By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor - Illinois/Wisconsin

Follow @PBRIllinois

The Illinois high school season kicks off on March 13, the first day for regular season games.

Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we will be rolling out team previews of high school teams all across the state and  across all classifications, eventually launching our Preseason Power 25.

We have been sending out our annual Preseason Questionnaire to coaches all across the state and as the responses flood in we will bring you a snapshot of what to expect along with top players and keys to success for that particular team.

Team: Lemont
Preseason Rank: 11
2016 Record: 30-9
Conference: South Suburban Blue
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Brian Storako
Playoff Run: 3A State Champions
2016 Final Rank: 3
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 5

Top Players

KEY PLAYERS LOST
Garrett Acton, RHP/1B, 2016 (Texas Tech)
Nick Wisz, INF, 2016 (Parkland JC)
Austin Tittle, 3B/RHP, 2016 (Lewis)
Casey O'Brien, C/1B, 2016 (Heartland CC)
Danny Rizzo, RHP, 2016 

X-FACTOR
Since taking the helm in 2013 Coach Brian Storako has collected a 106-35 record at Lemont, winning two state titles in three years (2104, 2016), putting a big target on the Indians back as the new powerhouse in 3A. Lemont is likely to see everyone's "best" in 2017 as teams look to knock them off the pedestal. How the Indians handle that will speak to a lot of their 2017 success.

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
The Indians lost a big chunk of the middle of their lineup after graduating Garrett Acton (.435), Casey O’Brien (.412) and Nick Wisz (.391), but KC Simonich should fill a large portion of that hole. Simonich transferred to Lemont at the start of the school year from Joliet Catholic where he anchored the middle of the Hilltopper lineup. The transfer adds a big bat to Coach Storako’s lineup which will be much needed after losing so much offense from the state championship roster.

 

KC Simonich (2.14.16)

STAT RAT
In 26 combined games, juniors Ryan Sublette and Nate Madej worked over 110 innings collecting 14 of Lemont's 30 wins in 2016. Sublette and Madej both appeared in 13 games on the year and posted sub 2.3 ERA's while striking out 77 and 76 respectively. The luxury of having two staff aces with that kind of experience should bode well for Lemont come playoff time, a virtual 1A and 1B of the rotation.

OUTLOOK
The Indians should be able to lean on team defense in 2017 as the middle of the infield returns with SS Dominic Connolly and 2B Angel Salinas, add transfer 3B KC Simonich to that infield and that should take some pressure off of Sublette and Madej to strike out nearly 1.5 an inning as they did last year. The Indian lineup will have a new look in 2017; take away the big bopping bats of Acton, Wisz and O'Brien who blasted 10 of the Indians 12 total home runs in 2016 and replace it with a leaner, athletic bunch that will likely put more pressure on opposing team defense with Connolly, Salina and Simonich.

BOTTOM LINE
The defending 3A state champs bring battle tested experience back to the field in 2017, but finding depth to the pitching staff could be the biggest hole to fill for Coach Storako. If a couple of young arms step up and they reload the middle of their offensive lineup, the Indians could be making another run at a Silver Cross Field dogpile.

Make sure to follow @pbrillinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the season.

preseason countdown