Mundelein and Stevenson will try to challenge defending Class 4A state champion Libertyville in the North Suburban Conference. Can anyone dethrone Grayslake Central in the Northern Lake County Conference?
Top 10 teams
1. Libertyville (36-4): The defending Class 4A state champion Wildcats, who also won the North Suburban Conference title, are poised to contend again with three starting pitchers and five position players returning. Senior right-hander Chase Lockwood (Illinois State), who went 10-0 with a 0.72 ERA, and junior right-hander Brady Buenik (Tennessee), who went 5-0 with a 1.24 ERA, will eat plenty of innings, and senior left-hander Nico Harper (Olivet Nazarene), who went 2-2 with a 2.45 ERA, moves higher on the depth chart. The middle of the lineup will feature senior outfielder Carson Holmes, who hit .416 with five home runs, and junior Ryan Wilberding (Marshall), who moves from the outfield to catcher. The left side of the infield will consist of senior third baseman Bode Rohrbach and senior Trevor Wallace, who shifts from second base. Senior outfielder Jack Cenar is also back.
2. Mundelein (23-11-2): The Mustangs look to extend their run of five straight 20-win seasons and appear to have the talent to do it, as well as challenge Libertyville in the NSC. The pitching staff includes a solid collection of seniors led by right-hander Johnny Weiss (Illinois-Springfield), left-hander Will Bemrich (Parkland) and right-hander Logan Young. Weiss will also play in the middle infield and spearhead a lineup that includes senior second baseman/outfielder Trevor Carman, senior middle infielder Frankie Lesniak and junior outfielder Miller Rastrelli.
3. Grayslake Central (26-10): The five-time defending Northern Lake County Conference champion Rams have racked up 50 wins in the past two seasons and have their sights set on winning at least a regional title after two years without one. They are particularly strong up the middle with senior second baseman Carson Woods, who hit .390 with 35 runs scored, junior shortstop Charlie Surowiec, senior center fielder Bryce Carlson and senior catcher Soren Hansen. Senior first baseman Beckham Stone, who hit .342 with a team-high four home runs, is a middle-of-the-order presence. Senior right-handers TJ Rodriguez (Milwaukee Area Tech), who had a 1.24 ERA, and Luke Eckenstahler (Milwaukee Area Tech) will top the rotation. Senior right-hander Rocco Rand, who had a 1.70 ERA, will slot in the back end of the bullpen.
4. Stevenson (16-18): New coach Chris D’Amato inherits a team that finished below .500 for the first time since 2014 but is poised to rebound. The Patriots have 15 seniors, a group that features pitching depth and hitters who have totaled nearly 500 at-bats. The rotation includes senior right-handers Frank Costabile (UIC) and Ryan Harris (UIC), who both also play in the outfield, and senior right-hander Drew Clark, who missed last season following Tommy John surgery but had a 2.93 ERA in 2024. A wild card on the mound is basketball standout Aidan Albrecht, a high-velocity senior right-hander who hasn’t played baseball for two years. Other returning senior starters are third baseman Sam Adelman, shortstop Aidan Crawley (Illinois Wesleyan) and outfielder Mason Nolasco (Elmhurst).
5. Wauconda (20-14): The Bulldogs will be able to score runs with a lineup that returns virtually intact after averaging 10 hits per game. Leading the way once again is senior third baseman Jackson Rudolph (Illinois-Springfield) and junior outfielder Luke Sickmeir, who hit .494. Seniors Jake Thorstenson and Jaxson Miglans round out the outfield, and Rudolph’s brother Brody, a junior, returns to catch. Senior right-hander Lucas Swanson, who will also play shortstop, and junior right-hander Brayden Kirchwehm, who will also play second base, top the rotation.
