On the Bubble: Teutopolis
March 4, 2020
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: Teutopolis
Preseason Rank: On The Bubble
2019 Record: 28-8-1
Conference: Independent
IHSA Class: 2A
Head Coach: Justin Fleener
Playoff Run: 2A State Champions
2019 Final Rank: No. 25
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 3
OUTLOOK
While three of the 2019 grads who helped bring the Wooden Shoes a 2A title last spring are gone, Teutopolis is still returning enough talent to have some serious repeat aspirations.
John A. Logan JC commit RHP/INF Mitchel Hemmen (2020) is in line to be the ace of the staff. Hemmen has a durable frame, loose, clean arm and a fastball that has been up to 87 mph. Hemmen also starred from the batter’s box as a junior, hitting .330 with 30 RBIs, aided by the help of five homers. Fellow senior Luke Ungrund is another one of the Shoes’ top bats back in 2020; he hit .340 with four homers. Mitch Hardiek factored into eight games on the mound and struck out 40 batters in 28 innings, and he’ll have an expanded role this spring. And Trenton Schwerdt will likely be the No. 2 sandwiched between Hemmen and Hardiek. He threw 40 innings for Teutopolis in 2019 and he had a 1.21 ERA along the way.
There were also a handful of juniors who saw irregular action as sophomores, though that experience garnered in 2019 should help them fill the holes dug from the absence of last year’s seniors.
VIDEO SPOTLIGHT
Mitchel Hemmen (6/18/19)
Make sure to follow @PBRIllinois on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2020 season.
Find more information on the 2020 Wooden Shoes below:
+ Full Schedule
+ Team Twitter
MORE ON THE BUBBLE
- IL On the Bubble: Normal Community 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Grayslake Central 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Oswego East 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Plainfield South 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Plainfield Central 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Morton 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: New Trier 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Homewood Flossmoor 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Glenbrook North 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Belleville West 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Lake Forest 3/09/20
- IL On the Bubble: Lake Park 3/06/20
- IL On the Bubble: Cary-Grove 3/06/20
- IL On the Bubble: Galesburg 3/06/20
- IL On the Bubble: Lake Zurich 3/06/20
- IL On the Bubble: Harrisburg 3/05/20
- IL On the Bubble: Jacobs 3/05/20
- IL On the Bubble: Andrew 3/05/20
- IL On the Bubble: Rochester 3/05/20
- IL On the Bubble: Benet Academy 3/04/20
- IL On the Bubble: Marian Catholic 3/04/20
- IL On the Bubble: St. Joseph-Ogden 3/04/20
- IL On the Bubble: Teutopolis 3/04/20
- IL On the Bubble: Alton 3/03/20
- IL On the Bubble: Brooks College Prep 3/03/20
- IL On the Bubble: Mundelein 3/03/20
- IL On the Bubble: Sacred Heart-Griffin 3/03/20
- IL On the Bubble: Saint Viator 3/02/20
- IL On the Bubble: Sandburg 3/02/20
- IL On the Bubble: Nazareth Academy 3/02/20