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: Brother Rice Crusaders
Preseason Rank: No. 6
Head Coach: Sean McBride
Classification: 4A
Conference: Chicago Catholic League - Blue
2024 Record (Finish): 20-18 (Lost in Sectional Semi)
Key Players Lost: Chris Daugherty (Lewis), Ryan Hartz, Casey Giemzik (Heartland CC)

 

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ROSTER PREVIEW

No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Starting Pitchers: 4
No. of Returning Relief Pitchers: 2
Team Strengths: Depth, experience, mix of youth.

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X-FACTOR

RHP/INF Brady Cunningham (2027) has shown well all winter in front of our staff and looks like he will be one of the more important pieces for the Crusaders this spring thanks to his two-way abilities. The physical 6-foot-2, 222-pound R/R prospect has made noticeable strides on both sides of the ball over the winter. At our Chicago Preseason ID, he had one of the louder batting practice rounds our staff saw at any event; posting an average EV of 93.7, with an eye-popping max EV of 104.9 mph. Cunningham batted .279 last season as a freshman, and could be in line to see his numbers at the plate take a leap in 2025. We then saw him at our Preseason All-State: Underclass, where he shined on the mound; his fastball was sitting 89-90 mph (T91) with carry through the zone, while pairing it with a curveball that sat 75-79 mph with short, moderate action, and he also mixed in a straight, firm changeup at 82-83 mph. Cunningham threw 27 ⅓ innings last year, but look for him to take on a larger workload this spring as he will be positioned towards the top of the Crusaders’ rotation.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

INF/RHP Colin Campbell (2027; Louisville) is a left-handed hitting middle-infielder who has continually hit in front of our staff. Campbell is likely to see time on varsity this spring as a sophomore and is athletic enough to play anywhere on the diamond. Look for Campbell to also see time on the mound this spring coming out of the ‘pen for the Crusaders and be an all-around integral part of the 2025 squad.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Brother Rice and Head Coach Sean McBride enter 2025 with one of the more talented rosters from top to bottom in the state. They finished 2024 20-18 before losing in the sectional semis with a mostly young roster. With a ton of depth and experience returning this spring, Brother Rice is well positioned to be one of the top teams in the state throughout 2025.

When talking about this year’s Brother Rice team it is hard to not begin with three infielders who are going on their third year of being varsity contributors in Gavin Triezenberg (2025; Arizona), Jackson Natanek (2025; Illinois State), and Aidan Nohava (2025; Eastern Michigan).

Triezenberg and Natanek form perhaps the best middle-infield duo across the entire state with both being high-level defenders at their respective positions.

In 2024, Triezenberg batted .337 with 13 doubles (team-high), a triple, two homers, and 23 RBI, while also leading the team in stolen bases with 11.

Natanek is also a high performer on the mound, where in 2025 he will likely be the team’s closer after posting a 1.54 ERA in 13 ⅔ innings, while striking out 19 in 2024.

Nohava will likely man one of the corner spots for the Crusaders in 2025 and bat in the heart of the order after swatting two homers and driving in 17 last season as a junior.

OF Conner Stack (2025; uncommitted) and C Josh Torres (2025; uncommitted) are two more seniors who will contribute on the offensive side of the ball for the Crusaders this spring.

Yet another high-profile returner to note for the Crusaders this spring is OF Nolan Ramoley (2026; Kentucky). Ramoley is one of the toolsier prospects in the region and the case could be made on the national level as well. We recently saw Ramoley at our Preseason All-State: Upperclass where he continued to put up loud numbers across the board; including an average EV of 90 mph with a max of 107.7 mph, while posting an average bat speed of 80.2 mph (T84.3). We’ve also seen him up to 91 mph from the outfield while posting a blazing 6.52 60 time in the past as well. A season ago, he led the team with three homers.

OF Nolan Ramoley (Brother Rice, 2026)

Led the event in peak EV and remains one of the best athletes in the midwest.

Kentucky commit.

🔷107.7 mph peak EV
🔷90 mph avg. EV
🔷6.52 runner
🔷T92 mph OF#ILPASUpper

👤https://t.co/qYZQta2qP3 pic.twitter.com/4pOAd6r8P0

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

C Trey Webster (2026; uncommitted), INF Charlie Rosynek (2026; uncommitted), INF/RHP Gavin Stanislawski (2027), and OF Anthony Cartolano (2027) will all help contribute on offense in 2025 for the Crusaders.

OF Anthony Cartolano (Brother Rice, 2027)

Strong at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds; twitch and tools on the day.

🔹6.81 runner; 31-inch vertical
🔹97 mph max EV
🔹71.9 mph bat speed
🔹86 mph OF velo

👤 PROFILE: https://t.co/ziwGt4f2Dh#ILPASUnder | @BR_Baseball pic.twitter.com/0bZu9RCh4u

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) March 2, 2025

On the mound, Brother Rice brings back two senior arms who should both provide stability within the pitching staff in LHP Danny Sheehan (2025; uncommitted) and RHP Tadgh Callaghan (2025; Saint Xavier). Last season Sheehan performed to a 6-2 record while posting a 2.43 ERA over 46 innings of work. The Crusaders will welcome back Callaghan in 2025 after he missed last season due to injury. Look for Callaghan to make an impact whether that be in the rotation or out of the ‘pen this spring.

The returning production on the mound continues with LHP Braydon McKendrick (2026; uncommitted). In 2024, McKendrick posted a 3.56 ERA over 39 ⅓ innings of work as a sophomore. If McKendrick can take another step in 2025, it will only bolster what is already perhaps the biggest strength of the team.

Another southpaw who is in line to give the Crusaders major innings this season is Aidan Dillon (2027). Dillon is another prospect who is no stranger to our staff, with our most recent look coming at the Preseason All-State: Underclass. There, his fastball velocity has ticked up since we last saw him, now sitting 83-84 mph (T85). Dillon showed the ability to be all around the zone with all four of his offerings, and if that sort of pitchability can translate in-game this spring, he could be another strong weapon for the Crusaders to deploy.

RHP JD Maloney (2025; uncommitted) is another arm who could help make an impact for the Crusaders on the mound this spring.

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BOTTOM LINE & DIRECTOR’S NOTE

This is one of the deeper rosters on paper entering 2025. This group took their lumps last year as they integrated younger pieces into the varsity mix, but there is a ton of talent and potential within the 2025 group as they return more experienced and deeper across the board. They will have to navigate one of the tougher conferences in the state, but if the high-end talent across the roster can perform like we think they can, this team could make it back to Joliet after finishing as the 2023 runner-ups.

"There are plenty of impact seniors to note for the Crusaders this spring but the influx of young talent in 2025 could be the difference maker on how far this team can go this spring. Do not be surprised to see Coach McBride's group still standing in Joliet in June." Drew Locascio

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Find more information on the 2025 Brother Rice program below:

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

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