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: Lake Zurich
Preseason Rank: On The Bubble
2019 Record: 22-10
Conference: North Suburban
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Scott De Caprio
Playoff Run: Regional Finals appearance
2019 Final Rank: On the Bubble
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 3

OUTLOOK

Finally, Lake Zurich’s 2020 class have reached their senior springs. This group is a memorable one and has helped the Bears compete in the north suburbs throughout its time on varsity. Big Ten baseball commits Noah DeLuga (Minnesota) and Anthony Mangano (Iowa) will charter the Bears this season with the hopes of wrapping up their prep careers in the best way imaginable.

DeLuga is headed to the Twin Cities in the fall for his left-handed arm on the mound, but he’ll operate as one of LZ’s best bats, too, as well as roam center field. He’s one of the state’s top pitching prospects and it’ll give the Bears a feared option come playoff time. Mangano is among the state’s most athletic infielders and he swings an aggressive lefty bat.

Joining the two as senior starters this year will be INF Sam Holtz (2021; Lehigh commit), another top-100-ranked prospect in the dugout. He’s versatile and athletic, and it helps him on defense, all while swinging a strong right-handed bat. C Matt Flaherty (2020; Triton JC) is filling the everyday role left behind by the since-graduated Tyler Snep, who’s at Iowa now, and James Piggot (2020; Indianapolis) is a football recruit who will contribute time on the mound as well as a corner outfield spot. Seniors Jake Robertson and Jack Pfeifer will fill out the depth on the mound, though Pfiefer’s bat will also occupy a middle-of-the-order spot.

It remains to be seen which juniors, or even sophomores, will break through and earn a role on this LZ squad, but these senior Bears have the depth and talent inside their own class to make one last run this May and, hopefully, June.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

Sam Holtz (8/11/19)

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

Find more information on the 2020 Bears below:

+ Full Schedule
+ Team Twitter

MORE ON THE BUBBLE