2023 Puma Classic: Friday Preview
September 13, 2023
On Friday and Saturday, Sept. 15 and 16, the PBR JUCO staff is headed to Westfield, Ind., home of the state-of-the-art Grand Park complex that will, once again, host the annual Puma Classic. This event features 30 teams with many need-to-know prospects who are capable of contributing at the next level – be it a four-year opportunity or pro ball.
Today, we’re going to spend some time breaking down the talent set to play on Friday. We’ll preview Saturday’s talent tomorrow.
You can find more information about the event by following this link. The following information was assembled with the help of these participating head coaches, who provided us with details on their team’s 2023-24 outlook.
FRIDAY SCHEDULE
College of Lake County
Head Coach: Heath Cummings
2023 Record: 26-22-2
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Clay Cerna: .369/.424/.450, 10 2B, 29 RBI, 12 BB, 12 K, 16 SB, All-Conference
+ Soph. 1B Braden Gibour: .324/.391/.503, 15 XBH, 48 RBI, 17 BB, 16 K, All-Conference
+ Soph. INF Clint Cerna: 73 ABs, .356/.460/.466, 20 RBI
+ Soph. MIF/RHP Joseph Mrowiec
+ Soph. INF Caden Herron
+ Soph. C/UTL Edgar Salinas
+ Soph. OF Mathews Ford
+ Fr. C/RHP Ryder Derouin: Transfer from Chandler-Gilbert CC
+ Fr. C Ryan Powell: Transfer
+ Fr. INF Albert Jaquez
+ Fr. OF Evan Spenk
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Isaac Santos Jr.: 25 â…“ IP, 32 K
+ Soph. LHP Isaiah Terrell: 23 â…” IP, 21 K
+ Soph. LHP Kyle Neibow: 33 â…” IP
+ Soph. RHP Mason Tokarz-Deram
+ Soph. RHP Logan Paplham
+ Soph. RHP Brendan Whalen: Transfer from Lake Land JC
+ Fr. LHP Jason Schmeirer
+ Fr. RHP Will Schufreider (Grayslake Central, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. LHP Tayton Herron (West Bend West, WI, 2023)
Danville Area
Head Coach: Clayton Hicks
2023 Record: 18-31
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. INF Kody Morton: .366/.435/.640, 21 2B, 4 3B, 6 HR, 36 RBI, 20 SB
+ Soph. C Adam Evans: .313/.402/.483, 11 2B, 4 HR, 27 RBI
+ INF Ryan DeGroot: Transfer from Olney CC
+ Fr. OF Sam Monk (DeLand, FL, 2023)
PITCHERS
+ RHP Nicholas Underwood
+ RHP Isaiah Head
+ RHP Noah Frailey
+ Fr. RHP Ashton Hopewell (Hamilton Badin, OH, 2023)
Elgin
Head Coach: Bill Angelo
2023 Record: 21-34
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Charlie Jury: .321/.450/.538, 9 2B, 4 HR
+ Soph. OF Ryan Caccia
+ R-Fr. OF Aiden Kashuba
+ Fr. C Nicholas Weaver (Streamwood HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. INF Chris Lara (Streamwood HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. INF Daniel Blickhan (West Chicago HS, IL, 2023)
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Drew Piaskowy: 43 IP, 3.56 ERA, 38 K
+ Soph. RHP/SS Jaden Alberson: .327 BA, 34 â…” IP, 42 K
+ Fr. RHP Lucas Aguirre (West Aurora HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. LHP Casey Farrell (Wheaton Warrenville South, IL, 2023)
Here we go!!! Excited to get out to the @bestofmwbase Puma Classic Junior College Showcase this Friday. Game times and Pitching Rotation is below! #whitedot pic.twitter.com/UnsPgbnRhB
— Coach Angelo (@ElgCCBaseball1) September 12, 2023
Frontier
Head Coach: Matthew McCue
2023 Record: 25-25
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. C/OF Aydin Wright: .352/.454/.469, 13 XBH, 27 RBI, 25 BB
+ Soph. INF Keegan Martin: .344/.449/.454, 14 XBH, 29 RBI, 30 BB, 32 SB (school record)
+ R-Fr. Pierce Bauerle
+ C/OF Cey Barkume: Transfer from Central Baptist College
+ Fr. UT Gael Salinas (Rogers HS, AR, 2023)
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Zach Leduc: 68 IP, 94 K (school record), 3.60 ERA
+ Soph. RHP Max Tripure: 42 â…“ IP, 57 K, 23 BB, 2.97 ERA
+ Soph. RHP Owen Byberg: 49 IP, 3.28 ERA
+ R-Fr. Aric Ehmke: 10 IP, 17 Ks, 0.70 ERA
+ Soph. RHP Ethan Davis: Transfer from Marian University
+ Fr. RHP Justin Trucks (Gravette HS, AR, 2023)
Official starting rotation for @bestofmwbase this Friday. All games will be on field GP #8.
