We’re still many months away from the start of the 2025 IHSA season, but it’s never too early to take a look at the shape of the upcoming high school season.
The baseball off-season is in full effect and the opportunity for players, and teams, to improve their game over the coming months is something that we look forward to tracking.
Those certain changes will alter the outlook of the IHSA scene come the season’s start, but our staff wanted to take some time to highlight some of the clubs that we believe will be some of the top teams in the area this year. This list is not obsolete, and there will certainly be teams not on it that have great success when next season comes to a close.
Yesterday, we broke down several of the 1A & 2A teams to know in the area, and you can find that story by clicking HERE.
We’ll turn our attention to the 3A & 4A classifications today, and you can continue reading below to learn more about a few of the teams within our coverage map that we believe should make some noise in 2025.
**Note, our coverage area extends up to Springfield, as well as the southern part of the state, and the southeast region**
4A Teams
EDWARDSVILLE
The historic run that Edwardsville (32-9) is on over the past few years can only be categorized as special, with the Tigers capturing state championships in 2019, 2022, 2023, and a third place finish in 2024. As you may imagine, Edwardsville’s loading up for another deep run in 2025 and they have a roster more than capable of bringing a championship trophy back to Madison County.
Edwardsville’s strength should once again lie on the mound, where almost all of their innings from last year’s group returns. RHP Chase Milburn (2026) and RHP Tony Eberlin (2026; TCU) were stellar in their sophomore campaigns; the latter pitched to a 0.80 ERA over 61 ⅓ innings, while the former hurled 52 ⅔ frames with a 2.79 ERA and turned in a magnificent outing against O’Fallon in their regional championship.
Returning to this group should be star senior RHP/OF Joe Chiarodo (2025; Alabama), a staple of this program on both sides of the ball who missed some time down the stretch last year. As competitive of an athlete as you’ll find, Chiarodo can provide fits for any lineup each time he takes the mound. He throws four pitches, and can land them all for strikes, with an upper-80s to low-90s fastball that’s been as firm as 93 mph. Aside from that, his talents at the plate may be even more valuable to this club, where he should serve as the spark that sets the tone from the top of the lineup. Already a two-time state champion, Chiarodo’s looking to add a third title to his resume, something few in the state’s history can claim.
They’ll also have a staple of quality arms at their disposal that deepen this staff even moreso, like RHP Tyler Powell (2025; SIUE), RHP Eric Herman (2025; Lincoln Land CC), RHP Ethan Stewart (2025; SWIC), LHP Dax Dunnill (2025; John A Logan JC), and INF/RHP Hunter Baugh (2026).
Powell has taken a considerable jump in the last six or so months, upping his arsenal as a whole and could be a true ‘X-Factor’ for this team. The same can be said for Herman, who was a mid-to-upper-80s arm this fall while consistently grabbing swing-and-miss with his slider. Few in the area have the upside that Dunnill does as a 6-foot-3, 200-pound athlete with a fastball that’s been up to 90 mph. As for Baugh, he’ll be a key piece on both sides of the ball, as a savvy up-the-middle defender who should add more with the bat in his junior year. He can also really pitch and isn’t scared of a big moment, featuring a clean, athletic arm that’s produced a fastball up to 88 mph with a tight, sharp breaking ball to pair.
Where the Tigers’ losses lie most are at the plate with almost 600 plate appearances from last year’s team gone to graduation. They have talent to make up for it though, and names like Baugh, Chiarodo, INF Lucas Krebs (2025; Illinois), and OF Greyson Rathgeb (2025; Maryville) are all poised for big seasons at the plate.
Krebs returns as the Tigers’ starting shortstop and an integral part of the offense, bringing back a .372/.500/.558 triple-slash. Rathgeb can flat-out go get it in the outfield with a big arm to pair, and he’s also capable of unlocking another level at the plate, especially from a power perspective.
Where the rest of the run production comes from, and how much of it there is, could be the determining factor for how far Edwardsville goes, but expect the Tigers to be fully in contention for the 4A crown yet again – something that’s become the norm for Tim Funkhouser’s club.
O’FALLON
The Panthers (24-12) will be under new leadership this spring, with head coach Dave Causey stepping into his first season at the helm of this O’Fallon program.
O’Fallon’s taking some losses from a roster perspective and will be without a few names that were mainstays on this club for the past few years. That being said, there’s still numerous talented names scattered throughout this roster, starting with RHP Connor Blue (2025; Cincinnati), who’s one of the area’s more dynamic talents on the mound. He’ll serve as the unquestioned anchor of this staff, returning a 1.90 ERA over 59 innings of work with 73 punchouts to pair. Blue’s fastball has been up to 93 mph, and he’ll pair it with a feel for both a breaking ball and changeup that helps him get both handed hitters out. Likely to draw some pro scout interest throughout the spring, Blue will look to put the finishing touches on a stellar high school career with a loud senior season.