6. Lakes (21-14): The Eagles have 17 seniors, including at least seven who will play in college. Anchoring the rotation will be senior right-hander Brett Beerbower (Wisconsin-Stevens Point), who went 5-1 with a 1.99 ERA, and senior right-hander Carson Norris (SIU-Edwardsville). New coach Brett Hill thinks as many as 12 others will be able to pitch effectively. The infield includes senior shortstop Ethan Jablonski, senior first baseman Ean Ankney and senior second baseman Jacob Kane. Senior John Zutkis and junior Peter Ney will deploy in the outfield.
7. Warren (20-15): The Blue Devils’ prospects for reaching the 20-win mark again are bolstered by the return of senior right-handers Peyton Balanag (College of Lake County) and Braylan McCarthy (Milwaukee Area Tech), who combined for 110 strikeouts in 106 innings. Junior right-hander Mason Palmer, who made an impressive varsity debut with a 1.70 ERA, and senior right-handers Cooper Clark and Kyler Loeffler also will pitch. The infield will be a strength with senior shortstop Colin Dreckmann (St. Mary’s Minnesota), senior second baseman Mattew Illescas and junior third baseman Braxton Goodfellow.
8. Lake Forest (17-17): The Scouts are primed for success with virtually their entire pitching staff back. Senior left-hander Nate Brezak (Polk State), senior left-hander Callum Morrison and senior right-hander Luke Pasquesi are a formidable trio. All three will play in the field as well. Senior right-hander Charlie Melin also could get starts. The lineup figures to feature senior right fielder Charlie Quick and senior catcher Dylan Cran.
9. Carmel (11-24): The Corsairs’ depth will be a strength, especially on the mound, and players with at least some starting experience return at every position. The top pitcher is senior right-hander Emerson Larson (Quincy), and he’ll be followed by sophomore left-hander Josh Ouimette, who also plays in the outfield. Junior right-hander Dalten Weber and sophomore left-hander Brody Connelly also will pitch. The top bat in the lineup is versatile junior Michael Haran, who will see most of his time in the outfield Others to watch are senior second baseman Preston Dahm and junior utility infielder JJ Doyle.
10. Deerfield (15-21): The Warriors have seven starters returning to the lineup and three starting pitchers back too. Leading the offensive attack will be senior shortstop Easton Newman (NIU), who hit .347 with 30 runs scored. Other veterans are junior first baseman Chase Golding, versatile junior Jack Agran, sophomore catcher Daniel Linderman and sophomore third baseman Grant Wilson. Heading the rotation will be senior left-hander Sean McNair (Lafayette) and senior right-hander Will Swender (Rochester).
25 players to watch
• Peyton Balanag, Warren, senior, pitcher
• Brett Beerbower, Lakes, senior, pitcher
• Nate Brezak, Lake Forest, senior, pitcher
• Brady Buenik, Libertyville, junior, pitcher
• Colin Chung, Lake Zurich, senior, pitcher/second baseman
• Frank Costabile, Stevenson, senior, pitcher/outfielder
• Colin Dreckmann, Warren, senior, shortstop
• Hunter Feldkamp, Antioch, senior, third baseman
• Carson Hamblin, Lake Zurich, junior, outfielder
• Ryan Harris, Stevenson, senior, pitcher
• Carson Holmes, Libertyville, senior, outfielder
• Emerson Larson, Carmel, senior, pitcher
• Chase Lockwood, Libertyville, senior, pitcher
• Robert Miller, Vernon Hills, senior, pitcher
• Andrew Mitchell, Zion-Benton, senior, pitcher
• Easton Newman, Deerfield, senior, shortstop
• Carson Norris, Lakes, senior, pitcher
• JD Novacek, Grayslake North, junior, catcher
• Zach Rubin, Antioch, senior, shortstop
• Jackson Rudolph, Wauconda, senior, third baseman
• Luke Sickmeir, Wauconda, junior, outfielder
• Beckham Stone, Grayslake Central, senior, first baseman
• Johnny Weiss, Mundelein, senior, second baseman/pitcher
• Ryan Wilberding, Libertyville, junior, catcher
• Carson Woods, Grayslake Central, senior, second baseman
Steve Reaven is a freelance reporter.
