 RBI from last spring. 

Two other integral seniors for this club are MIF Dane Hrasky (2025; Central Missouri) and OF/INF Camden Cox (2025; Lincoln Land CC). Hrasky was the Panthers’ top offensive performer in 2024, slashing .360/.470/.559 with 10 triples and 26 stolen bases. He can really run and uses his athleticism to his advantage in all areas of his game, including with the glove, where he’s likely to serve as the Panthers’ everyday shortstop. Cox is one of the tougher outs in the Southwestern Conference, bringing a grinder-type attitude to the plate each time he steps in the box. He walked (12) more times than he struck out (10) in his junior campaign, slashing .304/.395/.518 with 18 extra-base hits, drove in 26 runs, and also chipped in 15 stolen bases. Cox plays an adequate center field, though he’s also taken reps on the infield this spring, and he could see time at both spots as the season rolls on. 

The direction this season goes for the Panthers will rely heavily on what production their deep and talented junior class gives them. RHP/OF Tyson Filyaw (2026) is likely the top prospect of the bunch, especially for his efforts on the mound. A highly physical athlete with strength throughout his frame, Filyaw’s fastball barrels into the strike zone in the upper-80s with two secondaries (SL/CH) that complement it well. He’s also one to watch offensively, as he swings a strong right-handed barrel with impact potential. Similarly to Filyaw, OF/LHP Anthony Perez (2026) is another talented junior that should impact both sides of the ball for this club. His left-handed bat will fit nicely in the middle of this lineup and he has all sorts of athleticism to comfortably roam around the outfield. On the mound, Perez pitches in the mid-to-upper-80s while showing spin feel for a tight slider and rounding out his arsenal with a fading changeup. 

INF Carson Bauer (2026) deepens the talent in this junior bunch. He’s a lean, athletic left-handed hitter that works direct to contact and is plenty comfortable going the other way, though he’s started to show more pull-side impact this winter. Bauer’s a safe bet on the defensive end as well, where he’s able to play multiple positions on the dirt as a high IQ, scrappy, gamer-type. C Asher Cantu (2026) was another huge winner from this winter, coming away from the ScoutConnect Winter Showcase as one of its biggest winners. He cleaned up several things in his swing throughout the off-season and is impacting the baseball at a higher rate more consistently now, posting a 101 mph max exit velocity in BP to pair his 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame. OF/RHP Brayden Robertson (2026) is another staff favorite of ours. He swung a polished right-handed barrel BP at our winter event, back spinning line drives back up the middle of the field with some pull-side lift as well. He should factor into the starting outfield for this club and is also a low-80s arm on the mound that can spin a quality breaking ball for strikes. 

A pair of junior arms of note for the ‘Blazier Boys’ are RHP Sam McCollum (2026) and RHP Kaleb Weber (2026), both of whom are uncommitted. McCollum packs an abundance of strength throughout a compact frame, pumping his fastball in the mid-to-upper-80s with one of the area’s best sliders; a sharp, swing-and-miss mid-70s offering that he will double up on or throw in any count to both handed hitters. Weber is a long, lean-limbed projectable athlete with a mid-80s fastball and he’s able to land a low-70s curveball with big depth for strikes.

NO. 6 MT. ZION

The Braves fell to rival Chatham-Glenwood in the Regional Championship last season, returning a handful of names from a talented group that’s eager for more in 2025. 

OF/LHP Sam Driscoll (2025; Lindenwood) is the Braves’ all-around best player with talents that extend to both sides of the ball. He’s a highly competitive strike-thrower on the mound that’s been in the upper-80s with his fastball, showing confidence and feel for a CH/SL mix. He’ll also set the table for their lineup from the top spot as a polished left-handed bat that can spray it to all fields, take the extra base, and patrol center field. 

