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: Lemont
Preseason Rank: No. 19
Head Coach: Brian Storako
Classification: 3A
Conference: South Suburban (Blue)
2025 Record (Finish): 30-8-1 (sectional finalists)
Key Players Lost: Shea Glotzbach; Jacob Parr; Matt Devoy; Donovan Moleski; Nick Reno; Rocco Luciano

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ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 6
No. of Returning Starting Pitchers: 1
No. of Returning Relief Pitchers: 5
Team Strengths: Defense, returning starters in the lineup

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X-FACTOR

SS/RHP Brett Tucker (2026; SIUE) enters his senior season as perhaps the top returning bat for Lemont. No stranger to the varsity scene, Tucker has been a top contributor for the program dating back to his sophomore year, where he shined throughout the 2024 3A State Tournament in front of our staff. The 6-foot-1, 166-pound shortstop will provide reliable defense up the middle and be a steady presence toward the top of the lineup. Also look for Tucker to occupy some innings in relief for Lemont this spring.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Sophomore LHPs Dylan Jones & Nathan Zdenovec are two names to watch this spring for Lemont as they will be expected to step into bigger roles within the pitching staff in 2026. We recently saw Jones throw well at our Preseason All-State: Underclass, where he left the event as one of the top performers, showing a mid-80’s fastball working up to 87 mph, paired with three offspeed pitches (curveball, slider, changeup) he could control for strikes. We last saw Zdenovec in the summer working in the low-80’s but have seen reports that his stuff has ticked up over the winter.

𝗣𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗲𝗮𝘀𝗼𝗻 𝗔𝗹𝗹-𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲 𝗨𝗻𝗱𝗲𝗿𝗰𝗹𝗮𝘀𝘀: 𝗦𝗽𝗼𝘁𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁𝘀 ⭐

LHP Dylan Jones (Lemont, 2028) was a standout on the summer circuit in '25 and is primed for a big spring.

◾6-2 | 172 lbs
◾FB: 84-86, T87 mph
◾CB: 73-74 mph (75% strikes)
◾SL: 73-75 mph… pic.twitter.com/flgqh6xFbg

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) March 5, 2026

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The shadow of graduation looms large over Lemont's 2026 aspirations, as this year's team must replace nearly 80 percent of their innings pitched after losing ace Shea Glotzbach (56.2 IP; 1.98 ERA) and key arms Nick Reno and Matt Devoy. With only one returning starter in LHP Cannon Madej (2026; SWIC), who posted a 6-1 record with a 1.94 ERA across 36 innings in 2025, the pitching staff represents both the program's biggest question mark and its greatest opportunity for development.

Head coach Brian Storako, whose 315-117 record includes three state final appearances, remains optimistic about his group's potential. "We are very excited about this group," Storako said. "They are a tight knit bunch that holds each other accountable and strives to get better each day." That cohesion will be critical as sophomores Dylan Jones (2028) and Nathan Zdenovec (2028) are expected to assume significant starting roles after strong summer and fall campaigns. Jones already showcases advanced stuff for his age with an 87 mph fastball and 14.1 inches of induced vertical break.

The offensive foundation appears more stable, anchored by SS Brett Tucker (2026; Southern Illinois-Edwardsville), who hit .293 with 29 RBIs and 34 runs scored in 2025 while manning shortstop. OF Michael Kalkowski (2027) brings legitimate pop to the outfield corners after recording a 96 mph max exit velocity during Prep Baseball winter showcases this year. 3B Zane Schneider (2027) provides middle-of-the-order presence after hitting .354 with 25 RBIs last season while adding defensive versatility at multiple positions as an underclassman, and will be relied upon to be a key contributor again in 2026.

Lemont's championship window remains open in a competitive South Suburban, where they captured the conference title in 2025 despite falling to eventual state champ St. Laurence twice, including the sectional final. With six returning position starters and a defensive-minded philosophy, Lemont's ceiling depends entirely on whether their young arms can handle the pressure of replacing elite-level production.

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BOTTOM LINE

Lemont's championship pedigree and experienced position players create a foundation for another deep playoff run, but the success of untested sophomore pitchers will determine whether they can find their way back to Joliet. 

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Find more information on the 2026 Lemont program below:

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

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