— Frontier CC Baseball (@BaseballBcats) September 11, 2023
Game 1: vs Danville Area
Game 2: vs Elgin@PBR_JUCO pic.twitter.com/uhj0roBIV8
Heartland
Head Coach: Chris Razo
2023 Record: 57-5 (NJCAA DII National Champions)
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Corey Boyette: .457/.553/.720, 30 XBH (17 2B, 6 HR), 42 BB, 16 SB
+ Soph. INF Gallien Coupet: .396/.474/.488, 13 2B, 21 BB, 17 SB
+ Soph. INF TJ Williams: .421 BA, .512 OBP, 23 BB, 30 SB
+ Fr. OF Tommy Atkinson (St. Rita HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. INF Brady Davidson (Kenosha St. Joseph HS, WI, 2023)
PITCHERS
+ Soph. LHP Luke Wright: 44 IP, 58 K, 10 BB, 3.48 ERA, 1.18 WHIP
+ Soph. LHP Michael Vitellaro
+ Soph. RHP Nick Kolze: Transfer from Xavier
+ Soph. RHP Jacob Brown: Transfer from Lindenwood
+ Fr. RHP Jimmy Amptmann (Sycamore HS, IL, 2023)
And so it begins! @bestofmwbase pic.twitter.com/kuT9UbQ2Zr
— Heartland Baseball (@HCC_Hawks) September 11, 2023
Kaskaskia
Head Coach: Mitch Koester
2023 Record: 28-27
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Justin Bogard: .303/.415/.452, 14 XBH, 18 RBI, 22 SB
+ Soph. CIF Michael Ascenscio
+ R-Soph. INF Ben Loyd: Transfer from Western Kentucky
+ R-Soph. UTL Cody Schneider
+ R-Fr. C Ryan Kelly
+ Fr. C Dylan Johnson (Waubonsie Valley HS, IL, 2023)
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Nile Adcock: 65 â…“ IP, 71 K
+ Soph. RHP Clayton Taylor: 37 â…“ IP, 30 K, 4.34 ERA
+ Soph. OF/LHP Hayden Brazelton: 22 IP
+ Soph. INF/RHP Dalton Boruff
+ R-Fr. RHP Landon Geragosian
+ RHP Mason Robinson (Altamont HS, IL, 2023)
+ RHP Aidan Dobson (Farina South Central HS, IL, 2023)
+ RHP Mason Tibbs (Brownsburg HS, IN, 2023)
+ RHP Donnie Zimmerman (North Clay HS, IL, 2023)
Pitching Rotation is set for the @bestofmwbase Puma Classic! Both games are being played on D3. #WeareKC pic.twitter.com/bkDxIQ10Bf
— Kaskaskia Baseball (@KC_BlueDevils) September 12, 2023
Kirkwood
Head Coach: Todd Rima
2023 Record: 38-18
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Miles Risley: .337/.458/.558, 25 XBH (7 HR), 55 RBI, 19 SB
+ Soph. MIF Alex Ritzer: .293 BA, .455 OBP, 9 2B, 17 SB, .978 FLD%
+ Soph. 3B Owen Ross 3B: .295/.383/.558, 8 HR, 30 RBI
+ OF Brayden Hellum: Transfer from NIACC
+ INF Ethan Bowers: Transfer from Black Hawk
+ Fr. 1B Clayton Campidilli: No. 4 player overall in Iowa’s 2023 class
+ Fr. C Cal Sullivan: No. 8 player overall in Iowa’s 2023 class
PITCHERS
+ Soph. LHP Jake Pemble: 24 IP, 27 Ks
+ Soph. RHP Juan Reyes
+ Soph. RHP Dylan Christensen
+ Soph. RHP Kolton Lyman
+ RHP Jacob Barrett: Transfer from Murray State
+ RHP Jackson Payne: Transfer from Iowa
+ LHP Drew Proskovec: Transfer from Iowa
+ RHP Andrew Carroll: Transfer from Arizona
+ Fr. LHP Davis Webb: No. 9 overall player in Iowa’s 2023 class
+ Fr. RHP Pierce Anderson: No. 12 overall player in Iowa’s 2023 class
Pitching rotation for â¦@bestofmwbaseâ©. pic.twitter.com/xiAwPzIzrr
— Kirkwood Baseball (@KCC_BSB) September 12, 2023
Lake Land
Head Coach: Julio Godinez
2023 Record: 23-34
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. INF Ian Farrell: .352/.471/.467, 10 2B, 33 RBI, 36 BB, 17 K
+ Soph. C Moises Rosario: .301/.427/.473, 11 2B, 4 HR, 27 RBI, 30 BB
+ Soph. C Owen Anderson: .350 BA, .436 OBP, 7 2B, 21 RBI
+ Soph. INF/RHP Dicky Hernandez: 111 AB, .342/.422/.468, 8 2B, 27 RBI
+ Soph. C/UTL Brayden Smith
+ Soph. UTL Cade Hamilton
+ Soph. INF Justin Somoza
+ Soph. OF/LHP Kannon Walker
+ Fr. OF Will Knapp (Morris HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. OF Drew DuPont (Tecumseh HS, IN, 2023)
+ Fr. OF Kyle Duff-Hudson (Morgan Park HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. INF Nathan Trimble (Shelbyville HS, IL, 2023)
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Kayden Althoff: 43 IP, 51 K
+ Soph. LHP Colton Fearday: 35 IP, 29 K
+ Soph. RHP Jack Armstrong: 27 â…“ IP, 32 K
+ Soph. RHP Benjamin Benoit
+ Soph. RHP Luis Pezzotti
+ Soph. LHP Ethan Clark
+ Fr. RHP Danny Cihocki (Princeton HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. RHP Ajani Henke (Home School, MO, 2023)
+ Fr. RHP Drake McDonald (Shelbyville HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. RHP Jack Helms (Mattoon HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. RHP Brandon Johnson (Lemont HS, IL, 2023)
OH SNAP! the time is here once again @bestofmwbase pitching rotation for the Lakers this Friday!@ben_benoit8 @AlthoffKayden pic.twitter.com/5DkigjJrzE
— Lake Land Baseball (@LLC_Baseball) September 12, 2023
Lincoln Land
Head Coach: Ron Riggle
2023 Record: 37-23
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. C Grant Pohlman: .326/.447/.590, 29 XBH (10 HR), 50 RBI
+ Soph. INF Wandel Campana
+ Soph. INF Trent Koehler
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Mitch Dye: 72 IP, 91 K
+ Soph. LHP Porter Konn: 46 â…” IP, 73 K, 2.12 ERA
+ R-Fr. RHP Jack Wajda: Transfer from Chipola College
Puma Classic Pitching Rotation🔥@bestofmwbase
— Lincoln Land Baseball (@loggerbaseball) September 12, 2023
ðŸ—“ï¸ Friday Sept. 15 (2 Games)
â° 10am & 3pm EST
📠Grand Park, IN @DeegsBaseball @DSeifertD1PBR @PBRIllinois @PBR_JUCO pic.twitter.com/x0hvgrsUmi
Lincoln Trail
Head Coach: Collin Maynard
2023 Record: 33-18
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Brayden Fraasman: 353/.409/.642, 30 XBH (11 HR), 57 RBI, All GRAC honoree
+ Soph. C Colin Horneman: .316/.465/408, 6 XBH, 16 BB, 10 K
+ OF Paul Osting: Transfer from Bellarmine University
+ Fr. OF Rodney Rachel (Badin HS, OH, 2023)
+ Fr OF Maxwell Layne (Upper Arlington HS, OH, 2023)
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Eric Rawlings: 11 GS, 48 â…” IP, 47 K
+ Fr. LHP Aiden VanDeHatert (Badin HS, OH, 2023), T91 mph in May of 2023
Parkland