Joining Blue are a handful of quality arms, most of them juniors, that will look to make a full impact on this club at the varsity level. LHP/OF Anthony Perez (2026) may be one of the area’s top left-handed arms with a quick, athletic arm and a fastball that should climb into the upper-80s throughout the spring. RHP Sam McCollum (2026) can really spin a breaking ball, a slider that he’ll turn to often, and is another arm in this stable that can pump his fastball in the mid-to-upper-80s. And, to cap things off, RHP Kaleb Weber (2026) and RHP Tyson Filyaw (2026) are two depth arms that can provide quality innings for the Panthers.
Several of the Panthers’ top offensive players from last season are back in 2025, including MIF Dane Hrasky (2025; Central Missouri), who led O’Fallon with a triple-slash of .360/.470/.559 that included 10 triples and 26 stolen bases. The aforementioned Blue has been a middle-of-the-order figure for two years now, and OF/INF Camden Cox (2025; Lincoln Land CC) can also swing it, while providing impact defense in the outfield, and he’s able to move around the infield, too. Aside from his talents on the mound, Perez swings an athletic left-handed barrel that can provide a spark to this offense. The Panthers will also need positive contributions from two left-handed hitting juniors to add more depth to this group in C/1B Asher Cantu (2026) and INF Carson Bauer (2026).
BELLEVILLE WEST
The Maroons made some noise at times last year, earning wins over Edwardsville, Father McGivney, Highland, and other quality opponents, before ultimately falling to Alton in the regional championship.
Departing from last year’s club are more than 150 innings on the mound and Jake Stedman’s (2024; Moberly CC) triple-slash of .388/.496/.602 with five home runs and 25 RBI. Even then, there’s still talent coming back on this roster, starting with MIF Casey Fultz (2025), who returns a .330 batting average in 128 plate appearances. RHP/OF John Hilpert (2025; Jefferson JC) posted a .911 OPS in 104 at-bats and C Ethan Hofmeister (2025; SWIC) hit .310 last year while reaching base at a .414 clip. OF Treyton Bowen (2025; Moberly CC), INF AJ Fultz (2027), and INF Bryce Schaltenbrand (2026) are other names to know on this club.
Hilpert should, presumptively, slot into a top of the rotation role for this club, and he’s made considerable jumps on the mound over the past few months. He’s in the zone more consistently with a riding fastball, pitching in the mid-to-upper-80s, with a tight, firm slider and fading changeup that should effectively challenge both sides of the plate. Casey Fultz was also effective over 26 innings last spring, pitching to a 1.35 ERA with just seven walks. How they’re able to replicate the rest of the production from last spring’s group of arms should be the driving factor to this year’s success.
3A Teams
TRIAD
The Knights (24-13) have had quite the success in recent years and, on an annual basis, have a roster that’s capable of making a deep run in the 3A playoffs. Multiple integral pieces from last year’s group are gone, like RHP/OF Brady Coon (2024; SIUE) and C Carter Vandever (2024; Kaskaskia JC), but, as has become the norm, head coach Jesse Bugger’s crew is gearing up for another positive season ahead.
When you look at the Knights lineup, a large majority of their offense is ready to run it back. OF/1B Hayden Bernreuter (2025; John A. Logan JC) plated a team-high 42 over 121 at-bats, slashing .380/.457/.628 in the process. MIF Hayden Bugger (2025; Kaskaskia JC) returns as the Knights’ starting shortstop and has accrued plenty of varsity experience over the past two seasons. C/1B Landon Loomis (2025; Minnesota State) is another left-handed slugger of note and OF Gabe Deaver (2025; McKendree) should be one of the area’s more productive table-setter types.
Triad’s going to benefit by the addition of a few newcomers in INF/RHP Nolan Keller (2026), C/1B Keegan Seipp (2027), and INF Kannon Seipp (2027). Keller should step right away and be an impact on both sides of the ball as a strong right-handed hitter with juice and a polished strike-thrower on the mound. The former Seipp twin is an ultra-physical left-handed bat that can fit nicely into the middle of a lineup, and the latter is an athletic right-handed hitter that can play multiple spots on the infield.
On top of that, the Knights have a few names in their sophomore class that will look to make an impact at the varsity level in 2025. UTL/RHP Brody Hasquin (2027) saw brief time last spring on the mound, though he’s also a strong right-handed hitter that can compete for at-bats. The same can be said for left-handed hitting slugger 1B Jaxson Vaughan (2027) and OF Auggie Bugger (2027), who also swings a clean, athletic left-handed barrel.
Turning to the mound, RHP Drew Winslow (2025; Oklahoma State) will be the ‘X-Factor’ for Triad. If he can turn into the ace-like talent that he absolutely is, the Knights will have a true stopper on their hands capable of beating anyone on any given day. This past fall, Winslow was up to 93 mph on the mound, and he has long been able to really spin his slider. RHP Nathan Klucker (2027) was excellent as a freshman campaign, winning a playoff game and posting a 1.03 ERA in 40 ⅔ innings of work. Keller, Bernreuter, RHP Sawyer Brunson (2025), and Hasquin should all factor into the mix as well, giving the Knights a deep, and talented, crop of arms to pick from.
