Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 19 Prairie Ridge

KEY PLAYERS LOST

Joseph Hansen, RHP/1B
Roth Mizell, 2B
Nick Sargeant, 1B
Scott Stetz, C (Lake County CC)

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

You’ll see in the Outlook and X-Factor sections below that the Wolves are going to win games this spring with their versatility. They have numerous two-way-talented contributors who are going to trade innings on the mound and quality at-bats with each other.

That’s what makes Holden Phelps unique to this Prairie Ridge squad. The 6-foot-5 righty is really only going to work from the mound this spring for PR, and he’s arguably the prospect on this staff with the highest ceiling.

We got our first look at Phelps back in January of 2017, where, he was up to 77 mph. A year later, he gained six ticks, roughly, and spent all of his sophomore season growing into his lanky, long-limbed frame at the junior varsity level. By all accounts, Phelps had a strong sophomore season and is looking to seamlessly transition that success onto a varsity mound this month. We saw the new-look Phelps a few more times since last spring, and he’s ascended into an arm Prairie Ridge can really rely on this season, one with ace-like potential.

He touched 90 mph at August’s All-State Games and sat in the 87-88 mph range at last month’s Preseason All-State event. He’s finally beginning to harness his live arm, which is a warning siren for the Fox Valley Conference.

Holden Phelps (2.10.19)

X-FACTOR

Dominic Listi is this rotation’s most impactful lefty and might also be the team’s most valuable bat. The North Central College commit is a natural defender in the outfield, helped along by his sneaky athleticism that translates on the mound. On the rubber, Listi is clean and reliable, capable of sitting in the low 80s with a feel for his offspeed. He won’t be required to give the Wolves any more than a chance to win when he’s handed the ball to start.

The senior is much more integral to this team’s offense, and he’ll likely return to the top of the order, the spot in the order he most often called home last spring. His ability to grind out quality at-bats sets the tone for the rest of this lineup, one that’s going to look very similar to last year’s.

Listi is Prairie Ridge’s motor. When he’s firing on all cylinders, so are the Wolves.

OUTLOOK

The Crystal Lake-area program has always been a diamond hidden in the northwest suburbs of Chicago. There are even two major leaguers in pro ball today with Prairie Ridge roots to help validate that point: the New York Mets’ Kevin Kaczmarski (2010) and the Oakland Athletics’ Nick Martini (2008).

And while Phelps probably generates the highest upside among the Ridge prospects in 2019, the Wolves are deep and returning five of their best starters, with a steady group of junior reinforcements on the way to plug any holes – not that there are many on paper.

This spring’s Wolves team is all about versatility. The roster is littered with players who are authentically capable of contributing on both sides of the ball, led by senior Ben Harris, a Judson commit, who is also the No. 75-ranked prospect in the state. When we first saw Harris in January of 2018, he looked more like an everyday catcher who could eat some innings on the mound. Ever since, Harris’ pitching profile has caught up to his abilities at the plate and behind it. He touched 88 mph at a PBR Wisconsin event in the summer and pairs it with an aggressive slider.

Harris was primarily used as this team’s closer last spring during its run to the 3A sectional final. He was handed a hard-luck loss to Antioch in the postseason, after the Sequoits walked the Wolves off in the bottom of the seventh after a couple of errors put the go-ahead runner on base.

It remains to be seen how Harris will be used this spring – if he’ll be stretched into a starter, or left alone as a dominant high-leverage reliever – but either way, he’s one of the impact players on this team.

While Harris is a sound catcher himself, the future Flames backstop Alex Powers has a claim to be among the best in Illinois’ senior class. He complements his catch-and-throw skills with a simple and hard right-handed hack that fits perfectly in the middle of this order, next to Harris and Listi. That trio is going to need to be responsible for the majority of the Wolves’ offensive production, but that can be done.

Two-way seniors Michael Patterson, Luke Fiantago, Jered Marrs, and Brennan Kelly help keep the theme of versatility alive in the PR dugout. All four of these names will toe the rubber and pick up at-bats this spring. Patterson and Fiantago should hold down the left side of the infield when they’re not pitching, manning shortstop and third base, respectively, and both are reliable with the glove. Jacob Reichert is the other senior to note here, who should take over as the everyday second baseman, filling the since-graduated Roth Mizell’s place, who was a staple on last year’s squad. Reichert is more than able to handle shortstop, as well.

Every team in the state is dealing with losses from last year’s graduating class, but not every team is as readily equipped to plug those holes as Prairie Ridge. We mentioned Phelps and his meaningful role on this pitching staff, but there’s also prospects like Ryan Goudschaal, Jake Masini, and Keegan Garis to note.

Goudschaal is yet another two-way prospect with the genuine skill level to provide value in more ways than one this spring. He’s an under-the-radar choice to back up Phelps as the No. 2 of this staff. Masini is a lean and athletic catcher who would probably be the starter on most teams in the state, but will help keep Powers fresh this year. He’s too good with the bat to keep on the bench, for long periods of time, so he might find a rotation in the outfield. And Garis is a left-handed hitter with the most offensive upside in this group. He’s athletic enough to bounce all over the diamond, so Head Coach Glen Pecoraro will be tasked with finding a spot for him to keep his bat in the lineup on the regular.

Then there’s fellow juniors Will Anderson and Braden Harrell. Both are listed at 6-foot-plus and both should carve out roles on both the pitching staff and on offense, in one way or another.

BOTTOM LINE

The Wolves should be viewed as one of the state’s 3A favorites this spring, in a conference that has produced a state champion and a state runner-up in consecutive seasons at the 4A level. A tough loss to Antioch in their 2018 sectional final is ammunition for a reenergized run in the Fox Valley, in a winnable year within the conference, too, with typical heavyweights set to reload.

After going 12-22 in 2017, the worst single-season record in PR program history, the Wolves bounced back in a big way last spring, setting the table for an even better season behind one of the deepest senior classes in Illinois.

Make sure to follow @PBRIllinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2019 season.

Find more information on the 2019 Wolves below:
+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ GameChanger
+ Team Twitter

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN