2010 Pre-Season Rankings

Nice list Ball4 life.

I think you can pencil in Barrington somewhere in the top 15. Find a spot for them.

If you are going to through a list like that in here why don't you put your reasons for each team?

In talking with the LZ HC, he's very confident in his pitching but feels his offense is a big ???

Cary Grove needs to be in there somewhere.

Lincoln Way East would take each of those teams in a 3-game series. The South Suburban conference which is arguably a top 3 conference in the Chicagoland area is completely dissed in your list. Visit the I-80 corridor more often and subrscribe to the Southtownstar.

How good is Stevenson this year? Besides Sheck, and Radke what else do they have? Who rounds out their staff?

rrf why cary grove?

Returning many key starters from final four team. They are battle tested. They also had a very strong sophomore team, with pitching. Plenty of power in their batting order and some speed.

I also like the fact that some of their key players were also high performers on the state championship football team. Their work ethic and leadership will raise the bar for the younger players.

I don't reaaly agree but that is what I was looking for instead of the old list just thrown out there. Thx

Why don't you agree? Maybe there is something that I did not consider.

Thought they lost quite a few from last years run. Don't know much on the soph squad. I don't equate the football run which was great to the baseball playoffs.
Hope your kids are doing well at College.

Thanks. I appreciate the well wishes. Who do you like in the FVC then?

Don't know the rest of fvc this year to make a pick. I am sure cg and pr will do well in conference just not sure they will be top 15 in state like thread started.

I believe that Grayslake Central may be the best the FVC has to offer this year.

Really not seeing that. They lost a lot off of their roster from last season. I just don't see them in CG's or PR's league, but that is the beauty of the preseason.

I think pitchandcatch97 would have a pretty good feel on that fvc.

I guess I would just like to know the thoughts behind his prediction also.

Grayslake Central definitely has a good core of players. They have some experience now too, with a third-place finish at state last year. pitchandcatch knows the fvc, end of story. CG and PR will also be competitive this spring, with the slight edge to Ridge.

Why pr ball4life?

I'll stand by my prediction. CG will have the best conference record in the FVC, with PR a close second. As you know, Grayslake Central came in 3rd in 3A.

I give PR the edge because of the seniors and good coaching. They have a good core of players with almost every position being fielded by a senior. The pitching staff will be young and inexperienced, but will come together as the season goes on. But perhaps the biggest factor is the coaching. Coach Pec coming back always puts PR into contention, no matter the talent. The program now has stability it lacked for the past two seasons, despite winning a state championship. Pec is one of the best coaches in that area, if not the best. Him and his staff will always have an impact on the team no matter what.

I can't disagree with the Coach Pec logic. He will make a tremendous impact. It will be very interesting to see just how much difference he makes. I can't question PR's young pitching this year either. I did that last year and their, at the time unproven, staff greatly exceeded my expectations. Great programs always seem to have someone step up.

Yes Coach Pec does a great job no doubt there. As far as seniors go I have always found it to depend on the individual along wih the usual question, are those senior playing in college? If they are then usually driven, if not I find many seem to lose focus as the year progresses. If your pitching is a question mark then I would be concerned also. Best of luck with the new season.

After coaching the last 3 years in the fvc, I think I have a pretty good opinion on this subject. Grayslake Central will be the best team in the the fox divison with players like Murphy(SIU), Tielke (Heartland), Gargano, Gentile, and DeRue. Behind GLC, CLC and PR would be next. PR has great speed and I dont think you will find a faster outfield then what they have Kaczmarski(Evansville), Henderson(Villanova) and Mertins. CLC had a pretty decent starting 3 with Sadzeck (Oklahoma), Cysewski, and Dunkel. Cary would be my pick to win the Valley with South and a young Jacobs squad. Cary still has Waylock, Gaulke, Chandler along with newcomers in Vilardo and a big surprise to everyone in LHP Matt Panek. These are just my opinions. Take it for what its worth.

One thing I will take issue with is a comment made by Ball4Life. You stated the program did not have stability the last two years. Me being in the building and being on staff, I totally disagree. Coach Haskins did an outstanding job in the two years he was there. The only reason he left is because he wouldnt have been able to coach and teach in the same building which was one of his goals. He never had any intentions of leaving PR and worked his butt of for that program. Yes we had some outstanding players come through that program but he did a great job. Coach Pec would be the first person to tell you that and appreciates where the program was left when he took back over.
All three coaches PR has ever had have been outstanding coaches and I have taken some, if not a lot from all of them and appreciate all the opportunities that they have given me.
Mick Matsie
St. Charles East High School
Pro Player Academy

May be tooting the alma mater horn here, but Providence is definitely an underrated ballclub this year... or at least one that isn't receiving enough attention..returning all but 2 starters and essentially the entire staff from a team that lost in the sectional championship last year? I would put their staff up against anyone's in the state..at least 5 future collegiate pitchers. I like them to take the CCL this year and make a deeper run than last year.

quote:

Originally posted by Provi Celtics 08:
May be tooting the alma mater horn here, but Providence is definitely an underrated ballclub this year... or at least one that isn't receiving enough attention..returning all but 2 starters and essentially the entire staff from a team that lost in the sectional championship last year? I would put their staff up against anyone's in the state..at least 5 future collegiate pitchers. I like them to take the CCL this year and make a deeper run than last year.

What about the team that beat them in state tourney? They have 7 of the 10 players that played that day coming back, and they picked up Shane Conlon from Rita. Should be a great game the second week of the season between those two teams. I've been watching Naperville Central baseball for 5 years now, and Providence is the only new team they have ever added to the schedule. Otherwise they play the same teams every year the first two weeks of the season. I can understand why Providence would want another shot at Central after the tournament game last June.

I'll bet a dollar to a dime Sieple will not show Providence the same pitcher they saw as the starter in the state tourney. He'll "hide" that kid from any potential playoff teams except for conference games.

Can't disagree with you on that point, knew about NC picking up Conlon but was unaware they had 7 returners coming back as well. Definitely agree that it will be a great early season rematch from last year's sectional and it's also good to see both teams playing quality opponents early in the season.

NC will get challenged that week

Monday April 5th against Joliet Catholic
Thursday, April 8th against Providence
Saturday, April 10 against Stevenson

We'll see what they are made of early in the season, but as they found out last year, the tournament is in late May early June and they were certainly a different team late in the season as opposed to early in the year.

Celtics have a couple of scrawny lefties, one the brother of a lefthanded catcher, I think.

Good luck at St Joes, have a good year. See you in the dome. Mike is sweating out tryouts.

Check out who Illinois Prep Baseball Report has namend as the number one team in the state. I just hope they can live up to that billing.

Oh boy here we go

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That's right 2bagger...hang on!

Which school is going to finish on top?

I can't quite make out the names of the school districts... anyone know?




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How about OPRF?????

They're one of the best programs and caching staff in the State. Where are they ranked?

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Oh you guys in Oak Park...they haven't quite figured out where you belong.






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quote:

NC will get challenged that week

Monday April 5th against Joliet Catholic
Thursday, April 8th against Providence
Saturday, April 10 against Stevenson

Hope Palatine's 8 returning starters can compete with them on the 6th

Prep Baseball Report has just listed their top 50 teams in the state. Let the debates begin.

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I wonder which team is fifty one?

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After reviewing Prep Baseball Report's Top 50 rankings, and on the advice of my attorney, I will state the following.

No comment.

Minooka looks solid--one hiccup agianst tough opponet- I believe they are 10-1. Have a nice balanced team with a good blend of players.