Pitching should be a strength around Naperville this season as multiple teams rely on returning starters and talented newcomers.
BENET
The Redwings (21-10), who won a Class 3A regional title last season, have a strong pitching staff with seniors Jake Rifenburg (Northwestern) and Gino Zagorac (Wichita State) joined by seniors Josh Gugora (Illinois Wesleyan), Tristan Lakis (Webster), Jonathon Rossi (Webster), Ethan Mendez (Roosevelt), Anthony Filippo (DuPage) and Luke Wildes (St. Johns River State).
Benet’s top hitters include seniors Aiden Mersinger (Knox), Luke Stachowiak (McKendree) and Merrick Sullivan (Ithaca).
METEA VALLEY
The Mustangs (11-19) hope their pitching will be a strength, with seniors Connor Lavery (Hope), Anthony Cassano (Benedictine) and Caleb Allen and sophomore Tyler Gluting all returning.
Also back for Metea Valley is senior pitcher Anthony Tardif, who earned All-DuPage Valley Conference honors as a sophomore but missed last season with a torn labrum. Senior catcher Matt Reilly (Illinois Institute of Technology) is the other returning starter.
NAPERVILLE CENTRAL
A lot of new faces will take the field for the Redhawks (17-15), who return only three starters, all of them pitchers. But coach Mike Stock is excited about how the trio of seniors Chase Reeder and Troy Kashul and junior Grant Umbright will do. All averaged more than one strikeout per inning last season.
Kashul, meanwhile, batted .424 with 27 RBIs.
NAPERVILLE NORTH
The Huskies (15-15) are another team with experienced pitching, led by seniors Matt Sonnenschein (Wisconsin-La Crosse), Yash Desai (Wesleyan) and Brandon Person and junior Max Steele.
Naperville North’s offense is more of a question mark but does return senior catcher Zach Bava (Illinois State), a fourth-year starter who is 21 hits shy of the program’s career hits record after batting .398 last season.
NEUQUA VALLEY
The Wildcats (16-20) return five starters after winning a 4A regional title last season. Senior Mike Langan moves from third base to shortstop for his third varsity season, and senior outfielder Jorden Castillo hit .339 last season.
Senior Jack Martin takes over as the ace of Neuqua Valley’s pitching staff after recording a 2.13 ERA in 19 1/3 innings last season.
WAUBONSIE VALLEY
The Warriors (25-10), who won the DVC regular-season and tournament titles and then reached the 4A sectional finals last season, return an experienced roster. Two-way star senior Owen Roberts (Indiana State) will be joined on the mound by senior Seth Gilliland (Wisconsin-Whitewater), sophomore Cole Ruggeri (Missouri), senior Danny McGuigan (Aurora), senior Nick Lambert and senior Gabriel Lunardini.
Roberts, senior Hiroshy Wong, senior Josh Hung, sophomore Shane Torres, junior Ryan Lucas and senior Connor Beren lead the offense.
Matt Le Cren is a freelance reporter.
