The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 16, 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 2026 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 2026 preseason coverage continues today.

High School: Nazareth Academy Roadrunners
Preseason Rank: No. 15
Head Coach: Lee Milano
Classification: 3A
Conference: East Suburan Catholic
2025 Record (Finish & Highlights): 31-7 (30-plus wins for the fourth straight year; sectional semi-finalists)
Key Players Lost: Jaden Fauske, Collin Roche, Chase Zidlicky

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ROSTER PREVIEW

Returning Positional Starters: 6
Returning Starting Pitchers: 3
Returning Relief Pitchers: 5
Team Strengths: Experience & one of the best hitters in the country.

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DATA CENTER

TEAM RANKS:

This data is sourced from the 2026 Illinois winter showcase circuit and the 2025 Illinois State Games, compiled by Prep Baseball. We took the top-three metrics recorded by players from each high school in the following categories. Here is how Nazareth Academy's top-three performers averaged across each category:

• Avg. Exit Velocity: 90.47 mph 
• Max Exit Velocity: 99.0 mph 
• Max Fastball Velocity: 88.67 mph (T-No. 21 in the state)
• Top 60-Yard: 6.78s (No. 16 in the state)

INDIVIDUAL DATA STAND-OUTS:

• Anthony Eorio (2027) - SS/2B - 5-7 , 151 lbs
  
  • IVB (rise): 17.0 in (86th pctile. in IL, 85th pctile. in 2027 class)
• Carmen Fallara (2028) - OF/LHP - 5-7.5 , 158 lbs
  
  • IVB (rise): 18.9 in (No. 23 in IL, No. 8 in 2028 class)
• Chase Carithers (2029) - OF/RHP - 6-0 , 181 lbs
  
  • bat speed: 68.4 mph (57th pctile. in IL, No. 24 in 2029 class)
• Christian Drye (2028) - RHP/3B - 6-03 , 166 lbs
  
  • FB spin: 2264 rpm (90th pctile. in IL, No. 13 in 2028 class)
  • SL spin: 2291 rpm (78th pctile. in IL, No. 11 in 2028 class)
• Colin Dwyer (2026) - RHP/3B - 6-1 , 180 lbs
  
  • CB spin: 2674 rpm (No. 8 in IL, No. 4 in 2026 class)
• Connor McKay (2026) - RHP/RHP - 6-3 , 180 lbs
  
  • max fastball: 90.0 mph (89th pctile. in IL, 82nd pctile. in 2026 class)
• Drew Hyland (2026) - OF/RHP - 5-9.1 , 164 lbs
  
  • bat speed: 75.7 mph (95th pctile. in IL, 85th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • FB spin: 2316 rpm (94th pctile. in IL, No. 14 in 2026 class)
  • CB spin: 2360 rpm (86th pctile. in IL, No. 24 in 2026 class)
  • rot. accel.: 19.0g (88th pctile. in IL, 78th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.72s (95th pctile. in IL, No. 17 in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.61s (93rd pctile. in IL, T-No. 21 in 2026 class)
• Eddie Donnelly (2027) - LHP/1B - 6-4 , 215 lbs
  
  • CB spin: 2347 rpm (85th pctile. in IL, No. 25 in 2027 class)
• Gavin Hartigan (2028) - SS/RHP - 5-8.9 , 173 lbs
  
  • max EV: 99.0 mph (81st pctile. in IL, 89th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • avg EV: 90.7 mph (82nd pctile. in IL, 86th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.77s (92nd pctile. in IL, T-No. 14 in 2028 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.62s (92nd pctile. in IL, T-No. 11 in 2028 class)
  • vert. jump: 27.2 in (91st pctile. in IL, T-No. 14 in 2028 class)
• Grant Spackey (2029) - OF/RHP - 6-1 , 164 lbs
  
  • 60-yd. dash: 7.28s (51st pctile. in IL, T-No. 22 in 2029 class)
• Hector Valdez (2029) - RHP/OF - 5-8 , 185 lbs
  
  • max fastball: 84.0 mph (44th pctile. in IL, T-No. 10 in 2029 class)
  • SL spin: 2112 rpm (54th pctile. in IL, No. 5 in 2029 class)
• Kamran Alikhan (2026) - OF - 5-11 , 179 lbs
  
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.86s (86th pctile. in IL, 75th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 27.6 in (93rd pctile. in IL, 86th pctile. in 2026 class)
• Marco Fiore (2028) - SS/RHP - 5-8.4 , 142 lbs
  
  • CB spin: 2513 rpm (No. 21 in IL, No. 5 in 2028 class)
• Seamus O'Meara (2027) - OF/RHP - 5-10.5 , 193 lbs
  
