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Week 2 Games

April 29, 2021
By Illinois Scouting Staff

The Illinois Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the PBR Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the Illinois Scout Blog is loaded with information …

Jacobs vs. Barrington - 4/24/21

By Andy Sroka
Illinois & Wisconsin Asst. Director

Nathan Chapman, RHP, Jacobs, 2022
Built at a sturdy 6-foot-2, 200 pounds; got the start for the Golden Eagles against Barrington on Saturday. Attacks the strike zone with a three-pitch mix, which helped him strike out 10 batters in four innings. He allowed four hits – though even fewer barrels – walked only one. Stretch-only. Touched 87 mph a couple times in the first two innings; sat mostly 83-85 otherwise. Fastball runs/carries out of a short, quick high ¾ slot. Curveball is aggressive, 71-74 mph, flashed late 11/5 action; demonstrated confidence to use it in any count, regardless of the handedness of the batter. Some over-reliance on it, hung some that led to some scattered trouble. Threw a few changeups, 78-79 mph, at arm speed with sink/fade; quality third pitch.

Luke Bellizzi, UTL, Jacobs, 2021
Right-handed-hitting infielder; athletic, lean frame. Patient, relaxed approach from the batter’s box; confident demeanor, pre-pitch rhythm. Hands set low, smooth load; loose, athletic hands generate some bat speed, whip. Competitive at-bats with strike zone awareness; hand/eye skills. Went 2-for-4 with two singles through the left side of the infield. Athleticism to profile well at third base or second; made a smooth body control play on a slow roller down the third base line.

Joe Fiorenza, OF, Jacobs, 2022
5-foot-8, 155 pounds; wiry, thin with present athleticism. Left-handed hitter; top-of-the-order offensive profile. Bats lead-off for Jacobs; narrow set-up with pre-pitch rhythm. Spray approach, quick out of the box. Premium speed that plays down the first base line; beat out an infield single at 4.20 and clocked a 4.22 in his next at-bat on another ground ball to the right side. 

Owen Drummond, RHP, Jacobs, 2022
Came on in relief, inheriting two runners on. Short, quick arm action from a high ¾ slot. Fastball, run/sink, 82-84 mph. Above-average curveball spin and feel, 67-69 mph, that flashed tight 11/5 action. Earned three swings and misses in this short appearance.

Jake Kohanzo, RHP, Barrington, 2022
Physical 6-foot-2, 200 pounds; inherent strength, long levers. Took over in relief in the top of the fourth inning and did not allow a run or hit in his four innings of work, allowing his team to earn a comeback victory in the process; struck out four, walked two, on 59 pitches. Side step rock, hands over head to closed balance point; drop/drive down mound, shoulders closed, hides it, finishes athletically, low effort involved. Short draw, efficient to ¾ release; loose, quick arm. Fastball sat 85-87 mph, held it well throughout; mostly straight with some carry through the zone. Feel to land the curveball for strikes, depth off an 11/5 plane, 69-72 mph.

Logan Eisenbarth, 1B, Barrington, 2022
6-foot, 185 pounds; physical stature with proportional strength. Right-handed hitter, hit third for Barrington. Balanced, square setup with some pre-pitch rhythm, hitterish demeanor. Loose, fast bat; aggressive swings, but demonstrated zone feel, pitch selection, did not chase; went 1-for-2, with two walks. Line-drive single to center came off a hanging curveball that he waited back on well. Projects as a middle-of-the-order bat. Big target at first base with feel for the base.

Bruno Pallan, 3B, Barrington, 2022
5-foot-11, 190 pounds; sturdy, strong build. Simple right-handed swing; balanced base/setup. Smooth load, easy and direct path to and through the zone; natural strength that impacts the ball at an above-average rate. Third base actions on defense, reliable hands, footwork; above-average arm strength.

Evan Baptiste, OF, Barrington, 2022
Highly athletic, lean build; started in center field for the Broncos. Athletic routes, smooth runner and instincts on defense; glided to a couple fly outs into both gaps. Right-handed hitter; lead-off profile. Simple, athletic swings; smooth load, twitchy hand speed.

St. Charles North vs. Lockport - 4/23/21

 By Peter Hamot
Area Scout 

Nicholas DeMarco, SS, St. Charles North, 2021
Notre Dame commit, currently ranked No. 4 in Illinois. Muscular 6-foot 190-pound frame. Highly athletic, quick feet with a strong arm in the infield. Lightning quick hands on the transfer. Made impressive plays in pregame warmups showing off his effortless range with strong throws to first base. Made a great forehand play up the middle in-game robbing a hit by running all the way from the hole in short to behind second base to cut off the ball and turn his body to fire a strong throw to first. Offensively, the right-handed hitter starts in an athletic stance. Uses a leg-kick to maintain rhythm and timing in his swing. Utilizes lower-half throughout the swing, creating a lot of power and loud contact. Drove a three-run home run to left-field. Ball jumps off the bat. Profiles on the infield at the next level, arguably is the best defender in the state. High-level 2021 prospect. 

