Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 1 Providence Catholic
March 17, 2025
The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 17, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next two weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2025 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, counting down through the official Prep Baseball 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 2025 preseason coverage continues today.
High School: Providence Catholic Celtics
Preseason Rank:
Head Coach: Mark Smith
Classification: 4A
Conference: Chicago Catholic League - Blue
2024 Record (Finish): 33-8 (4A State Champions)
Key Players Lost: Jackson Smith (Bradley), Mitch Voltz, John Greenwood (North Park), Kyle Lipke (Saint Francis), Ethan Ganz (Lewis), Patrick Wajda (MATC), Edward Konow (Grand Valley State)
ROSTER PREVIEW
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 11
No. of Returning Starting Pitchers: 3
No. of Returning Relief Pitchers: 7
Team Strengths: Returning experience and versatile roster.
| NAME | STATE | CLASS | POS | COMMITMENT |
| Enzo Infelise | IL | 2025 | INF/RHP | Cincinnati |
| Nate O'Donnell | IL | 2025 | INF/RHP | Minnesota |
| Cooper Eggert | IL | 2025 | OF/RHP | SIU-Edwardsville |
| Blake Jenner | IL | 2025 | UTL/C | Parkland JC |
| Cole Harris | IL | 2025 | RHP | Wisconsin-Stout |
| Declan Kane | IL | 2025 | LHP/UTL | St. Norbert |
| Declan Kmiecik | IL | 2025 | RHP | Rock Valley JC |
| Kasten Goebbert | IL | 2025 | RHP | Gulf Coast State |
| Luke Zbonski | IL | 2025 | RHP | Saint Xavier |
| Shawn Krieps | IL | 2025 | RHP | Carthage |
| Declan DeMent | IL | 2025 | OF/C | Joliet JC |
| Andrew Jones | IL | 2025 | RHP | St. Ambrose |
| Eddie Olszta | IL | 2025 | INF/OF | - |
| Dominik Alberico | IL | 2025 | RHP | - |
| Michael Noonan | IL | 2025 | OF | - |
| Sammy Atkinson | IL | 2026 | OF | - |
| Bryce Tencza | IL | 2026 | INF | - |
| Sam Webb | IL | 2026 | C/INF | - |
X-FACTOR
OF/RHP Cooper Eggert (2025; SIU-Edwardsville) is a highly-versatile piece returning for the Celtics in 2025. Eggert was a catalyst in helping lead Provi to their State Title in 2024 as a do-it-all player, starring both on the mound and towards the top of the lineup. In 2024, Eggert put up a .417/.504/.713 triple-slash, good for a 1.217 OPS with five homers, 25 RBI, 43 runs scored, while stealing 14 bags. On the mound he was just as impressive, emerging as Provi’s No. 1 arm and performing to a 4-1 record with a 2.53 ERA over 36 innings pitched with 45 strikeouts, and just seven walks over that span. Look for Eggert to pitch up where he left off in 2024, and potentially earn Player of the Year honors for 2025 when it’s all said and done.
NEWCOMER TO WATCH
C/CIF Sam Webb (2026; uncommitted) is a physical right-handed hitter who could provide depth and more pop behind the plate for the Celtics in 2025. At our Preseason All-State: Upperclass, he showed the ability to create lift on the ball with authority (95 mph max EV & 359 ft. max distance). He showed well defensively too, posting a 1.96 pop time at the event. Webb will be competing for a starting job entering the spring, and could be another valuable piece for the Celtics in their quest to repeat as State Champs.
TEAM OUTLOOK
The reigning 4A State Champions bring back perhaps the best roster in the state, having the luxury of returning the majority of their roster from a year ago. Led by Head Coach Mark Smith, the Celtics are perennially one of the better programs across the state, having recorded their record-setting 6th State Title last season. There is depth all across this roster, as well as positional versatility with the number of two-way players that Coach Smith will deploy throughout the spring.
The Celtics will trot out the same rotation they had last spring in the previously mentioned RHP/OF Cooper Eggert (2025; SIU Edwardsville), as well as RHP/INF Nate O’Donnell (2025; Minnesota) and RHP Kasten Goebbert (2025; Gulf Coast State College).
O’Donnell is a steady presence in the rotation, and is also a flexible piece within the pitching staff, as he can both start and come out of the ‘pen for the Celtics when needed - as he closed out the State Championship Game last season. In 2024, O’Donnell posted a 3.39 ERA over 33 innings of work. He was also the CCL Blue Player of the Year, as well as a First Team All-State selection. More on his offense later.
Goebbert was the starting pitcher for the Celtics in the title game last year, and was stellar all throughout their playoff run, knocking off some of the better programs in the state. Last season, he performed to a 2.65 ERA over 37 innings of work, while posting a perfect 6-0 record.
The Celtics will also get contributions on the mound from a plethora of upperclassmen in LHP Declan Kane (2025; St. Norbert), RHP Declan Kmiecik (2025; Rock Valley), RHP Shawn Krieps (2025; Carthage), RHP Cole Harris (2025; Wisconsin-Stout), RHP Luke Zbonski (2025; Saint Xavier), RHP Dominik Alberico (2025; uncommitted), RHP Enzo Ifelise (2025; Cincinnati), and LHP Will Quinn (2026; uncommitted).
Their offense is loaded again in 2025. And it is hard to not start with the already mentioned Nate O’Donnell, who was the CCL Blue Player of the Year last season. In 2024, the right-handed hitter posted a .430/.504/.833 triple-slash, good for a 1.337 OPS. Additionally, he swatted 11 homers, drove in 55, scored 43 runs, and went a perfect 10-for-10 on stolen base attempts. O’Donnell will likely be the catalyst again for the Celtic offense in 2025.
INF/RHP Enzo Infelise (2025; Cincinnati) is one of the better bat-to-ball prospects in the state, and arguably the country. He additionally continues to tick up in the power department, recently posting an average EV of 101.4 mph (T106.4) at our Preseason ProCase. In 2024, Infelise batted .347 with a team-leading 12 doubles, while also hitting seven home runs and driving in 31.
A pair of seniors who could be in line for big springs are INF Eddie Olszta (uncommitted) and C/OF Blake Jenner (Parkland JC).
Olszta batted .379 last spring with two homers and 28 RBI, and will likely play up the middle this spring for the Celtics.
Jenner is a steady presence behind the plate for the Celtics and his defense was key for Provi down the stretch in 2024.
CIF/OF Bryce Tencza (2026; uncommitted) and OF Sammy Atkinson (2026; uncommitted) are two juniors who are no strangers to the varsity lineup, and will be asked to take on bigger roles this spring.
BOTTOM LINE & DIRECTOR’S NOTE
There is no shortage of talent on this year’s Providence Catholic team, much like in years past. This is a program that under Coach Smith, is no stranger to repeating - earning a three-peat from 2014-2016. They have a lot of depth on the mound behind key returners Eggert, O’Donnell, and Goebbert. They also return much of the same lineup that starred in the Championship Game a season ago, including the highly-talented Infelise who could have a monster season. They will be battle-tested throughout the spring while playing in the CCL, and will be ready to roll come playoff-time. If they can get consistency on the mound again, while being a well-rounded group on offense, there is no reason to think this team cannot repeat as State Champs in 2025.
Find more information on the 2025 Providence Catholic program below:
+ Follow them on X: @CelticBASE
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage