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Illinois Summer Championships 15/17U: Takeaways

July 17, 2024
Illinois & Wisconsin Scouting Staff

We continued our summer tournament circuit this past weekend with the 15/17U Illinois Summer Championships in Rantoul, Illinois. This event targeted some of the top prospects from the state, as well as a couple surrounding states. Read on below to see which players stood out to our scouting staff from the event. 

15U 

2027 Canes Central Illinois Frazee 

Keegan Schol, MIF/RHP, Illinois Valley Central, 2027
Athletic 5-foot-10, 145-pound frame. Hit leadoff and started on the mound in a win Thursday night. Short, athletic right-handed swing, barreled a line drive to left field for a single. Shortens up with two strikes, has an approach and doesn’t try to do too much. Also a follow on the mound, pitched in the low-80s with his fastball for strikes and backspun it up in the zone. Turned to a 73-76 mph slider with depth as his main secondary, threw it often and landed it for strikes.  

Dane Fagerburg, INF, Brimfield, 2026
Compact 5-foot-9, 175-pound frame, hit in the three-hole for Canes Central Illinois in a look Thursday night. Flat, compact left-handed swing, simple barrel turn and doesn’t try to do too much. Covers the plate, makes for a tough at-bat. Widens his base and shortens up with two strikes, doesn’t try to do too much and has an approach.  

Mason Phillips, CIF, Washington, 2027
Highly physical 6-foot-2, 210-pound athlete with bat strength to match his physical stature. Hit in the middle of the Canes’ lineup as the weekend went on and saw time at first base. Easy hand strength, stays short to contact. A soon-to-be sophomore to follow from central Illinois. 

Brew State Baseball Academy 

Ben Schroeder, LHP/OF, Marquette, 2027
Athletic 6-foot, 190-pound frame, pitched six quality innings, striking out eight, while also going 2-for-3 at the plate with a two RBI double off the left center fence. He worked quick on the mound, showing feel for two pitches. His fastball was 77-80 mph and his slider was 71-73 mph. Schroeder helped provide the offensive spark for Brew State in their 4-2 win on Friday. He displayed strong bat-to-ball skills and scored twice as well, having a hand in all of Brew State’s runs. An overall quality look from the two-way left-handed bat.  

Aidan Devine, OF, New Berlin West WI, 2027
Strong 6-foot, 175-pound athlete. Provided a good look on Sunday morning, staying back on a breaking ball and driving it into left-center field for a triple. Balanced setup with a simple toe-tap stride, works short and uphill to contact.  

Chase Wolter, RHP, Whitefish Bay 2027
Lean, wiry 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with all sorts of upside. Overpowered batters early in the game racking up six strikeouts in the first three innings. Relied heavily on his fastball throughout the game which sat at 80-84 and topped out at 86. Also flashed a breaking ball that sat low-70s as well.  

Cangelosi Sparks 15u Red 

Vinny Stubitsch, OF, St. Rita, 2027
5-foot-6, 140-pounds. Hit in the three hole for Cangelosi Sparks Red Thursday morning and had two hits including a double. Showed a quiet pre-pitch approach and keeps his hands inside the ball that generated line drive contact. Also showed good actions defensively in left field, making a diving catch and was quick out of the box and around the bases.  

Cangelosi Sparks North - White 2027 

Mark Jackson, OF, Wheaton Academy, 2027
6-foot-1, 175-pound frame. Hit leadoff for the Sparks North - White this past weekend at Rantoul. Jackson was constantly on the barrel throughout the weekend including a couple loud doubles.  

Noah Hickey, C, Lyons Township, 2027
5-foot-7, 140-pound frame. Caught most games behind the dish for the Sparks and hit in the middle of the order. Hickey was on the barrel many times this weekend including a homerun and several doubles. Displays a tall and closed stance with a toe tap and backside power. Above average defender behind the plate. 

Cangelosi Sparks White

Conor Powers, RHP, Minooka, 2027
Physical 5-foot-11, 185-pound frame. Entered in relief for Sparks White and tossed two clean innings to secure a 4-2 win on Saturday. Gets downhill with intent and keeps his direction to the plate, arm works out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball worked down in the zone at 77-80 mph, touching 81 mph on his hardest bullet, for strikes. 

Chicago Elite Royal 

Casey Mikrut, SS, Lincoln Way East 2027
5-foot-9, 165-pounds. Turned in an impressive look on Saturday afternoon. Fluid mover on te left side of the diamond with quick, confident hands and a loose arm.Went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double into the right-center gap on an outer-half heater. A name to follow in the state’s 2027 class. 

Hitters UDC 2027 

Owen Chudzinski, SS/RHP, Lincoln-Way West, 2027
Projectable 6-foot-0 164 pound frame. Started on the mound Friday morning, turning in a strong start. Went five innings, allowing two hits and one earned run with two walks while striking out six. Chudzinski showed a clean delivery on the mound and threw out of a ¾ arm slot. Kept hitters off balance with a three pitch mix with a fastball he threw at 73-77 MPH paired with a sharp curveball at 59-62 MPH and changeup in the mid 60’s. Located the fastball and changeup primarily armside and mixed in the curveball as a putaway pitch.  

Ranbir Saini, 1B/LHP/OF, St Bede Academy, 2027
5-foot-11 160 pound left-handed hitter. Hit in the three-hole Friday morning. Showed a simple smooth swing with a line drive approach. Finished 1-for-3 in that look with a barreled single through the right side of the infield.  

IL Gators 2027 Wacaser 

Frank Stefano, OF, Rochester, 2027
Athletic 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame. Started in center field and hit in the two-hole in Thursday’s morning look. Drove a triple deep into the right-center gap in his first at-bat, followed that up by spraying a single off the barrel to left field. Handsy, athletic right-handed swing with loose hands, stays level through the zone. Easy foot speed in the outfield.  

Gibson Warren, MIF, Rochester, 2027
5-foot-9, 150-pounds, started at shortstop and hit leadoff for the Gators on Thursday. Got off a handful of quality swings, including a double deep into the right-center gap. Fluid left-handed swing with leverage and polish. Didn’t get rewarded in the box score, but got off several impressive swings on Saturday night in the bracket play game. Tossed a pair of shutout innings in relief to earn the save in a 2-0 win as well.  

