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: Lincoln-Way West Warriors
Preseason Rank: 3
Head Coach: Jake Zajc
Classification: 4A
Conference: Southwest Suburban Conference Red
2024 Record (Finish): 30-5 (Sectional Finals. Lost to Providence 7-2)
Key Players Lost: Anthony Massa (Wisconsin-Platteville), Colin McCarty (Lake Land), Jack Linko (Concordia-Chicago), Jacob Willis (Loras), Ben Shea (Loras), Josh Howard, Dan Hodel (Wisconsin-Platteville)

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ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 4
No. of Returning Starting Pitchers: 6
No. of Returning Relief Pitchers: 4
Team Strengths: Pitching depth and key returners throughout the lineup.

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X-FACTOR

LHP Michael Pettit (2026; Notre Dame commit) saw limited time last spring as only a sophomore, and he looks to be a key addition to an already loaded pitching staff. With Essenburg and Acevedo alongside him, if Pettit can really take on the starter role and establish himself as a true third ace in the rotation, that will pay dividends down the stretch when it matters the most. We saw Pettit briefly in the playoffs last spring and then extensively throughout the summer, boasting a low-90s fastball with a firm, tight curveball and changeup to pair. He has some of the best stuff in the state on the mound, and we are extremely confident that he will come into his own this spring and be the extra piece the Warriors need.

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Stat Rat

LHP/1B Conor Essenburg (2025; Kentucky commit) is one of the most valuable players in the state with what he brings to the table on both sides of the ball. This past spring he earned First-Team All-State honors after hitting his way to a .388 average with 12 doubles, two triples, four home runs, 29 RBIs, 31 runs scored and 38 walks - also firing 52 innings on the mound with a 10-2 record, 101 strikeouts and a 1.48 ERA. The recent Super 60 standout swings a heavy barrel from the right side with all sorts of intent to do damage, and he also has a mature knowledge of the zone with limited chases. On the mound, the southpaw will challenge hitters with a low/mid-90s fastball, then put them away with either his swing/miss curveball or changeup. He’s a highly competitive two-way prospect with a real chance to do either position at the next level, and he’s primed for yet another huge year.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The first thing that stands out when looking at this team is the pitching depth, highlighted by the aforementioned Essenburg and Pettit, but RHP Lucas Acevedo (2025; UIC commit) will also play a key role for the Warriors in the rotation. The longtime varsity starter returns 43.1 innings on the mound in which he struck out 46 to the tune of a 1.13 ERA. He has an advanced three-pitch mix with a fastball that will get around 90 mph, and he’s an extremely reliable piece that helps fill out their three-headed monster.

Likely to also have large roles on the mound will be seniors LHP Anthony Vita (Drury commit) and RHP Adam Gerl (Wisconsin-Parkside commit).

Vita returns 23.1 innings on the bump with 34 strikeouts and a 1.80 ERA. While Gerl returns 26.2 innings with 31 strikeouts and a 2.36 ERA - also showing the ability in past looks to run his fastball into the upper-80s.

Likely seeing time out of the ‘pen for the Warriors will be RHP Kaden Kopacz (2025), RHP Alex Macias (2025; St. Xavier commit) and RHP Jack Condon (2025) - with all three looking to expand on their roles from a season ago.

Moving to the other side of the ball, the already mentioned Essenburg will help lead the offense alongside Acevedo, with the UIC commit returning a .330 average with 23 RBI and 33 runs scored. Acevedo will also look to hold down shortstop and provide value there with advanced actions and defensive ability.

Looking to complete the duo up the middle of the infield will likely be Kopacz, who saw limited time last year at the plate but played in almost every game defensively.

INF Jackson Mansker (2026) will look to build off his success from a season ago and hold down third base for the Warriors. Currently ranked No. 95 in the state, the 6-foot-1, 200-pound right-handed hitter has big juice with an exit velocity that will reach north of 100 mph, and he’s also a quality defender that can run (6.87 in the 60). The junior saw limited time last spring, but returns a .250 average.

Some quality outfield options for coach Zajc will be Ian Hazelip (2025; Roosevelt commit), Zach Hermanson (2026) and Carson Paulas (2026).

Hazelip was a top performer from a year ago, bringing back a .360 average in 97 at-bats with eight doubles - and he’s also an above-average defender in the outfield with some speed.

C Owen Weber (2026) and OF Peyton Globke (2026) are two more juniors that will look to help make an impact this year on the offensive front, along with the aforementioned Pettit and Vita.

Bottom Line

The Warriors have one of the deepest pitching staffs in the state, and they are adding to it with Notre Dame commit and recent Future Games standout Michael Pettit. If he's able to dominate like we think he can, the Warriors will have one of the best 1-2-3 punches around. Having three frontline starters like this will make them a tough out in the playoffs, especially when considering they have even more talented arms waiting in their stable. Anything they receive offensively will be a bonus, but we like a number of the pieces they bring back, as well as some of the new faces they have throughout. The Warriors won 30 games last spring and fell short in the sectionals to eventual state champs Providence Catholic, and they surely have their sights set on a deeper run this time around. 

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Find more information on the 2025 Lincoln-Way West program below:

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

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Coach Zajc Joined The Bullpen...

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