The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 16, 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 2020 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 2020 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Homewood Flossmoor
Preseason Rank: On The Bubble
2019 Record: 18-18
Conference: Southwest Suburban Conference
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: John McCarthy
Playoff Run: Regional Semi-Finals
2019 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 3

OUTLOOK

The Vikings are about to enter their second season with Head Coach John McCarthy at the helm and are ready to improve on their .500 2019 campaign. 

Leading this year’s Vikings team is senior Tre Hondras (2020; Michigan). Hondras is athletic, can play all over the diamond and swings one of the better right-handed bats in the class. Hondras will most likely hit somewhere at the top of the order and man center field but the beauty of his game is he can help out wherever needed. Expect a big senior season from the Michigan commit. 

Hondras will have help around him positionally. The infield looks especially strong with the likes of Josh McCallister (2021; Ohio State), William Pauling (2021; uncommitted) and Gallien Coupet (2021; Creighton) all competing for spots. Pauling is also a high-level football recruit with the athleticism to play on the infield or in the outfield. How that trio performs, specifically, could end up being what pushes the Vikings over the top in 2020. Another returner is senior OF Cecil Archibold (2020; Southern Indiana). Archbold is a sub-7.0 runner with strength in his right-handed swing. 

The talent doesn’t stop just on the position side of the ball, as the Vikings will trot out highly regarded arms on a daily basis despite losing one of the top arms in the state to graduation, Tyler Schlaffer (9th round pick; Chicago Cubs). LHP Isaiah Coupet (2020; Ohio State) anchors this staff with his high-80s fastball and two off-speed offerings with swing-and-miss action. Coupet was also one of their more productive bats last season, hitting .347 with 28 runs scored and 10 extra-base hits. Two juniors, RHP Keegan Buksa (2021; uncommitted) and RHP Chad Readey (2021; uncommitted) were mainstays on the mound last season and should be counted on heavily this year as well. Buska posted a 2.88 ERA last year, while Readey is a 6-foot-8 arm with plenty of upside on the bump. Unsigned senior RHP Anthony Caldanaro is a breakout candidate this spring. The live-armed right-hander has battled some injuries but if healthy he could add another dynamic arm to the staff. 

With the graduation of C Jacob Schroeder (Northern Illinois), who will handle the receiving duties for all these arms remains one of the biggest question marks for the Vikings this spring. 

The future also looks bright for Homewood-Flossmoor as they have two highly-interesting freshman coming through the ranks; OF Dillon Head (Michigan commit) and LHP Vince Waterman. Head, a Junior Future Games standout, is a nationally ranked prospect in his class. The left/left outfielder has advanced foot speed, plays an elite center field for his age and profiles as a top-of-an-order bat at the next level. Waterman is a left-handed pitcher that touched 81 mph in front of our staff a few weeks ago. 

There’s no denying the talent and potential that this Homewood Flossmoor roster has entering this season. How well they put it together, however, and who eventually wins the starting catcher role, will ultimately define the success they have on the diamond this season. If they find a way to make it click, the Southwest Suburban Conference title, and more, is certainly in play. 

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

Tre Hondras (2/20/20)

Make sure to follow @PBRIllinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2020 season.

Find more information on the 2020 Vikings below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Twitter

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