Sam Ferris, C, Rochester, 2027
5-foot-10, 190-pounds. Earned the nod behind the dish for the Gators on Thursday morning. Totaled two hits with an RBI in a win, both of them singles to left field. Also had two singles on Saturday night in the bracket play game. Level right-handed swing with polish and strong, inherent bat strength, feel to hit.  

Aiden Plessa, RHP, Rochester, 2028
Long, lanky 6-foot-3, 145-pound frame with all sorts of upside. Drew the start for the Gators on Saturday night in their bracket play game and tossed five strong innings. Tall/fall type delivery, strides in line and controls his long levers well for his age. Works out of a ¾ slot with arm speed. Fastball played in the mid-70s, strikes on both corners of the plate, and consistently landed a high arching curveball for strikes. 

Illinois Braves 

Ty Hunt, SS/RHP, Centennial HS, 2027
6-foot-0 165 pound athletic frame. Hit at the top of the order for the Illinois Braves in their Thursday morning game. Had three hits including a triple to deep RCF. Mechanically showed a quiet setup at the plate and long stride and an inside out swing. Showed smooth defensive actions and was quick out of the box and around the bases. 

Logan Wade, INF, St Thomas More, 2027
5-foot-8 160 pound frame. Hit in the two hole Thursday morning. Had two hits including an RBI triple to right. Continued his strong weekend on Friday, going 2-for-3 with an RBI double to left.  

Illinois Lightning 2027 Lutz 

Michael Haran, CIF, Carmel Catholic, 2027
6-foot-3, 200-pound frame with plenty of physicality throughout. Swung one of the hotter bats on the weekend. Juiced two balls to deep center field with authority on Thursday afternoon - one of them a deep sacrifice fly that missed a home run by a few feet and a double that way that also nearly left the yard. Continued to swing it well on Friday, picking up two more loud hits. Was all over the barrel on Saturday as well. Short, uphill right-handed swing, intent to elevate with easy juice off the barrel. Moves well for his size, above-average runner. Emerged as a name to follow in the state’s 2027 class following this weekend’s trip to Rantoul.  

Brody Rudolph, C, Wauconda 2027
5-foot-9, 185-pound backstop with the look and feel for a catcher. Receives the ball well, arm plays quick to release and threw out a runner trying to steal third on Saturday night. At the plate, Rudolph presents a wide and crouched base with a lower hand start. Stays behind the baseball on a level path through the zone. Went 3-for-4 with a walk-off double in a key game for Illinois Lightning Lutz on Saturday night.  

Luke Sickmeir, OF, Wauconda 2027
6-foot, 160-pound athlete that homered on Saturday afternoon against Chicago Elite Royal. Upright stance at the plate, uses a toe-tap stride. Short, uphill swing that flashed bat strength in a brief look.  

Johnathon Gomez, OF, Libertyville, 2027
5-foot-8, 150 pound outfielder that displayed solid agility on both sides of the ball. Gomez possessed strong bat-to-ball skills in Saturday night’s bracket play game, going 2-for-3 with two RBIs and a stolen base. 

Impact Sports Academy Royal 

Ethan Hellengreen, SS/C, Neenah, 2027
Wiry 6-foot, 165-pound frame. Showed well on both sides of the ball at multiple positions throughout the weekend. Went 1-for-2 at the plate in Friday’s 10-0 ISA Royal win, with a backside RBI-single and a walk, scoring twice. Open setup with loose hands and a strong feel for the barrel. On the defensive side, Hellengreen proved to be a willing blocker behind the dish. 

Jake Mleziva, OF, De Pere, 2028
6-foot, 160-pound frame with some strength present. Showcased a loud barrel on Friday, leaving the yard to left for a three-run home run, and tallying four RBIs on the day in ISA Royal’s 10-0 win.  Loose hands and a leg kick load with a bat path that presented loft. An overall quality day at the plate for the right-handed outfielder. 

Charlie Prokash, RHP, Algoma, 2027
5-foot-11, 225-pound frame. Tossed a four inning complete game no-hitter with strong command of his two pitch mix. His fastball sat 77-80 mph and he spun an 11/5 curveball at 66-68 mph. Pumped strikes the whole game, not walking a single batter. Mechanically demonstrated a hybrid delivery with a high leg kick, landing in line with the plate. Arm plays loose out of a ¾ slot with life out of the hand. 

Tanner Proulx, OF, De Pere, 2027
5-foot-10, 160-pound frame, hitting leadoff and playing center field where he made a number of plays throughout the weekend. At the plate, from the right-side Proulx showed the ability to elevate the baseball and drive it to the pull side. Proulx uses a leg kick to initiate his load and take a direct and inside path to the baseball. 

Henry St Clair, 3B, Neenah, 2026
Athletic 5-foot-10, 175 pound frame. Exhibited solid barrel control throughout the tournament, putting together multiple games with extra base hits. This all culminated in a strong day at the plate in Sunday’s 10-2 win for ISA Royal. St. Clair went 2-for-3 with an RBI double and a two RBI triple. The righty righty third basement looks to be a bat to follow for Neenah next season.

Indiana Playmakers 15u Black

Daniel Bachler, INF/RHP, Mt. Carmel, 2027
6-foot-1 166 pound athletic frame. Got the start on the mound for Playmakers on Saturday. Showed a firm fastball that sat 79-82 MPH paired with a mid 60s curveball to keep hitters off balanced. Showed a clean operation on the mound and pitched out of a ¾ arm slot. 

Next Level Baseball 

Rylan Godfrey, C/OF, Jacobs, 2027
5-foot-11, 160-pound frame with lean strength that hit in the middle of Next Level’s lineup throughout the weekend. Had a pair of hits on Friday afternoon, including a double off the wall, and sprayed an RBI single to left field Saturday morning. Starts upright in the box with a simple hand load, swings a short and compact right-handed barrel that stays balanced through contact.  

