Lemont's Storako, Latz Receive Top Honors from Illinois Baseball Coaches Association

Last spring, Lemont High School’s baseball team capped an historic season by winning the 2014 IHSA Class 3A State Championship. Two of the key figures in that state championship run—head coach Brian Storako and lefthanded pitcher Jake Latz ‘14—recently were honored by the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association for their outstanding seasons. Storako was tabbed as the Class 3A Coach of the Year, while Latz received Class 3A Player of the Year accolades. The two were recognized at the annual IHSBCA Hall of Fame Dinner at The Westin Hotel in Lombard on January 24.

Through just two seasons as Lemont’s head coach, Storako already has guided his program to unprecedented heights. During his brief tenure, Lemont has posted a combined 58-12 record, won two South Suburban Conference-Blue Division crowns, and solidified itself as one of the top prep baseball programs in Illinois.

Storako guided Lemont to the 2014 IHSA Class 3A State Championship - the school’s first team title ever in a boys’ sport - and the program set a school single-season record for victories after finishing with a 35-5 record. Prior to the state championship run, the most postseason success the Indians had seen was an IHSA Regional title. The Indians also won their sixth straight SSC Blue title in 2014.

Storako already has sent eight Lemont players on to play college baseball. Six of those came from the 2014 state champion squad, including Latz and catcher Mike Papierski ‘14, who were drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays but decided instead to attend college baseball powerhouse Louisiana State University. Four the six college signees from the Class of 2014 went on to play at the NCAA Division I level.

Latz was nearly untouchable as a senior in 2014, finishing with a 10-0 record and a save in 11 appearances. He struck out 114 in 62.1 innings, posted a school-record ERA of 0.23, and set career bests in wins, strikeouts and ERA. Latz was the winning pitcher in the 2-1, state championship game victory over Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin. He allowed an unearned run and just two hits while striking out 11 in a complete game effort.

Latz was selected in the 11th round of the Major League Baseball draft by the Toronto Blue Jays, which is the highest that any Lemont player has been drafted. He passed on that opportunity to pitch at LSU, which is one of the nation’s top college baseball programs and a perennial College World Series contender.

Latz earned IHSBCA Class 3A All-State honors in both 2013 and 2014, and was tabbed as the state Player of the Year by Prep Baseball Report in 2014. He finished his three-year career with a 17-2 record, a school-record 259 strikeouts, and a 1.01 ERA in 152.0 innings. He fanned 11.93 batters per seven innings in his career.