Flashback - History of the Preseason All-State Showcase
January 23, 2015
By Dylan Hefflinger
Michigan Editor in Chief/Scout
On February 7th, PBR Michigan will host the third annual Preseason All-State Showcase at Northwood University. To request an invitation, please click here.
The 2014 event roster featured an abundance of talent as 35 players have already committed to a college program. In the months following we saw two prospects commit to Big 10 programs in Lukas Veinbergs (Indiana) and Robbie Jones (Michigan State). We also saw four commitments to MAC schools including Tyler Butzin (Eastern Michigan), Will Mullen (Western Michigan), Luke Schaefer (Toledo), and Jake Stout (Toledo) as well as a plethora of commitments to the host of the event, Northwood. Those commits include: Brendan Schmitz, Austin Palo, Nick Palmer, Daniel Michalak, Lennon Gwizdala, and Max Bain. Other notable commits include: Joseph Vyskocil (Wisconsin-Milwaukee) and Jordan Swiss (Saginaw Valley State) among others. To view the complete results, please click here.
The 2013 event roster featured 35 players that later committed to a college program. Brother Rice 2014 C Sammy Stevens was a top performer at the showcase with a sub 2.00 pop time which helped him be drafted by the Detroit Tigers in the 34th round. However, he did not sign and instead is now attending Georgetown University. Other notable commitments include: Zach McGuire (Michigan State), Ty Kiafoulis (Michigan), Brett Adcock (Michigan), Randy Righter (Bowling Green), Kyle Rago (Toledo), AJ Montoya (Toledo), Daniel Jipping (Central Michigan), Joshua Birnberg (Eastern Michigan), Michael Reid (Air Force), Austin Batka (Illinois-Chicago), and Antonio Jacobs (Grambling) among others. To view the complete results, please click here.
SCOUTING NOTES FROM 2014
To view complete player analysis please click here. Below we take you back to a few of our scouting notes from last year's event ...
+ Joseph Vyskocil, 3B/1B, Nortre Dame Prep HS, 2015
6-foot-3, 210 pounds with a big strong frame. Best tool is his right-handed stick. Athletic/balanced setup with short stride. Creates elite bat speed (96 mph exit velocity), and ball consistently jumps off his bat. Uphill bat path. Will likely be a middle of the order type bat at the next level with his gap-to-gap power potential. At third base, Vyskocil throws through a high-3/4 slot with short arm action. Throws across the diamond showed some life while topping out at 79 mph. Features softness in his hands, and clean footwork as well in the infield. Also ran a 7.47 60-yard dash time.
+ Jacob DePillo, 3B/1B, Notre Dame Prep HS, 2015
6-foot-3, 220-pounds with a big strong body. Strong right-handed bat. At the plate he uses a balanced stance with short stride and smooth load. Shows confidence when stepping up to the plate. Displays a slightly uphill bat path, and creates substantial power. Middle of the order type. Recorded an outstanding exit velocity of 95 mph off the tee. In the field, he offers a clean exchange and creates some momentum by playing through the ball. Topped out at 72 mph. At the next level, Depillo’s body size and powerful bat will likely transfer him to first base Registered a 7.57 60-yard dash time.
+ Jordan Swiss, SS/RHP, Petoskey HS, 2015
6-foot-0, 185-pounds with a solid, athletic frame. Offers plenty of tools, and could very well be a two-way guy at the next level. Throws through a high 3/4 slot with quick arm speed. Everything seems to come natural for Swiss. In the field, he shows fluid/quick footwork while taking good angles to the ball. Also displays softness in hands, and a plus arm (topped out at 84 mph). Clocked in a 6.88 60 yard dash time. At the plate, the right-handed hitter uses an open setup with small leg kick type stride. Rotational mechanics. Using a slightly uphill bat path, he consistently barreled pitches driving them to all parts of the field. Swing is somewhat violent, while producing plus bat speed. Gap-to-gap type production. Reached a top exit velocity of 85 mph off the tee.
