Coop's Scoop: State Finals Notebook

June 20, 2022
Cooper Trinkle
Indiana Scout

Conner Anglin, C, Tecumseh HS, 2023
Physical, 6-foot-1, 225 pound catcher that was 2 for 3 with a BB in the state championship game. Anglin starts in a relaxed, open stance and has a tight, compact load. More of a contact-oriented approach, but Anglin possesses strong hands and some barrel strength which gives him the ability to do damage when he flushes the baseball. Big, physical target behind the dish with soft hands and the ability to absorb balls in the dirt. Strong arm with carry. Recently committed to the University of Southern Indiana.

Mason Barth, SS, Andrean HS, 2025
Barth is uber physical for a 2025, built like a running back at 5-foot-9, 185 pounds. He is an instinctual player that plays with poise and competitiveness. In back to back weeks, I’ve watched him take very solid at-bats against plus velo & offspeed offerings. In semi-state, he had a couple of very loud barrels, including an opposite field ground-rule 2B. He was also 2 for 4 in the state championship against a potential Day 1 draft pick. Barth has a super simple and repeatable swing with a wide, grounded stance and a small, compact load. This allows him to get to his spot consistently and on time, rarely rushing or chasing outside of the zone. Very solid actions at SS, nothing flashy, but Barth possesses soft hands and a strong arm across the diamond & consistently makes the routine play. I was most impressed with his ability to read and react to hops with his feet, showing the ability to adjust and move through the baseball. Barth is a good runner, with a 6.82 60 @ Preseason All-State and a 4.29 H-1st from the right side in gameplay. Barth is one of the top 2025 prospects in Indiana and will be a fun one to watch for years to come.

Kevin Corcoran, LHP/OF, Illiana Christian, 2023
Corcoran is a 5-foot-11, 175 pound uncommitted 2-way prospect. In back-to-back weeks, I watched him throw complete games that he was in control of the whole way, including taking a perfect game into the 7th inning in semi-state. On the mound, Corcoran possesses a quick arm from a H3/4 AA & an easy, athletic delivery. He sat 82-85 mph on the fastball with slight run and command to both sides of the plate. His best off speed pitch was his low 70s breaking ball, which at times showed really sharp, late break. He was able to back foot the breaking ball to RHHs as an out-pitch. Flashed a mid 70s CH down in the zone. At the plate, he swings it from the left side and has a short, controlled stride and a clean bat path.

Andrew Dutkanych, RHP, Brebeuf Jesuit HS, 2022
Dutkanych is the #1 prospect in Indiana’s 2022 class, a Vanderbilt recruit, and a potential Day 1 pick in the 2022 MLB Draft. Coming into the state game, “Duke” racked up 106 K’s in just 48 IP this season, roughly 2.2 K’s per inning. At 6-foot-3, 205 pounds, it’s easy to see why he has garnered the attention of Major League organizations. He sat 91-94 mph with the fastball and showed tons of feel for his secondary pitches. He possesses a sharp, wipeout slider at 81-83 mph with extremely late break. I also really liked his 11/5 CB at 71-74 mph. The CB had a ton of depth and he used it early in the count to keep hitters off balance. Flashed a CH at 79 mph as well. Ultimately, Andrean got the best of “Duke” in the state championship, tallying 8 hits and 5 runs over 6 innings, but that can’t discredit the season he had and the talent that Dutkanych possesses. It will be interesting to see if he ends up at Vanderbilt or signing a professional contract, but regardless it has been a pleasure to watch his development over his high school career.

Kyuss Gargett, INF, Cathedral HS, 2023
One of my favorite uncommitted 2023s, Gargett is a next-level athlete at 6-foot, 185 pounds. He’s a 6.5 runner that also starts at defensive back for Cathedral’s powerhouse football program. Gargett plays SS for Cathedral and shows advanced range and really quick feet. He will need to improve arm strength to stay on the left side at the D1 level, but the hands and feet are very good. At the dish, he’s a switch hitter with a smooth, athletic swing. He led Cathedral with a .395 avg, adding 8 2B, 8 3B, & 3 HRs, while stealing 18 bags.

Ben Gregory, RHP, Penn HS, 2022
Gregory is a 6-foot-3, 180 pound senior RHP who was very good in both the times that I saw him this year, but especially in the state championship game. Gregory got the win in the state championship, pitching 7 innings, allowing just 3H, 0R, 0BB, and striking out 7. Gregory used a drop-and-drive delivery with a long arm swing and a H3/4 AA. He showed command for a four-pitch mix, sitting 85-88 mph on his FB. His go-to offspeed pitch was his 68-72 mph CB with plenty of downward action. He also used a tighter, 76-77 mph SL and flashed a CH at 81 mph to a LHH. He is a Maryville commit with the frame to continue to add velocity and the pitchability to have plenty of success at the next level.

Jax Kalemba, C, Andrean HS, 2022
Strong, 5-foot-9 catcher that was 3 for 3 in both the semi-state and state games, including a long HR in the 1st inning of the semi-state game. The PNW signee just hits. Wide stance with a slow, smooth gather and a leg kick for timing. Level bat path, the barrel stays in the zone for a long time. Kelemba is a reliable receiver behind the dish with strong hands and quick transfer.

Ben Mazur, RHP, Lafayette Central Catholic, 2023
The Lafayette Central Catholic ace had an impressive junior season for the Knights, posting an 8-1 record with a 0.63 ERA and 96 K’s in 55 IP heading into the state championship. The uncommitted 2023 RHP threw a CG, allowing 5 H, 3 BB, and recording 6K’s to pick up the win for LCC in the state championship. He sat 84-86 on the FB, touching 87 mph. His breaking ball was sharp at 72-74 mph and he showed solid command of it to his glove side. Mazur has a clean delivery with good balance throughout and uses a ¾ AA with good arm speed. There is definitely more room to add strength in his long 6-foot-2, 195lb frame.

Peyton Niksch, RHP, Andrean HS, 2022
The wiry, athletic 6-foot, 155 pound RHP put together absurd numbers in his senior campaign, going 11-0 with a 0.201 ERA with 87 K’s in 69.2 IP. In back to back weeks, I watched Niksch sit 84-86 mph with a low-mid 70’s breaking ball. He touched 88 once in semi-state, but Niksch isn’t the high velocity guy that looks to blow fastballs by hitters. Niksch possesses advanced pitchability, living on the outside part of the plate with his fastball and showing tons of feel for his sweeping breaking ball, able to land it in any count. He also liked to come inside with the FB late in counts to RHHs. He pitches from a ¾ AA and an athletic, cross-fire delivery that creates deception. The PNW signee does a really good job of keeping hitters off balance and filling up the zone.

Isaac VanderWoude, SS, Illiana Christian, 2024
A top 25 player in Indiana’s 2024 class, VanderWoude is an athletic, 6-foot, 180 pound SS. In the infield, he plays under control with fluid feet and smooth infield actions. He showed comfortability playing on the run and made multiple non-routine plays in the two times I saw him play this season. Above average arm strength that carries well across the diamond. At the plate, he swings it from the left side and has a controlled load with a simple swing. He has a contact-oriented, line drive approach and showed the ability to spray the ball.