Liam Nash, RHP, Westminster Christian, 2027
6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with some strength present though room to add more. Worked in relief on Thursday night and came out of the ‘pen with some juice, touching 87 mph with his fastball twice, while pitching at 83-86 mph over a two-inning stint. Arm works long on the backside, finishes out of a high ¾ window, jumps out the hand. Confidence and feel to spin a tight slider at 68-70 mph with sweep, landed it for strikes and got swing-and-miss in the zone. Chance to be an out-pitch at the next level should it continue to tick up in velocity as he gets older. A name-to-know arm in the Illinois’ 2027 class that has the potential to be a power arm. 

Dean Edmonds, INF, Huntley, 2027
5-foot-11, 155-pounds. Saw regular playing time at shortstop and hit in the three-hole throughout the weekend. Picked up a pair of hits in Friday’s afternoon look. Sure-handed defender on the infield, made several plays 

Rake City 15u Gold 2027

Nick Baca, OF, Riverside Brookfield, 2027
Long levered 6-foot, 175-pound frame with room to add more. Displayed a quality day at the plate Friday going 2-for-4 with an RBI-double off the wall. Possessed a short upright batting stance with a long stride, showcasing loose hands with quick bat speed. Also presented quality motions in the outfield, ranging to make several plays this weekend. The left-handed hitting outfielder looks to be a bat to follow in Illinois’s sophomore class.

Nick Hines, OF/LHP, Lyons Township, 2027
5-foot-7 135 pound frame with plenty of room for added strength. Got the start on the mound for Rake city Thursday night and went three innings allowing three hits, four strikeouts and no walks. Filled up the strike zone with a fastball that sat 74-77 MPH with arm side run and late life. Paired with a curveball in the low 60’s. Easy, low effort delivery, arm played out of a low ¾ arm slot. 

Rhino 15u Fierro

Josh Repmann, RHP, Neuqua Valley, 2027
Long, lanky, and high-waisted 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame. Drew the start for Rhino on Friday night, punching out eight across four hitless innings of work in a win. Arm plays long on the backside with reach, finishes out of a ¾ window. Fastball touched 80 mph, pitching in the upper-70s, and spun a sweeping slider at 70-71 mph off it for swing-and-miss. 

Kobe Jordan, RHP, Providence Catholic, 2027
6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with all sorts of physical upside. Tossed three scoreless innings out of the ‘pen in a win on Friday afternoon, striking out three with two hits allowed. Easy, low-effort mover down the mound with a loose arm that played out of a ¾ slot. Fastball played at 75-77 mph, should continue to do nothing but climb as he continues to mature physically. An upside arm that showed plenty of intrigue in this look.  

Rhino 15u Roberts

Gavin Gutierrez, LHP, Lowell (IN), 2027
Athletic 5-foot-7, 147 pounds with lean levers that offer plenty of room to further fill out. Took the ball on Thursday afternoon for his Rhino club. High leg kick start to an up-tempo delivery, squares his shoulders off to the plate and creates some deception. Long, loose arm that finishes out of a high ¾ window. Fastball touched 80 mph, pitching in the upper-70s, with plenty more to come as he fills out his frame. 

Charlie Caroselli, RHP, Providence Catholic, 2027
6-foot, 165-pound athlete with compact strength, especially in the lower half. Threw two strong innings out of the ‘pen Thursday afternoon and did so again on Friday. Impressed particularly in the latter look, fanning eight over four innings of work. Smooth, athletic, and in-line delivery. Short arm stroke that stays tight on the backside, finished out of a high ¾ slot. In the zone often with an upper-70s fastball, covered both corners of the plate. High arch on a 63-65 mph curveball, strikes. A competitive strike-thrower that’s consistently performed in our looks.  

Case Templin, OF, Lincoln Way East, 2027
5-foot-11, 175-pounds. Turned in a strong showing on Friday, finishing 3-for-4 with a double and three RBI. Added two more hits on Saturday afternoon. Sets up at the plate with a slightly crouched stance and keeps the bat angled towards the pitcher. Has a higher leg kick with the stride and keeps his hands bat and whips them through, finishing with a one hand follow through. Line drive feel, on the barrel often.

Shane Torres, C/INF, Waubonsie Valley, 2027
Sturdy 5-foot-10, 185-pound frame with compact strength. Impressed across a few looks at this event. Barreled a single back up the middle of the field for an RBI on Thursday, stayed back on a breaking ball and barreled it to right field on Friday. Kicked off Saturday’s start with a triple into the left-center gap, tripled later in the game again down the right field line. Athletic hands that work direct to contact with feel to use the whole field. Threw out two runners from behind the plate on Saturday as well. A rising name-to-know in the state’s 2027 class. 

Max Rathbun, RHP, Joliet Catholic, 2027
6-foot-2, 195-pounds. Took the mound for Rhino on Saturday afternoon and turned in a quality start, allowing two runs in 5 ⅔ innings of work. Pitches downhill from an over-the-top slot, fastball consistently played at the knees and induced weak ground ball contact. Spun a curveball and slider for strikes - the former showed more depth and 11/5 shape, while the latter had tighter, more 10/4 action to it. 

Lincoln Boersma, RHP, Providence Catholic, 2027
Long, lanky 6-foot, 150-pound frame with projection. Came out of the ‘pen and locked down a four out save on Saturday afternoon in a 5-3 win. Ultra easy, low-effort mover, stays in control and repeats consistently. Loose, free arm, short path and finished out of a ¾ slot. Fastball played at 78-80 mph for strikes, plenty more to come. Feel to land a 68-69 mph curveball with depth and sharp spin. A polished arm with all sorts of upside to follow.  

Howie Porath, 3B, Minooka 2027
LHH with smooth, level swing and quick hands in the box. Has a really good feel for finding the barrel at the plate. Has an upright but slightly bent stance in the box, and quiet hands. Played a solid 3B as well. Stands at 5-foot-11 and 160 pounds, with room to fill out. 

