By Sean Duncan

In preparation for our eighth-annual season preview magazine, we’ve spent countless hours polling coaches, crunching numbers, examining rosters, dissecting pitching staffs, analyzing schedules, and throwing darts. Our hard work, of course, means squat because only time will tell who the state’s top teams will be when it really matters – in June.

Until that happens, let the debating begin.

The two teams that finished atop last season’s poll - defending champion Lyons Township and Providence Catholic - head our rankings this spring.  With the new bat regulations this season, pitching and defense will have an even greater importance. And both Lyons and Providence have the pitching to win.

Ultimately, Providence is our preseason No. 1 pick for the second straight year because the Celtics have more quality depth on the mound. In order for Providence to win it all, first it has to survive the rugged Chicago Catholic Blue, clearly the state’s toughest conference. How tough exactly? Four of our top 10 teams hail from the Catholic Blue.

For the first time since moving to four classes, Class 3A should be as exciting as 4A. Class 3A has four of the top 10 preseason teams, led by Normal West, which dropped down from 4A this year.

Gear up for another exciting year of baseball. And let’s hope for some better weather this year. We’ll see you at the field.

Click Here for a look at the Top 50 Preseason Rankings