At long last, the season is only a few weeks away, which means the Prep Baseball Report?s 2011 Season Preview will be released next week. Packed ineloquently inside the 64-page issue is a wealth of statistical information, team and expanded player rankings, conference predictions and much more. It?s no secret who we?re picking to continue our state-champion streak: Providence Catholic.

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In preparation for our seventh-annual season preview issue, we?ve spent countless hours polling coaches, crunching numbers, examining lineups, dissecting pitching staffs, and analyzing schedules. 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. In this issue, we have detailed reports on the Prep Baseball Report?s preseason top 50 teams. While preseason prognostications are only really purposeful to sell magazines ? in theory, that is ? you can bet these 50 teams will be strong this spring.

Providence Catholic was a relatively easy choice for our preseason No. 1 team because, well, it has an embarrassment of riches. Providence, however, won?t have an easy road to the title. If the sectionals are the same as last year, then the Celtics will face our No. 2 team, Downers Grove South, in their sectional. Providence also has to contend with what we believe is the most competitive Chicago Catholic Blue field since we?ve been doing this. How tough is the conference? Three of the preseason top-five teams ? and four of the top 10 ? hail from the Catholic Blue Division.

Nazareth Academy is our pick to win the Class 3A title, and we like Harrisburg slightly over Westminster Christian, Illinois Valley Central and Teutopolis in Class 2A.

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.

Inside the Prep Baseball Report 2011 Preseason Issue

?         Breakdown of the Preseason Power 50 Teams

?         40 Other Teams to Watch

?         Class 3A Preview

?         Class 2A Preview

?         Conference Predictions

?         Expanded Class of 2011 Player Rankings

?         Expanded Class of 2012 Player Rankings

?         Expanded Class of 2013 Player Rankings

And more ?

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