The Rock Fall Championships: Underclass Takeaways
September 29, 2023
This past weekend, the PBR Illinois and Wisconsin staff hosted The Rock Fall Championships at The Rock in Franklin, WI. This event was arguably the most talent we've seen at The Rock at one time, with quality matchups nonstop throughout each day.
Our scouting staff put together a list of players we deemed as the top prospects in attendance, and you can read up on all of those players, below.
takeaways
CANGELOSI SPARKS BLACK 2027
+ RHP Richard Carlson (South Beloit, 2027) got the ball to start on Friday night for the Sparks and got the win in a strong showing. Carlson seemed to get stronger as the game went on, as some of his more efficient innings came later in the start. Carlson worked with a fastball sitting 75-77 mph that had some cut to it, while also mixing in a mid-to-high 60’s breaker to help keep hitters off-balance. Carlson’s final line from Friday: 4 IP, 2 H, 1 ER, 1 BB, 5 K. The right-handed hitter also shows upside at the plate with easy strength in his bat, driving the ball with authority to the whole field.
+ RHP Austin Winge (Lockport, 2027) impressed with well above-average arm-strength on the mound over the weekend. Simple and repeatable mechanics with more in the tank, Winge worked his fastball up to 85 mph, sitting around 82-84 mph. He also went to a 11/5 curveball at 71-72 mph, flashing sharp action.
(Austin Winge)
+ INF Jacsen Tucker (Oswego East, 2027) is a two-time PBR Junior Future Games participant that seemingly gets better upon each look. An ultra-projectable 6-foot-2, 165-pounds with long levers, Tucker was all over the barrel from the right side this weekend. On Sunday morning, Tucker hit an inside-the-park home run and got around the bases in a blazing 15.93 seconds. Tucker has also ran a 7.02 60-yard dash in the past for our staff. Building upon the offense and his hit tool, Tucker’s athleticism shows up defensively in numerous spots. We saw Tucker make plays up the middle in the infield and out in Centerfield, showcasing plenty of range.
(Jacsen Tucker)
+ INF/RHP Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice, 2027) stood out as a two-way prospect this weekend. A recent PBR Junior Future Games participant, Cunningham has been a standout at seemingly every tournament we’ve seen him at this summer and this weekend was no different. Cunningham stands in at a physical 6-foot-1, 195-pounds with strength throughout. Starting on the mound Sunday morning, Cunningham navigated a two-pitch mix to get himself through three scoreless innings, scattering three hits and two walks, while also punching out five in the outing. Cunningham’s fastball worked 78-79 mph, T80 with mostly 4-seam action. He paired the fastball with an 11/5-shaped breaking ball that seemed to be thrown with more conviction than previously seen this summer. Cunningham can also swing it at the dish. A right-handed hitter, Cunningham has a very simple setup and swing at the plate that manufactures easy power to both gaps. Cunningham collected two hits on Sunday morning, including a pull-side triple.
(Brady Cunningham)
+ LHP/UTIL Aidan Dillon (Brother Rice, 2027) gave an impressive two-way look over the weekend. The southpaw worked his fastball in the mid-70s while also showing confidence in a 1/7 curveball at 62-64 mph, thrown often and in any count. The right-handed hitter also showed well above-average bat-strength, leaving the yard for a home run to his pull-side, clearing the fence with ease.
+ RHP Aiden Gonzales-Licea (Bremen, 2027) popped as an intriguing arm to know within the 2027 class. Listed at 5-foot-10, 180-pounds, the right-hander worked his fastball up to 82 mph, sitting mostly 78-81 mph and attacking the zone.
+ MIF Luca Agne (Plainfield North, 2027) gave a strong look at the dish over the weekend. Compact frame at 5-foot-4, 150-pounds, but don’t let that fool you as he is an extremely scrappy top-of-the-order type bat. The left-hander has hitter tendencies in the box with aggressive takes and quality at-bats. Loose and quick hands allow him to get the barrel to the ball consistently with a line-drive approach.
CANGELOSI SPARKS NORTH 2026
+INF/RHP Jeremy Thompson (Romeoville, 2026) did a bit of everything throughout the weekend. The right-handed hitter showed well above-average ability at the plate, collecting four hits in one game with a loose stroke and extension through the ball. Simple stroke that handles velocity well, worked the gaps routinely. He also hopped on the mound and reached up to 84 mph with his fastball, sitting at 81-83 mph. Showed feel for a 10/4 breaking ball at 70-71 mph.
(Jeremy Thompson)
+ INF/C Evan Mendiola (York, 2026) is an intriguing-looking 2026 prospect standing at a skinny 6-foot-1, 170-pounds. Mendiola stood out at the plate over the weekend for our staff, consistently barreling baseballs to all fields. A right-handed hitter, Mendiola stands tall in the box and uses a high leg-kick stride before swinging through an uphill path that creates line drive/fly ball contact. Mendiola was 3-for-3 Sunday afternoon with two doubles and four RBI. Mendiola mainly played first base in front of our staff but also showed the positional versatility to catch behind the plate when called upon.