Rhino Baseball Central IL Hawkins

Braydon Laesch, RHP/OF, Heyworth 2027
5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Was dominant in his start on Friday, tossing a complete game while allowing one run on three hits. Fluid, repeatable delivery, arm worked out of an over-the-top slot. Fastball played in the upper-70s with arm-side run at times. Feel for both a slider and curveball, landed both for strikes in the mid-60s. Was in the zone often throughout his start. At the plate, the RHH presents a wide base with a small stride and level swing. Found a ot of success while going up the middle, and had a good feel for the barrel. Hit line drives all over the field all tournament. Short and compact swing at the plate. 

Rhino K's 15u Knox

Collin Kearfott, OF, Normal Community, 2027
Strong, compact frame. Quiet and upright in the box with a smooth, balanced swing and a two handed finish. Showed off on both sides of the plate, which included two extra-base hits on Saturday night,both of which went to the opposite field, and a diving play in right. 

Top Tier Central Americans

Carson Mitchell, LHP, Morton 2027
Mitchell threw a gem on Friday, throwing a complete game shutout against the Indiana Playmakers. The lefty allowed only 2 baserunners the entire game, with 8 strikeouts in the process. The rising-sophomore showed efficiency, attacking the zone and only throwing 90 pitches the entire game. Mitchell features a mid 70s (T77) fastball with armside run and lived one the outside part of the plate with it for the majority of the game, and elicited swings and misses with a slider that sweeps across the plate. He also featured a CB that kept hitters off balance. 

Isaac Davis, RHP, Morton, 2027 
6-foot, 185-pounds. Drew the start on Saturday afternoon and threw five strong innings. Gets down the mound with intent, finishes over his front side, throws with effort. Long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 81 mph early, pitched in the upper-70s, and he spun a breaking ball with depth off it at 65-66 mph.  

Quinten Hale, OF/INF, Chatham-Glenwood, 2027
5-foot-9, 145-pounds. Started at shortstop and hit in the three-hole for Top Tier in a look on Saturday afternoon. Picked up a pair of hits, both to the pull-side; a single in his first at-bat and a hustle double in his third trip to the plate. Athletic right-handed swing, stays level through the zone with balance through contact, fluid finish, looks the part.

Top Tier Central Nationals

Antonio Kinsey, OF, Normal Community 2027
5-foot-6, 140-pounds. Advanced run tool for age, covers ground in centerfield easily with the potential to stick there at the next level. Wide base with quick hands at the plate, works uphill to contact with a two-hand finish. Barreled a single to the middle of the field on Saturday afternoon. 

Top Tier Nationals

Kyle Buckholtz, C/1B, Lyons Township, 2027
Lean 6-foot-2, 155-pound frame. Showcased a strong day at the plate Friday, showing off his power, and leaving the yard to right center field for a two run home run. He would finish the day 1-for-2 with a walk. Displayed loose hands with a solid feel for the barrel. An overall strong day for the right-handed catcher/ first baseman.

West Michigan Mudhens 2008-15u 

Colin Stealy, RHP, Marshall HS, 2027
Uncommitted. Athletic 6-foot, 195 pound frame. Earned the start for the Mudhens Thursday night at Rantoul. Showed well early in his start with a fastball sitting 78-79 mph. Smooth and simple delivery with a medium leg kick and works down the mound with intent. On the barrel a few times this weekend including an RBI single to the opposite field.

White Sox Elite 15U Black 

Xavier Martin, SS/RF, Oak Park-River Forest, 2027
Strong 6-foot, 185 pound frame. Started in right field and was on base twice for the White Sox on Thursday, squared one up for a double on Friday afternoon. Easy juice, ball jumps off the barrel. Also ran his fastball up to 82 mph out of the ‘pen in Friday’s look with a true 12/6 curveball.  

17U

AHQ - 17U Schmidt

Joe DuSell, OF/LHP, St. Edward, 2025
Uncommitted. Plenty physical 6-foot, 205-pound frame with strength throughout, especially in the lower half. Hit in the three-hole for Athletes HQ as the weekend went on and drew the start on the mound Friday afternoon. Fast, intentful left-handed swing with big bat speed and strength. Doesn’t get cheated, consistently gets off aggressive hacks, looks to do damage, pull-side approach. Has the potential to stick in center field, above-average runner, easy arm strength. Ran his fastball up to 89 mph in his start, pitching at 85-88 mph with late run at times. Slurvy sweep on a 73-75 mph curveball, feel for the arm-side corner of the plate. A name-to-know prospect with loud tools on both sides of the ball that’s still uncommitted. 

Cade Adrian, C, Harvest Christian, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with present lean strength and room to tack on more. Strong, rotational right-handed swing, works out of an open stance and gets square at load. Juiced two balls with authority on Friday afternoon - squared one straight to center field for a line drive out, tripled down the left field line in his next trip to the plate. 

Charros Baseball

Vince Salinas, RHP, St. Laurence, 2025
Uncommitted, 6-foot, 145-pounds. Turned in a strong start for Charros in a win on Saturday afternoon, allowing two runs over six innings. Short arm draw, stays tight on the backside and works out from a high ¾ slot. Was in the zone often with a fastball/curveball mix, stayed off barrels and induced plenty of ground balls. 

Chicago Elite Black 

Will Kedzior, OF, Lincoln-Way Central, 2026
5-foot-10, 150-pound frame. Kedzior displayed a strong approach at the plate in Saturday’s 15-4 win for Chicago Elite Black. He went 2-for-2 on the day with a ground-rule double to center, scoring three times. The right handed outfielder displayed a flat bat path with a strong feel for the barrel. 

Matt Safarik, OF, Lincoln-Way East, 2026
Athletically built, Sarafik hit in the lead off spot and displayed an innate feel to hit, going for two hits on Friday both of them going for extra bases. The right-hander takes an inside path to the baseball and leverages the baseball out front, elevating the baseball with ease. Defensively in center field Safarik was able to cover ground in the big part of the field, making a number of plays throughout the game on Friday. 

Josh Hellrung, RHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2026
6-foot-1, 170-pound right-hander that struck out seven across five innings on Friday. The projectable right-hander showed feel for two pitches, a upper-70s fastball that he was able to locate to different parts of the zone and a mid-60s curveball that he threw in the zone earning swings-and-misses in the zone. Hellrung showed some ability to repeat his delivery and has a loose arm with some arm speed out front.   