A standout strength for Mt. Zion is the depth they have on the mound, especially in their senior group. Transferring in from St. Thomas for his senior year is RHP/INF Andrew Tay (2025; Southeastern CC), an upper-80s arm with a high carry fastball that’s shown swing-and-miss spin with his breaking ball in the past. RHP/INF Jackson Beiler (2025; Black Hawk JC) is a long, lean, athletic arm with plenty of upside, pitching in the mid-80s with his fastball while also serving as the Braves’ starting shortstop last spring.

Captaining this group from behind the plate is C Carter Spangler (2025; Greenville), who’ll be tasked with leading this high-octane, and talented, pitching staff. INF Evan Hamrick (2025) is an uncommitted senior bat to add to this group. The next-in-line name for this Mt. Zion program is INF/RHP Connor Fox (2027), who’s an athletic arm with a mid-80s fastball that works in the zone often and a sharp, downer breaking ball to pair. RHP/1B Landon Workman (2027) has all sorts of upside on a long, lanky 6-foot-5, 180-pound frame that could be an impact name for this club, either now or in the future. MIF Davis Venters (2028) was a standout at the SBA Scout Day in mid-February and will look to make his mark early into his high school career for this team. He swings a polished right-handed bat that’s packed with intent, though his pathway to impact this varsity club as a freshman may come defensively, where he’s able to play multiple positions on the infield at a quality level. 

NO. 7 ALTON 

Alton may be the biggest sleeper on this list, capturing a Regional Championship last spring and falling by one run to Edwardsville in their first sectional match. Six position player starters and six arms return from last year’s group, with Head Coach Scott Harper’s club eyeing more in 2025. 

RHP/INF Reid Murray (2025; Lewis & Clark CC) and INF Deon Harrington (2025; St. Charles CC) are two prime returners for the Redbirds. Murray played a huge role on the mound throughout 2024, pitching to a 2.51 ERA in 12 starts with 53 punchouts over 58 ⅔ innings of work. He’s an athletic mid-80s strike-thrower that can mix-and-match a sharp, downer breaking ball and a fading changeup off his heater. He also was one of this team’s top offensive contributors, hitting .319 with a .483 on-base percentage while swiping 17 bags in total. Harrington should be Alton’s main offensive producer this season, bringing back a .346/.460/.510 triple-slash with 11 doubles, three triples, and 10 stolen bases. INF Carsen Bristow (2025) is another key returner, batting .299 with a .453 on-base percentage, with names like C Ayden Calvert (2025), RHP/INF Nolan Parker (2025), and OF Brayden Hogle (2025) all showing well in brief spurts last spring. 

Two juniors to keep an eye on for this club are RHP Logan Hickman (2026) and RHP/OF Jack Puent (2026). Few in the area may have improved their prospect stock this winter like Hickman, a long, athletic, and projectable right-handed arm that was consistently in the mid-to-upper-80s this spring with a sharp breaking ball that has the makings of a swing-and-miss offering. His progression on the mound factored a lot into the Redbirds being this high on our rankings, and how he holds his own as the spring rolls on could really benefit this club. Puent has a physical frame to match a strong left-handed swing that could impact the center of this lineup, flashing that in spurts as a sophomore in 2024. He’s also a follow on the mound, working his fastball in the low-to-mid-80s. 

Another factor for Alton this spring will be the emergence of RHP/C Anderson Kaufmann (2028), who checks every box as a potential star in the making. On the mound, Kaufmann was up to 89.4 mph in the final week of the winter, and he’s done nothing but throw strikes with a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper-80s. In fact, Kaufmann’s able to throw his three secondary pitches – slider, curveball, changeup – for strikes, and the movement profiles on all three offerings are different. As a position player, Kaufmann swings a strong right-handed bat that looks to leverage the baseball and he’s an asset behind the plate, especially from a catch-and-throw standpoint. It’s hard to shoulder a consistent everyday role as a freshman at the varsity level, but Kaufmann has the talent to be an immediate impact for this club. 