Jayden Lobliner, C, St. Charles North, 2022
Kansas State commit, currently ranked No. 19 in Illinois. Athletic 5-foot-9 180-pound right-handed hitting catcher. Athletic setup at the plate; quick loose hands, stays through the zone a long time and has the ability to create backspin. Finished the day 2-for-4 at the plate. Defensively, highly-skilled defender with athletic actions behind the plate; frames and presents pitches in and around the zone well. Above-average arm behind the plate, flashed a 1.96 pop-time in between innings. Footwork is quick, athletic, and efficient out of the crouch. High-level 2022 prospect. 

Andrew Jimenez, 3B, St. Charles North, 2021
Wisconsin-Milwaukee commit, currently ranked No. 20 in Illinois. Strong, physical 6-foot-3 215-pound frame. Superior strength in his forearms and hands. Offensively, the right-handed hitter starts in a slightly open athletic stance. Uses a leg-kick to maintain rhythm in his swing. Has the ability to create backspin. Quiet hands that work directly and short to the ball. Easy power to all fields, ball jumps off the bat. Finished the day 1-for-3 with a sharply hit double to center. Defensively shows above-average range for his size. Smooth hands, works through the ball and his arm is plenty strong for the left-side of the diamond. High-level 2021 prospect with big tools. 

Ryan Moerman, SS, Lockport, 2021
Illinois commit, currently ranked No. 12 in Illinois. Highly athletic, muscular 5-foot-9 160-pound frame. Superior lower-body strength as well as in his forearms and hands. Offensively, the right-handed hitter starts in an athletic stance. Leg-kick timing trigger, repeatable swing, short, quick hands that work directly to the ball. Stays within himself with a mature approach at the plate. Patient hitter, understands the strike zone and rarely chases out of the zone. Finished the day 0-for-2 with 3 walks. Aggressive approach on the basepaths, always looking to take the extra base. Scored every time he reached base. Defensively, shortstop showed good range to both sides. Fluid defender with athletic footwork. Advanced glove-to-hand transfer with an above average arm across the infield. Profiles on the infield at the next level. High-level 2021 prospect. 

Victor Izquierdo, 1B, Lockport, 2022
Navy commit, currently ranked No. 41 in Illinois. Strong, physical 6-foot-2 200-pound frame. Superior strength throughout frame. Offensively is a catalyst for the Porters hitting in their three-hole. Right-handed hitter, open athletic stance. Features a big leg-kick that helps to keep him in rhythm and on time. Confident and mature presence in the box. Features advanced bat strength combined with a feel to hit. Was on the barrel with authority in two of his four at-bats. Singled hard to right-field and then followed up with a laser into the left-center field gap for extra bases. Also a catcher, Izquierdo spent this game at first base. Frame fits the first base mold at the next level; big target with soft hands. Routinely showed the ability to pick the baseball and handle tough hops. Fluid feet for his size, feel around the bag. One of the top right-handed power bats in the Illinois’ 2022 class. 

Matt Santarelli, SS/2B, Lockport, 2021
Western Illinois commit, currently ranked No. 97 in Illinois. Athletic 6-foot 180-pound frame. Offensively is leadoff hitter for the Porters with sneaky power. Led off the game with a homerun to left field. Starts in an athletic stance. Features a leg-kick that helps create momentum and energy in his swing. Fast hands, works directly to the ball with natural lift and leverage at times. Speed plays up on the basepaths, always looking to take the extra base. Defensively shows above average range up the middle of the diamond. Ability to keep the ball in front to both sides. Smooth transfer with a strong arm across the infield. Played second base this game but has the skill-set and ability to play all over the infield. Profiles on the infield at the next level. 

Lucas Pajeau, RHP/OF, Lockport, 2022
Uncommitted, currently ranked No. 31 in Illinois. Athletic 5-foot-10 175-pound frame. Pajeau, also a toolsy position player, came out of the bullpen and continues to show promise on the mound. Short, clean arm stroke, ¾ slot with a quick, upside arm action. Upright in the stretch, then moves into a slower paced leg-lift that works out and around instead of directly towards the plate. Looks to have even more velocity in the tank. Fastball sat 84-86 mph with sink at the bottom of the zone. Featured a sharp, swing-and-miss curveball that works off an 11/5 plane at 63-67 mph. Changeup shows feel for the bottom of the zone at 77-79 mph. Threw 2 innings in the game, recording all of his outs via the strikeout. High-follow 2022 prospect.

