Probably wouldn't look too much into this, but I thought I'd put it out there. Here are the Illinois teams that are in ESPN's pre-season high school baseball rankings (Top 50):
25-Brother Rice
40-Highland Park
48-Prairie Ridge
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Well, these are PRE-season. HP had a 5 am practice today, even though it's Pulaski Day.
Ball4Life do you have a link for this?
Considering the local writers from the Trib have been a disaster covering baseball--I would question any "National Polls".
Don't get me wrong-these are 3 very talented teams listed, quite possibly the three best in the state, but if the city's flagship newspaper cant even do a decent job of covering high school baseball in its circulation area, what makes people think that this poll has any validity whatsoever?
Don't get me wrong-these are 3 very talented teams listed, quite possibly the three best in the state, but if the city's flagship newspaper cant even do a decent job of covering high school baseball in its circulation area, what makes people think that this poll has any validity whatsoever?
JMHO
I may be wrong but I doubt any team from Illinois is really in the top 50 nationwide. It's not like travel where you can most of the best players in the state on one team that can compete to some degree.
There are just too many good players down south and out west.
I may be wrong but I doubt any team from Illinois is really in the top 50 nationwide. It's not like travel where you can most of the best players in the state on one team that can compete to some degree.
There are just too many good players down south and out west.
bbfan58: Besides Menke (your son) and AJ Nathan, w2ho are the main players on HP this year?
bballdad1954: Besides Jon & AJ Nathan, we have Anthony Kopp, among others. These 3 have been the mainstay of the '09'since they started travel ball when they were nine. The majority of the team has played together since then. We also have Rick Johnston, Alex Mirman, Brian Evans, and Eric Manpearl. Also, we're hoping Bryce Codell can contribute as a lefty pitcher. While none are household names, they are solid players. Of these 8, all (except Manpearl) are going to play college ball. Eric decided to go to Rice and won't try out for the team.
In essence, we have 5 kids that can throw 84+. What helps is we have a solid defense and can hit, although we won't have the thunder we had last year. Jon, Anthony, and AJ made the varsity as sophomores, although Jon & AJ were used at both levels throughout the year in '07.
Our Junior class is weak, although there are 2 players who might be able to help.
The questions we face are the injury bug - will it bite or not, plus who will play third when Jon pitches and who will take Kopp's place when he's on the mound.
AJ might have to do some pitching, but he is rock solid behind the plate and has a deadly throw to second.
In essence, we have 5 kids that can throw 84+. What helps is we have a solid defense and can hit, although we won't have the thunder we had last year. Jon, Anthony, and AJ made the varsity as sophomores, although Jon & AJ were used at both levels throughout the year in '07.
Our Junior class is weak, although there are 2 players who might be able to help.
The questions we face are the injury bug - will it bite or not, plus who will play third when Jon pitches and who will take Kopp's place when he's on the mound.
AJ might have to do some pitching, but he is rock solid behind the plate and has a deadly throw to second.