St. Rita has its best team in 20 years and Joliet Catholic has a standout pitching tandem. Also watch for Chicago Mt. Carmel, Providence Catholic and Sacred Heart-Griffin.
Marty Bechina and St. Rita are the top-ranked team in Illinois this season.
Photo by John Rowland
MaxPreps 2015 Illinois Baseball Fab 5 presented by the Army National Guard
1. St. Rita (Chicago)2014 finish: 37-5
Head coach: Mike Zunica
According to coach Zunica, St. Rita could have its top starting lineup, top to bottom, in the last 20 years. St. Rita reached the Class 4A championship game last year, falling to Providence Catholic. Among the top returning players including four players headed to play college baseball. They include infielder/pitcher
Tyler Halas (Tennessee), centerfielder
Shane Peisker (Navy), shortstop
Marty Bechina (Michigan State) and left-handed pitcher
Matt Ryan (Butler).
View last season's Illinois baseball rankings, presented by the Army National Guard2. Joliet Catholic Academy2014 finish: 28-8
Head coach: Jared Voss
Joliet Catholic might have the top pitching combo in the state in MaxPreps Junior All-American
Nick Dalesandro and Sophomore All-American
Drake Fellows. Dalesandro, who is also a top hitter with a .409 batting average, posted a 7-1 record last year while Fellows was 6-1. Dalesandro is headed to Purdue while Fellows, a junior, has already committed to Vanderbilt.
View last season's Illinois baseball playoff brackets3. Chicago Mt. Carmel2014 finish: 32-8
Head coach: Brian Hurry
The Caravan are just two years removed from winning a Class 4A state championship. They also have four players expected to play college baseball next year, led by
Josh Stowers, an outfielder headed to Louisville,
Ako Thomas, an infielder committed to Michigan,
Malik Carpenter, a first baseman headed to Chicago State, and
Jeremy Houston, a shortstop committed to Indiana.
View last season's Illinois baseball stat leaders4. Providence Catholic (New Lenox)2014 finish: 27-14
Head coach: Mark Smith
The defending Class 4A state champions lost one of the state's top players to graduation in pitcher Jake Godfrey, however he didn't even have the best record on the team last year. Pitchers
Brent Villasenor (7-1) and
Justin Hunniford (5-1) both return to anchor the pitching staff.
Mike Madej, a junior, is the top returning hitter after batting .295 last season.
View the MaxPreps Illinois baseball pro photo galleries5. Sacred Heart-Griffin (Springfield)2014 finish: 38-4
Head coach: Mike Eck
The Cyclones had a senior-dominated team last year that reached the Class 3A finals. Two of the top players from that team, however, return in pitcher
Ben McElwee and
Cole Daily. McElwee posted a 9-1 pitching record with 81 strikeouts and a 0.77 ERA. Daily was one of the team's top hitters with a .382 batting average and 11 doubles. The shortstop ranks as the No. 8 senior in Illinois by Perfect Game.
