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: New Trier
Preseason Rank: 31
2013 Record: 22-14
Conference: Central Suburban South
IHSA Class: 4A
Head Coach: Mike Napoleon
Playoff Run: Lost in Sectional Semifinal (Oak Park)
2013 Final Rank: Not Ranked

Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS
Grant Klenovich, 1B, 2014 (Iowa)
Drew Fischer, RHP, 2014 (Amherst)
David Richman, RHP, 2014 (Pitt)
Drew LaMotte, MIF, 2014 (Lehigh)
Frank Nicholas, OF, 2014 (Colgate - Football)
Brian Gerner, LHP, 2014 (Wesleyan)
Sam Visconti, MIF, 2014 (Judson)
Max Thoma, OF, 2014
Matt McCaffrey, 3B, 2014
Logan Wieble, C, 2014
David Eagen, OF, 2014

X-FACTOR
Brian Gerner. The left-hander emerged over the summer a reliable, strike-throwing winner for the Trevians. The Wesleyan recruit gives the Trevians three strong starting pitchers.

STAT RAT
RHP Drew Fischer led the Trevians with 9 victories last season.

OUTLOOK
Long-time coach Mike Napoleon is expecting big things from his senior-laden club after having a sub-par year last spring - at least to New Trier’s lofty standards. The Trevians have pitching depth, frontlined by three solid starters in Fischer, David Richman and Gerner, and lots of team speed. And in past years when Napoleon has had team speed, the Trevians wreak havoc on the bases. Outfielders Frank Nicholas, David Eagen and Max Thoma all have excellent speed. Drew LaMotte and Sam Visconti both return up the middle, as does 3B Matt McCaffery and C Logan Wieble, who hit 6 homers last spring. The big run-producer in the middle of the lineup is 1B Grant Klenovich, an Iowa recruit who has significant power potential.

BOTTOM LINE
All the pieces are in place for Napoleon and the Trevians to have another successful campaign.  They will have their hands full in conference with Glenbrook South and Maine South. But if they do what past winning Trevian teams have done, which is to say play fundamental baseball, make the routine plays, throw strikes and steal bases, then they should be in for a stellar year.

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Season Countdown

+ Preseason Team Rankings

+ Updated Illinois 2014 Player Rankings

+ June Event Schedule