With another week of the Illinois’ high school baseball season behind us, it’s time to update our ‘Small School’ rankings again. 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 rankings from a week ago, 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. 

We’ve got some impactful movement throughout our board this week, with one club climbing as high as they’ve been all spring, and the middle of the rankings seeing a slight shakeup. All of that, and more, broken down below. 

AT THE TOP…

+ The top two spots remain the same, with No. 1 St. Joseph-Ogden (25-2) and No. 2 Freeburg (20-7) holding put. The Spartans went 4-1 on the week, dropping a game to Tolono Unity (5-2), but beating Milford (8-3), Prairie Central (10-0), Reed Custer (12-2), and Galesburg (8-4). As for Freeburg, the Midgets scuffled for the first time all season, finishing the week 1-2. They split their conference series with Roxana (2-0 W, 7-4 L) and dropped a weekend game to Civic Memorial (5-2). 

+ Rising up to the third is Tolono Unity (19-5), a program that’s done nothing but climb for the last month. Up four spots in this update, the Rockets had a 2-2 week, but their quality of play and the caliber of their opponents stands out. Their 5-2 win over No. 1 St. Joseph-Ogden is the obvious sticking point, but they also took down Rantoul 8-4. On Saturday, the Rockets dropped two close games to Ottawa Marquette, who may be the top team in 2A, though falls outside of our coverage area for ranking purposes. Tolono Unity has played one of the toughest schedules on this list throughout the season, and they’ve held their own, which warrants another notable bump up our list. 

+ Holding firm at four is Nashville (21-3), as the Hornets are coming off a 2-1 week. They took games from Okawville (8-3) and Althoff Catholic (2-1), but kicked a 3-2 contest to always tough, and previously ranked, Gibault Catholic. 

+ Falling two spots, but sticking inside the top five still, is Teutopolis (20-8). The Wooden Shoes had their worst week of the season thus far, finishing 1-3, but they played four quality opponents, and played them all tough. Their only win was a 6-5 defeat of Glenwood, who’s ranked on our ‘Large School’ board, while their three losses came against Edwardsville (8-3), Highland (6-3), and Effingham (10-9). Despite the quick scuffle, we still view Teutopolis as one of the top 2A programs in Illinois, which is why they’re not falling too far down our board. 

CLIMBING UP… 

+ Tremont (24-2) and Carterville (22-7) are two teams on the rise this time around. The Turks, who have won 11 straight games, are up two spots, now sitting at No. 8. Carterville climbs up one spot, rounding out the top-10 after a 4-1 week. They beat Anna-Jonesboro (13-2), Carbondale (11-8), Murphysboro (11-1), and Benton (14-5) before falling on Saturday to Waterloo 8-6. 

STAYING PUT…

+ St. Anthony (16-6) is holding on to No. 6 after a 1-1 week, where they played two high quality teams. The Bulldogs lost a game to North Clay 8-6, but turned around and beat ranked Father McGivney 11-10. 

+ The last four spots on our list all remain the same, with No. 12 Effingham (16-9), No. 13 Roxana (16-6), No. 14 DuQuoin (20-5), and No. 15 Breese Central (21-7). 

DROPPING DOWN…

+ Father McGivney (18-7) is down two spots after a 2-2 week, checking in at No. 7 in this update. The Griffins picked up wins over Altamont (5-0) and Mater Dei (12-5), but dropped both games against two tough opponents in St. Anthony (11-10) and Belleville West (6-4). 

+ Monticello (26-2) and Harrisburg (21-5) are each down one spot from their previous ranking. The Sages, who check in at No. 9 this week, dropped a game to Paxton-Buckley-Loda (9-7), with wins over Pana (8-3) and Mattoon (6-4). Harrisburg, who’s at No. 11 now, started the week off strong, beating Fairfield (15-1), Herrin (12-2), and Trico (10-0), but fell to Pinckneyville (5-2) and Benton (5-3) to end things. 

JUST MISSED…

+ North Clay (25-3) was the first team out of the rankings, and the only reason they didn’t debut this week was because we didn’t feel that any of the teams towards the bottom warranted dropping out. That being said, the Cardinals are having an excellent spring and look like a real contender at the 1A level, with the program pedigree of having previously won a state championship (2022). They won the only game they played this week, taking down St. Anthony 8-6. 

+ Newton (20-4): After falling out of our rankings a few weeks back, the Eagles continue to play quality ball and look like a formidable club at the 2A level. This week Newton won both of their games, beating Lawrenceville (10-0) and Farina South Central (4-2). 

+ Goreville (18-2): Another top 1A team in our area, the Black Cats swept their week, taking two games from Vienna (9-5, 9-0) and also beating a tough Crab Orchard (2-0) team in extra innings. 

+ Columbia (11-12): The Eagles continue to play quality baseball against a tough schedule. They went 1-1 this week, dropping a game to ‘Large School’ ranked Triad (5-1), but turning around and beating Salem (4-2) in conference play.