The WJOL/Don Ladas Memorial Tournament will take place this coming week starting on Wednesday March 27th, and wrapping up on Saturday March 30th. This year’s lineup will feature four teams ranked within our Power 25 to begin the season with a few other teams already making a case to be ranked upon our next rankings update. These games will take place at three separate venues across the Chicagoland area: Joliet Catholic Academy, Plainfield Central High School, and Providence Catholic High School.

The PBR Illinois staff will provide updates from this tournament through the Daily Roundup, as well as potentially through our weekly Scout Blog, and on our social channels.

PARTICIPATING TEAMS & HEAD COACHES

Joliet Catholic (Jared Voss), Joliet West (John Karczewski), Lincoln-Way Central (Mitch Nowicki), Lockport (Scott Malinowski), Minooka (Jeff Petrovich), Plainfield Central (Robert Keane), Plainfield East (Adam O’Reel), and Providence Catholic (Mark Smith)

PLAYERS TO WATCH

*Records as of 3/26*

No. 5 Joliet Catholic (4-0)

We recently rolled out an in-depth analysis on Joliet Catholic in our Preseason Power 25 countdown. To learn more about this year’s Hilltoppers team, click HERE.

Joliet West (6-1)

Jimmy Anderson SS/RHP, 2024: Heartland CC commit and a top-35 prospect in the state’s senior class. Highly athletic right-handed bat that can really defend on the infield. Should serve as the everyday shortstop for Joliet West and can provide value on the mound in a pinch. Stats as of 3/23: .333 AVG, .454 OBP, 5 2B, 1 HR, 3 BB, 6 RBI, 7 R, 1 SB; 1 APP, 4 IP, 5 H, 2 BB, 4 R, 0 ER, 2 K

James Love, 3B/RHP, 2024: Eastern Illinois commit and another name on this club that’s inside the top-35 on our 2024 class rankings. Strong right-handed swing that’s regularly proven advanced raw power to our staff. Solidifies one of the more complete left sides of the infield in the state. Stats as of 3/23: .526 AVG, .625 OBP, 3 2B, 1 HR, 4 BB, 6 RBI, 6 R, 2 SB; 2 APP, 2 S, 3.2 IP, 4 H, 5 K

Cael Karczewski, MIF, 2024: Jefferson JC commit. Heady, gamer-type player that impressed at the Illinois State Games last summer. Athletic right-handed swing with barrel accuracy and line drive feel. Clean, polished glove defensively with arm strength across the infield. Stats as of 3/23: .500 AVG, .625 OBP, 1 2B, 3 BB, 1 RBI, 5 R, 2 SB

Owen Young, C, 2024: Lewis commit. Do-it-all player at the top of the order for the Tigers that hits for power from gap-to-gap. Commanding presence behind the dish as well with clear leadership characteristics. Stats as of 3/23: .470 AVG, .625 OBP, 3 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 5 BB, 7 RBI, 9 R, 1 SB

No. 19 Lincoln-Way Central (3-1)

We recently rolled out an in-depth analysis on Lincoln-Way Central in our Preseason Power 25 countdown. To learn more about this year’s Knights team, click HERE.

Lockport (4-1-1)

Dylan Nagle, RHP/1B, 2024: Heartland CC commit. A top-85 player in the state, Nagle is a hard-throwing back-end reliever for the Porters. He has run his fastball up to 89 mph this year already with a sharp-breaking slider to go with it. Nagle also plays first base for Lockport and will bat in the top half of the order. Stats as of 3/23: 2 APP, 1 S, 2.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 4 K; .428 AVG, .500 OBP, 1 3B, 3 RBI, 5 R, 3 SB

Ryan Groberski, 1B/OF, 2024: Triton JC commit. A strong middle-of-the-order bat for the Porters that has power from gap-to-gap. Currently ranked within the top-250 for the state. Stats as of 3/23: .461 AVG, .533 OBP, 3 2B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 1 SB

