Steve Millar’s Daily Southtown baseball rankings and player of the week

With records through Sunday and previous rankings in parentheses.

1. St. Laurence 3-0 (1)

Sophomore left-hander Joe Olson dominates on the mound.

2. Lincoln-Way West 3-0 (2)

Conor Essenburg is off to a strong start with his arm and his bat.

3. Lockport 5-0 (8)

Jake Moerman drives in four in 10-0 rout of defending Class 4A champion Edwardsville.

4. Lincoln-Way East 4-1 (4)

Aiden Knipper’s fast start includes grand slam against downstate Washington.

5. Providence 2-0 (5)

Ryan Hussey impresses as eight pitchers combine for 14 shutout innings.

6. Joliet Catholic 2-1-1 (6)

Louisville recruit TJ Schlageter shuts down Brother Rice.

7. Sandburg 4-1 (NR)

Grant Tenuta leads strong pitching as Eagles surprise Brother Rice, Lemont.

8. Lincoln-Way Central 2-0 (NR)

Knights score 19 combined runs in wins over Naperville Central, Homewood-Flossmoor.

9. Brother Rice 2-2 (3)

Amir Gray looks to get the Crusaders’ offense going.

10. Homewood-Flossmoor 4-1 (9)

Demir Heidelberg has the hot bat early for the Vikings.

Junior shortstop Landon Mensik, a Xavier recruit, went 6-for-9 with nine RBIs in two wins for Lincoln-Way Central. He hit a three-run walk-off homer in the bottom of the eighth inning of a 7-4 win over Naperville Central.

Steve Millar is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.