+ Lukas Veinbergs, C/RHP, Pinckey HS, 2015
6-foot-0, 175-pounds with an average, athletic frame. Offers plenty of tools. His defensive skill sets him apart from the others. Quick feet and quick release. Recorded pop time splits between 1.97-2.06, but consistently stayed around the 2.00 mark. Offered solid accuracy keeping throws around the bag while topping out at 80 mph. As a hitter, he continues to show growth with overall consistency. Uses a balanced stance with short stride. Displays quickness in bat speed (84 mph exit velocity), while using a level bat path. Shows good balance, while taking a short path to the ball. Offers linedrive type production with smooth fluidity to his swing. Definitely opened some eyes over the weekend. Ran a 7.22 on a slow track, but has been clocked at a 6.72 at previous showcases. Offers upside on the mound as well.
+ Christopher Ackerman, C/RHP, Howell HS, 2015
5-foot-11, 170-pounds with an athletic frame. Best tool is his stick. Using a balanced stance with short stride, Ackerman had one of the best rounds of BP. Consistently drove linedrives while hitting the ball where it is pitched. Features good bat speed throughout a short, compact swing and projects a high contact rate. Reached an 81 mph exit velocity. Behind the plate, he displays good/quick footwork. Throws through a 3/4 slot, while recording pop times splits between 2.07-2.19. Topped out at 76 mph. Also offers above average speed for the position, clocking in a 7.15 60-yard dash.
event records
Top Fastball
+ 89 mph – Brett Adcock, LHP, Bay City Western HS, 2013
+ 89 mph – Austin Batka, LHP, Grand Rapids Christian, 2014
Top Pop Time
+ 1.93 – A.J. Montoya, C, St. Joseph, 2014
Top Catcher Velocity
+ 80 mph – Lukas Veinbergs, C/RHP, Pinckey HS, 2015
Top INF Velocity
+ 87 mph – Jonathan Hentschel, 3B, Midland, 2014
+ 87 mph – Pete Zeimis, MIF, Eisenhower HS, 2015
Top OF Velocity
+ 91 mph – Michael Reid, OF, Bishop Foley, 2014
Top Exit Velocity
+ 96 mph – Daniel Jipping, 1B, Plymouth Christian, 2014
+ 96 mph – Lukas Veinbergs, C/RHP, Pinckey HS, 2015
Top 60-yard dash time
+ 6.75 seconds – Zachary Winzer, OF, Muskegon Catholic Central HS, 2015
College Commitments From Event
| Name | High School | Class | Pos | Commitment |
| Aaron Leasher | Mount Pleasant | 2014 | LHP | Morehead State |
| Adam Turner | Holt | 2014 | SS | Shawnee State |
| AJ Montoya | St. Joseph | 2014 | C | Toledo |
| Alex Fultz | Sterling Heights Stevenson | 2014 | C | Kalamazoo |
| Andrew Click | Portland | 2014 | C | Davenport |
| Andrew Dalrymple | Clarkston | 2015 | RHP | Kalamazoo |
| Anthony Woodard | Muskegon Catholic Central | 2015 | SS | Benedictine University |
| Antonio Jacobs | Bay City John Glenn | 2014 | RHP | Grambling |
| Austin Krause | Lansing Catholic High School | 2014 | 1B | Lincoln Trail C.C. |
| Austin Lukaschewski | Bishop Foley | 2014 | OF | Illinois-Springfield |
| Austin Palo | Howell | 2015 | 1B | Northwood |
| Blake Therrian | Portage Northern | 2015 | RHP | Florence Darlington Technical College |
| Brad Baldwin | Bishop Foley | 2014 | MIF | Wayne State |
| Brandon Vires | Anchor Bay | 2014 | LHP | Goshen |
| Brendan Schmitz | Macomb Dakota | 2015 | RHP | Northwood |
| Brent Showers | Rockford | 2014 | C | Northern Michigan (football) |
| Brett Adcock | Bay City Western | 2013 | LHP | Michigan |
