Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Team Countdown: No. 17 Lemont



By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the Top 50 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:

Team: Lemont
Preseason Rank: 17
2014 Record: 35-5
Conference: South Suburban Blue
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Brian Storako
Playoff Run:
Class 3A State Champions
2014 Final Rank:
1
Returning Starters:
4
Returning Pitchers:
3

TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)

Garret Acton, RHP, 2016 (St. Louis)

Nick Wisz, INF, 2016

Ryan Sublette, RHP/OF, 2017
Austin Tittle, RHP/INF, 2016
Mike Gralla, SS/3B, 2015
Casey O’Brien, C/1B/RHP, 2016

X-FACTOR
RHP Garret Acton has shown 90-91 mph velocity this winter, and has big shoes to fill with the loss of 2014 PBR Illinois Player of the Year Jake Latz. Latz put together one of the most dominating spring season by any Illinois prep pitcher in recent memory. Acton impressed last spring going 5-2 on the mound with a 2.30 ERA and 48 K’s in 51.2 IP. 

NEWCOMER TO WATCH
Sophomore RHP/OF Ryan Sublette had his spring 2014 season cut short due to injury, but he dominated in his only appearance on the mound throwing a one-hitter, striking out 10 in six innings. Sublette is ranked No. 4 in Illinois’ 2017 class and has shown a fastball up to 87 this past fall.

KEY PLAYER LOST
Jake Latz, LHP (Louisiana State)

Mike Papierski, C (Louisiana State)
Mike Wisz, MIF (Houston)

Charlie Wright, LHP (Joliet Junior College)

Jake Terrazas, 1B (St. Louis)
Eric Tucker, OF (Pikeville)

Papierski and Latz are both freshman teammates at LSU. Papierski hit .410 with 12 doubles, three triples, eight homers and 30 RBI in 2014. The switch-hitting backstop and LSU recruit was drafted by the Blue Jays in the 16t h round. All Latz did in earning Player of the Year honors was go 10-0 with a 0.23 ERA, striking out 114 and walking only 12 in 62.1 innings.

STAT RAT
Despite the losses of Latz and Wright, pitching should still be a strength. Besides Acton and Sublette, who both have number one potential, Austin Tittle posted a 0.90 ERA in 31 IP. Junior RHP Nate Broskovetz began last season without allowing an earned run through his first 16.2 innings pitched. 

OUTLOOK
Losing the senior leadership of Latz, Papierski, Wisz, Wright, and Terrazas will be irreplaceable. Papierski was a four-year varsity starter behind the plate, and one of the top hitters in the state over the last several years. Lemont is young, but still talented with their sophomore and junior classes. They should still be at the top of the South Suburban Blue at the end of the season.

BOTTOM LINE
Lemont finished last season as Class 3A State Champions and were ranked No. 1 overall in the Final PBR 2014 rankings. The Indians may not be favorites to repeat in Class 3A, due to their heavy graduation losses, but with two potential aces in Acton and Sublette, they'll be tough to beat in the state's toughest 3A regional featuring Lincoln-Way West and Joliet Catholic.

Preseason Countdown

+ Top 50 Preseason Countdown Rankings

+ 2015 Schedules Released

+ Updated Illinois 2016 Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2015 Rankings

+ June Event Schedule

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