Preseason Power 25 Countdown: No. 15 Lyons Township

NEWCOMER TO WATCH

Connor Cassady. The versatility that we have seen from the athletic 6-foot-4, 195-pound junior is something coach Diete will love to have in his back pocket. The strong built RHH should compete for meaningful innings behind the dish with the departure of Pittsburgh commit Bryce Moskiewicz. There is plenty upside in the bat to even get him a role as DH when the legs, and arm, need rest seeing that he’s already compiled varsity innings on the mound last spring.

X-FACTOR

Grant Leader. Arguably one of the top pitchers in the IL 2019 class, The University of Illinois bound senior RHP has his arrow trending as up as up goes. A three year starter for the Lions, Leader has compiled quite the accolades in his first three years with two All-Conference selections and Conference Pitcher of the Year recognition in 2017. He won’t wow you with his size at 5-foot-9, 170-pounds, but he absolutely will with his bulldog demeanor on the mound paired with a advanced 4-pitch repertoire headlined by a low-90’s heater that climbs to 93 mph. He also possesses two breaking balls with tight, distinct shape and a changeup that has high swing-and-miss action. Leader recently dropped jaws during his performance at the Super 60, solidifying himself as a name to be known come draft time.

Leaders’ 2018 stat line: 3-2 record (3 no decisions LT won) 47.1 IP, 10 GP/GS, 30 H, 13 R, 9 ER, 77 K, 23 BB, 1.33 ERA, 1.12 WHIP.

The uber athletic right-hander was the go to guy as a junior for Coach Diete last spring and he will again be the ace of the staff in 2019.

Grant Leader (2.3.19)

OUTLOOK

The 2019 Lions will take the field in mid-March missing four of their top offensive performers from last years’ squad. Two names that should see just as much playing time than the hefty workload they received as juniors, are utilityman Danny Machaj and INF Thomas Remijas. Both uncommitted seniors, Machaj, a RHH, manned the hot corner most games and moved all over the batting order hitting .377 with 21 R in 98 ABs while Remijas, a LHH, played second base hitting towards the 8-9 hole hitting .313 with 17 RBI in 67 ABs. With the departure of SS Mike Martino, Machaj and Remijas will compete with varsity newcomer Matt Schuler for the vacancy on the left side of the diamond with the potential of Machaj getting innings behind the dish as well. Schuler, a smooth swinging LHH, stands at an athletic 6-foot-1, 175-pounds with steady hands and plenty of arm strength. Senior Justin Malpede will look to carve a role on the infield dirt as well.

2020 OF Jaheim Adams is perhaps the man to replace Matt Piento atop the Lions lineup in 2019. Standing at 5-foot-6, 170-pounds, JT, as known by his peers, grinds out at-bats at the plate and the speedy outfielder can go get balls in the gaps. Drew Shadle and James Severson are two more newcomers that will vie or playing time in the outfield. Shadle has the bat to get innings as DH and Severson will look to earn innings out of the pen.

Ryan Sullivan recently ran a 6.79 60-yard dash at our Preseason All-State and the athletic OF will lobby for ABs all season long.

The Lions are returning perhaps the best crop of right-handed arms in the state in regards to innings compiled as juniors along with all around pitchability. Led by ace Grant Leader, returning is Eric Steensma (UT-Martin commit), Michael Walsh (Yale commit) and Andrew Gatland (Middlebury commit) all projectable framed at 6-foot-2 plus.

Steensma, an All-Conference selection in 2018, was the two-man in the rotation looking to hone in that role again as a senior. He is an ultra competitor that repeats on the bump noting his complete game bid against a potent Brother Rice team in last years’ Steve Bajenski Tourney along with wins against York and OPRF. On the year, he finished with 41.2 IP going 6-0 with 6 ER, 49 Ks, a 1.00 ERA and a .816 WHIP. He pounds the zone with a mid-80’s FB touching 86 mph complimented by a short breaker that he goes to in any count.

Walsh, perhaps the most upside of the trio, is methodical in his delivery and showed feel to locate all his pitches against anyone who steps in the box. His fastball has touched 89 mph in the past with a true cutter in the mid-80’s and a sharp breaking ball. He threw 26.2 innings last season, winning three games with a 1.05 WHIP and fanning 36.

Gatland has a super easy delivery and repeatable actions with deception on all offerings. He claimed the third most innings on the staff in 2018 at 30.1, also winning three allowing 10 earned runs and striking out 40.

Two 2021s to keep an eye on are LHP Emmett Spolar and C Noah Journas. Spolar pitched a complete game, one run outing in the Summer Quarterfinals against St. Laurence showing Coach Diete his varsity potential and Journas is a physical backstop who swings with intent from the right side of the dish.  

BOTTOM LINE

With many voids to fill on the offensive side of the ball for Coach Diete, he has four proven arms that he can go to in any game and any situation to get meaningful outs. There is promise on the defensive side with returnees in key positions around the diamond and the word around town is that pitching and defense can take you a long way in todays game. If the 2019 Lions can limit teams to under three runs a game, which the four aforementioned arms did quite regularly last season, no one will look forward to facing LT come late May into July.