Lucas Pajeau

Lincoln-Way East vs. Brother Rice - 4/23/21

By Kevin Cronin
Area Scout

Alex Stanwich, CF, Lincoln-Way East, 2022
Tennessee commit, currently ranked No. 1 overall in the state of Illinois. Listed at a 6-foot-1, 190-pounds, strong athletic build, right-handed hitting outfielder. Had an impressive day against No. 2 Brother Rice at the time. At the plate, has a simple swing, generating easy plus power. Strong, loose hands, working to the whole field. Went 2-for-3, with a RBI single on a curveball and hit a two-strike, home run to left-center field. Also came in to pitch out of the bullpen. Stretch-only delivery, shoulders stay leveled, lands square and athletically. Long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball works mostly straight, sat 87-88 mph, topped at 90 mph. Sharp breaking 11/5 curveball, at 72 mph. Worked himself into a bases loaded, no outs situation in the bottom of the six. Struck out the next batter and then induced an inning-ending double play to escape the jam. Stanwich worked a three-up, three-down seventh to close out the game. One of the top 2022 prospects in the Midwest.

Joey Boland. LHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2021
Joliet JC commit got the start on the mound and stifled one of the top offenses in the state. Simple tall-and-fall delivery with a smooth rhythm, worked in line with home and lands square. Long arm action, out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball flashed arm-side run, thrown for strikes, sat 83-85 mph, touched 87mph. Threw a 10/4 slider, thrown early in counts and often, worked both sides of the plate. Changeup showed arm-side action, flashed sink, sat 72-75 mph. Pitched five scoreless innings, scattered two hits, walked one and struck out three.

Waubonsie Valley vs. Naperville Central - 4/22/21

By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

Colin Barczi, C, Naperville Central, 2023
6-foot-2, 200-pound, broad-shouldered, athletic, strong build, right-handed hitting catcher. One of the top uncommitted prospects in the 2023 Illinois’ class. Features well above-average tools across the board; 6.69 60 (plus run time for his position), 83 mph from the crouch and 104 mph exit velocity. Creates plus bat speed for his age and has some of the best jump off the barrel in the state, regardless of the class. Smoked an RBI backspin line-drive double in the first inning that did not get more than 10 feet off the ground and rolled all the way to the right-center field wall; 4.54 on the turn. Unorthodox setup but gets his hands and body in a good position to hit during his load. Loose, athletic strong hands and stays inside the baseball extremely well. Has shown well above-average power to all fields in the past. High-level right-handed bat. Defensively, continues to make improvements behind the plate. Sure hands, works to present pitches on the corners of the plate. Clean and easy out of the crouch and arm flashes plus. Pop times of 2.01, 2.06 and 2.08 in between innings. Also, showed instincts throwing behind a runner who had rounded second base too far; quick release and strong throw right on the bag for the putout. High-level 2023 prospect.

Colin Barczi

Charalambos Nicoloudes, 3B, Naperville Central, 2023
6-foot, 188-pound, wide-shouldered, strong, right-handed hitting third baseman. Hit in the leadoff spot for Naperville Central. Showed off big pull-side power with a no-doubt grand slam to deep left-field. Strong, quick hands, stays short and direct to the baseball with pull-side tendencies. Confident, comfortable look in the box and understands the strike zone. Finished the day 1-for-2 with the grand slam, four RBI’s, two runs scored and an HBP. Also, showed well at third base in pre-game and in game play. Steady actions, hands play soft and out front, ability to make the slow roller/body control play. Arm is plenty strong to play the left side of the diamond (85 mph at a past event) and has the ability to change arm angles when necessary. 2023 uncommitted prospect on the rise.

Charalambos Nicouloudes

Charlie Diiulio, RHP, Naperville Central, 2022
6-foot, 205-pound, strong-bodied, physical, right-handed pitcher, got the start on the mound for Naperville Central. Got the win going five innings, scattering two hits, one run, struck out six and walked three. Clean, quick, compact arm action that plays out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 83-84 mph and held his velocity throughout. Showed a three-pitch repertoire with a low-70’s curveball and an advanced changeup. Uses the changeup as an out pitch, above-average feel for the zone, ability to throw in any count, can use R/R, and showed plus fading action at times. Follow 2022 right-handed arm.

Charlie Diiulio

Jack Busch, SS, Naperville Central, 2021
Committed to play golf at Olivet-Nazarene. Started at shortstop hit in the six-hole for Naperville Central. Impressed with his play at shortstop. Steady defender, clean actions and stray hands. Looked comfortable ranging to his glove-side on a tough ball in the hole; maintained body control, was natural on the pivot and fired a strike to second base for a 6-4 putout. Offensively, went 2-for-3, with an RBI double to right-field and lined a sharp single to left field. Creates leverage in swing, works gap-to-gap and was consistently on time.

MJ Liyeos, RHP, Waubonsie Valley, 2023
6-foot-1, 155-pound, lean, wiry right-handed pitcher got the start for Waubonsie. Despite tough results, Liyeos warrants a follow status moving forward. Clean, repeatable tall and fall delivery, lands on-line and finishes upright. Upside arm action, loose and whippy from a ¾ slot. Ability to spin the baseball at an above-average clip. Fastball worked mostly straight, sat 80-83 mph and spun between 2300-2432 rpm. Mixed in a slurvy breaking ball that works 10/4 with sweeping action, feel and has topped at 2744 rpm in the past. Upside right-handed arm to follow in the 2023 class.

MJ Liyeos

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