Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Bubble Teams: Normal West


By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

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: Normal West
Preseason Rank: On The Bubble
2018 Record: 24-15
Conference: Big 12
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Chris Hawkins
Playoff Run: Sweet 16
2018 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 6

TOP PLAYERS

NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POSITION COMMITMENT
Austin Collinson IL Normal West 2019 SS Carl Sandburg JC
Dalton Corcoran IL Normal West 2019 RHP -
CJ Lewis IL Normal West 2019 3B Chicago State
Brandon Roth IL Normal West 2019 OF Black Hawk JC
Brennan Diedrich IL Normal West 2019 C -
Cody Hardt IL Normal West 2019 OF  
Cole Hernandez IL Normal West 2020 OF -
Evan Hutson IL Normal West 2020 1B -
William Kafer IL Normal West 2020 OF -
Sean Shook IL Normal West 2020 3B -
Evan Wallgren IL Normal West 2020 RHP -

 

KEY LOSSES

NAME STATE SCHOOL CLASS POSITION COMMITMENT
McCade Brown IL Normal West 2018 RHP Indiana
Jeremy Fischer IL Normal West 2018 SS Elmhurst College
Chase Hacker IL Normal West 2018 1B Elmhurst College
Zack Jones IL Normal West 2018 LHP Morton JC
Jacob Marti IL Normal West 2018 OF Heartland CC
Ben Smith IL Normal West 2018 C Kankakee CC

 

OUTLOOK

Last year’s Big 12 conference champions are back at it, looking to build off their 24-win 2018 campaign and run to the Sectional Finals. The loss of PBR 1st Team All-State selection, McCade Brown, an Indiana commit, will certainly hurt heading into 2019 but head coach Chris Hawkins should have plenty of depth to work with. Six pitchers and six position players return and the Wildcats should be led by junior OF Will Kafer. Kafer, who also pitches, was the offensive player of the year in the Big 12 in 2018 thanks to collecting 34 hits, six doubles, four triples and knocking in 26.

Alongside Kafer will be senior, four-year starter SS/RHP Austin Collinson. Collinson, a Carl Sandburg JC commit, holds the school record in assists and was 1st Team All-Big 12 out of the leadoff spot last year. Collinson should also see meaningful innings on the mound.

A trio of Honorable mention All-Big 12 selections return in senior LF Brandon Roth (Black Hawk CC commit), senior RF Cody Hart (2019) and junior 3B/RHP Sean Shook. Roth scored 29 runs last year while Hart tied for the team lead in home runs with five and Shook collected 13 doubles.  

Senior Brennan Diedrich and junior Connor Stephenson should handle the catching duties this spring. Diedrich sported a .432 on base percentage while Stephenson is the fastest player on the roster and has a high baseball IQ.

CJ Lewis should see himself fill in all over the diamond as he has the versatility and athleticism to help in the outfield and on the infield. Lewis, a senior committed to Chicago State, has a high-upside and quick bat.

Three juniors who should carve out a role for themselves this spring are 2B/RHP Evan Wallgren, 1B Evan Hutson and UTIL Cole Hernandez. Wallgren, who was limited due to injuries last spring should also play a major role on the mound. Hutson should be a power threat in the middle of the order and Hernandez is a three-sport athlete, that is athletic enough to play anywhere on the diamond.

It would not be a surprise if coach Hawkins club finds themselves quickly in the top-25 this spring if they can get off to a fast start and they have plenty of pieces to make a run at Joliet come June.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

Sean Shook (2.10.19)

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

Find more information on the 2019 Wildcats below:

Full Schedule
Team Website
+ GameChanger
Team Twitter

PRESEASON BUBBLE TEAMS