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: Benet Academy Redwings
Preseason Rank: No. 25
Co-Head Coaches: Jorge Acosta & Scott Lawler
Classification: 3A
Conference: East Suburban Catholic Conference
2024 Record (Finish): 21-9-2 (Sectional semifinals loss)
Key Players Lost: Marc Iozzo (Miami OH), Luc Lawler (Evansville), Joe Coffey (Baldwin Wallace), Ryan Cibulka

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4
No. of Returning Starting Pitchers: 4
No. of Returning Relief Pitchers: 3
Team Strengths: Returning pitching.

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X-FACTOR

Currently ranked within the state’s top-100, RHP Gino Zagorac (2025; Wichita State) makes for another potent top-of-the-rotation arm for the Redwings alongside LHP Jake Rifenburg (2025; Northwestern). Zagorac’s arsenal is headlined by a carry fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper 80’s, touching as high as 90 mph in the past for our staff. His secondaries include an upper-70s curveball with short 11/5 shape, and a 79-80 mph changeup that plays with fading action. If Zagorac can be a steady force on the mound this spring, he and Rifenburg could make for the top one-two punch in the ESCC.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Redwings finished 2024 with a 21-10 record before falling in the Sectional Semifinals. The strength of their team will likely lay in their pitching staff, after returning the previously mentioned Rifenburg and Zagorac, they’ll also bring back RHP Tristan Lakis (2025; Webster) and RHP Jonny Rossi (2025; Webster), who will likely fill out the rotation to begin the year. Rifenburg is one of the top arms in the state, and could even garner pro interest this season. The high-academic 6-foot, 187-pound strong and sturdy southpaw was a recent winner at our Preseason ProCase where he ran his fastball up to 92 mph with run. He will toss in a 77-78 mph curveball that he has strike-feel for, to complement his fastball and miss barrels. To round things out Rifenburg can also go to an 85-87 mph changeup with heavy fade. Look for Rifenburg to give the Redwings a chance to win every time he takes the ball.

Also likely to fill innings on the mound in 2025 are RHPs Anthony Filippo (2025; College of DuPage), Luke Wildes (2025; St. Johns River State College), Nick Zoberis (2025; uncommitted), Ethan Mendez (2025; Roosevelt), Ben Clevenger (2026; uncommitted), and LHP Quinn Rooney (2027). A freshman who could potentially give the Redwings innings at some point in 2025 is LHP Luke Crowder (2028), who has shown the ability to run his fastball up to 84 mph as recently as last summer.

Despite a couple potential new faces on the mound for the Redwings, their staff is mostly a veteran one, with the majority of the staff committed to playing at the next level.

Offensively, the Redwings will boast a lineup that has a quality mix of both returning talent and new faces.

Likely to pace the offense is the previously mentioned OF/RHP Luke Wildes, who we have seen post impressive numbers at our events in the past; running a 6.75 60 at a strong 6-foot-2, 190-pounds, while also reaching 88 mph from the outfield, with a max exit velocity of 93 mph. INF Luke Stachowiak (2025; McKendree) is another bat to know for the Redwings; showing well for us multiple times last summer, the 5-foot-11, 192-pound right-handed hitter should provide a steady and reliable presence atop the lineup.

Rounding out the rest of the offense will be SS/RHP Ethan Mendez (2025; Roosevelt), OF/3B Josh Gugora (2025; Illinois Wesleyan), MIF Merrick Sullivan (2025; uncommitted), previously mentioned Jonny Rossi who will likely play on the infield when he’s not pitching, OF Aiden Mersinger (2025; Knox College), and OF/C Brandon Sconza (2025; uncommitted), making for an older and experienced lineup for 2025.

OF/2B Luke Doyle (2026; uncommitted) is a speedy bat that should help piece together the Benet offense this spring, recently running a 6.54 60 for our staff at our Lockport Preseason ID last month.

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BOTTOM LINE & DIRECTOR'S NOTE

Behind a strong pitching staff and an older/experienced group, the Redwings look to have a very high floor entering the spring, and with their one-two punch of Rifenburg and Zagorac they will be a tough team to beat regardless, come playoff time. Their depth on the mound should help keep them in every game throughout the season, while also boasting a pitching staff full of guys committed to pitch at the next level. The offense has some important bats returning, with the added potential for new faces to make immediate impacts come Opening Day. Look for this group to make a run at the ESCC title in 2025, and potentially make a deep run in the playoffs.

"In my 10 years of scouting the state this looks to be the most talent Coach Lawler and company have had to work with and they should be a team to watch in the ESCC and beyond." Drew Locascio

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Find more information on the 2025 Benet Academy program below:

+ Follow them on X: @CoachLawler9
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage

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