CHICAGO ELITE ROYAL 

Alec Novotney, INF/RHP, Marquette Academy, 2026
5-foot-10, 165-pound frame with compact strength. Hit in the two-hole and started at shortstop on Thursday morning for Chicago Elite, doubling twice to the pull-side. Added another triple on Saturday morning. Easy hand speed, works direct to contact and keeps a level barrel through the hitting zone. Clean, confident defender on the infield, comfortable on the move and slows the game down. Arm plays free and easy across the diamond, accurate from a traditional high ¾ slot but able to drop down on the move as well. Threw three strong innings out of the ‘pen in a tie on Friday afternoon. Simple, athletic mover, repeats and keeps his direction to the plate. Quick arm that finishes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 86, pitched at 83-85 mph, strikes often and to both corners of the plate. Complete confidence and feel in a 68-72 mph curveball with big bend, landed it for strikes consistently. Flashed a slider at 74-75 mph, used sparingly. A true two-way prospect to follow in the state’s soon-to-be junior class that helped lead the Crusaders to a 1A state championship this spring.  

Luke Tingley, OF, Lincoln-Way Central, 2026
Strong 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame with room for added physicality. Started in center field and hit cleanup for Chicago Elite in a look on Thursday. Showed easy power to the pull-side; juiced a no-doubt home run to left field and barreled a double off the left field wall later in the game that missed a home run by a few feet. Strong hands with raw bat strength, works short and direct to contact. Continued to have a strong weekend in the three-hole for Chicago Elite, going 3-for-4 in Sunday’s bracket play game with an RBI double and an RBI single.  

Trace Schaaf, LHP, Lockport, 2026
Long, lanky, high-waisted 6-foot-3, 160-pounds. Started for Chicago Elite in a win on Thursday afternoon, hurling five innings of one run ball, with two hits allowed and five strikeouts. Turned to his fastball often, spotting it on the arm-side corner of the plate, stayed off the barrel. Spun a breaking ball with sweep at times as a change of pace. 

Owen Novak, RHP, Lincoln-Way Central, 2026
Well proportioned 6-foot-3, 184-pound frame. Tossed a five inning complete game no-hitter for Chicago Elite Royal in their 8-0 win on Saturday, earning seven strikeouts. His fastball ranged from 81-84 mph with armside run, he spun a sharp slider at 69-72 mph, and threw a changeup at 74-75 mph. Worked with a short, loose arm action, finishing downhill. An overall impressive performance from the projectable right-handed pitcher. 

Keegan O’Bryan, OF, Bibich (IN), 2026
5-foot-6, 135-pound left/left athlete that set the table from the top of Chicago Elite’s lineup. Short, direct path to contact, doesn’t try to do too much and covers the plate. Minimal swing-and-miss throughout the weekend with advanced bat-to-ball skills, makes for a tough at-bat. Plays the game with a high motor. Reached second base on a routine fly ball that was dropped on Thursday afternoon and beat out an infield ground ball to second base on Friday for a single. Slapped a single through the left side of the infield in Friday’s look as well. 

Austin Welsh, OF, Lincoln-Way Central, 2026
5-foot-10, 175 pound frame with some strength present. Left/right athlete who put together multiple quality at-bats throughout the weekend. Went 2-for-2 at the plate in Sunday’s bracket play game with an RBI triple and an RBI double, playing a massive part in Chicago Elite’s 14-0 win. The left-handed hitting outfielder looks to be a name to know in the 2026 class. 

Isaiah Giganti, RHP, Normal University, 2026
6-foot-1, 190-pound frame with broad shoulders and lower half strength. Tossed two clean innings in relief for Chicago Elite on Thursday afternoon in a win. Clean, in-line mover, gets down the mound with intent and finishes over a firm lead leg. Fastball played at 81-84 mph, clean out the hand, more to come as he continues to add strength. Spun a short wrinkle breaking ball at 72-73 mph, feel for strikes. 

CRB 2025

Jayden Rivera, UTL, Proviso West, 2025
Uncommitted. 5-foot-10, 165-pounds. Tossed a complete game shutout in a 2-0 win on Friday morning, allowing two hits with one walk and three strikeouts. Easy, athletic mover, works across his body some and lands onto a closed front toe. Long arm action, high ¾ slot. Fastball played in the low-80s, strikes on the arm-side corner. Confident in a tight curveball at 68-71 mph, turned to it often with feel to land it for strikes. Flashed a changeup at 75-77 mph to left-handed hitters, played straight. 

Luke Yolich, MIF, Whitney Young, 2025
Uncommitted. Compact 5-foot-8, 170-pound frame that holds strength throughout. Hit in the middle of the CRB lineup throughout the weekend. Consistently performed as the tournament went on. Doubled and homered on day one, turned on an 88 mph inner-half heater on day three for a home run. Was on the barrel several times as well. Hitterish at the plate with easy hand speed, stays balanced through contact and is able to produce easy juice without much effort. 

Decatur Commodores 17U

Andrew Tay, RHP, St. Thomas More, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot-2, 185-pound well-proportioned frame with all sorts of upside and room for added physicality. Threw well in a win for the Commodores on Thursday night. Athletic, up-tempo delivery, gets downhill with intent and stays through the baseball. Arm plays short and tight on the backside, finishing out of a fast over-the-top slot. Fastball touched 89 mph in the second inning, playing at 84-88 mph, and held plane at the top of the zone with real carry. Spun a tight, short wrinkle slider with some lateral tilt to it at 76-80 mph. Landed a curveball at 75-76 mph for strikes with more depth and arch to it. An upside arm from the central part of the state that’s just seemingly scratching the surface of what he’ll be at the next level. 

Sam Driscoll, OF/LHP, Mt. Zion, 2025
Uncommitted, ranked No. 70 overall in the state’s soon-to-be senior class but continues to trend upward after multiple strong looks this summer. Sets the table for the Commodores from the top of their lineup and is a true asset in center field. Clean, polished left-handed swing, knack for the barrel to the pull-side. High motor, plays at full effort out of the box on every play, potential to be a true top-of-the-lineup bat at the next level. Ball jumps off the barrel, juiced two pull-side triples on Saturday and squared one out with authority to straight away center field.A name-to-know prospect still on the market in the Illinois’ 2025 class. 

