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: Providence Catholic Celtics
Preseason Rank: No. 9
Head Coach: Mark Smith
Classification: 4A
Conference: Chicago Catholic League (Blue)
2025 Record (Finish): 27-13 (super-sectional appearance)
Key Players Lost: Enzo Infelise (Cincinnati), Nate O'Donnell (Minnesota), Cooper Eggert (SIUE), Eddie Olszta, Blake Jenner (Parkland), Kasten Goebbert (Gulf Coast State), Dom Alberico, Declan Kane (St. Norbert), Michael Noonan

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ROSTER PREVIEW

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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 Providence Catholic's top-three performers averaged across each category:

• Avg. Exit Velocity: 92.93 mph (No. 25 in the state)
• Max Exit Velocity: 101.33 mph (T-No. 22 in the state)
• Max FB Velocity: 89.67 mph (T-No. 8 in the state)
• Top 60-Yard: 6.83s (No. 20 in the state)

INDIVIDUAL DATA STAND-OUTS:

• Austin Leipart (2028) - 3B/RHP - 5-11.6 , 163 lbs
  
  • SL spin: 2150 rpm (60th pctile. in IL, No. 23 in 2028 class)
• Bryce Tencza (2026) - 1B/OF - 6-2.7 , 293 lbs
  
  • avg EV: 92.5 mph (89th pctile. in IL, 81st pctile. in 2026 class)
  • bat speed: 74.7 mph (92nd pctile. in IL, 81st pctile. in 2026 class)
• Cameron Klene (2027) - SS/RHP - 5-10.7 , 160 lbs
  
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.86s (86th pctile. in IL, 83rd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.61s (93rd pctile. in IL, 90th pctile. in 2027 class)
• Cole Clower (2028) - RHP/SS - 6-2.8 , 204 lbs
  
  • max EV: 99.0 mph (82nd pctile. in IL, 89th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • bat speed: 72.6 mph (82nd pctile. in IL, 89th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • max fastball: 89.0 mph (84th pctile. in IL, T-No. 8 in 2028 class)
  • FB spin: 2252 rpm (90th pctile. in IL, No. 15 in 2028 class)
• Colton Carli (2027) - SS/2B - 5-9 , 169 lbs
  
  • max fastball: 90.0 mph (89th pctile. in IL, 85th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.92s (82nd pctile. in IL, 79th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.65s (84th pctile. in IL, 79th pctile. in 2027 class)
• Isaac Serrato (2027) - OF/3B - 5-9.4 , 173 lbs
  
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.94s (81st pctile. in IL, 78th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.64s (87th pctile. in IL, 83rd pctile. in 2027 class)
  • vert. jump: 27.9 in (94th pctile. in IL, 91st pctile. in 2027 class)
• Jacob Gandurski (2027) - 1B - 6-0 , 271 lbs
  
  • bat speed: 75.4 mph (95th pctile. in IL, T-No. 17 in 2027 class)
• Landon Ehman (2026) - OF/RHP - 5-9.9 , 165 lbs
  
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.86s (86th pctile. in IL, 75th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.66s (81st pctile. in IL, 70th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 25.6 in (82nd pctile. in IL, 70th pctile. in 2026 class)
• Lincoln Boersma (2027) - RHP/SS - 6-3 , 198 lbs
  
  • max EV: 101.0 mph (90th pctile. in IL, 84th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • max fastball: 90.0 mph (89th pctile. in IL, 85th pctile. in 2027 class)
  • SL spin: 2348 rpm (83rd pctile. in IL, No. 20 in 2027 class)
• Mason Almazan (2028) - SS/2B - 5-8.9 , 156 lbs
  
  • max fastball: 88.0 mph (77th pctile. in IL, T-No. 16 in 2028 class)
  • FB spin: 2274 rpm (92nd pctile. in IL, No. 10 in 2028 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.91s (83rd pctile. in IL, 88th pctile. in 2028 class)
  • vert. jump: 27.2 in (91st pctile. in IL, T-No. 14 in 2028 class)
• Sam Webb (2026) - C/1B - 6-1.3 , 206 lbs
  
  • max EV: 99.0 mph (82nd pctile. in IL, 71st pctile. in 2026 class)
• Sammy Atkinson (2026) - OF/2B - 5-6.5 , 170 lbs
  
  • max EV: 104.0 mph (97th pctile. in IL, T-No. 14 in 2026 class)
  • avg EV: 95.7 mph (96th pctile. in IL, T-No. 18 in 2026 class)
  • bat speed: 73.7 mph (89th pctile. in IL, 75th pctile. in 2026 class)
  • rot. accel.: 21.0g (94th pctile. in IL, T-No. 21 in 2026 class)
  • 60-yd. dash: 6.81s (89th pctile. in IL, 81st pctile. in 2026 class)
  • 10-yd. split: 1.60s (95th pctile. in IL, T-No. 16 in 2026 class)
  • vert. jump: 27.5 in (92nd pctile. in IL, 84th pctile. in 2026 class)

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X-FACTOR

A good catcher is always an extremely valuable asset, and losing Enzo Infelise (2025; Cincinnati) definitely leaves a hole in their lineup. Sam Webb (2026; Wisconsin-Parkside) will look to help fill that void, and if he can turn in some notable offensive production he could be the piece this team needs on that side of the ball. There is no shortage of power with Webb, standing in at a broad-shouldered 6-foot-1, 206-pounds. There is obvious strength in the bat, backed by his 99 mph exit velocity, and he will also offer sound defense behind the plate to help lead their stable of young arms.

