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Libertyville pitcher Chase Lockwood celebrates the final out of the Wildcats’ state semifinal win last year. Libertyville went on to win the Class 4A state title, and Lockwood is one of the key players back this spring. Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
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Scouting the spring sports
Libertyville pitcher Chase Lockwood celebrates the final out of the Wildcats’ state semifinal win last year. Libertyville went on to win the Class 4A state title, and Lockwood is one of the key players back this spring.
Joe Lewnard/jlewnard@dailyherald.com
We’ve been bringing you previews of spring sports all week — water polo, girls soccer, baseball and softball — and there’s more to come next week.
Find out what to expect from your favorite team here.
Cook County baseball
Prep baseball
Baseball: Scouting the 2026 Cook County season
Mar 18, 2026 6:24 pm - MID-SUBURBAN LEAGUE EAST
BUFFALO GROVE
Coach: Bill Montemayor (7th season)
Last year's record: 11-22, 6-10 (5th, MSL East)
Top returning players: Alex Shimanski, C/P/3B, SR, (Carthage College); Jordan Dudek, OF, SR; Rocco Perricon
DuPage County baseball
Prep baseball
Baseball: Scouting the 2026 DuPage County season
Mar 18, 2026 6:25 pm - Addison Trail
Coach: Mike Kennedy, 13th season at Addison Trail, 22nd overall.
Last season’s record: 10-25 overall, 6-12 in the West Suburban Gold (sixth place).
Top returning players: Trevor Sosin, sr., OF/IF; Jonathon Valdez, sr., SS/P
Fox Valley baseball
Prep baseball
Baseball: Scouting the 2026 Fox Valley season
Mar 18, 2026 6:25 pm - Aurora Central Catholic
Coach: Rich Swann, fourth season, 10th overall at ACC (2002-2007).
Last season’s record: 14-17 overall, 5-9 in the CCL White (fifth place).
Top returning players: Brodie Curry, sr., P/OF; Tyler Davis, sr., P/1B; N
Lake County baseball
Prep baseball
Baseball: Scouting the 2026 Lake County season
Mar 18, 2026 6:25 pm - Antioch Sequoits
Coach: Frank Fracek (4th season)
Last season’s record: 23-13-1, 12-6, second Northern Lake County
Top returning players: Hunter Feldkamp, jr., Zach Rubin, Andrew Olson, Alex Nielsen
Key newcomers: Elliott Freeman, s
Baseball Top 20
Prep baseball
Baseball Top 20
Mar 18, 2026 6:26 pm - 1. Libertyville (36-4) Illinois St. commit Lockwood returns for defending 4A champs
2. Maine South (23-17) A lot of talent back for sectional champs
3. Barrington (25-10) Belo takes over Broncos
4. Downers Grove North (30-8) Duke recruit Doyle part o
Cook County softball
Softball
Softball: Scouting 2026 Cook County season
Mar 19, 2026 4:44 pm - As Ken Grams begins his 46th season at the helm of the Elk Grove softball team, the sport's all-time winningest coach in Illinois obviously has seen it all with his Grenadiers' teams that date back to 1980.
Well, not quite.
For the first time in five
Lake County softball
DuPage County softball
Softball
Softball: Scouting 2026 DuPage County season
Mar 19, 2026 4:43 pm - Addison Trail
Coach: Steve Kuchefski (1st season)
Last season:
18-13, 9-3, second West Suburban Gold
Top returning players: Elina Rodriguez, sr., 2B, Madeline Housley, jr., 3B, Giselle Ramos, soph., P, Sophia Guillen, soph., SS
Fox Valley softball
Softball Top 20
Softball
Softball Top 20
Mar 19, 2026 4:42 pm - 1 St. Charles East (23-16) Sujack 17 HRs last year; Wulf transfers in from Wheaton N.
2. Barrington (35-4-1) Second in Class 4A last spring
3. St. Charles North (22-10) Heimbuch, Kouba 3rd team all-state
4. South Elgin (29-5) UEC champs, sectional fi
Cook County and Lake County girls soccer
Girls soccer
Girls soccer: Scouting 2026 Cook and Lake County season
Mar 16, 2026 1:21 pm - Fremd and Hersey have been perennial powerhouse clubs in the MSL, displaying consistent, high levels of play on both sides of the ball while almost always ending up a strong force during the postseason.
However, with Barrington seemingly always in th
DuPage County and Fox Valley girls soccer
Girls soccer Top 20
Girls soccer
Girls soccer Top 20
Mar 16, 2026 1:36 pm - 1. Fremd (13-7-3) Vikings have four who can score goals
2. St. Charles East (20-7-1) Leon, Strotkamp, Wollenberg spark the Saints
3. Naperville Central (20-2-1) Emerson Burke elite defender
4. Libertyville (18-2-3) Wildcats midfield is a first class
Boys water polo
Girls water polo
The basketball season ended last Saturday with Benet’s boys taking second at the Class 4A state tournament. Kevin Schmit is ready for the shot clock.
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