Updated Illinois Power 25 Team Rankings

April 3, 2017

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

We purposely waited two weeks to release our initial Power 25 Team Rankings due to the finicky spring weather and wanting to allow more teams to get games under their belts. It’s still really early, and thus hard to say an undefeated team is truly better than a team with one or two losses that has played a quality schedule. The good thing about several of our teams in the Power 25 is that most of the debates will be settled on the field at some point this spring.

CLICK HERE to view updated Power 25 Team Rankings

CLIMBING

+ St. Laurence - Climbed to No. 1 after starting the year 6-0. The Vikings went 4-0 on their spring trip to Arizona and won two games at home last week, including a 9-1 win over then No. 16 Lincoln-Way Central.

+ Mundelein - The Mustangs, last year’s runner-up in Class 4A, are off to a hot start in 2017. They are currently 7-0 and have outscored opponents 72-to-11.

+ O’Fallon - The Panthers are currently 11-1, went 4-0 on their spring trip in Georgia and knocked off No. 22 Glenwood 1-0 at the Metro East Kickoff Classic.

+ Edwardsville - The 8-0 Tigers moved up eight spots to No. 6 in the state. A couple of notable wins came over then No. 2 Plainfield South 4-2, Joliet Catholic 6-2, Wheaton North 5-1 and Parkway South (MO) 10-0.

+ Lemont - The defending 3A state champions continue to roll in the 2017. The 6-0 Indians are now No. 7 in the state and have notable wins over Carmel Catholic 7-2, Lockport 4-1, West Broward (FL) 3-2.

SINKING

+ Brother Rice - The Crusaders have played quite arguably the toughest schedule of anyone in the state and are 3-4 after two weeks of play. The preseason No. 1 team in the state went 1-3 at the prestigious NHSI and lost to Lyons Township 4-3 in the season opener. On a bright note, they knocked off preseason No. 13 Lincoln-Way East 1-0 and the defending Kentucky state champion, St. Xavier 7-5.

+ Plainfield South - The Cougars are off to a 4-2 start. Went 2-1 at the Metro East Kickoff Classic. Lost to now No. 6 Edwardsville 4-2 and St. Charles East 3-2.

+ Providence Catholic - The Celtics were hit with a couple of injuries to key arms at the beginning of the season and are off to a 4-2 start. Their two losses have come to Minooka 13-0 and Plainfield Central 6-4. The loss to Plainfield Central came in the championship game of the WJOL/ Don Ladas Memorial Tournament.

+ Glenwood - Dropped to No. 23 after a 4-3 start. In their three losses they scored a total of two runs. Their four wins have all been via shutouts (1-0, 1-0, 4-0 and 6-0). Two of the four wins have been no-hitters thrown by Louisville recruit, LHP Reid Detmers.

NEW TO THE TOP 25

+ No. 12 Lyons Township - Started the year 4-0 with quality wins over preseason No. 1 Brother Rice 4-3, and preseason No. 12 Lincoln-Way East 7-4.

+ No. 15 Alton - Currently 8-1 with their only loss being to current No. 4 O’Fallon 5-4. Have outscored opponents in their eight wins 61-17.

+ No. 17 Crystal Lake South - Becomes the fourth team from the Fox Valley Conference to make the Power 25 after a 7-0 start to the season. Notable wins; Palatine 3-2, Barrington 9-3, Wauconda 11-0, Carbondale 13-5.

+ No. 20 Normal West - The Wildcats have played one of the tougher schedules in Illinois. Went 5-1 on their spring trip to Alabama and defeated then No. 22 Oak Forest 13-1 and Joliet Catholic 7-2 at the Metro East Kickoff Classic.

DROPPED OUT

+ Lincoln-Way East

+ Oak Forest

+ Marist

+ Champaign Centennial

JUST MISSED THE CUT

+ Oswego East (9-0)

+ Yorkville (8-0)

+ Effingham (7-0)

+ Marian Catholic (4-1)

+ Pleasant Plains (7-0)

+ Loyola (7-1)