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: Rockton Hononegah
Preseason Rank: 38
2013 Record: 23-9
Conference: NIC-10
IHSA Class:  4A
Head Coach: Matt Simpson
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectional Semifinal (Jacobs)
2013 Final Rank: Not Ranked

Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS
Donovin Sims, RHP/OF, 2014 (Northern Illinois)
Adrian Marquez, OF, 2014 (Wright State)
Riley Pawelski, RHP, 2014 (Illinois State)
Kellen McCormick, SS, 2015
Jake Voyles, RHP/OF, 2014
Zachary Voyles, C/OF, 2014
Garrett Scheighauser, LHP/1B, 2016

X-FACTOR
Donovin Sims. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound right-hander has shut-down stuff, evidenced by his results last year. As a junior, the hard-throwing Sims posted a 10-2 record with a 1.41 ERA. He struck out 94 and walked 8. He will also be counted on to deliver at the plate.

KEY PLAYER LOST
Jack Granath, 1B/RHP (Southern Illinois)

STAT RAT
OF Adrian Marquez swiped 12 bases to go along with 4 homers, 3 triples, 2 doubles and batted .313 as a junior last year.

OUTLOOK
With four key starters and three pitchers back in the fold, the Indians are favored to repeat as NIC-10 champions. Coach Matt Simpson has two frontline pitchers in Sims and Riley Pawelski (6-4, 2.30 ERA, 61 Ks), an Illinois State recruit who is coming off off-season arm surgery. Adrian Marquez provides exciting speed at the top of the lineup. SS Kellen McCormick is coming off a strong sophomore campaign in which he batted .323.

BOTTOM LINE
Last year Hononegah rolled through the NIC-10, going 16-2 in league. The Indians should once again be the team to beat in the Rockford area this season.

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Season Countdown

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule