With the IHSA regular season winding down, the ScoutConnect staff has updated our ‘Large School’ – 3A and 4A – rankings for the final time in 2025. We’ve shaken up the top-10 and have also touched on a few teams that aren’t ranked to keep an eye on in these playoffs. 

As a reminder, teams taken into consideration are those that fall into our ‘Coverage Map’, which includes all of Southern Illinois, the Metro East area, Springfield, and up as high as Mt. Zion. This does not mean that our staff won’t provide coverage to all areas of the state, as well as Missouri, but for team rankings purposes, we will stick to all teams in 3A and 4A that fall underneath the Mt. Zion line.

THE TOP 10…

+ We have a new No. 1 team in these final updates, as Edwardsville (24-9) reclaims the spot they entered the preseason with. The Tigers have won five in a row and, most recently, defeated previously top-ranked Triad in an extra-innings contest on the road. Edwardsville continues to look like the force it’s been over the past few seasons and enters the 4A playoffs as one of the inner-circle contenders for the state title. 

+ Dropping from the top spot for the first time in a few weeks, Triad (28-6) should still be viewed as a super power program in the Metro East. Now at No. 2, the Knights had won five in a row prior to Friday’s loss to Edwardsville and continue to score runs in bunches. Armed with threats throughout the roster, Triad will enter the 3A playoffs with as much of an opportunity to win the state championship as they’ve had. 

+ The third spot on this list remains in the hands of Mascoutah (22-7). Winners of seven straight, the Indians have allowed three or less runs in six of those games, scoring 10 or more times of their own in all but one. They’re the second seed in their sub-sectional, but have the most talent of any team in it, and Austin Musso (2025; Arizona State) has a chance to lead this team to the ‘Final Four’. 

+ O’Fallon (22-10) climbs back up to where they started the season out at No. 4 this week. The Panthers have navigated through some tough waters in the past two weeks, splitting their conference sets with Edwardsville and Collinsville, while picking up a win over Father McGivney and dropping a game to Triad in extra innings. Connor Blue (2025; Cincinnati) can beat anyone on any given day, and others like Asher Cantu (2026) and Anthony Perez (2026) continue to swing it well. Their draw in the postseason won’t be easy, as they’ll match up with Alton in the first round on their home turf. 

+ Glenwood (18-8) checks in at No. 5 on these rankings. The Titans have won four in a row after dropping a pair to Belleville West and Normal U-High, including two key wins over Pleasant Plains and Rochester at the start of this past week. With the playoffs around the corner, Glenwood has a major advantage, as they have two key arms in Cameron Appenzeller (2025; Tennessee) and Dylan Huff (2026) that are able to shut an opposing team down each time they’re on the mound. If those two are firing on all cylinders, look for this Glenwood team to make a deep run in the 3A playoffs. 

+ Belleville West (18-11) is No. 6 on this list, up a few spots since our last update. The Maroons have been a tough out for anyone they’ve played all season, finishing third in Southwestern Conference play and handing Edwardsville one of their two losses. They consistently play their scrappy brand of baseball and have an arm in Chase Boente (2026) who’s been spectacular on the mound, pitching to a 1.42 ERA over 44 ⅓ innings of work. Belleville West will host their regional, matching up with Quincy in the first round. 

+ Mt. Zion (19-9) lost the Apollo Conference crown after two tough losses to Mahomet-Seymour, in which they were leading in both games. We still like this Braves’ club, mostly because of the stockade of arms they have on the mound, but they by no means have an easy draw come playoff time. Should they get past a tough Taylorville club in the first round, Mt. Zion will match up with Rochester in the Regional Championship game. 

+ Jumping back into the rankings for the first time since the early season is Highland (19-13), a team more than deserving of that recognition. After a rough start, the Bulldogs seem to have found their footing and have beaten some of the area’s top teams. On the year, Highland has wins over Breese Central, Mascoutah, Alton, Waterloo twice, Triad, and Belleville West. They’re another team that has a big advantage come postseason play, as their two top arms can beat anyone on any day when they’re on. Chase Knebel (2025; SWIC) has a 1.77 ERA over 47 ⅔ innings on the hill, punching out 62 with just 10 walks, and Braxdon Decker (2025; Eastern Illinois) has fanned 68 in his 42 innings of work, good for a 2.50 ERA. The fourth seed in their sub-sectional, the Bulldogs will meet up with conference foe Triad in the regional championship if they’re able to beat Civic Memorial first. 

+ Waterloo (23-9) and Rochester (20-11-1) hold the final two spots on our list. The Bulldogs have a tough draw in the 3A playoffs, matching up with Freeburg in round one and they’ll likely play Mascoutah should they advance. The Rockets will head to Mt. Zion to start their postseason, matching up with Decatur MacArthur in the first round. 

PLAYOFF TEAMS TO WATCH…

+ Belleville East (20-14): The Lancers hit a tough stretch a few weeks ago, dropping them out of the rankings as a result. They’re still a formidable foe for anyone in the playoffs, especially when Tommy Kramkowski (2025; Missouri State) is on the mound, and their offense has proven capable of scoring runs in bunches multiple times this spring. Belleville East will travel to O’Fallon for their regional, drawing Collinsville in the first round. 

+ Alton (20-14): Another Southwestern Conference team that took some lumps throughout the regular season, the Redbirds are a scrappy, competitive group capable of making some noise in these playoffs. They have three arms in Reid Murray (2025; Lewis & Clark), Logan Hickman (2026), and Anderson Kaufmann (2028) that can get outs in bunches if they’re on. Arms always win in the postseason, and how consistent the Redbirds’ offense is against the quality of arms they’ll face could ultimately be the defining factor. Things won’t be easy for them, as they’ll travel to O’Fallon to play the host Panthers in round one. 

+ Marion (21-9): The Wildcats spent a few weeks throughout the season inside of our rankings and are the second seed in their sub-sectional side of the bracket. Their offense is capable of producing runs at a high rate and if they can get consistent, quality contributions on the mound, this team will defend their Regional Championship from a year ago. They will match up with the winner of Carbondale and Herrin in the first round. 

+ Effingham (19-11): The Hearts earned the top seed in their sub-sectional after a strong regular season. They’re a young, talented group that isn’t senior heavy and has a budding star in OF/LHP Carter Braddy (2027). Effingham will travel to Salem for their regionals, drawing the winner of Charleston and Richland County on Wednesday. 

+ Freeburg (17-14): You can’t ever count Freeburg out, regardless of their regular season record, as that program has a history of winning when the calendar turns to the playoffs. They’ve won four of their last five games and played Triad tough, falling to the Knights 6-3. Freeburg will head to Mascoutah on Thursday for a matchup with a tough, scrappy Waterloo club. 

+ Jacksonville (21-14): The Crimson have won six in a row and end the regular season with a 21-14 mark. Brandon Sims (2025; UT-Martin football) is hitting .486 on the year to lead the club, while AJ Charpentier (2026) has a 1.82 ERA in 61 ⅔ innings of work, striking out 87 while walking only 17. They will match up with Springfield in the first round of these playoffs, likely to face Brody Scheffler (2026), and will play Glenwood if they advance. 

Author: Diego