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: Prairie Ridge
Preseason Rank: 53
2013 Record: 25-12
Conference: Fox Valley (Valley Division)
IHSA Class:  4A
Head Coach: Glen Pecoraro
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectional Semifinals (Dundee-Crown)
2013 Final Rank:  Not Ranked

Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS
Danny Pecoraro, SS, 2014 (Loras)
Austin Covers, OF, 2014
Dustin Thelander, C, 2015
Danny Burris, RHP, 2014
Jack Myers, RHP/OF, 2014
Ethan Routzan, RHP, 2016
Steven Ladd, RHP, 2014
Ben Cilano, RHP/OF, 2015
Cal Aldridge, 3B, 2015

X-FACTOR
The Wolves graduated several significant run-producers, so left-handed hitting OF Austin Covers will be counted on to help drive the offense. The athletic 6-foot-3, 165-pound Covers is a 6.89 runner and quick, level left-handed swing at the plate.

KEY PLAYER LOST
Jordan Getzelman, OF (Missouri)
Mike Reitcheck, LHP (Penn)
Bryan Klendworth, OF (Olivet-Nazarene)

OUTLOOK
Prairie Ridge is always one of the best prepared teams in the state, and it plays fundamental baseball under coach Glen Pecoraro. Defensively, the Wolves should be solid, especially up the middle with SS Danny Pecoraro, C Dustin Thelander and CF Austin Covers. The Wolves have pitching depth, albeit somewhat inexperienced. Look for 2016 RHP Ethan Routzan to have a breakout sophomore campaign. While the Wolves have a lot of capable arms, the lack of a dominant No. 1 will likely impede them in their quest for the Fox Valley championship. Offensively, they lost a lot of production with the graduation of All-State outfielders Jordan Getzelman and Bryan Klendworth.

BOTTOM LINE
Although this year’s edition may lack some of the same star power of past teams, the Crystal Lake school is always tough to beat. But in the tough Fox Valley, Valley Division, wins will be hard to come by.

Season Countdown

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule

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