With the IHSA Season beginning this week, we're starting our rollout of teams to watch in each class. We've already rolled out our complete Preseason Power 25, which can be found by clicking here.

Throughout the spring our scouts will be out to games all across the state providing game coverage and scout analysis found within our weekly Scout Blog. Be sure to keep an eye out each morning for the Daily Roundup, where we highlight scores and highlights from games the day prior.

Other content to follow each week will be our Player of the Week stories posted every Tuesday, followed by our Diamond Notes posted every Wednesday.

Note: This is based on coaches' submissions to our Preseason Coaches Questionnaire.

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2A

Clinton Maroons

Head Coach: Nate Ennis
Classification: 2A
Conference: Central Illinois Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 22-9 (Lost in regional championship game to Monticello)
Key Players Lost: Mason Walker (Sauk Valley)
Team Strengths: Base running, starting pitching, and defense.

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Columbia Eagles

Head Coach: Neal O'Donnell
Classification: 2A
Conference: Cahokia -- Mississippi
2024 Record (Finish): 24-8 (Lost to Teutopolis 3-0 in the Sectional Semi-final )
Key Players Lost: Brady Mathews (Jefferson), Lucas Riebeling (Missouri S&T), Ben Simmons
Team Strengths: Senior leadership, lineup depth, and defense -- especially up the middle.

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DuQuoin Indians

Head Coach: Tim Davis
Classification: 2A
Conference: River to River- Mississippi
2024 Record (Finish): 32-4 (Lost Sectional Semi-final)
Key Players Lost: PJ Winters, Eli Maynor (Rend Lake), Camden Waller
Team Strengths: Pitching, contact hitters, amd speed.

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Effingham St. Anthony Bulldogs

Head Coach: Tony Kreke
Classification: 2A
Conference: National Trail Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 27-5-1 (State Championship)
Key Players Lost: Connor Roepke (Lake Land), Max Koenig, Beau Adams (Millikin)
Team Strengths: Experience, returning core offense, and competitiveness.

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St. Joseph - Ogden Spartans

Head Coach: Josh Haley
Classification: 2A
Conference: Illini Prairie Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 32-5 (Lost in Sectional Semi-final )
Key Players Lost: Luke Landrus (Illinois), Braxton Waller (Danville Area CC)
Team Strengths: Deep pitching staff, team Speed, and team Defense.

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Staunton Bulldogs

Head Coach: David Lawrence
Classification: 2A
Conference: South Central Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 10-22 (Lost Regional Championship)
Key Players Lost: Brady Gillen (Monmouth), Dillon Pritchett (Beloit), Vic Buehler
Team Strengths: Depth and returning core.

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Westmont Sentinels

Head Coach: D.J. Cocks
Classification: 2A
Conference: Chicago Prep
2024 Record (Finish): 24-10 (Lost to Chicago (Ogden International) in the Sectional Semi-Finals)
Key Players Lost: Lucas Hicks (Moraine Valley), Noah Grimm
Team Strengths: Offense and pitching depth.

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Teutopolis Wooden Shoes

Head Coach: Justin Fleener
Classification: 2A
Conference: Independent
2024 Record (Finish): 23-12 (Lost to St. Anthony in the Sectional Final 2-1)
Key Players Lost: Garrett Gaddis(Kaskaskia), Logan Lawson ( Sauk Valley), Joey Niebrugge (Millikin), Devin Kreke (Olney Central), Evan Waldhoff, Mitch Koester, Brett Kreke, Zac Niebrugge
Team Strengths: Pitching.

Players to watch: Mick Niebrugge(RHP/IF), Jason Kreke(C), Davin Worman(OF/LHP), Gavin Addis(RHP), Austin Borries(RHP/IF)(Lindenwood Commit)

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Newman Central Catholic Comets

Head Coach: Kenny Koerner
Classification: 2A
Conference: Three Rivers Athletic Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 25-6 (4th place in 2A State)
Key Players Lost: Brendan Tunink (Notre Dame; Drafted by LA Dodgers, Round 8, Pick 250), Isaiah Williams
Team Strengths: Returning core starters, quality starting pitching, pitching depth.

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Wilmington Wildcats

Head Coach: Mike Bushnell
Classification: 2A
Conference: Illinois Central Eight
2024 Record (Finish): 28-2 (3rd Place in state)
Key Players Lost: Cade McCubbin (Carthage), Reid Juster
Team Strengths: Pitching, versatility, and cohesiveness.

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1A

Harvest Christian Academy Lion

Head Coach: Cory Deshazer
Classification: 1A
Conference: Northeastern Baseball Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 19-11 (Lost in Sectional Championships to Ottawa Marquette 1-0)
Key Players Lost: Gavin Duran (John Wood), Kaden Meeker (John Wood), Emin Hartigan (Alabama-Huntsville), Hayden Mosley (Morton)
Team Strengths: Pitching staff.

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Lincolnwood Lancers

Head Coach: Josh Stone
Classification: 1A
Conference: MSM Conference (Macoupin Sangamon and Morgan Counties)
2024 Record (Finish): 19-10 (Lost in regional championship)
Key Players Lost: Lance Weitekamp (Danville)
Team Strengths: Pitching and defense.

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Marissa Meteors

Head Coach: Jason Smith
Classification: 1A
Conference: Cahokia Conference - Kaskaskia Division
2024 Record (Finish): 17-13-1 (Lost in Regional Final to Christ Our Rock Lutheran 4-0)
Key Players Lost: Tanner Middendorf (Southwestern Illinois JC), Carter Trieb
Team Strengths: Returning players/experience, lineup depth, and top end pitching.

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Mt. Pulaski Hilltoppers

Head Coach: Troy Burgard
Classification: 1A
Conference: Tomahawk
2024 Record (Finish): 26-4 (Lost in Sectional Championship)
Key Players Lost: Landon Smith (Southwestern Illinois JC), Colt Selinger
Team Strengths: Pitching depth.

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North Clay Cardinals

Head Coach: John Frech
Classification: 1A
Conference: National Trail Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 18-14-1 (Lost in the regional championship to Altamont 1-0)
Team Strengths: Pitching, speed, and defense.

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