Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 10 Normal University

March 9, 2019
By: Adam Panayotovich
Area Scout

The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 11, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2019 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Illinois Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2019 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Normal University
Preseason Rank: 10
2018 Record: 28-9
Conference: Central State 8
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Steve Paxson
Playoff Run: Regional Final
2018 Final Rank: On The Bubble
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 8

TOP PLAYERS

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Jack Sauser	IL	Normal University	2019	RHP/1B	Northwestern
Nate Hardman	IL	Normal University	2019	RHP/UTIL	Saint Louis
Parker Mathieson	IL	Normal University	2019	OF/INF	Central Michigan
Paul Africano	IL	Normal University	2019	C	-
Matt Taylor	IL	Normal University	2019	LHP/1B	-
Jacob Mote	IL	Normal University	2020	SS	-
Jack Feely	IL	Normal University	2020	RHP/OF	-
Jackson Powell	IL	Normal University	2020	RHP/UTIL	-
Jackson Blemler	IL	Normal University	2020	2B	-
Brendan Tupper	IL	Normal University	2020	OF	-
Caleb Gross	IL	Normal University	2020	RHP/INF	-
MacCallan Conklin	IL	Normal University	2021	RHP/OF	-
Karson Bonaparte	IL	Normal University	2021	RHP/UTIL	-
Jake Swartz	IL	Normal University	2022	RHP/INF	-
Jack Bach	IL	Normal University	2022	RHP/INF	-

KEY LOSSES

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Chris Cuppini	IL	Normal University	2018	RHP/3B	Judson
Owen Martin	IL	Normal University	2018	CIF/RHP	Illinois Central JC
Matt Mier	IL	Normal University	2018	C/INF	-

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

MacCallan Conklin. The 6-foot-1, 168-pound sophomore came to his first-ever PBR event last August and showed why he earned innings on the mound for an upperclass, arm-heavy U-High team in 2018. At first impression, he looks bigger than his documented stature and perhaps there is still growth to come.

Conklin added two ticks on his fastball over the last five months, pushing it to 85 mph at our recent Underclass Invitational last month. It is rather easy to predict more of the same in the budding prospect's bright future. He has an upside delivery, staying connected throughout with a sharp breaking ball that has swing-and-miss potential, and a changeup that is especially deceptive off the heater. His future may be on the mound, but his progressing frame also gives him a real chance to get some at-bats for the Pioneers this spring.

MacCallan Conklin (2.17.19)

X-FACTOR

Parker Mathieson. The Central Michigan commit has been a true offensive catalyst for Coach Steve Paxson atop the Pioneers' lineup in nearly every game last season. He is a spark-plug-type of contributor with dynamic traits in his highly athletic 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame. Mathieson controls the barrel in the zone while staying direct to the ball keeping his head tucked and on target. His fast hands play well with his approach letting the ball travel and spraying it to all fields.

Mathieson has the defensive prowess to play in the middle of the infield or any position in the outfield grass, however his speed most likely suits him for center field. He runs a sub-7.00 in the 60-yard dash and looks like a natural chasing balls down in the gaps. Mathieson is a high motor, high IQ kind of player and should expect to be penciled right back into the leadoff role as an important piece for the Pioneers in 2019.

OUTLOOK

The Normal University Pioneers will look nearly identical to last year's dugout, losing only three key contributors to the 28-win club. The ground work has been set by this strong core of returners winning 23-plus games in the each of the last four seasons, while winning more than 25 in each of the last two.

U-High has arguably the deepest staff in the state, regardless of league classification. They have a three-headed monster at the top of the rotation, led by what should be the teams go-to ace in senior RHP Jack Sauser (Northwestern). Standing at a large 6-foot-6, 210 pounds, Sauser has the prototypical college starter's build, with continued room to fill out. He sports live and loose actions and repeats his uptempo style, setting the pace of game from pitch one. The fastball has late life through the zone sitting 86-88 mph with a hard biting changeup and a tight slider, all thrown with conviction.

In addition to Sauser, senior Nate Hardman (Saint Louis) and junior Jack Feely (uncommitted) will look to build on the success they had on the mound and at the plate last spring. Hardman drew a handful of starts going the distance, or close to it, in each time out. Feely pitched in multiple roles, but looked to be the go-to guy in late-inning, key situations for Coach Paxson last spring. Both possess fastballs in the mid 80s, Hardman works with a more controlled 86 mph heater and Feely has a more live 87 mph fastball, with the secondary stuff to play into a starter's role. Hardman is expected to be a key run producer at the hot corner, as he was last year, and Feely, who pitched this staff's second-most innings in 2018, could carve an important role in the outfield as well.

With former ace Chris Cuppini graduated, many more innings will be open for the taking. The aforementioned names above, as well as junior Jackson Powell, sophomore MacCallan Conklin, senior Matt Taylor, sophomore Karson Bonaparte, junior Caleb Gross, and junior Jacob Mosele will all vie for innings on the mound in 2019. Powell has perhaps the most poise of the group, making big strides from last year in which he threw primarily from the pen. Taylor overcame injury in 2018 and will potentially be a lefty go-to in a right-handed rich Pioneers staff. Bonaparte is an uber-athletic prospect who we’ve seen run a 6.72 in the 60, top 103 mph in exit velocity, and should provide aide in any position needed on the field. Gross sports a clean delivery and has plenty of upside on the bump, with a fastball touching 83 mph.

The most consistent part of the Pioneers' 2018 lineup, aside from Mathieson, was their three-hole hitter and everyday shortstop, junior Jacob Mote (uncommitted; video below). A standout at the PBR Future Games for Team Illinois, Mote is physically advanced at 6-foot-3, 200-pounds (6.75 mark in the 60-yard dash), generates a quick bat speed (97 exit velo), has sure hands with arm strength (94 mph across the diamond), and is confident in his all-around game. One of the top uncommitted juniors in the state, he led the team in hitting last year as a sophomore and will be a main run producer again for the Pioneers this year.

Senior Paul Africano will draw starts, as he did last year, behind the dish and the durable-framed backstop is a very capable receiver with pop in his bat. Junior Jackson Blemler played a number of innings at second base last year and the sub-7.00 runner shows line-drive ability from the left side of the dish. Another speedster, left/left junior Brendan Tupper, has the foot speed to be a threat on the basepaths or in the outfield.

If you’re looking for freshmen to watch in the U-High program, look no further than righties Jake Swartz and Jack Bach. Complete opposite in stature and style, both possess live arms that touched 84 mph at our Underclass Invite in mid-February.

Bottom Line

The U-High Pioneers are returning six players that fall within their respective class’ top-150 rankings in Illinois, showing that there is plenty of talent on this roster of varying ages. Pitching depth will be a strong point for Coach Paxson, along with overall varsity experience.

Most of these players have seen what it takes to win ball games at the varsity level, but the Pioneers will need to string together a consistent offense day in and out to chalk up wins throughout the 2019 spring. There is present history of success, noting the program's ability to crank out 20-plus win seasons. Now the jury holds that the important ones come at the end of the season, so we'll see if the Pioneers can get back to, and through, their regional and onto Joliet come June.

Video Spotlight

Jacob Mote (2.10.19)

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