Pioneer Press broke down the Rolling Meadows baseball team at the start of the 2016 season:
Rolling Meadows
Coach: Jim Lindeman
Top returners (2015 stats): Sr. 1B Ryan Laboda (.263, 1 HR, 10 RBIs), Sr. SS/P Trent McNally (1-4, 4.83 ERA)
Newcomers: Jr. OF/P Justin Thompson
2015 record: 7-27 (2-14 Mid-Suburban East), lost to Glenbard North in a Class 4A regional semifinal
Season outlook: Despite finishing 20 games below .500 last season, the Mustangs won a postseason game by ousting Glenbard East in a regional quarterfinal. There’s plenty of room for improvement, and this is a team that seems determined to head in that direction. The younger players will have opportunities to prove themselves, as there are plenty of positions up for grabs. At 6-foot-3 and more than 200 pounds, senior Ryan Laboda is an imposing presence who should continue to develop.
More Top Picks High Chairs
Storyline to watch: Will the team’s youth and inexperience be too much to overcome? There aren’t many local coaches more knowledgeable than Jim Lindeman, who was drafted 24th overall in the 1983 MLB draft and played 351 games for the Cardinals, Phillies, Mets, Astros and Tigers from 1986-1994.
They said it: “We will be trying to overcome our lack of depth in hopes of improving on last year’s results,” Lindeman said.
Tim Froehlig is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.
Twitter: @TFroehlig