Preseason Team Countdown: No. 67 Lake Park
February 26, 2014
By Sean Duncan
Executive Director
Leading up to the start of the high school season, we will count down the top 75 preseason teams every day as part of our comprehensive season coverage:
Team: Lake Park
Preseason Rank: 67
2013 Record: 27-11
Conference: DuPage Valley
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Dan Colucci
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectional Semifinal (St. Charles East)
2013 Final Rank: Not Ranked
Returning Starters: 4
Returning Pitchers: 3
TOP PLAYERS
Name, Position, Class (College Commitment)
Anthony Gallina, OF, 2014
Rhett Rapshus, RHP, 2014 (Black Hawk College)
Devin Rybacki, OF, 2014
Zach Zimmerman, 3B, 2015
Colin Fowich, INF/RHP, 2016
AJ Colantonio, RHP, 2014
Ethan Schulz, SS, 2014
X-FACTOR
Anthony Gallina. Left-handed hitting outfielder returns to provide middle-of-the-lineup production.
KEY PLAYERS LOST
Christian Taugner, RHP (Brown)
Thomas Spear, C (Black Hawk College)
OUTLOOK
This season the Lancers move from the Upstate 8 to the DuPage Valley Conference, and should be an immediate contender for the conference crown. Coach Dan Colucci returns four starters and three pitchers, but he lost some critical pieces from his 27-win club, namely, first-team All-State pitcher Christian Taugner, who was as dominant as anyone in the state last year. The Lancers are relatively green on the mound, with the exception of three-year varsity pitcher Rhett Rapshus, a Black Hawk College recruit. Defensively, the team should be solid, as the entire outfield returns, along with SS Ethan Schulz and sophomore Colin Fowich. Replacing Thomas Spear, a top-level defensive catcher, will also be needed.
BOTTOM LINE
Lake Park should make its presence known immediately in the DuPage Valley Conference this season. The Lancers may lack the pitching depth to make any substantial playoff run this year, though.
Season Countdown
+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings
Make sure you follow @PBRillinois on Twitter for complete Illinois high school baseball coverage throughout the season.