Continued from Big Boys on the Block, part 2 

#5 St. Charles North
On paper, the North Stars have as much talent and quality arms as any team in the state. Coach Todd Genke returns seven starters and four pitchers from last year’s squad, and will be further bolstered by a top-level junior class. Senior C Mike Corrigan (St. Louis University) and 1B-LHP Jeff Holm (Michigan State) are the first Division I signees in school history. Corrigan is a steadying force behind the plate and has good pop; and Holm is an excellent athlete with good hands. Senior SS-RHP Greg Stolzenburg (6-4, 195) is primed for a breakout season. The North Stars’ junior class is absolutely loaded, led by left-handed hitting OF Jake Thornton (.359 BA), who earned all-conference honors as a sophomore, and hard-throwing LHP Danny Jimenez. Junior RHP-MIF Brian De La Torriente and RHP-OF Sam Weinberg are also an impressive prospects. Keep an eye on Zach Hirsch, a 6-3 sophomore LHP who has the talent to be exceptional.

FINALWORD: If the juniors live up to their potential,then we like their chances to advance to the state quarterfinals. 

#6 Rockford Boylan
The return of Clemson-bound Jake Smolinski alone makes the Titans a dangerous team. Now add in four other returning starters and four more experienced pitchers from last year’s team that advanced to the state quarterfinals, and coach Paul Heitkamp’s squad has the makings of a state-title contender. RHP-SS Smolinski, one of the top players in the country, is the man at the plate (.441 BA, 13 HR, 13 doubles, 49 RBI, 50 runs), on the mound (8-1 record) and in the field. Joining Smolinski in the rotation is junior RHP Josh Downing (9-0, 1.64 ERA), senior RHP Chris Thoms (4-2, 2.74 ERA), senior RHP Chucky Gille (2-0, 2.86 ERA) and senior LHP Tommy Kotis. The lineup will be bolstered by the return of senior C Austin Licon (.333 BA, 3 HR, 21 RBI), OF Kotis (.333 BA, 5 HR, 18 RBI) and OF Thoms (.352 BA, 6 doubles).

FINALWORD: In its sectional, Boylan should be the favorite to make a repeat visit to the state quarterfinals, which would be its third since 2003, when it finished second.

#7 Rockford Guilford
The Vikings have the pitching depth and experience to make a deep postseason run. They also have the ace, Creighton-bound RHP Cody Scarpetta, who can shut down any team, any time. The 6-2, 225-pound Scarpetta has one of the best arms in the state and is on the shortlist of many professional scouts’ watchlist this spring. But Scarpetta isn’t a one-man show for the Vikings. Coach Cory Schrank returns four experienced pitchers and five starters from last year’s team that lost in the regional final. Senior RHP-1B Ryan Jacobson is a strong No. 2 option for Guilford, and will be joined by senior RHP-SS DaQuan Lockhart, who is also one of the team’s offensive catalysts. Keep an eye on the emergence of junior LHP-OF Zigmond VanderWal, who should be a factor on the mound and at the plate. Senior C Zach Smith and senior INF Jordan Bigger also return.

FINALWORD: The NIC-9 should be very interesting this season, with Guilford and Boylan battling it out for supremacy, and Harlem not far behind.

#8 Edwardsville
The Tigers have been one of the state’s most successful teams over the last 15 years, and coach Tim Funkhouser should have his team primed for another state quarterfinal run. The Tigers return six pitchers and four starters from last year’s team that fell to O’Fallon in the sectional final. Arkansas State-bound SS Todd Baumgartner (.450 BA, 14 doubles, 4 HRs, 41 runs, 35 RBIs) is the team’s catalyst. RHP-1B Dominic Patterozzi (.374 BA, 28 RBIs, 9 doubles) didn’t pitch last spring because of injury, but he has a power arm and can dominate. Senior OF-RHP Elliot Frey (.286, 25 runs, 24 RBIs) and senior C Ted Messer (.348 BA, 5 HRs, 32 RBIs) are both key returners in the middle of the lineup. Senior RHP Michael Strope (2-0, 2.80 ERA) should factor on the mound, and keep an eye on LHP Dane Opel and RHP Gregg Culp, both sophomores, to develop.

FINALWORD: The Tigers should be the favorites to win the tough Southwestern Conference, and possibly make their eighth state appearance since 1990.

#9 Brother Rice
The Crusaders surprised many by winning the hyper-competitive Chicago Catholic Blue title last year, then went on to advance to the sectional final. And they did so with a team full of sophomores. Although coach Tim Lyons will only have two seniors, the Crusaders are primed for another stellar season, led by two-time all-conference 2B-RHP Mike McQuillan (.366 BA, 23 RBIs, 7 doubles). Junior P-OF Ryan Wischhover (8-2 record, 2.03 ERA; .396 BA) is the team’s table-setter and No. 1 pitcher. Junior 6-6 1B-P Tom Hickey (.393 BA, 21 RBIs), junior RHP Sean O’Reilly (4-2 record) and junior OF Doug Schumacher (.360 BA over summer) were all significant contributors as sophomores. Lyons will also count on junior 3B Cameron Anello and sophomores Bob Schuch, an OF-P, and OF Kevin Koehler this season. SS-P Kevin Koziol will be the second player in school history to start as a freshman.

FINALWORD: The future is extremely bright for the Crusaders - and so is the present. But it won’t be a surprise this year if they make run at the conference title and beyond.

#10 Mount Carmel
In seven seasons as head coach, Brian Hurry’s teams have captured four sectional titles, made two state quarterfinal appearances and averaged 29 wins. The Caravan, who lost to Lyons in the supersectionals last year, have the talent to make another postseason run. The Caravan have two frontline starting pitchers in Iowa-bound RHP Tony Manville (5-2, 1.60 ERA) and Northern Illinoisbound LHP Tom Zelasko (6-4, 2.64 ERA, 56 Ks). Also in the rotation will be senior RHP Kevin Moriarty (4-1, 2.39 ERA), senior Nick Tritschler (3-1, 1.78 ERA) and promising sophomore prospect Kevin Johnson. The graduation of PBR All-Stater Lenell McGee leaves a big hole in the lineup, but look for Manville (.354 BA, 22 RBI), senior OF Tom Barry (.402 BA, 43 runs, 9 extra-base hits), senior 3B John Morsovillo (.368 BA, 24 runs) and senior OF Ryan Phelps (.322 BA, .451 OBP) to pick up the offensive slack.

FINALWORD: Another sectional title is likely in the forecast, but will their offense score enough to make another trip to the state quarerfinals?

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