Spring sports are here! Let’s take a look at how our baseball coaches see their teams in the upcoming season.
School name: Amundsen
Last year’s record: 12-18-1
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Kael O’Conor, C, .403 BA & 20 RBI last season
Danny Ahern, UTL, .362 BA, 28 Runs, 20 RBI & 14 SB last season
Class of 2025:
Patty O’Keefe, P, 4-2 W-L, 1.89 ERA, 36 K’s in 37 IP last season
Henry Kalmus, P, 3-4 W-L, 4.10 ERA, 34 K’s in 29 IP last season
Coach’s season outlook: We are hoping to compete for a conference championship in the National North this year and earn promotion back into the JRN. We are also hoping to get over the hump in the regional final this year and win a regional title.
School name: Clemente
Last year’s record: 10-14
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Jesus Ramos, CF,
Andrew Horton, 1B
Class of 2025:
Sean Davis, 1B
Jayden Morales, 3B & P
Class of 2026:
Ramces Torres, P & SS
Class of 2027:
Keyvert Gonzalez, SS & P
Coach’s season outlook: In Conference we are looking to battle for first place and for the looking make it pass the Quarter Finals in city. For state our team is looking to compete in the Regional Championship for the third time.
School name: Farragut
Last year’s record: 19-10
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Bella DeMateo, 2B/OF
Luis Campos, Utility, LHP
Class of 2025:
Gio Bahena-Perez, OF/C
Julian Andrade, OF
Class of 2026:
Ben DeMateo, IF/OF, RHP
Yoel Guerra, SS/3B
Class of 2027:
Freddy Garcia, SS/2B
Nico Roman, C
Coach’s season outlook: Our program is growing, as we have a Varsity and JV team for the first time. We have scheduled 47 games between both programs and look to build on our 19-10 record last year, where we advanced to the IHSA Regional Championship game.
School name: Gage Park
Last season’s record: 3-8-2
Top returning players:
Class of 2025:
Arturo Sanchez, C
Coach’s season outlook: We are a young team looking to continue growing and learn the sport of baseball.
School name: Jones College Prep
Last year’s record: 18-13-1
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Brennen Jones, RHP,/3B/OF
Hunter Rauhaus, CF/RHP
Class of 2025:
Ellis Alexander C
Andreas Flores DH/IF/C
Class of 2026:
Renzo Sansonetti SS, RHP
Jack Condne 1B, LHP
Class of 2027:
Jack Hiltz OF, RHP
Christophe DeWijkerslooth IF, RHP
Coach’s season outlook: We will be competitive. We have only 14 players so we have to stay healthy.
School name: Kelly
Last season’s record: 7-13
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Alfredo Socorro, SS
Josiah Vélez, CF
Coach’s season outlook: We are a young team and if finish 500 we will exceed our expectations.
School name: Kelvyn Park
Last season’s record: 8-5
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Austin Torres, C/RF, All Conference
Elijah Lopez, 2nd Base/3rd Base, All Conference
Class of 2025:
Hector Manuel, LF/1B, All Conference
Class of 2026:
Tyshawn Johnson, P/1B, All Conference
Coach’s season outlook: Team is expected to challenge for Conference Championship coming off 2nd place finish in 2022-2023
School name: Kennedy
Last year’s record: 27-8
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Michael Gallas, 3B/SS, Power hitter; Good Velocity on FB, coming off of a football injury
Jake Cusulick, SS
Class of 2025:
Matthew Zabrauskas; Transfer from St. Rita, fast, solid defensively, expecting him to set the table and be in the leadoff spot
Israel Roa, OF; Solid all around player, lefty with good velocity, will be stepping into a leadership role and anchoring the rotation
Class of 2027:
Christian Estrada, Catcher; Solid player who might steal a starting spot on varsity
Coach’s season outlook: We hope to sweep our American South conference schedule, our non-conference schedule is very competitive and we hope to finish with at least an overall .500, our pitching or lack of pitching will determine how well we do.
School name: Kenwood
Last season’s record: 27-5
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Savion Flowers, OF/1B
Khamaree Thomas, OF/P, CPS Player of the Year
Class of 2025:
Kevari Thunderbird, P, 2023 Pitcher of the Year
Coach’s season outlook: We return 8 starters and our entire pitching rotation. Headed by EKU commit Savion Flowers, Michigan State commit Khamaree Thomas, Logan commit Kevari Thunderbird, Eastern Michigan commit Phillip Thigpen, NIU commit Jimmy Downs.
School name: King
Last season’s record: 2-12
Top returning players:
Class of 2024:
Jordan Walton, pitcher
Jaiden Stewart, center field
Class of 2025:
Sam Roma, Catcher
Class of 2026:
Antwon King
Coach’s season outlook: Top 3 in conference
School name: Lane
Last year’s record: 24-14
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Ethan Borggren (UTL, Northwestern commit) – All-conference, Honorable mention All-City 2023
Amaan Khan (P, Lenoir-Rhyne University commit)
Class of 2025:
Henry Murray (OF, Boston College commit)
Teo Greco (MIF) – All-conference 2023
Class of 2026:
Ronan Owens (MIF/P)
Jacob DeVinney (C)
Class of 2027:
Sebastian Wilson (OF/P, Tennessee commit) #1 Ranked player in the state by both PG and PBR
Jake Saltarelli (P/INF)
Coach’s season outlook: We have a talented team and expect to contend for City, Regional, and Sectional Championships.
