By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

As if it really matters anymore, the July 1 contact period is here, so we should see some more 2014 prospects peeling off the board soon.

In the meantime, here’s a recap of several commitments over the last week or so.

+ Illinois’ 2014 class has tremendous depth, that is, except for left-handed pitching. Austin Peay has now nabbed two of the state’s top left-handers after it received a commitment from Zach Neff, a 6-foot-1, 160-pounder from Gibault Catholic HS. Neff led the Waterloo school to the Class 1A state championship after going 7-2, including throwing a five-hitter with eight strikeouts in the 1A title game. Neff, who’s ranked No. 66 in Illinois’ 2014 class, joins St. Rita LHP Mike Costanzo and St. Laurence catcher T.J. Marik in Austin Peay’s recruiting class.  

+ Few 2013 pitchers gained more momentum during the high school season than Kyle Pauly, a 6-foot-1, 175-pound left-hander from Glenbrook South HS. Pauly, who’s ranked No. 35 in Illinois’ 2013 class, finally decided on his school recently, picking Southern Illinois University. Pauly, who had plenty of suitors throughout the spring, is proof that seniors still get recruited in late May and June.

+ Heartland CC picked up a pair of 2013 prospects recently: Providence RHP Yianni Pavlopoulos and O’Fallon 3B Tanner Hudson. Pavlopoulos, a 6-foot-1, 195-pound hard-throwing right-hander, was one of the top unsigned arms in Illinois.

+ Eastern Illinois landed Hunter Morris, a 5-foot-10, 180-pound 2014 left-handed hitting catcher from Paris HS.

+ Aaron Meyer, a left-handed hitting 2013 SS from Belleville West HS, originally committed to John A. Logan JC, has signed with Missouri State. Meyer, ranked No. 69 in Illinois’ 2013 class, earned PBR third-team All-State honors this spring.

+ Thomas Spear, a 2013 catcher from Lake Park HS, has committed to Black Hawk College. The 5-foot-11, 182-pound Spear is ranked No. 172 in Illinois’ 2013 class. Black Hawk also landed Loyola OF Matt Fallon, who’s ranked No. 199 in Illinois’ 2013 class.

+ Dylan Goss, a 2013 catcher from Neuqua Valley HS, has committed to SIU-Edwardsville. Goss helped lead Neuqua Valley to a fourth-place finish in Class 4A.

+ Elgin CC recently announced its 2013 signing class:

Troy Dykhuis                      RHP                       St Charles East

Ryan Thomas                     Catcher                St Charles North

Kurt Barbeau                     Outfield               St Charles North

Saywer Chambers             RHP                       St Charles North

Joe Crivolio                        LHP/1B                 South Elgin

David Palmer                     RHP/3B                South Elgin

Andrew Endrikitus            Infield                   Geneva

Jake Weede                       Outfield               Geneva

Anthony Valldeperas        Outfield               Lake Park (Class of 2012)

Josh Perkins                       RHP                       Huntley

Nevan Jeske                       Infield                   No School

Riley Halter                        INF/C                    South Elgin

Bobby Tredwell                 RHP                       Genoa Kingston

Send all Illinois recruiting information to [email protected]