Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin baseball is on a mission to defend their 2A state championship, and the Cyclones are showing they have what it takes to make another deep postseason run.

While the team is proudly watching former Cyclone Sam Antannoci make waves with the Chicago White Sox, they're also keeping their eyes on the prize closer to home. With the IHSA playoffs just around the corner—regional quarterfinals begin May 25-26—SHG is building momentum at the perfect time.

Head coach Nick Naumovich knows that repeating as state champs won't be easy, especially after losing some key senior leaders from last year's title-winning squad. But the 2025 roster is deep, returning the bulk of that championship core, and new leaders are stepping up in a big way.

"The biggest thing our seniors learned from last year's guys is to watch, observe, and communicate rather than just talk," Naumovich shared. "Our players have done a tremendous job welcoming younger guys into the varsity program and making them part of our team from day one."

That kind of team chemistry and leadership is exactly what fuels championship runs. Whether you're a Cyclone fan or just love a good underdog story, this is a team worth watching as they chase back-to-back glory.