Last year this was arguably the toughest region at the Division 1 level. At one you had 3 teams ranked in the Top 10 as well as having both the #1 and #2 team in the country at the same time! Ultimately it came down to Iowa Western edging out what most people thought (and could argue) was the best team in the country in the past few years in Wabash Valley. 

Previous Winners: ‘19 Iowa Western (National Runner Up), ‘18 Iowa Western, ‘17 Wabash Valley, ‘16 Iowa Western

Let’s face it in this region there is no shortage of talent. Taking home the Pre-Season Player of the year is Ryan Ritter (Kentucky) from John A. Logan. He also is the Preseason National Player of the Year and All-American. On the mount CJ Weins (South Carolina) from Wabash Valley takes home the Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year. 

Pre-Season All-District Team

Pos Name School Commitment
INF Ryan Ritter* John A. Logan Kentucky
INF Jake Plastiak Wabash Valley Kentucky
INF Savier Pinales Wabash Valley Illinois State
INF Cooper Brown Iowa Western Louisville
C Kirk Liebert Wabash Valley Kentucky
OF Ethan English John A. Logan TCU
OF Tyler Acosta John A. Logan
OF Marcus Wright Indian Hills
P CJ Weins+ Wabash Valley South Carolina
P Cameron Robinson John A. Logan Louisville
P     Cameron Tullar       Wabash Valley Mississippi St.

*Pre-Season Player of the Year, + Pre-Season Pitcher of the Year

Predictions

Noah’s Final 5 (Last Years Rec) Chris’s Final 5 (Last Years Rec)
1 John A. Logan (44-13) Wabash Valley (55-4)
2 Wabash Valley (55-4) John A. Logan (44-13)
3 Iowa Western (52-11) Iowa Western (52-11)
4 Olney Central  (35-17) Lake Land (8-34)
5 Rend Lake (28-26)             Olney Central (35-17)

 

Noah’s Team to Watch: John A. Logan

Yes, I have them as my favorite to take home this District so for them to be my Team to Watch might seem odd. Well, Watch Them! With a Huge Mid Year transfer adding to their already Deep Line up. John A. Logan looks poised to make a run for their first trip back to Grand Junction since 2002. 

 

Chris’s Team to Watch: Lake Land

Lake Land has not been very good in the past.  However, the new skipper, Julio Godinez, brings a D1 approach and mindset to a program in dire need of a makeover.  On the field, their position players are solid and will be well-coached but the surprising reason to watch this club is that they have two 90 plus arms on the bump.  If they can defend and hit well enough the arms will carry them to much greater levels of success than they have had in recent years.

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