Kenosha, Wis. – As the Rangers gear up for the 2025 season, they have been projected to finish fifth in the GLIAC Preseason Poll. Parkside will enter year three under Zac Charbonneau and make their return to The Historic Simmons Field.
In his second season at the helm, Charbonneau led the Rangers to a historic season. The team finished 21-30 with a 10-20 GLIAC record. The team accomplished more GLIAC wins than they ever have before, won 20+ games for the first time since 2006, and won their first-ever GLIAC regular-season series. Additionally, Charbonneau saw seven of his players earn postseason accolades, including the Freshman of the Year. He was able to accomplish these feats without having a home field, as Parkside used five different venues as their home in 2024.
After a large recruiting class made their way into Parkside's program last season under Charbonneau, many of them became immediate contributors. The list of key returners begins with sophomore Jude Allen, who led the team with an impressive .337 batting average. In the process, Allen maintained an .839 OPS, which ranked second on Parkside. In addition to the production from Allen's bat, sophomore John St. Clair hit .270 in 39 games. St. Clair provided at the dish with nine extra-base hits and 23 RBIs. Carter Storti, another sophomore, made an impact on both the mound and at the plate. Offensively, Storti had a .722 OPS in 49 games. Storti crushed three home runs and drove in 19 RBIs. On the rubber, Storti dealt 31.0 innings and struck out 19 hitters.
Continuing with returning sophomores on the mound, both Austin Grube and Nathan Ciemny are expected to step into critical roles. Grube tossed a hefty 41.0 innings out of the bullpen and punched out 21 hitters. Ciemny was also out of the bullpen, dealing 23.2 innings in his first season, collecting 16 strikeouts along the way.
The returning class features multiple players who transferred into Parkside last season. The top player in that regard is Peter Fusek, another two-way threat. Fusek was dynamic at the plate, slashing .301/.413/.432 with 15 extra-base hits, 24 RBIs, and 23 stolen bases. On the mound, Fusek appeared in 16.1 innings and collected 14 strikeouts. Another massive piece returning for Parkside is catcher Owen Brock, who finished with four home runs, second-most on the team. Brock slashed .276/.368/.449 and came through on multiple occasions for the Rangers.
Parkside also dipped into the transfer portal this offseason, adding many players to the 2025 roster. Isaiah Terrell, Dylan Sayles, and Jackson Lindquist highlight a promising group getting set to wear the Rangers' green this spring. Left-handed pitcher Terrell makes his way up north from the College of Lake County, where he threw 36 innings of work. He was nothing short of dominant, pitching to a 1.50 ERA, striking out 33, and walking just 17. Sayles enters the program after a stint at Indian Hills Community College. Sayles was All-Region in both years in the ICCAC, with his best season coming in his last. Sayles slashed .331/.477/.419 with 10 extra-base hits and 18 stolen bases. Lastly, Jackson Lindquist comes from Rock Valley Community College. Lindquist had nothing short of a monster season in 2024, slashing a ridiculous .415/.467/.723 with 10 home runs, 56 RBIs, and 28 stolen bases.
The Rangers are set to begin the 2025 season on February 15 against Southwest Minnesota State in Kansas City, Missouri. After the three-game set, Parkside will play in their first game at The Historic Simmons Field in 626 days on February 18 against Bemidji State. The conference season is slated to begin on March 15 with a twin bill against Purdue Northwest in Hammond, Indiana. For more preseason updates and more, visit ParksideRangers.com/coverage.
