Baseball Top 20

1. Libertyville (36-4) Illinois St. commit Lockwood returns for defending 4A champs

2. Maine South (23-17) A lot of talent back for sectional champs

3. Barrington (25-10) Belo takes over Broncos

4. Downers Grove North (30-8) Duke recruit Doyle part of deep squad

5. Huntley (21-16) Nine straight 20-win seasons

6. Glenbard East (24-9) Plenty back for UEC East champs

7. Lake Zurich (26-12) Mundelein grad Parola takes over Bears' program

8. Benet (27-13) Redwings second in Class 3A last year

9. Waubonsie Valley (23-13) Strong pitching for 2025 sectional champs

10. St. Francis (26-10) Solloway 7-2, 1.31 ERA last year

11. South Elgin (25-11) Top 2 arms back from supersectional team

12. Mundelein (23-11) Mustangs have 5 players committed to next level

13. St. Charles North (21-13) Looking for third straight DuKane championship

13. Geneva (23-12) MSU-bound Bruesch headlines strong returning cast

14. Willowbrook (26-10) Entire pitching staff returns

15. York (24-12) 100 innings back; 4 straight regional titles

16. Grayslake Central (28-10) Lot back for NLCC kingpin, but pitching will likely tell tale

17. Fremd (27-5) Graba 9-1 last year for MSL West champs

18. CL South (25-13) D-1 DeLoach, Trivellini lead Gators

19. Hersey (27-9) A ton of shoes to fill for 2025 MSL champs

20. Rolling Meadows (22-14) 7 starters back for new coach Klebosits

Others to watch: Palatine 27-10, West Aurora 27-8, Downers Grove South 23-13, Lakes 21-14, Prospect 22-12, Hampshire 28-9, Cary-Grove 25-14, Kaneland 25-11, Marmion 22-13, St. Charles East 15-19