Evan Hamrick, C/3B, Mt. Zion, 2025
Uncommitted, 6-foot-2, 180-pound frame. Was all over the barrel throughout the weekend, culminating in a stellar day at the plate during Sunday’s 11-2 Commodores victory. Went 3-for-3 on the day with two doubles and a single, finishing with two RBIs. Possessed strong bat-to-ball skills, with direct hands and a loose barrel. 

Ian Keller, RHP, Mt. Zion, 2025
Uncommitted 6-foot-1, 160-pound athlete. Threw well out of the ‘pen for the Commodores in a look on Friday afternoon. Spun one of the better breaking balls of the weekend; a sharp 68-69 mph curveball with depth and downer spin that he was able to land for strikes with consistency. Fastball played in the upper-70s, touching 80 mph early in his outing. 

Chance Payne, 1B/LHP, Mt. Pulaski, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot, 195-pound frame that fills out a uniform with strength throughout. Hit out of the four-hole for the Commodores on Saturday afternoon. Had a pair of barrels, both of them to the opposite field - a single in his first at-bat and a hard ground ball to the shortstop. Easy hand strength, left-handed barrel stays level through the hitting zone on a long path. 

Jackson Beiler, RHP, Mt. Zion, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame with athleticism and plenty of room to further fill out. Took the mound for the Commodores on Saturday afternoon. Athletic, up-tempo delivery, works across his body and creates some deception. Long arm action, finishes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 84-87 mph, comes out clean with some carry at the top of the zone and more to come as he further fills out his frame. Spun a 71-73 mph curveball with depth and downer spin for strikes. Sees time at shortstop and hits in the three-hole when he’s not on the mound.  

Gateway Bruins 17u American

Max Oswald, INF, Waterloo, 2025
Uncommitted. Long, lanky 6-foot-3, 175-pound frame with plenty of room to fill out. Hit in the three-hole and started at shortstop for the Bruins in a win on Friday afternoon. Short, compact right-handed swing, controls his levers well, sprayed a single to left field off the barrel. Rangy defender at shortstop, comfortable on the move and stays in control. Arm plays loose, works out of a ¾ slot with arm strength, especially to his backhand. 

Ethan Foster, CIF, Freeburg, 2025
Highly physical 6-foot-3, 220-pound uncommitted right-handed bat that hit in the middle of the Bruins’ lineup. Showed easy bat strength to the opposite field, barreling a loud double into the right-center gap on Friday afternoon. Strong hands, barrel works uphill through the zone with intent to elevate. A strong-bodied uncommitted bat to follow. 

Illinois Premier-Suchor

Ben Meller, LHP/1B, Minooka, 2024
6-foot-2 150 pound frame. Hopped on the mound in relief for Illinois premier and showed well. Fastball played 79-81 MPH with arm side run paired with a low 70’s changeup with good sink. Pitched out of a low ¾ arm slot with a loose arm action. Ran his fastball inside to both lefties and righties and threw his changeup away. Also recorded a line drive double at the plate.

 Longshots Baseball 25s

Jake Rifenburg, LHP, Benet Academy, 2025
Northwestern commit. Turned in a quick two-inning look for the Longshots on Thursday afternoon in a start, striking out five and allowed one hit with two walks. Athletic mover, gets down the mound with intent, easy arm speed out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 87 in the first, pitched at 83-86 mph. Spun a sharp breaking ball with big bend and depth at 68-71 mph that he landed for strikes and also grabbed swing-and-miss, especially to left-handed hitters.  

Drew Church, INF, Montini Catholic, 2025
Eastern Illinois commit. Highly projectable 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame. Standout defender at a premium position for his age. Easy mover with all sorts of rhythm and bounce, covers ground effortlessly and controls his long levers, slows the game down. Free, easy arm that works out of multiple windows and produces natural carry across. Showed easy range to both sides; tracked a ball down in shallow left field near the foul line for an out. Went deep into the 6.5 hole, planted his back foot, and fired a strike across the diamond for an out. Has a chance to be a true impact defender at shortstop at the next level. Came out of the ‘pen on Saturday to secure a save for the Longshots and was highly impressive in a brief look. Free and easy mover, arm plays long and loose from a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 85-87 mph with plenty more to come as he continues to fill out his frame. Complete confidence in a tight, short wrinkle slider at 77-80 mph, threw it often. Developing feel to land it for strikes consistently but did grab swing-and-miss out of the zone. A true two-way follow with talents on both sides of the ball that translate to the next level. 

Edgar Santos, OF, Downers Grove North, 2025
Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 175-pound frame with strength throughout. Set the table for the Longshots’ lineup out of the leadoff spot as the weekend went on. Put together several competitive at-bats, and had a pair of extra-base hits Friday afternoon, including a home run. Barreled a loud triple to right-center on Saturday morning as well. Quiet, simple operation at the plate, doesn’t try to do too much. Direct bat path, stays through the baseball and keeps a level barrel through the hitting zone. Ran a 6.75 60 at the O’Hare Preseason ID in February. 

Drew Eger, LHP, Wheaton Warrenville South, 2025
Uncommitted. Long, lanky 6-foot-5, 195-pound frame with lean levers that offer physical projection. Started for the Longshots on Saturday morning and tossed 3 ⅓ scoreless innings. Adds some deception, arm plays with some length on the backside and comes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat in the upper-70s, touching 81 mph, and landed a 63-65 mph curveball for strikes. 

Rake City - 17u 2025

Mercer Krantz, RHP, Lyons Township, 2025
Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 155-pound athlete with quick twitch, drew the start on the mound for Rake City on Thursday morning. Athletic mover with a fast arm, worked in-line to home at times with some drift towards the first base side. Fastball touched 86 mph in the first, pitched in the low-to-mid-80s. Natural cut stayed off barrels, sprayed it some with swing-and-miss in the zone. Tight spin on slider, 75-78 mph, feel for strikes, used sparingly. 