School name: Lindblom
Last season’s record: 14-13
Top returning players:
Class of 2024:
Andrew Crenshaw, SS, .510 avg., 48 hits, 1st team All City 2023, Maryland-Eastern Shore signee
Gus Padilla, OF/P/C, .395avg., 39 RBI, 2nd team All City
Class of 2026:
Andres Aguirre, 2B/P, .268 avg.
Coach’s season outlook: Should win a regional and compete for sectional titles. Will finish above .500 in the conference. 3 seniors will lead us.
School name: Mather
Last year’s record: 14-8
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
J’Anthony Skerrett, P/CINF, All-Conference
Jaylen Orr, OF, All-Conference
Class of 2025:
Jeriel Mejias, P/MINF, All-Conference
David Goytia, P/SS, All-Conference
Class of 2026:
Lucas Lambert, UTIL
Roy Beard, UTIL
Coach’s season outlook: Mather graduated its two best players last year who we will be looking to replace. Those seniors hit at the top of our batting order and included our starting catcher. Despite losing them, there is a motivated group of upcoming underclassmen and the interest in playing baseball at Mather is as high as ever. Last year, Mather feasted on the CPL North conference and went undefeated. Mather will now move back up in the CPL National North conference where they will look to prove that they belong there. Mather will be led by Seniors J’Anthony Skerrett and Jaylen Orr and Juniors Jeriel Mejias and David Goytia. Combined with some talented underclassmen, the Mather Rangers are optimistic that they will have another successful season.
School name: Northside
Last season’s record: 15-6
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Justin Goldberg, C,1B, DH; 2023 Chicago North Player of the Year, Chicago North All Conference
Class of 2025:
Tyler Weigand, P, SS, 2B; 2023 Chicago North Pitcher of the Year, Chicago North All Conference Player
John Piper, P, 1B; 2023 Chicago North All Conference Player
Class of 2026:
Jesse Nick, SS, 2B, P; 2023 Chicago North All Conference Player
Owen Estep, C, OF
Class of 2027:
Rowan Yen, 3B, SS, P
Coach’s season outlook: We had a great season last year playing in the Chicago North Conference. There are a lot of unknowns moving up to the Jackie Robinson North Conference. We are a young team looking forward to being competitive in a new conference.
School name: Ogden International
Last year’s record: 14-15
Top returning players:
Class of 2024:
Malachi Gonzalez, CF, 2nd team all city 2023
Class of 2025:
Juhthaniel Lebron, 3b
Osiah Vega, SS
Class of 2026:
AJ Ramirez, C
Diego Salinas 1B/P
Class of 2027:
Jacob Cordero, P/C/3B
Juju Castillo C/OF/P
Coach’s season outlook: We are returning 6 starters and are looking to compete for a city championship and win back to back regional championships.
School name: Simeon
Last season’s record: 20-13
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Christopher Boykin, 1B/C/P
Keshaun Parker, MIF/P/C
Class of 2025:
Ben Johnson, CF/P
Bryce Jones, IF/P
Class of 2026:
Christian Lott, P/C/IF
Cavion Danley, OF/C/P
Coach’s season outlook: Finish 2nd in Conference, make a CPL championship game appearance, Win Sectional
School name: Solorio
Last season’s record: 9-16
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Jacob Pacheco, 3B/P
Nico Floramo, P/OF
Class of 2025:
Antonio Licea, P/1B
Class of 2026:
Juan Barrientos, C/P
Josiah Saucedo, UTL
Class of 2027:
Keiber Hernandez, SS/P
Coach’s season outlook: Our 2024 group is young, but talented. We expect to compete in the Jackie Robinson South conference and City tournament despite our youth, and we expect to win a 3A Regional Championship and compete in Sectionals.
School name: Urban Prep
Last season’s record: 6-4
Top players returning:
Class of 2025:
Maurice Hughes, 2B, All-Conference, Hit Over .600 past two seasons
Coach’s season outlook: Unknown. Returning players are still developing and haven’t worked with any new interested athletes. I believe our conference is suitable across the board where all teams are experiencing similar deficits in experienced baseball players. We have a team of guys that enjoy learning and are young enough to get better as the season goes on.
School name: Von Steuben
Last year’s record: 24-8
Top players returning:
Class of 2024:
Alex Karson, LHP/OF, University of Missouri-St Louis commit; 2023 All-Conference
Gio Perez, 1B/DH, Dominican University commit
Class of 2025:
George Allen, Corner OF/INF; Power hitter who is sound defensively
Axel Rivera, C/P; Plus arm who can play any position on the diamond
Coach’s season outlook: We will be rebuilding after a two year run as JRN conference champions and graduating key Seniors. We expect to improve as the season progresses and try to get hot as we enter the post season.
School name: Wells
Last year’s record: 6-8
Coach’s season outlook: With a lot of upperclassmen the Raiders are hoping to improve on their conference record after the juniors on the team saw a 6 game improvement from 0-14 to 6-8. It’s all about growth and planting the seeds for this program to grow and flourish.
School name: Whitney Young
Last season’s record: 11-18
Top returning players:
Class of 2024:
Cole Hockman, 3B
Class of 2025:
Luke Yolich, SS
Will Carter, P
Class of 2026:
Kingsley Evans, 2B
Marcus Garton, P
Class of 2027:
Isaac Stoelinga, 1B
Eliot Warren, SS
Coach’s season outlook: The success of the 2024 Dolphins’ season hinges how well we perform on the mound. We’re a young group, that returns 8 regular position players, with a young staff of capable arms who will contribute on the mound. Our hitting will surprise some teams this year and with our tough schedule, we look forward to peaking at the at the right time.