| Brett Nearing | Saline | 2015 | RHP | Grand Valley State |
| Christopher Stewart | Paul K. Cousino | 2015 | RHP | Hillsdale |
| Conor Bowers | Orchard Lake St. Mary's | 2014 | RHP | West Point |
| Daniel Jipping | Plymouth Christian Academy | 2014 | OF | Central Michigan |
| Daniel Michalak | De La Salle Collegiate | 2015 | LHP | Northwood |
| Devin Rose | Orchard Lake St. Mary's | 2014 | OF | Wayne State |
| Dugan Dieselberg | Mona Shores | 2015 | C | Kalazamazoo Valley CC |
| Garret Soule | Dansville High School | 2013 | SS | Kellogg CC |
| Gerrit Eding | Hamilton | 2015 | C | Saginaw Valley State |
| Grant Steinborn | New Lothrop | 2015 | 1B | Davenport |
| Gregory Antoine | Romeo | 2014 | OF | Indiana University Southeast |
| Jacob DePillo | Pontiac Notre Dame Prep | 2015 | 3B | Hillsdale |
| Jacob Gleason | Goodrich | 2015 | OF | Jackson CC |
| Jacob Rogers | Sterling Heights Stevenson | 2014 | 3B | Madonna |
| Jake Lincoln | Jackson Lumen Christi | 2014 | RHP | Kellogg C.C. |
| Jake Stout | Rochester | 2015 | RHP | Toledo |
| Joel Perry | Holly | 2014 | LHP | Daytona State |
| Jonathan Hentschel | Midland | 2014 | RHP | Olivet Nazarene (IL) |
| Jordan Swiss | Petoskey | 2015 | SS | Saginaw Valley State |
| Jordyn Muffley | Portage Central | 2015 | C | Parkland CC |
| Joseph Stasa | Harper Creek | 2015 | RHP | Kellogg CC |
| Joseph Vyskocil | Notre Dame Prep | 2015 | 3B | Wisconsin-Milwaukee |
| Joshua Arndt | Oxford | 2014 | C | Wayne State |
| Joshua Birnberg | West Bloomfield | 2014 | SS | Eastern Michigan |
| Justin Steele | Brighton | 2015 | RHP | Saginaw Valley State |
| Kyle Rago | Berrien Springs | 2014 | RHP | Toledo |
| Kyle Randick | Flushing | 2014 | 3B | Saginaw Valley State |
| Lennon Gwizdala | Bay City Central | 2015 | LHP | Northwood |
| Lukas Veinbergs | Pinckney | 2015 | C | Indiana |
| Luke Schaefer | Portage Central | 2015 | RHP | Toledo |
| Max Bain | Clarkston | 2015 | RHP | Northwood |
| Michael Reid | Bishop Foley | 2014 | RHP | Air Force |
| Michael Sielinski | Swan Valley High School | 2013 | C | Ford Scott CC (KS) |
| Nate Bethel | Jackson High | 2014 | OF | Hope |
| Nick Cowen | Tecumseh | 2014 | RHP | Wayne State |
| Nick Hazergian | Canton | 2014 | LHP | Saginaw Valley State |
| Nick Palmer | Warren Cousino | 2015 | OF | Northwood |
| Pete Zeimis | Utica Eisenhower | 2015 | 3B | Davenport |
| Preston Smith | Bloomfield Hills High School | 2014 | 3B | Capital |
| Randy Righter | Brother Rice | 2014 | 1B | Bowling Green |
| Robbie Jones | West Bloomfield | 2015 | OF | Michigan State |
| Ryan Stewart | Parkway Christian | 2014 | OF | Calvin College |
| Sammy Stevens | Brother Rice | 2014 | C | Georgetown |
| Steven Marowski | Farmington Hills Harrison | 2014 | 3B | Albion College |
| Tommy Lentz | Brother Rice | 2014 | RHP | Regis |
| Ty Kiafoulis | Birmingham Brother Rice | 2014 | OF | Michigan |
| Tyler Butzin | Taylor Kennedy | 2015 | LHP | Eastern Michigan |
| Westen Price | Canton | 2014 | OF | Muscatine C.C. (IA) |
| Will Mullen | Pontiac Notre Dame Prep | 2015 | RHP | Western Michigan |
| Zach McGuire | Sterling Heights Stevenson | 2014 | OF | Michigan State |
| Zach Oshinsky | West Bloomfield | 2014 | LHP | Lake Michigan College |
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