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: Mount Carmel Caravan
Preseason Rank: No. 13
Head Coach: Brian Hurry
Classification: 4A
Conference: Chicago Catholic League - Blue
2024 Record (Finish): 21-15 (Super-sectional loss)
Key Players Lost: James Nydegger (Southeastern CC IA), Kevin Zanin (Wisconsin-Stout), Timmy Harrigan

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

Team Strengths: Returning Experience.

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X-FACTOR

An unfortunate injury to team ace, LHP Ian Tosi (2026; Miami), will require RHP Connor Elenteny (2026; Notre Dame) to take on more of the workload this season for the Caravan, after being the team’s No. 3 a season ago. Elenteny is one of the more talented arms in the state, presenting a projectable 6-foot-3, 202-pound frame. Elenteny was one of the bigger winners at the Prep Baseball Future Games last summer, before committing to the Fighting Irish in September. We recently saw him at our Preseason All-State: Upperclass; where he was running his fastball up to 90 mph - though we’ve seen him up to 93 mph in the past. He was throwing his 76-78 mph slider for strikes with above-average spin at times, while rounding things out with a 77-80 mph changeup that had fade and tumble. If Elenteny can take the next step this spring, paired with RHP Jake Matise (2026; uncommitted), together the two could help soften the blow of losing the aforementioned Tosi.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Mount Carmel and Head Coach Brian Hurry enter 2025 with one of the higher ceilings, after finishing last season 21-15 with a one-run loss to the eventual State Champions in the Super-Sectionals with a mostly young roster. Much of that same roster returns in 2025, now more experienced and hungry for a deeper run. Despite an unfortunate season-ending injury to team ace, Ian Tosi, there is still a lot to be excited about with this group heading into the spring.

Among things to be excited about in 2025, the Caravan will hopefully have a full season of CIF/OF TJ McQuillan (2026; Wake Forest), who missed most of the 2024 season due to injury. McQuillan is one of the premier bats in the state, and the case could be made for him to be one of the better hitters at the national level when healthy. A strong 6-foot, 215-pound left-handed hitter who will hit towards the top of the Caravan lineup, McQuillan could put up big numbers in 2025.

A breakout performer in 2024, who has quickly established himself as one of the better left-handed hitters in the state, 1B Anthony Chavez (2026; uncommitted) will be back on the field for the Caravan in 2025. As a sophomore, he led the team in batting average (.380), OBP (.508), SLG (.510), OPS (1.018), RBI (27), hits (38), and doubles (10). Look for Chavez to have another big season this spring.

1B Anthony Chavez (Mount Carmel, 2026)

Led the event in max distance and had the second-best EV on the day.

🔷107.1 mph peak EV, 95.2 mph avg.
🔷404' peak distance
🔷79.1 mph avg. bat-speed
🔷24.4 mph avg. hand-speed@PB_Uncommitted | #ILPASUpper

👤https://t.co/YyUxrNSSDc pic.twitter.com/a9ZkFa3LzU

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) March 3, 2025

Likely setting the table for the Caravan lineup in 2025 will be OF/LHP Kolin Adams (2025; Wharton County JC). Adams has a knack for getting on-base (.504 OBP in ‘24) and being a pesky at-bat, while playing high-level defense in centerfield. He also led the team with 12 stolen bases. Adams will also contribute on the mound for the Caravan, after posting a 2.78 ERA over 27 ⅔ innings in 2024. An all-around contributor, look for Adams to have a big senior season.

Another high-level bat to know for the Caravan is SS Joey Ireland (2026; Illinois). Ireland is an athletic defender up the middle who should be a reliable presence at short stop for the Caravan arms. In 2024, Ireland was second on the team in doubles (7) and third on the team in RBI (18). If Ireland can have a big junior season, the already high ceiling on this year’s Caravan team will only continue to rise.

Some other bats to know for Mount Carmel entering 2025 are C Mario Medina (2026; uncommitted), UTL Pancho Vazquez (2026; uncommitted), RHP/UTL Matt Murphy (2025; Lake Land JC), INF Brady Holland (2026; uncommitted), OF Logan Fernandez (2026; uncommitted), and INF Jonathan Osornio (2026; uncommitted).

OF Logan Fernandez (Mount Carmel, 2026)

Tons of upside in the @PB_Uncommitted RHH with loud tools across the board.

🔷98 mph peak EV, 90 mph avg. EV
🔷73.8 mph avg. bat-speed
🔷6.41 runner
🔷T96 mph OF#ILPASUpper

👤https://t.co/8Y63l3V8XK pic.twitter.com/qbdW87MPqi

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) March 3, 2025

On the mound, look for RHP Jake Matise (2026; uncommitted) to slide into the top spot in the rotation, after having a stellar 2024 season as the team’s No. 2. Matise has continued to get better with each watch for our staff and has started to gain the reputation of being a performer in-game. As a sophomore pitching in one of the toughest conferences in the state, Matise performed to a 3.14 ERA in 62 ⅓ innings, while punching out 67 batters. If Matise can have an even better junior year alongside the previously mentioned Elenteny, they could form one of the more potent one-two punches in the conference.

A few more arms who could be in line for bigger workloads in 2025 include the previously mentioned Matt Murphy, Kolin Adams, as well as RHP Thomas Sosinski (2026; uncommitted).

We recently saw Sosinski at our Preseason All-State: Upperclass, where he was running his fastball up to 87.5 mph, showing a curveball that flashed above average spin, and completing his arsenal with a changeup that he could throw for strikes.

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BOTTOM LINE & DIRECTOR'S NOTE

It would not be a surprise if by year’s end this is one of the better lineups across the state when you factor in who they have returning, as well as the potential for breakout candidates to emerge over the course of the spring. Losing Tosi will force members of the pitching staff to step up, but if Matise and Elenteny pitch like we think they can, it could help soften the blow significantly, and this team could be playing into June once again in 2025.

"A somewhat unexpected run to the Super-Sectionals last spring has expectations high for the Caravan in 2025. They will be led by a deep and talented 2026 class who picked up valuable postseason experience last spring." Drew Locascio

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Find more information on the 2025 Mount Carmel program below:

+ Follow them on X: @CaravanBaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage

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