HIGHLAND
You can’t ever count out Highland (31-8-1) when it comes to contention at the 3A level. They’re coming off a trip to state and have one of the area’s top coaches in Joel Hawkins who will almost certainly have his club ready to compete on a game-to-game basis this spring.
The Bulldogs will be without several noteworthy names – including OF Jake Ottensmeier (2024; Eastern Illinois) and RHP Trent Clemons (2024; Rockhurst). With that, however, comes the return of LHP/1B Chase Knebel (2025; SWIC), who’s a real impact on both sides of the ball. Last year, Knebel allowed only seven earned runs in 75 ⅓ innings, good for a 0.65 ERA, and he walked only seven, while striking out 68. He also hit .333 and reached base at a .443 clip across 129 plate appearances, pacing the Bulldogs with 39 RBI. His status as the staff ace, and his ability to contribute at the plate from the left side, make Knebel one of the area’s more valuable players.
Two more names of note on this club are CIF Garrin Stone (2025; Quincy) and RHP Braxdon Decker (2025; Eastern Illinois). Stone is an ultra-physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound athlete with juice from the right side that should be a mainstay in the middle of this lineup. Decker went a perfect 28-for-28 in stolen bases, but he’ll be most impactful on the mound, where he’s a live-armed, dynamic athlete with power stuff; a mid-to-upper-80s heater with a frisbee-like slider that’s capable of grabbing swing-and-miss on the regular.
MASCOUTAH
Mascoutah (30-6) had a stellar 2024 season, eclipsing the 30-win mark with a trip to their sectional championship included. A large majority of that roster has graduated, but Mascoutah has proven itself as a year-over-year winner, and the Indians have one of the area’s more talented pitching combos.
That duo includes RHP Austin Musso (2025; Arizona State) and RHP Darren Klein (2027). Musso has anchored this staff for some time now and was nothing short of exceptional in 2024, logging a 0.75 ERA with 83 strikeouts across 56 innings of work. The Arizona State signee is one of the top arms in the state’s 2025 class and, like he has consistently done in the past, gives this team a chance to win each time he’s on the rubber. Klein burst onto the varsity scene as a freshman, pitching to a 1.16 ERA in 54 ⅓ innings with just five walks, and he also pitched a complete game 1-0 shutout of Marion in the Indians’ sectional championship. Now a year older, and much more physical, Klein has ace-like talent in his own right, making this duo that much more dangerous.
Mascoutah’s biggest hit comes at the plate, with five of their six plate appearances leaders from a season ago now gone. Musso has been a productive figure at the plate, he homered four times while driving in 32, and names like MIF Cameron Eddy (2025) and 1B Josh Amann (2025) are two returners that should step back into their everyday roles. The rest of their at-bats will be taken by relatively fresh faces and how they perform, ultimately, will be the determining factor in the ceiling of this club.
GLENWOOD
You can always pencil in Glenwood (30-6) to have a successful season in a program that’s done nothing but win and produce high-end talent over the years. This group will be without several of their biggest producers from last year, especially on the offensive end, but what they do have is star talent on the mound.
LHP Cameron Appenzeller (2025; Tennessee) is arguably the nation’s top high school prep arm with a blend of athleticism, pitchability, and projectability that have him on a trajectory to be a top pick in the 2025 MLB Draft. He’s a bonafide ace in every sense of the word that should give them a chance to win each time he touches the mound, but look for RHP Dylan Huff (2026) to fully cement himself as a premium arm in his own right. The 6-foot-3, 170-pound long, athletic right-hander has all the makings of a dynamic talent, boasting an upper-80s fastball and a true swing-and-miss breaking ball.
The likes of OF Mason Marshall (2025; Lincoln Land CC), INF Joe Anderson (2025), 1B Joseph Sutton (2025; Montreat), INF Michael Lucas (2026), and C/QB1 Colton Knoedler (2026) will be asked to shoulder a bulk of the offensive load. How much they produce may ultimately determine how far this team goes, but the Titans once again look capable of making some noise in 3A.
MT. VERNON
Though they’re coming off a bit of a down year, Mt. Vernon (14-21) will be a school to keep an eye on in that Southern Illinois pocket. Dating back to 2015, the Rams had gone eight straight seasons with 22 or more wins and are poised for a bounceback this upcoming spring. Star sophomore INF/RHP Trevor McClure (2027) should headline this club on both sides of the ball, and senior backstop C Alex Kiefer (2025; Kaskaskia JC) is another key returner. UTL Ryker Perigo (2027), OF Ty Pierce (2026), and RHP Cale Maurer (2026) will all be names to watch on this team as well.
MARION
The Wildcats are coming off a great year, posting a 25-9 record and falling in a highly competitive 1-0 game to Mascoutah in their Sectional Championship. They’ll be without several key pieces that graduated, but Conference Pitcher of the Year RHP Aiden Pickles (2026) is back, and so are MIF/OIF Will True (2026) and C Chase Niemeyer (2025; John A. Logan JC).
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