Head Coach: Zack Pych
2023 Record: 46-14
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Ryan Snell: .366/..475/.509, 16 XBH, 48 RBI, 33 BB, 14 SB
+ R-Soph. INF Nate Bingman: .301/.354/.519, 13 2B, 4 HR, 23 RBI
+ Soph. C Charlie Marisca: 97 AB, .330/.459/.577, 7 2B, 5 HR, 26 RBI
+ Soph. OF Josh Outlaw: 99 AB: .323/.429/.424, 19 RBI, 22 SB
+ Soph. INF Luke Parmentier
+ R-Soph. INF Tylor Phommachanhom
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Sam Bryan: 24 IP, 41 K
+ Soph. LHP William O’Gorman: 32 â…“ IP, 41 K, 12 BB
+ Soph. LHP Freddie Eltftmann
+ Soph. RHP Hunter Pudlo
+ Soph. RHP Jaxon Christensen
+ Soph. RHP Alex Vertuno
+ Soph. RHP John Cederberg
+ R-Fr. LHP Will Richardson
+ Fr. RHP Jack Skidmore (Naperville Central HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. RHP Donald Tober (Timothy Christian HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. RHP Gavin Parkerson (Armstrong HS, IL, 2023)
Pitching Rotations for @bestofmwbase Showcase this Friday!
— Parkland Baseball (@Cobra_Baseball) September 11, 2023
10AM vs Southeastern CC
3PM vs Heartland CC#CobrasðŸ pic.twitter.com/ILWZ4XMFMd
Rend Lake
Head Coach: Chris Moddelmog
2023 Record: 22-30
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Luke Bullins
+ Soph. UTL Blake Templeton
+ Soph. 1B Colby Guy
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Holton Compton: 41 â…” IP, 45 Ks, FB 91-92 mph
+ Soph. RHP Justin Simpson: 25 IP, 25 K,
+ Soph. RHP Matthew Ray: 42 â…” IP, 38 K, FB 88-89 mph
+ Soph. RHP Derek Lebron: FB 88-91 mph, BB 74-78 mph (T2676 RPM)
+ Fr. RHP Kemper Whisman (Shelby County HS, KY, 2023)
Olney Central
Head Coach: Phill Britton
2023 Record: 31-24
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. LHH OF Josh Russell: .293/.396/.414, 17 XBH, 14 SB
+ Fr. INF Nate Pemberton (Bedford North Lawrence HS, IN, 2023)
+ OF Kannon Stull: University of Evansville transfer
PITCHERS
+ Soph. LHP Dylan Zenko: 20 IP, 19 K, 4.05 ERA
+ Soph. OF/RHP Tate Wischnack
Southeastern (IA)
Head Coach: Justin Schulte
2023 Record: 49-18 (NJCAA DII Runners-Up)
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. UTL Caleb Wulf: .384/.458/.506, 101 hits (school record), 27 XBH, 57 RBI, 30 BB
+ Soph. OF Marcus Beatty: .318/.448/.481, 26 XBH, 19 2B, 5 HR, 68 RBI, All Region
+ Soph. 3B/P Sam Skarich: .312/.423/.492, 19 XBH (7 HR), 47 RBI, National Gold Glove award
+ Soph. CIF Reymon Paulino: .276/.379/.559, 11 HR
+ C Brandon Vlcko: Transfer from South Dakota State
+ Fr. INF Sheppard Graff (Lake Forest HS, IL, 2023
+ Fr. INF Colin Schmitke (Stevenson HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. INF Michael Farina (Mundelein HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. INF Jordan Thys (Benton Community HS, IA, 2023)
+ Fr. INF Maddux Frese (Cedar Rapids Prairie HS, IA, 2023)
+ Fr. OF Owen Sikkink (Stewartsville HS, MN, 2023)