Cal Korosa, RHP/UTL, 2024: McHenry County JC commit. Korosa has a physically imposing frame at 6-foot-2, 216-pounds, and is the ace of this year’s Porters squad. He sits in the mid 80’s with his fastball but has run it up to 88 mph already this year, while tossing in a slurve-type breaking ball for whiffs. Stats as of 3/23: 2 APP, 1-0, 6 IP, 5 H, 3 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 7 K

Nathan Byrdak, RHP/INF, 2024: Triton JC commit. An athletic arm for the Porters that can start and come out of the ‘pen, and runs his fastball up to 84 mph. Byrdak also plays middle infield for Lockport when he isn’t on the hill. Stats as of 3/23: 2 APP, 1-0, 4.2 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 4 BB, 6 K

Adam Kozak, OF, 2026: Emerged as a name to know in the sophomore class after his stellar first weekend at the plate for the Porters. A left-handed hitting top-of-the-order bat that has shown a knack for getting on-base to this point. Stats as of 3/23: .545 AVG, .687 OBP, 2 2B, 2 3B, 5 BB, 5 RBI, 8 R, 3 SB

Colton Benaitis, INF, 2026: Another top-of-the-order sophomore to know for the Porters. Benaitis mainly plays on the left side of the infield, and has shown the ability to hit for power from the right side early on this season. Stats as of 3/23: .294 AVG, 3 3B, 1 HR, 5 RBI, 4 R

No. 8 Minooka (2-2)

We recently rolled out an in-depth analysis on Minooka in our Preseason Power 25 countdown. To learn more about this year’s Indians team, click HERE.

Plainfield Central (3-1)

Gavin Garnica, CIF, 2024: Kaskaskia JC commit. Physical 6-foot-3, 205-pound middle-of-the-order bat that has shown to have some barrel strength for our staff in the past. Stats as of 3/23: .428 AVG, .466 OBP, 3 2B, 1 BB, 4 RBI, 4 R, 1 SB

Ryan Perry, RHP, 2025: Ranked within the top-170 in the state at a high-waisted 6-foot-2, 165-pounds, Perry is one of the top arms for the Wildcats entering the spring. Stats as of 3/23: 3 APP, 1-0, 1 S, 7.2 IP, 5 H, 5 R, 3 ER, 6 BB, 12 K

JT Augustyniak, SS/RHP, 2025: Athletic 5-foot-10, 190-pound top-of-the-order bat for the Wildcats that has also shown to be an advanced defender up the middle for our staff in the past. Augustyniak is also expected to be one of Plainfield Central’s top arms out of the ‘pen this spring.

Cory Brock Jr., RHP, 2024: Uncommitted, 6-foot-1, 210-pounds. Brock is a top-of-the-rotation arm for the Wildcats that sat in the low 80’s with his fastball when we last saw him. Stats as of 3/23: 2 APP, 1-0, 9 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 2 BB, 10 K

Plainfield East (2-4)

Danny Schuch, OF/RHP, 2024: Sauk Valley CC commit. Two-way player for the Bengals that can start or relieve, and can also see time in the outfield this spring

CJ Przybylski, INF, 2025: Long levered 6-foot-3, 170-pound two-way prospect to know for the Bengals entering 2024. Stats as of 3/23: .285 AVG, .411 OBP, 1 HR, 2 BB, 7 RBI, 4 R, 1 SB; 2 APP, 3.1 IP, 4 H, 0 ER, 2 K

No. 3 Providence Catholic (2-0)

We recently rolled out an in-depth analysis on Providence Catholic in our Preseason Power 25 countdown. To learn more about this year’s Celtics team, click HERE.

VENUES

• Joliet Catholic Academy: 1200 N Larkin Ave, Joliet, IL 60435
• Plainfield Central HS: 24120 Fort Beggs Dr, Plainfield, IL 60544
• Providence Catholic HS: 1800 W Lincoln Hwy, New Lenox, IL 60451

SCHEDULE

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