NO. 8 BELLEVILLE WEST 

The Maroons have earned a reputation of a scrappy, hard-nosed bunch that, year over year under Head Coach Todd Baltz, have proven themselves to be a tough bout on a game-to-game basis. They won 21 games last season and lost in their regional championship game. 

Multiple key pieces from that group are gone, and that core in general was a key part of the winning Belleville West has done over the past few years. Replicating the success that their 2024 had will be tough, but the Maroons do have a strong senior class in their own right, starting with INF/RHP Casey Fultz (2025; Lewis & Clark CC). Fultz was a standout for Belleville West as a junior last year, batting .330 and reaching base at a .477 clip, and he also saw plenty of success on the mound, pitching to a 1.35 ERA across 26 innings with 20 strikeouts and just seven walks. He’ll be a huge piece for this club, as will RHP/OF John Hilpert (2025; Jefferson JC), who’s another potential frontline arm for this group. Hilpert was one of Belleville West’s main offensive pieces last year, belting three home runs to match a .298/.411/.500 triple-slash, and a team-high 26 RBI. He’s made considerable strides on the mound in the last calendar year, pumping a loud mid-to-upper-80s fastball consistently in the strike zone and pairing it with a power low-80s slider that is going to miss bats at a high rate this spring. 

Another top returner is OF Ethan Hofmeister (2025; SWIC), a strong right-handed hitter that brings back a .310 batting average. There’s breakout potential with OF Treyton Bowen (2025; East Central CC), a high-level athlete that can really run and could force his way into an integral role this spring. Another outfielder, Will Fessell (2025), is an uncommitted senior that should have the opportunity to earn an everyday spot. 

The Maroons have a few juniors and sophomores to surround their strong senior core. C Braden Fournie (2026) may have been one of the area’s biggest winners this winter, including a breakout showing at the ScoutConnect Winter Showcase on February 15th. Fournie added considerable muscle mass this winter that helped him tick up at the plate from a power standpoint, as he’s now impacting the baseball at a much higher level than he did before. He’s always been a stellar defender behind the plate and gives the Maroons one of the better defensive backstops, especially from a catch-and-throw standpoint, in the area. INF AJ Fultz (2027) played on a regular basis as a freshman last season and more than held his own against a tough Southwestern Conference schedule. Another sophomore, OF Parker Wells (2027), has upside at the plate with bat speed and juice from the right side that could play himself into an everyday role rather quickly. INF Bryce Schaltenbrand (2026) saw success in a brief role last spring and is a strong, athletic right-handed bat with bat speed to pair. 

NO. 9 HIGHLAND 

Another program that’s done nothing but win throughout the tenure of legendary Head Coach Joel Hawkins, the Bulldogs are coming off a 31-win season that ended with a fourth place finish at the IHSA state playoffs. Several key pieces are gone from that club, but multiple return too, as Highland looks to be one of the top 3A teams in the state’s southern region. 

Pitching, defense, and small ball is the strength of all Highland clubs, and this year’s group appears to be no different than its predecessors. LHP Chase Knebel (2025; SWIC) is back as a two-way anchor for this group, though most importantly on the mound, where he’s amongst the area’s most valuable assets. In a 75 ⅓ inning workload last season, Knebel pitched to a 0.65 ERA with 68 strikeouts and only seven walks – an absurd number. He can flat-out pitch, working all three of his pitches for strikes in any count and to any hitter. Aside from that, Knebel hit .333 as a middle-of-the-order bat for Highland, reaching base at .443 clip and he drove in a team-high 39 runs. 

One name that should have a huge impact, especially on the mound, this season for Highland will be RHP Braxden Decker (2025; Eastern Illinois). Decker’s stuff is undeniably loud, starting with a fastball that plays in the mid-to-upper-80s with hard running action from a loose, fast, and athletic ¾ slot. He splits the plate with a true sweeping slider that has huge horizontal action and can be a pitch that grabs whiffs on the regular. To add to that, Decker should be a key piece of this offense as well and he provides added value on the bases, going a perfect 28-for-28 in stolen bases last season. How often Decker works in the zone with his dynamic arsenal is yet to be seen, but he and Knebel can form a stellar one-two punch at the top of the Bulldogs’ pitching staff. 