(Evan Mendiola)
+ OF Owen Rog (DePaul College Prep, 2026) is a skinny and athletic top-of-the-order L/L centerfielder to know in the 2026 class. Rog is a long-levered 6-foot-3, 160-pounds with plenty of room to fill out the frame. A high-motor ballplayer that reached base six times in two games we saw of him. At the plate, Rog displayed high bat-to-ball skills with a short, direct swing that produced line drives. Rog was also impressive defensively, showing the ability to cover ground from gap-to-gap making tough plays look routine.
(Owen Rog)
+ C Brandon Thomsen (Saint Viator, 2026) is currently the No. 33 ranked prospect in IL and it showed this past weekend. Highly projectable 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, Thomsen is an above-average receiver with a clean catch/throw operation to control the run game. The right-handed hitter has a loose stroke with a line-drive approach to the gaps, looking to project into more power as he fills out.
CHICAGO WHITE SOX ACE
+ RHP Connor Elenteny (Mount Carmel, 2026) emerged as a player to be known in the class of 2026 with his start Friday afternoon against GRB Rays North. Working with a deliberate motion, the arm action plays clean from a 3/4 slot. His fastball played 84-86 mph throughout his four innings and topped out at 87 mph. Backing off the fastball was a slider with a late 10/4 movement at 72-75 mph. Elenteny struck out eight over those four innings with two hits allowed.
+ Perhaps one of the most impressive hitting performances of the weekend came from 2022 PBR Junior Future Game participant MIF Joey Ireland (Mount Carmel, 2026; Illinois commit). Ireland is an advanced athlete up the middle that ran a 6.66 60 yard dash at the Illinois State Games back in August. Defensively, he is a savvy defender on the dirt that presents above average arm strength. Despite his impressive athleticism and defense, Ireland impressed the most using the bat. On Saturday morning, Ireland finished with three hits including a home run to left at Milkmen Field. The Sophomore also added a triple and a hustle double, finishing just a single short of the cycle. Ireland will be a fun prospect to watch going into his second year.
(Joey Ireland)
+ Not many freshmen boast a higher offensive ceiling than MIF Parker Robinson (Lake Central, 2027). The 202 PBR Junior Future Game alum stands at a high-waisted 6-foot-2, 175-pound frame with plenty more to come. Up the middle, Robinson is a quality defender with a fluid arm action. The right-handed hitter also showed a polished approach at the plate. He works from a simple, balanced swing that utilizes an all-fields approach. Robinson looks to be one of the top prospects inside the 2027 class and is someone to follow as his body fully develops.
+ MIF Blake Ragsdale (Lyons Township, 2027; TCU commit) looked the part as one of the top players in the Illinois ‘27 class. The TCU commit stands at an athletic 5-foot-11, 160-pound build with more to come within the frame. Out of the leadoff spot, Ragsdale put together a number of quality swings and at-bats. On Sunday, the right-handed hitter was all over the barrel, finishing with two hits including a long triple that displayed his power-potential as well as speed around the bases. Defensively, Ragsdale showed advanced actions up the middle, making a number of plays with ease. The PBR Junior Future Games participant is one to watch as he heads into his first year of high school.
(Blake Ragsdale)
ELITE BASEBALL TRAINING KENNON
+ RHP Ryan Sexton (Saint Ignatius, 2026) is a loose and lean right-hander with notable upside. His fastball worked in the mid-70s, topping out at 76 mph and pairing off a sharp breaking ball with feel down in the zone.
+ LHP John Olejniczak (Oak Lawn Community, 2026) gave an intriguing look during his start on Sunday. Olejniczak stands at a lean 6-foot-1, 155-pound frame with plenty of room for added strength. The left-hander worked mostly in the upper-70s with the fastball, T80 mph. Olejniczak often went to a low-70s change-up with fade for strikes and swings and misses. The Sophomore impressed in our staff’s first look, and is an arm to watch as he develops.
+ MIF Jacob Jelinek (Saint Ignatius, 2026) stood out as a projectable middle-infielder with a loose right-handed swing. Listed at 5-foot-11, 160-pounds, lean and wiry with room to add on strength. Quality defender up the middle with soft hands and fluid feet, showed some range to both sides of his glove.
+ RHP Sean Washkevich (Notre Dame, 2026) is an athletic 6-foot, 175-pounds with strength in his lower half. He got the start on the bump on Sunday over at Franklin High School and was dominant during his three innings of work. His fastball sat in the upper-70s, peaking at 81 mph. Washkevich added in a sharp low-70s slider to miss barrels. His final line: 3 IP, 3 K’s, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB.