James Richmond, OF, Morton West, 2025
Uncommitted. Physical 6-foot, 185-pound frame with strength throughout, looks the part. Started in left field and hit in the six-hole for Rake City. Found two barrels in this look; drove a double into the right-center gap and turned around an inner-half two strike fastball for a lineout to left field in his second trip to the plate. Short, compact swing that stays flat to contact, doesn’t try to do too much.  

Rawlings Tigers HOI

Mason Orton, LHP, Mahomet-Seymour, 2025
One of the top uncommitted arms in the state’s senior class, ranked No. 60 overall. Lean 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame with upside and room to fill out further. Tossed six strong innings in a win on Saturday morning, allowing three runs on one hit. Simple stretch-only operation, arm plays tight on the backside and finishes out of a ¾ window. Fastball touched 88 mph in the first inning, played anywhere from 83-87 mph as he went on, straight action. Spun two breaking balls; a slurvy 73-75 mph curveball with more depth to it and a tight, laterally spun slider at 77-79 mph that he back footed to right-handed hitters for swing-and-miss. A pitchability southpaw that’s performed in front of our staff and is still on the market.  

Nolan Earley, CIF, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot, 190-pound frame with strength throughout, hit in the middle of the Tigers lineup. Picked up a pair of hits in a look on Thursday’s afternoon, both of them on the barrel to the pull-side of the field. Easy hand strength from the right side with some leverage through contact, works direct to contact and doesn’t try to do too much. Threw five strong innings of one run ball on Friday in a start. Fastball touched 85 mph, pitched in the low-80s, and landed a breaking ball with some depth to it for strikes at 71-73 mph.  

Jared Altenbaumer, INF/RHP, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2025
Uncommitted. Compact 5-foot-8, 170-pound left-handed hitter that hit towards the top of the Tigers’ lineup and also drew Thursday’s start on the mound. Level left-handed swing with barrel feel and juice off it, got off his ‘A’ swing several times as the weekend went on. Feel to backspin the baseball, worked back up the middle or to the opposite field with comfort. Fastball touched 82 mph, coming out of a high ¾ slot, and also flashed feel for a low-70s curveball. 

Rhino 16u Darling

Matt Oberts, MIF, Lincoln-Way West, 2026
Athletic 5-foot-10 160 pound frame. Hit sixth in the lineup Friday afternoon and played second base. Hit an RBI single on a line drive to left. Showed athletic actions at second base and good speed around the bases. Level swing with a simple approach, wide base setup, works direct to contact. 

Noah Deist, OF/RHP, Oswego East, 2026
5-foot-10 170 pound frame. Provided a spark for Rhino Friday afternoon in the three hole. Had two hits including a deep double to left and drove in three runs. High hand start with a quiet setup, bat path presents loft and opportunity for power. 

Ryder Fisher, RHP/OF, Yorkville, 2026
5-foot-11 165 pound frame. Got the start friday afternoon for Rhino. Attacked hitters with a firm fastball at 78-81 MPH paired with a slider in the low 70’s and a curveball in the upper 60s. Easy actions on the mound with whippy arm action. Went at hitters attacking the corners versus both lefties and righties, used his slider as a put away pitch. Threw a complete game going seven innings, striking out 11 while only allowing one walk and two earned runs.  

Lance Cuddy LHP, Coal City 2026
5-foot-10 155 pounds. Clean, athletic southpaw that drew the start on Sunday afternoon. Repeatable, in-line mover, polished with a loose arm to pair. Showed feel for a true three-pitch mix. Fastball played in the low-80s, flashed sink and stayed off barrels with it all game. Slurvy spin on a mid-60s curveball, also turned over a mid-70s changeup that mirrored his fastball. Punched out seven in just three innings of work. 

St Louis Redbirds (Prime)

Ethan Mazzola, RHP/1B, Fox (MO), 2025
Uncommitted. Highly physical 6-foot-5, 220-pound frame with continued room for added muscle mass. Started on the mound for the Firebirds on Thursday afternoon. Controls his large levers well for his age and maintains his direction to the plate. Arm plays with length and reach on the backside, finishes out of a high ¾ slot. Pitched downhill with a low-80s fastball, strikes to both corners of the plate. Slider showed as primary secondary pitch, 72-75 mph, some tilt. Also swings a strong right-handed barrel that muscled a single back up the middle of the field in this look.  

Connor Geist, RHP, Fox (MO), 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 160-pound frame with long, lean levers. Turned in a strong start for the Redbirds on Friday morning. Worked the lower half of the zone with a low-80s fastball that induced ground balls at a high rate and stayed off barrels, more to come as he continues to fill out his frame. Spun a slurvy breaking ball at 66-68 mph, flashed feel to land it for strikes.  

Strike Academy

Wyatt Paulsen, C, Belvidere North, 2026
6-foot-3, 220-pounds. Hit in the middle of the lineup and saw time behind the plate for Strike Academy throughout the weekend. Holds advanced arm strength from the chute, threw out multiple runners as the weekend went on. Strong right-handed swing, barreled a single back up the middle of the field on Friday afternoon. 

Top Tier Nationals

Jhames Holley III, 1B/OF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2026
Physical 5-foot-11 190 pound frame. LHH, Played first base for Top Tier nationals. Had a hard hit RBI double to RCF. Quiet pre pitch action with a close stance and long leg kick, pull-side approach. 

Evan Bradford, RHP/OF, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2026
Projectable 6-foot-4 165 pound frame. Hopped on the mound Sunday for Top Tier Nationals. Showcased an effective three pitch mix. Fastball played 79-82 MPH T83, paired with low 60’s curveball and flashed low 70’s change up with downward sink. Stays in line with the plate with a low leg kick. Upside arm to follow. 

William Rewers, RHP, St. Rita, 2026
6-foot-3, 244 pound frame. Started on the mound Thursday afternoon for the Top Tier Nationals. Pounded the zone with a fastball up to 82 mph and mixed in a changeup at 76-77 mph and a curveball at 71-73 mph. Rewers went the distance with a complete game only giving up one run while tallying the win.