Two other seniors to know for this club are CIF Garrin Stone (2025; Quincy) and RHP Alex Howard (2025). Stone has all sorts of physicality in a 6-foot-3, 215-pound frame and should be a middle-of-the-order bat this season, while Howard returns a 3.09 ERA over 34 innings on the mound in his junior campaign. 

NO. 10 FREEBURG 

It’s Freeburg who rounds out our early preseason board, as the Midgets are another program that has a track record of consistent success. They were a young bunch last spring that played a challenging schedule and seemingly caught their stride as the season came to a close. A good chunk of that group returns for Head Coach Drew Gericke with the goal of building on what they started last year. 

We’ll start on the mound, where six arms from their 2024 club are back, including staff ace LHP Gabe Lueth (2025; SWIC). A strike-throwing southpaw, Lueth was excellent throughout the course of his junior campaign, pitching to a 2.20 ERA with 47 punchouts and just 14 walks in a 60 ⅓ inning sample. He’ll anchor this staff yet again, but the surrounding group around him is deep, including RHP Robert Fritz (2025) and RHP Christian Giovando (2025; Lewis & Clark). Fritz threw 35 ⅓ frames for the Midgets as a junior, with a 2.58 ERA in that span, and Giovando was a winner from our fall circuit, impressing at a fall event with a mid-80s fastball and sharp low-70s breaking ball. 

One arm to watch for this club is sophomore RHP Liam Scaiefe (2027). It’s rare that a freshman sees playing time in this Freeburg program, but Scaiefe did that and more last year, failing to allow a run in 19 ⅔ innings – he also struck out 22 batters, walking only four. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound right-hander has taken a jump this winter, bumping his fastball up into the mid-80s with consistent feel for both his slider and changeup. Expect Scaiefe to play a big role in the success that Freeburg has on the mound this upcoming season. 

Positionally, Freeburg has the advantage of several starters from last year’s team returning. CIF Ethan Foster (2025; Lewis & Clark) has all sorts of physical strength in a 6-foot-3, 225-pound frame and should slot nicely into the middle of this lineup after a quality junior year. INF Evan Rapp (2025) hit .290 across 107 plate appearances in 2024, reaching base at a .397 clip while adding in 11 stolen bases as well. UTL Sam Rauckman (2025; St. Louis CC) is able to play multiple positions on the diamond, and he can also pitch, adding versatility to this Freeburg lineup. OF/LHP Max Biehl (2025) swings a left-handed barrel and led the team in plate appearances last year while also providing a 2.23 ERA in 22 innings of work on the mound. 

Two sophomores that really impressed our staff at our Winter Showcase on February 15th were C Beau Breyman (2027) and LHP/OF Jonathan Barlow (2027). Breyman is one of the top sophomores in the area and has the talent to be one of the Midgets’ best players this year, despite being an underclassmen. He blends juice and feel to hit from the right-handed batter’s box and can provide a jolt to the middle of this lineup. Breyman’s biggest asset is his ability to control the run game with his catch-and-throw abilities, as he’s a true stopper from behind the dish. 

It’s not known how much, if any, of an impact Barlow will have at the varsity level as a sophomore this season, but the lean, lanky left-hander is one of the more projectable southpaws in the area. He’s a free-and-easy mover down the mound with a loose, fluid arm stroke that comes out of a ¾ slot and creates natural arm-side run on his fastball. Barlow’s heater doesn’t have overpowering velocity right now – he’ll climb into the low-80s at peak – but the physical projection left to come, paired with how easy he moves, suggests that there is plenty more left to come. He’s able to land a sweeping breaking ball for strikes and turn over a fading changeup too, giving him a complete three-pitch mix that should only continue to get better as he gets older.