Two weeks into the Illinois’ high school baseball season and it’s time for an update to our ‘Large School’ rankings. At ScoutConnect, we break our IHSA rankings into two different categories, grouping the 3A and 4A into a ‘Large’ school bucket, while doing the same for the 1A and 2A programs as ‘Small’ schools.

To see our ‘Preseason Rankings’ click HERE. 

It’s important to note that these rankings do not cover the entire state. Our coverage map extends from Peoria on down, and only teams that fall underneath the Peoria line on the state map will be included within our rankings all season long. It’s also important to note that these are just initial rankings, and they will fluctuate throughout as the season rolls on and gameplay starts. 

With that being said, continue reading below to learn more about movement inside our top-15, a few teams on the outside looking in, and more.

AT THE TOP…

+ There’s no movement at the top, with Normal Community (4-2) holding onto the No. 1 spot on our board firmly. They took down ranked O’Fallon (5-4) before heading out for their spring break trip, which they went 3-2 on. We viewed the Ironmen as the top team in our rankings heading into the season and nothing, to this point, has changed that. 

Three new teams occupy the next three spots on our list, with O’Fallon (3-3), Triad (5-2), and Sacred-Heart Griffin (6-1) sitting at No. 2, No. 3, and No. 4, respectively: 

+ O’Fallon’s record isn’t the cleanest of the three, but their schedule has been the toughest, and they’ve put together arguably the more impressive resume of the group. They took down Triad this past Saturday (9-6) and beat Vianney (3-1), who’s one of the top teams in Missouri. Two of their three losses fall at the hands of Normal Community (5-4), the top team on this list, and Waterloo (7-4), who’s also ranked. 

+ The Knights bump up a spot to No. 3 on our updated rankings after a 5-2 start to the season. They have a handful of impressive wins, defeating Effingham (14-0), Morton (11-1), and Glenwood (1-0), all of whom are on our rankings, with their two losses coming to O’Fallon (9-6) and Vianney (4-1). Still, Triad is once again one of the area’s top teams and a state title contender at the 3A level. 

+ Rounding out our top four, the Cyclones are off to a torrid start. They’ve scored 10+ runs in five of their six wins, and haven’t allowed more than three runs in any game they’ve won. Their lone loss of the season came to the top-ranked team on our ‘Small School’ list, as they fell to St. Joseph-Ogden 7-3. The reigning 2A state champions, who are now playing at the 3A classification, once again look like one of the state’s best. 

+ Falling down three spots, now at No. 5, is Edwardsville (3-3). The Tigers have played a fairly tough schedule, picking up wins over East Moline (13-3), Granite City (7-4), and Missouri’s Francis Howell (6-4), with losses at Oak-Park River Forest (4-1), New Trier (7-3), and DeSmet (13-3). 

+ Waterloo (3-1) and East Peoria (4-0) are both on the rise after a strong two weeks, each of them bumping up one spot to occupy the No. 6 and No. 7 spots on our board. The Bulldogs only loss came at the hands of Monticello (8-7) with wins over Murphysboro (25-2), O’Fallon (7-4), and Columbia (1-0). East Peoria remains undefeated, having outscored their opponents 36-3 thus far. 

+ Jumping into the rankings in the eighth spot is Normal U-High, as the Pioneers are off to an excellent 7-1 start. Their offense has been excellent in the early going, scoring nine or more runs in five of their seven wins. When they’ve needed to, U-High’s pitching staff has shown the ability to win tight games, as the Pioneers’ swept a double-header with Washington (5-3, 3-1) this past weekend. C Caleb Hornbrook (2026; Lake Land) has been on a tear to kick off the year, while two juniors, INF/RHP Parker Roop (2027; Belmont) and OF Cole Brent (2027; Illinois) are a pair of highly talented prospects to know on this club. 

+ Rounding out the top-10 are a pair of fallers in Dunlap (3-3) and Glenwood (2-2). The Eagles, who are at No. 9, have wins over Richwoods (12-0), LaSalle Peru (9-2), and Lincoln (9-0) with losses to Oak Park-River Forest (6-3), Freeburg (5-2), and Springfield (1-0). Glenwood, the 10th team on this list, has played a particularly challenging schedule so far, beating Morris (3-2) and Springfield (4-1) while losing to Joliet Catholic (8-6) and Triad (1-0). 

+ Belleville West (4-0) and Mt. Zion (4-2) are two teams that are staying put in their preseason position in this update. The Maroons haven’t lost yet, beating Joliet West (5-2), Salem (2-1), Mater Dei (6-2), and DeSmet (5-2). As for the Braves, they swept Rochester (12-1, 5-0) this past weekend, picking up wins over Maroa-Forsyth (7-1) and Danville (14-0) as well. Their two losses have come at the hands of Washington (3-2) and Williamsville (11-6). 

+ Two undefeated teams each bump up a few spots in No. 12 Mahomet-Seymour (6-0) and No. 13 Mascoutah (5-0). The Bulldogs won all four of their games on their spring break trip before returning home to victories over Danville (13-3) and Westville (13-0). Mascoutah opened their season with a quality win over Teutopolis (3-1) and also picked up victories against Newton (19-9), Centralia (11-1), Belleville East (14-3), and Wesclin (15-2). 

+ Falling down five spots and holding onto the last spot on our board at No. 15 is Morton (4-3). Their three losses came to Triad (11-1), Rochester (1-0), and Oak Park-River Forest (7-6), while they claimed wins against Normal West (10-5), Peoria Notre Dame (12-2), Tremont (3-0), and Streator (9-0). Morton’s talented, and we were particularly high on them in the preseason, but the Potters are in danger of falling out of our rankings with another tough week. 

NEXT UP…

+ Metamora (5-0): The Redbirds are off to a perfect start and have been excellent on the mound while doing so. They’ve thrown three shutouts and held a daunting Normal U-High offense to just two runs in a winning effort this past week. 

+ Alton (5-1): Led by one of the Metro East’s most talented players in RHP/C Anderson Kaufmann (2028), the Redbirds have won five of their first six games. Their only defeat came at the hands of northwest suburban powerhouse Huntley (9-2), but they’ve picked up wins over rival Alton Marquette (2-1), Oswego (3-1), Granite City (8-4), Jerseyville (5-0), and Piasa Southwestern (8-4). 

+ Marion (6-2): Marion’s won five straight games since falling to Du Quoin (6-5) and Effingham (17-1) to start the season. On their five game winning streak, they’ve thrown two shutouts and scored 10+ runs three times.

+ Washington (3-4): The Panthers don’t have the prettiest record, but they’ve played a tough schedule, and they’ve played the talented teams close thus far. They beat ranked Mt. Zion 3-2 on opening day, and took down a tough Mt. Vernon (4-1) club as well. Additionally, the Panthers lost to a Moline team that’s always competitive 10-8, and they dropped two close contests to Normal U-High (5-3, 3-1), who’s No. 8 on our board.