Unlike the other three classes, where there are only a select few teams who should be competing in the end, Class 4A is completely up for grabs (see predictions below for clear evidence). Indeed, the biggest class is also the biggest quandary.
Resident guru Drake Skleba likes PBR cover boys, Brother Rice, to win it all. And what’s not to like? The Crusaders are currently ranked No. 1 in the state, won the toughest conference in the state (Chicago Catholic Blue), have an offense that can score on anyone, and were our preseason top team.
I in fact championed Brother Rice’s cause as the PBR preseason pick to win it all. But I’m not picking them to win it all now. Why? Well, take a look at the Crusaders’ sectional bracket. It’s absolutely ridiculous. While some teams can hopscotch deep into the playoffs, Brother Rice unquestionably has the most arduous road. In the sectional semifinal, Brother Rice will likely square off against Chicago Catholic League foe St. Rita, which was ranked preseason No. 2. Yes, Brother Rice swept No. 9 St. Rita in conference play, but the Mustangs are one of the state’s most talented teams, and beating a talented team three times is difficult, they say.
But let’s say that Brother Rice advances past St. Rita to the sectional final. Its reward will likely be No. 3-ranked Sandburg, the defending state summer league champion. Brother Rice’s offense is clearly better than Sandburg’s, but the Eagles have far more pitching depth with aces Greg Billo and Will Keuper. Brother Rice’s Achilles heel is its pitching depth – and the Crusaders will likely burn through more pitchers because they will have played tougher teams. And if Brother Rice knocks off Sandburg, then the Crusaders should face another Catholic Blue power, Mount Carmel, which, incidentally, has an incredibly easy road to the supers.
With that said, I’m hedging my bets that the Crusaders can’t knock off St. Rita, Sandburg and Mount Carmel in succession. So I’m going with Sandburg in the Crestwood Supersectional. The rest of the supersectionals are cakewalks comparatively.
My pick to win it all is defending state champion Neuqua Valley. The Wildcats are best equipped to make a long playoff run because of their impressive pitching depth. Top-ranked junior prospect Ian Krol leads the way, but the Wildcats also feature junior RHP Mike McKinley, senior RHP Geoff Rowan, senior RHP Jason David and several others.
There is one statistical flaw in my logic, however. The only other team to repeat as champions was now-defunct Maine High in Des Plaines … in 1958 and ’59.
Let the fun begin …
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Drake Skleba (the Guru) |
Sean Duncan |
| Lisle Supersectional |
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New Trier defeats Schaumburg |
St. Charles North defeats New Trier |
| Crestwood Supersectional |
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Brother Rice defeats Mount Carmel |
Sandburg defeats Mount Carmel |
| U. of Illinois Supersectional |
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Neuqua Valley defeats O'Fallon |
Neuqua Valley defeats Belleville West |
| Schaumburg Supersectional |
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Carmel defeats Prairie Ridge |
Prairie Ridge defeats Lake Zurich |
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| State Semifinals #1 |
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Brother Rice defeats New Trier |
Sandburg defeats St. Charles North |
| State Semifinals #2 |
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Neuqua Valley defeats Carmel |
Neuqua Valley defeats Prairie Ridge |
| Third-place Game |
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Carmel defeats New Trier |
Prairie Ridge defeats St. Charles North |
| State Champion |
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Brother Rice |
Neuqua Valley |