  • max EV: 101.0 mph (89th pctile. in IL, 84th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • avg EV: 92.8 mph (90th pctile. in IL, 87th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • bat speed: 73.2 mph (85th pctile. in IL, 86th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.66s (81st pctile. in IL, 74th pctile. in 2027 class)
• Todd Dulaney Jr (2029) - SS/2B - 5-10.5 , 150 lbs
  
  • avg EV: 87.9 mph (66th pctile. in IL, T-No. 16 in 2029 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 7.15s (64th pctile. in IL, T-No. 15 in 2029 class)
  • vert. jump: 24.7 in (76th pctile. in IL, T-No. 10 in 2029 class)

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X-FACTOR

SS Landon Thome (2026; Florida State) is one of the better bats in the entire country coming into his senior season, and has been a mainstay in the Roadrunner lineup dating back to his freshman season. The Prep Baseball All-American is the top ranked player in the state, and sits inside the top-25 nationally. Last spring, he earned First Team All-State honors after he put up a .442/.536/.876 triple-slash while swatting eight homers, stealing 23 bags and drawing more walks (24) than strikeouts (18), primarily from the leadoff spot. Thome is poised for another strong season to cap off an impressive high school career, and could wind up being in the discussion for Player of the Year come seasons-end.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

INF Todd Dulaney Jr. (2029) is a name to know entering his first season in the Roadrunners’ program. A member of Team Illinois at this past summer’s Prep Baseball Junior Future Games, Dulaney Jr. has quickly established himself as a performer in front of our staff. The 5-foot-11, 150-pound right-handed hitter has shown to have a relaxed confidence at the plate with a balanced swing, while also displaying athleticism on the defensive side of the ball. Dulaney Jr. could emerge as a varsity contributor early for the Roadrunners, and is a name to follow for the coming years.

SS Todd Dulaney Jr. (Nazareth, 2029)

Ranked No. 2 in the class, No. 75 overall.

▪️93.7 mph max EV#ILPAS | @ShooterHunt

👤PROFILE: https://t.co/jUgwLkSFSu pic.twitter.com/tL1J9ayR61

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) February 28, 2026

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Entering the 2026 season, Nazareth Academy brings back significant experience throughout the lineup after achieving 30-plus wins for the fourth consecutive year in 2025. The Roadrunners posted a 31-7 record and captured the ESCC title, with their season highlighted by producing its latest MLB Draft pick, Jaden Fauske, who was selected 44th overall in the draft by the White Sox. Head coach Lee Milano, entering his 27th season at the helm, has built a program known for sustained excellence with two state championships in 2022 and 2023.

The offensive attack will be anchored by SS/3B Landon Thome (2026; Florida State commit), who Milano describes as "one of the best hitters in the country." Thome dominated in 2025, batting .442 with a 1.412 OPS across 38 games, establishing himself as one of the most dangerous '26 hitters in the state and eventually the nation, eventually earning an invitation to the 2025 Prep Baseball All-American Game in Miami to cap a stellar year all in all. OF Kamran Alikhan (2026; John A. Logan JC) returns after a solid .317 season and brings some speed to the lineup, while OF/RHP Drew Hyland (2026) hit .314 and provides two-way versatility and he projects to have an increased role on the mound this spring especially. SS/RHP Gavin Hartigan (2028) emerged as a key contributor in 2025 as only a freshman, batting .311 impressively enough.

On the mound, RHP Connor McKay (2026) returns after posting 44 innings with strong peripherals in 2025, a 6-foot-3, 180-pound righty with an upper-80's fastball (though we've heard reports the velocity has ticked up entering the spring) that helps him dodge barrels. LHP Eddie Donnelly (2027) provides left-handed depth after throwing 25.2 innings effectively last season, while LHP Brooks Kooken (2026) adds veteran experience to the rotation. Depth arms like RHP Christian Drye (2028) and RHP James Wasson (2027) are expected to contribute significant innings as the staff seeks to replace key losses.

Within their East Suburban Catholic Conference, the Roadrunners rank competitively in key measurable categories, particularly showcasing their speed advantage over conference rivals. The depth of talent across multiple graduating classes positions the program well for both immediate success and long-term sustainability, with underclassmen like SS/2B Todd Dulaney Jr (2029) and OF/RHP Grant Spackey (2029) ready to make varsity contributions if called upon.

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BOTTOM LINE

With proven offensive firepower led by Thome and a veteran pitching staff anchored by McKay, Nazareth Academy has the talent to make another deep postseason run and compete for a state championship in the state's 3A class. The program's championship experience and depth should translate to another 30-win season if they stay healthy.

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Find more information on the 2026 Nazareth Academy program below:

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

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