IHSA baseball playoffs 2022: Predicting the Class 3A and 4A Illinois state finals

Wes Huett, Journal Star
·4 min read
Washington's Easton Harris, left, and Jake Stewart celebrate their 3-2 victory over Galesburg in the Class 3A baseball sectional semifinal Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at Brian Wisher Field in Washington. The Panthers will face Morton for the sectional title at 11 a.m. Saturday in Washington.
Washington's Easton Harris, left, and Jake Stewart celebrate their 3-2 victory over Galesburg in the Class 3A baseball sectional semifinal Wednesday, June 1, 2022 at Brian Wisher Field in Washington. The Panthers will face Morton for the sectional title at 11 a.m. Saturday in Washington.

The Illinois High School Association Class 3A and 4A baseball state finals are scheduled for June 10-11 at Duly Health & Care Field in Joliet.

Here is information about each of the matchups, including top players and predictions on which teams will make it to the championship games and who will ultimately leave Joliet with a state title.

CLASS 3A

Washington vs. Chatham Glenwood

First pitch — 10 a.m. Friday

Rankings, records — No. 4 Washington (34-5); No. 7 Glenwood (26-6)

State finals appearances — Washington 2021 (4th, 3A), 2007 (3rd, AA); Glenwood 2010 (1st, 3A), 2009 (2nd, 3A), 2003 (4th, AA), 1996 (1st, AA), 1995 (2nd, AA).

Top Washington players — Sr. INF-RHP Easton Harris (.482, 43 RBIs, 10 2Bs, 8 3Bs, 6 HRs; 10-0 W-L, 0.89 ERA, 114 Ks, 63 IPs), Sr. LHP-OF Gus Lucas (.418, 34 RBIs, 12 2Bs; 11-1 W-L, 1.78 ERA, 110 Ks, 63 IPs), Sr. INF Tyler Bishop (.361, 48 RBIs, 10 2Bs), OF Jack Limas (.331, 23 RBIs, 45 runs).

Top Glenwood players — Jr. RHP-1B Parker Detmers (9-2 W-L, 2.83 ERA, 89 Ks, 52 IPs), Sr. SS Nolan McMasters (.436, 38 RBIs, 17 2Bs, 9 HRs), Sr. LHP-1B Zane Danielson (5-1 W-L, 75 Ks, 49 IPs), Sr. C Will Plattner (.340, 38 RBIs, 9 2Bs, 6 HRs).

Semifinal prediction — Washington 2, Glenwood 1

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Chatham Glenwood junior pitcher Parker Detmers returns to the dugout during the Class 3A Champaign Central Sectional final against Mahomet-Seymour on Saturday, June 4.
Chatham Glenwood junior pitcher Parker Detmers returns to the dugout during the Class 3A Champaign Central Sectional final against Mahomet-Seymour on Saturday, June 4.

Crystal Lake South vs. LaGrange Park Nazareth

First pitch — 12 p.m. Friday

Rankings, records — NR Crystal Lake South (19-13); No. 2 Nazareth (32-7)

State finals appearances — Crystal Lake South 2017 (1st, 4A), 1993 (4th, AA); Nazareth 2018 (3rd, 3A), 2015 (2nd, 3A), 2013 (3rd, 3A), 2011 (4th, 3A).

Top Crystal Lake South players — Sr. RHP-1B Mark DeCicco (7-3 W-L, 2.42 ERA, 53 Ks, 52 IPs; .224, 20 RBIs, 7 2Bs), Sr. RHP Ysen Useni (5-3 W-L, 2.15 ERA, 92 Ks, 52 IPs), Jr. 3B Ryan Skwarek (.430, 33 RBIs, 7 2Bs, 2 HRs), So. SS Dayton Murphy (.324, 16 RBIs, 10 2Bs).

Top Nazareth players — So. RHP Nick Drtina (11-1 W-L, 1.15 ERA, 70 Ks, 55 IPs; .371, 31 RBIs, 1 2Bs), Sr. RHP Sebastian Gutierrez (5-1 W-L, 2.33 ERA, 68 Ks, 45 IPs), So. INF Cooper Malamazian (.400, 32 RBIs, 10 2Bs), Jr. OF Lucas Smith (.466, 23 RBIs, 17 2Bs, 40 runs).