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NEWCOMER TO WATCH

RHP Austin Leipart (2028) is a prospect we are extremely high on, especially pertaining to his upside and future. The frame is easy to dream on, measuring in at a high-waisted 6-foot, 163-pounds. The movement patterns are silky smooth and free-flowing, pairing with a clean arm and mid-80s fastball. He will likely be looked to as someone to take on a bulk of innings, and we are excited to see him tackle that task.

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TEAM OUTLOOK

Providence Catholic faces a complete roster overhaul after losing nine key contributors from their 2025 super-sectional run. Head coach Mark Smith is honest about the uncertainty surrounding his program's identity heading into the spring season. "We are going to be very young with one returning starter and only four returners from last year's team," Smith said. "While we might start out a tad slow I do expect us to grow and improve as the season progresses and be very competitive by the season's end."

The Celtics' offensive attack will be anchored by OF Sammy Atkinson (2026; Heartland), a four-year varsity player whose showcase metrics rank among the state's elite. Atkinson's 104 mph max exit velocity ranks in the 97th percentile statewide, while his 95.7 mph average exit velocity places him in the top-20 of the 2026 class. Atkinson slashed .378/.457/.604 as a junior and everyday player in 2025, and he finished second on the team with six homers.

The aforementioned Webb brings another veteran presence behind the plate and he brings some power potential offensively. The team's power is also bolstered by 1B Bryce Tencza (2026), whose 92.5 mph average exit velocity and elite 74.7 mph bat speed provide significant middle-of-the-order potential, even as a football prospect primarily. He tallied five doubles and a homer in 82 at-bats as a junior last year.

OF Landon Ehman (2026; Kankakee commit) is another valuable asset offensively, bringing an athletic toolset and left-handed swing that profiles at the top of their lineup. 

Providence Catholic's pitching staff will be built around promising juniors and sophomores, led by RHP Lincoln Boersma (2027; Illinois-Chicago), who boasts a ton of upside in his 6-foot-3, 197-pound frame with a 90 mph fastball and a handful of secondaries to pair. 

RHP Cole Clower (2028) brings similar versatility with an 89 mph fastball and advanced secondaries, seeing a significant amount of time on varsity as a freshman a year ago. 

INF/RHP Cole Clower (Providence Catholic, 2028)

Ranked No. 4 in IL, Clower put on a show both at the plate and on the mound at the #ILPASUnder.

🔷95.5 mph peak EV, 90 mph avg.
🔷T349' max distance
🔷FB: 84-86 mph
🔷CB: 70-71 mph (-13" HM avg.)

👤https://t.co/5Vwlcn5xYh pic.twitter.com/9WUIfJU1tW

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) March 6, 2025

Right-handers Kobe Jordan (2027) and Charlie Caroselli (2027) provide Smith even more depth in the rotation, with Jordan boasting tremendous upside in his 6-foot-5 frame and a fastball we've heard has been in the low-90s recently.

Caroselli is coming off a strong showing at All-State, displaying advanced overall feel for his arsenal with an upper-80s fastball to back it all up. 

The aforementioned Leipart with be a key piece of the staff, along with southpaw Will Quinn (2026; Lake Land) who breaks the trend of right-handers. 

RHP Mason Almazan (2028), RHP Jaxson Weiss (2027), RHP Brendan Carlson (2027), LHP Cameron Klene (2027), RHP John Kelly (2026; St. Norbert) and RHP Sammy Cortes (2026) offer even more depth, as coach Smith will be trotting out talented arm after talented arm. 

With their program's track record and Smith's 18-year tenure producing four state titles, the foundation remains strong despite the significant personnel turnover from last year's special group of seniors.

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BOTTOM LINE

The depth the Celtics have on the mound is quite remarkable, giving them top-to-bottom one, if not the deepest staff in the state. The offense will need to find a way to produce after losing some key pieces, but the arms will surely make it easier on them. Historically a top team in the state, look for the Celtics to be a contender once again when it's all said and done. 

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Find more information on the 2026 Providence Catholic program below:

+ Follow them on social media: @celticBASE/provibaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Illinois Preseason Power 25 homepage

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