By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the top 75 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Team: Lyons Township
Preseason Rank: 16
2013 Record: 24-11
Conference: West Suburban Silver
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: George Ushela
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectional Semifinals (Mount Carmel)
2013 Final Rank: 15

Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS
Sam Heilenbach, RHP/C/1B, 2014
Sam Cybulski, SS, 2014 (Lewis)
Max Larsen, OF/LHP, 2014
Josh Kuntz, OF, 2014
Connor Pavletic, OF, 2014
Jack Oremus, INF, 2015
Quinton Hughes, LHP, 2015
John Heilenbach, 3B/RHP, 2015
Tom Hickey, RHP/INF, 2015
Jeff Tucker, OF, 2014 (Edgewood)

X-FACTOR
Sam Heilenbach. The dilemma for Ushela is where to utilize Heilenbach. He is the team’s best pitcher, best catcher and best hitter. Wherever he plays, Heilenbach will play a critical role in the Lions’ success. One of the top unsigned seniors in the state.  

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
John Heilenbach, 3B/RHP, 2015.

KEY PLAYERS LOST
Keith Lehmann, RHP/3B (Michigan)
Michael Lorenz, OF (St. Joseph’s College)
Stewart Nelson, SS (Evansville)

OUTLOOK
How would the Lions adjust to life after Keith Lehmann, their three-year standout who led the program to a state title, a state runner-up finish and a summer state championship? Struggle, right? Not quite. Lyons just keeps plowing forward, as it showed this summer when the LaGrange school advanced to the IHSBCA summer state championship game, losing to St. Rita. Impressive feat given that the Lions graduated several key contributors from last year’s preseason No. 1 team that got bounced in the sectional semifinals to eventual-champion Mount Carmel. Although the Lions don’t have a headlining talent like Lehmann, they have rock-solid talent throughout, pitching depth and team speed. Sam Heilenbach, Sam Cybulski and Max Larsen are returning starters who should power the offense. The left-handed hitting Larsen is an extremely tough out, while Heilenbach will be needed to drive in runs. While coach George Ushela has a plethora of arms to work with, he lacks a dominant No. 1, as he’s had with Lehmann over the last two years. Look for speedy Josh Kuntz to make an impact this spring. Kuntz and Cybulski are both highly athletic who will put pressure on opponents’ defenses.

BOTTOM LINE
Every year the Lions lose players, and every year they continue to win. They will always play fundamental baseball, throw strikes and they seldom beat themselves. But the fact of the matter is the Lions don’t have that shutdown No. 1 and the overall quality as past years. They will have their work cut out for them to upend Oak Park in the West Suburban Silver. But they always seem to turn it on in the playoffs - when it really matters.

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Season Countdown

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2016 Player Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2015 Player Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule