The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 11, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2019 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR 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 2019 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Nazareth Academy
Preseason Rank: On The Bubble
2018 Record: 24-14-1
Conference: East Suburban Catholic
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Lee Milano
Playoff Run: Lost to Morton in State Semi-Finals
2018 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 4

KEY LOSSES

TOP PLAYERS

 

OUTLOOK

The Road Runners are returning the top left-hander in the state and our No. 2 rank in the 2019 IL class, Michael Prosecky. The 6-foot-4, 190-pound Louisville commit has the body projection, ease in his delivery and the overall tools to heavily be discussed come draft time. With that type of talent at the top of the rotation, Nazareth can be a force to reckon with whenever the elite southpaw toes the rubber. Reports have him touching 94 mph this summer and has already shown a college ready repertoire. Naz graduated their two other top top arms leaving plenty of innings to go around for some young faces. 2019 RHP Jack Krug (Triton commit) should be a go to two-man behind Prosecky and the well-built righty tossed 25 innings with a sub-2 ERA before injury creeped up on him last spring. 2020 Ted Olander was a varsity call-up last season and 5-foot-10, left-hander will need to be ready when his name is called.

 

Coach Milano will have three seniors to rely upon this spring in prime positions when he pencils in the line up day in and day out. INF Zach Carmignani (Triton commit) is a workhouse utilityman that’s a mainstay at the top of the order. C Andrew McKenna (Holy Cross commit) is a LHH power threat who hit .423 in 61 plate appearances last season due to an injury plagued season. OF Michael Milano has top of the order speed and leadership traits that coaches look to so frequently. 2020 C Breven Reifsteck will vie for playing time and has a leg up with over 20 varsity games played last year. Two young guns to keep an eye on are 2021s Ryan Smith and Wylder Guido. Smith has defensive upside and actions while Guido has a live arm on the bump.

Nazareth does have strengths in team speed, a crop of seniors to lean on and one of the best arms in the state manning the top of the rotation. It’ll be intriguing to see who Coach Milano runs out to the field come March 14th against Stagg and the skipper will need his young roster to adjust quickly to the varsity lights in a studded ESCC conference.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

Michael Prosecky (9.15.18)

Make sure to follow @PBRIllinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2019 season.

Find more information on the 2019 Road Runners below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Website
+ GameChanger
+ Team Twitter

PRESEASON POWER 25 COUNTDOWN