Semifinal prediction — Nazareth 7, Crystal Lake South 2

Championship prediction — Washington 5, Nazareth 3

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CLASS 4A

Chicago Brother Rice vs. Edwardsville

First pitch — 3 p.m. Friday

Rankings, records — No. 1 Brother Rice (35-5); No. 2 Edwardsville (32-4)

State finals appearances — Brother Rice 2007 (4th, AA), 1983 (AA), 1981 (2nd, AA), 1976 (1st); Edwardsville 2019 (1st, 4A), 2017 (2nd, 4A), 2007 (AA), 2004 (AA), 2002 (2nd, AA), 2000 (AA), 1999 (AA), 1998 (1st, AA), 1991 (2nd, AA), 1990 (1st, AA), 1988 (AA), 1982 (AA), 1980 (AA), 1953, 1952, 1947.

Top Brother Rice players — Jr. RHP Cole Van Assen (13-0 W-L, 1.55 ERA, 92 Ks, 77 IPs), Sr. LHP Dylan Warda (10-1 W-L, 2.09 ERA, 61 Ks, 57 IPs), Sr. SS Christian Holmes (.367, 42 RBIs, 12 2Bs), Sr. CF Jack Lausch (.388, 41 RBIs), Jr. C Zion Rose (.489, 37 RBIs, 56 runs, 12 2Bs), Sr. 3B Will Flanigan (.387, 37 RBIs, 10 2Bs).

Top Edwardsville players — Sr. RHP-INF Spencer Stearns (11-0 W-L, 0.79 ERA, 78 Ks, 63 IPs; .465, 45 RBIs, 12 2Bs, 8 HRs), Sr RHP Burns Gannon (8-1 W-L, 2.29 ERA, 55 Ks, 52 IPs), Sr. C-OF Grant Huebner (.414, 38 RBIs, 43 runs, 5 HRs), Jr. 1B Riley Iffrig (.423, 30 RBIs, 9 2Bs, 4 HRs), Jr. OF Caeleb Copeland (.416, 27 RBIs, 31 runs).

Semifinal prediction — Brother Rice 5, Edwardsville 4

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Mundelein vs. McHenry

First pitch — 5 p.m. Friday

Records — No. 11 Mundelein (28-5); No. 10 McHenry (30-8)

State finals appearances — Mundelein 2016 (2nd, 4A), 2002 (4th, AA), 1978; McHenry none.

Top Mundelein players — Jr. RHP Ryan Geraghty (9-1 W-L, 1.19 ERA, 110 Ks, 59 IPs), Jr. RHP Bennett Musser (5-1 W-L, 1.57 ERA, 64 Ks, 49 IPs), Sr. RF Daniel Pacella (.354, 33 RBIs, 14 2Bs, 8 HRs), Sr. 3B Tommy Stricklin (.340, 30 RBIs), Sr. OF Drew Wellington (.371, 27 RBIs, 5 HRs).

Top McHenry players — Sr. RHP Kyle Kaempf (5-0 W-L, 1.37 ERA, 69 Ks, 41 IPs), Sr. RHP Gavin Micklinghoff (7-0 W-L, 1.33 ERA, 64 Ks, 42 IPs), Jr. LHP Lleyton Grubich (6-2 W-L, 1.98 ERA, 67 Ks, 53 IPs), Sr. OF Eddie Synek (.342, 40 RBIs, 11 2Bs), Sr. 1B-C Connor Rodgers (.412, 37 RBIs, 11 2Bs), Sr. OF Ricky Powell (.310, 37 RBIs, 4 HRs).

Semifinal prediction — Mundelein 5, McHenry 3

Championship prediction — Brother Rice 7, Mundelein 4

Wes Huett is Journal Star sports editor. Email him at whuett@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @WesHuett.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA baseball playoffs 2022: Predicting 3A, 4A Illinois state champions