+ Fr. Caleb Klein
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Colten Clarahan: 20 â…” IP, 21 K
+ Soph. RHP Mason Behn: 8-3 record, 79 IP, 26 BB, 61 K
+ Soph. LHP Jay Kennedy
+ R-Fr. RHP Zane Frese
+ Fr. RHP Eddy Eveland (Lake Mills HS, WI, 2023)
+ Fr. RHP Michael Graefen (Lockport HS, IL, 2023)
Southeastern Illinois
Head Coach: Jeremy Irlbeck
2023 Record: 21-29
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. INF John Kiebler: .319 BA, .421 OBP, 8 XBH, 12 SB
+ Soph. INF Carter Hood: .298/.385/.423, 16 2B, 29 RBI, Region 24 Gold Glove
+ Soph. OF/LHP Bryce Cape: .287 BA, .400 OBP, 27 RBI, 20 BB, 13 IP
+ Soph. OF Ryan Taylor
+ Soph. OF Grant Dalton
Southwestern Illinois
Head Coach: David Garcia
2023 Record: 41-16
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. MIF/RHP Grant Richars: .325/.434/.543, 18 XBH (7 HR), 36 RBI, 11 SB
+ Soph. 1B Wilser Then: .345/.511.633, 21 XBH (9 HR), 47 RBI
+ OF Preston Wright: Transfer from Walters State CC
+ OF Griffin Brown: Transfer from Black Hawk CC
PITCHERS
+ Soph. LHP Gavan Wernsing: 60 â…” IP, 62 K, 2.97 ERA, 1.35 WHIP
+ Soph. RHP Tyler Altenbaumer: 34 â…“ IP, 3.93 ERA
+ RHP Jovan Gill: Transfer from Stetson
🚨Weekend Rotation🚨
— Southwestern Illinois College Baseball (@BlueStormBSB) September 13, 2023
The Blue Storm head up to Indianapolis for the @bestofmwbase showcase!
We will face Kirkwood CC at 10:00 AM and St. Charles CC at 3:00.
Reach out for complete bios on all players headed to Grand Park.#RollStorm⛈ pic.twitter.com/wzA3ASPWUj
St. Charles
Head Coach: Jeffery Bolen
2023 Record: 33-27
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. CF/C Grant Huebner: .288/.419/.495, 21 XBH (8 HR), 39 SB, 53 RS
+ Soph. 3B Nick Beech: .273/.448/.520, 19 XBH (9 HR), 44 RBI, 31 SB
+ Soph. INF Ethan Edinger: .287/.386/.471, 8 HR, 44 RBI, 14 SB
+ Soph. C/1B Tamden Webb-Tate: .287 BA, .430 OBP, 12 2B, 20 SB
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Tyler Timmerman: 51 â…“ IP, 62 K
+ Soph. RHP Brayden Mayer: 24 IP, 29 K, 3.00 ERA
+ Soph. RHP Cameron Marchi: 30 â…” IP
+ Soph. RHP Zach Thelen: 27 â…” IP
+ Soph. RHP Nick Bassi
+ Soph. RHP Tanner Mueller: Transfer from Southeast Missouri
+ Soph. LHP Jude Tenny: Transfer from Kaskaskia JC
#SCCougs Pitching Order for the @bestofmwbase @PBR_JUCO pic.twitter.com/fgitu86PwU
— St Charles CC Baseball (@SCCCougarsBsb) September 11, 2023
Vincennes
Head Coach: Chris Barney
2023 Record: 25-33
POSITION PLAYERS
+ Soph. OF Carter Whitehead: .308 BA, .403 OBP, 16 BB
+ R-Fr. CIF/RHP Holden Clifton
+ Fr. OF Reed Drabant (Columbia HS, IL, 2023)
+ Fr. INF Bradyn Douglas (Frankton HS, IN, 2023)
PITCHERS
+ Soph. RHP Josh McCormick: 59 IP (team high)
+ Soph. RHP Logan Medsker: 43 â…” IP, 52 K
+ Soph. RHP Christian Pinson: 24 â…“ IP, 25 K
+ Fr. RHP Kaleb Marrs (West Vigo HS, IN, 2023)
+ Fr. RHP Alex Wandersee (Centerville HS, IN, 2023)