White Sox Elite 17U Black

Ryan Lisowski, OF/1B, York, 2025
Uncommitted. Physical 5-foot-11 195 pound RHH hit in the middle of the order in Thursday afternoon’s game for White Sox Elite Black. At the plate had a pair of hits both going for extra bases with a double and a home run. Found a loud barrel back up the middle of the field on Saturday afternoon as well. Wide stance with no stride and quick hands while using his lower half well to generate power. 

Josh Fleming, MIF, York, 2025
Uncommitted, ranked No. 64th overall in the state’s soon-to-be senior class. Hit in the middle of the White Sox Black lineup throughout the weekend and saw time at shortstop. Has bat speed and bat strength, keeps a level barrel through the zone with backspin feel. Consistently got off his ‘A’ swing as the weekend went on. Turned around an 86 mph fastball on Saturday afternoon and barreled it over the left-center wall for a home run. Nearly left the yard again later in the game, driving a deep flyout to the left field warning track. 

Matt Sonnenchein, INF, Naperville North, 2025
Uncommitted. Athletic 6-foot, 180-pound frame with present strength and room for more. Hit at the top of the White Sox Elite lineup and saw time at third base. Had a pair of hits on Saturday afternoon; barreled a hanging curveball down the left field line and took an 84 mph fastball back up the middle for a single. Launched a no-doubt home run on Sunday afternoon as well. Handsy swing, keeps a level barrel through the zone on a long path to contact.

White Sox Elite 17U White

Nikolas Schaefer, CIF, Benet, 2025
Uncommitted, strong 6-foot-4, 200-pound frame with strength present throughout. Swung a loud bat this weekend, leaving the yard to deep left during Sunday’s bracket play game. Possessed quick bat speed with loose hands and a bat path that created some loft. The right-handed corner infielder looks to be an intriguing uncommitted bat to follow.

JD Maloney, RHP/C, Brother Rice, 2025
Uncommitted 5-foot-8 145 pound frame with plenty of room for added strength. Started Saturday afternoon and gave a good look on the mound. Easy mover on the mound with quick arm action out of a ¾ arm slot, worked down on the mound well. Utilized a fastball that sat 82-84 MPH T85 and sharp swing and miss slider in the mid 70s to get hitters out. Threw a complete game in five innings of work striking out nine, allowing three hits, four walks, and one run. 

Rowan Smyth, LHP, Evergreen Park, 2025
Lewis University commit. 5-foot-9, 145 pound frame. Earned the start Friday morning for the White Sox Elite 17u White. Commanded the zone with all pitches including a fastball sitting 81-83 mph, a changeup 73-76 mph, and mixed in a curveball at 67-68 mph. The lefty features a clean and fluid delivery that works in line down the mound. 

Yard Goat Baseball

Chase Harrison, RHP, Oakwood, 2025
Uncommitted. Long, lanky 6-foot-2, 180-pound athlete with plenty of room to further fill out his frame. Hurled five scoreless innings in a win on Thursday morning. Simple, in-line mover, keeps his direction to the plate and lands with an open front. Arm plays with some length and reach on the backside, finishes out of a loose, low-effort ¾ slot. Fastball touched 85 mph in the first inning, pitched in the low-80s as he went on with natural run/sink that lived on the arm-side corner of the plate and grabbed several uncomfortable swings from right-handed hitters. Turned to a slurvy upper-60s breaking ball with some depth as his main secondary, landed it for strikes. Flashed a changeup at 72-73 mph to left-handed hitters, used sparingly. 

Gavin Bailey, OF, Mahomet-Seymour, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 175-pound left-handed hitter with some present strength and room to add more. Coming off a loud spring with the Bulldogs where he earned Prep Baseball Illinois Third Team All-State honors after homering nine times and driving in 46 runs. Showed well in a look on Thursday afternoon, barreling a loud double into the right-center gap in his first at-bat. Loose, easy swing with leverage, looks to elevate the baseball, middle-of-the-order upside. 

Matthew Swartz, OF, Monticello, 2025
Uncommitted. 5-foot-11, 170-pound left/left athlete with strength throughout that hit leadoff for the Yard Goats in a win on Thursday. Picked up a pair of singles in that look; matched planes with a lower-half fastball and barreled it into right field, followed that up by beating out a ground ball to second base in his next at-bat. A name to follow in the state’s soon-to-be senior class as the summer rolls on and into the fall. 

Miles Woolsey, RHP, Mahomet-Seymour, 2025
Uncommitted. 6-foot-1, 180-pound lean, lanky frame with upside. Turned in a strong start for the Yard Goats on Friday afternoon. Athlete down the mound with a clean arm that works out of a high ¾ slot, doesn’t work with much effort. Fastball touched 87 mph in the first, pitched in the low-to-mid-80s, clean out the hand and flashed hard arm-side run at times. Flashed feel for a 68-72 mph curveball with depth, landed it for strikes to the glove-side corner at times. An upside arm to follow with a loose arm that’s still on the market. 

Soogyeom Park, RHP, Champaign Central, 2025
Uncommitted. Hulking 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame. Came in relief and tossed two clean innings for the Yard Goats on Friday afternoon. Intentful delivery with notable extension, arm plays short and tight on the backside with an over-the-top finish. Fastball played with late life up in the zone, grabbed several uncomfortable swings-and-misses, touched 87 mph and pitched at 83-86 mph. Did show a slider at 74-75 mph, used it sparingly with developing feel. 

Camden Heinold, INF, Mahomet-Seymour, 2025
Uncommitted. 5-foot-6, 155-pounds. Had a loud day at the plate on Friday in a win for the Yard Goats, finishing 3-for-3 with a double. Short, compact right-handed swing with barrel feel and leverage through contact to the pull-side. 

Mick Niebrugge, CIF, Teutopolis, 2025
Uncommitted. Plenty physical at 6-foot-4, 210-pound frame that consistently found himself in the middle of the Yard Goats lineup as the weekend went on. Long path through the zone with hand strength to pair. Muscled a single into left field in a look on Friday, barreled a loud double to right-center field Saturday morning. 


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