+ 1B/OF Alex Rios (Yorkville, 2026) is an athletic left-handed hitter that started at first and hit leadoff for Elite Baseball Training on Sunday. Rios played the role of offensive catalyst, recording multiple extra-base hits. He led off the game by finding the barrel and smoking a double over the head of the left fielder, later coming around to score. He followed that up by hugging the opposite-field line for a second double later on in the game.
ELITE BASEBALL TRAINING MILLER
+ RHP Russel Hengels (Maine South, 2027) gave an upside look over the weekend. Listed at 6-foot-2, 160-pounds with a lean and wiry build. The right-hander cruised in the mid-70s, topping out at 77 mph with some life through the zone. To pair off the fastball he went to an upper-60s curveball with 11/5 shape.
ENCOMPASS EXPOS
+ 1B Juri Lubovich (Duluth East, 2027) stands out immediately after just scanning the field. 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame, lean and wiry, still has room to add on more strength as he matures. The left-handed hitter has an easy operation in the box, utilizing his levers to create power through the zone with an uphill path and intent to lift. Power should continue to trend upwards as he fills out.
GRB RAYS 2026
+ INF Winston Alonso (Reedsburg, 2026) features one of the smoothest swings in the Wisconsin ‘26 class. The Sophomore stands at a more filled out 6-foot-1, 180-pound frame with athleticism to pair. During Sunday’s game, Alonso was all over the barrel, tallying two hits while working mostly to the middle of the field. He also showed quality actions around the infield with the ability to play the left side. Alonso is a must-watch bat come spring time. Currently ranked No. 9 in the state’s 2026 class.
(Winston Alonso)
+ INF Johnny Deets (Aquinas, 2027) came away as one of the biggest winners from the PBR Junior Future Games in late July, and continued to impress here at The Rock. Deets has an innate feel for the barrel, and is consistently making hard contact in front of our staff. To pair with his bat, Deets is also an athletic infielder that ran a 7.09 60-yard dash in July and also displays smooth defensive actions to pair. Definitely a prospect to keep an eye on moving forward.
+ RHP Luke Verch (Reedsburg, 2026) took down a tough lineup on Saturday, firing five shutout innings while controlling the zone and keeping opposing hitters off-balance. Verch worked his fastball in the 74-78 mph range and paired it with a slider at 67-70 mph and changeup at 69-71 mph. He showed the ability to land all three of his pitches for strikes and utilized his off-speed well off his fastball.
GRB RAYS 2027
+ C Nolan Pennekamp (Deforest, 2027) gave our staff a quick look at his power potential over the weekend, working the ball to the whole field with authority. Some strength in the frame already, listed at 6-foot, 205-pounds.
GRB RAYS - ILLINOIS 2026
+ C James Tatroe (Prairie Ridge, 2026) came away one of the biggest winners from the Underclass division over the weekend. The right-handed hitter stood out immediately with his quick and direct hands at the plate, turning on inside fastballs consistently while staying on the barrel. Some bat-strength, especially to his pull-side, recording a double to LF on Sunday. Aggressive base-runner with good reads on balls in the dirt, always looking to take the extra base. Advanced receiving behind the plate, strong yet soft hands work to present pitches in and around the zone. Active and willing blocker, moves well to both sides into blocking position and deadens the ball out front. Clean catch/throw, recording a 2.13 pop-time between innings.
+ RHP Konner Altergott (Crystal Lake Central, 2026) showed off his easy arm-strength Sunday morning, cruising with his fastball in the 76-79 mph range with life through the zone. Easy and simple operation, medium leg-lift works into a tall/fall operation down the mound, stays in-line. Should continue to add on velocity.
GRB RAYS - ILLINOIS 2027
+ INF Nick Kohlhase (Crystal Lake Central, 2027) was on the barrel in each look this weekend. Kohlhase batted in the middle of the order when we saw him and produced for his team. Kohlhase stands in at 5-foot-7, 130-pounds, and plays the game hard. Playing up the middle, Kohlhase has smooth actions defensively with some range to pair. A left-handed hitter at the plate, Kohlhase has a short and simple swing at the plate that leads to hard contact.
+ RHP Sean Dabe (Huntley, 2027) showed an up-tick in velocity over the weekend, running his fastball up to 84 mph and sitting around 79-81 mph later in the game. To pair off the fastball he went to an upper-60s 11/5 curveball and low-70s changeup, thrown with arm-speed.
GRB RAYS NORTH
+ INF Mack Krause (Neenah, 2026) stood out up the middle of the infield with athletic actions and clear feel for the position. Fluid footwork pairs with soft hands and easy range, he also showed the ability to maintain body control on the run through play with an accurate throw. Also shows some intrigue with the bat, boasting a loose right-handed swing that should continue to add power as he adds on to his 5-foot-10, 165-pound frame.
GRB STIKS 2026
+ OF/INF Chase Staude (Kettle Moraine, 2026) gave a strong look over the weekend. The former Junior Future Games participant has a loose left-handed stroke, working with some rhythm pre-pitch and looking to stay up the middle of the field with line-drives. Athletic frame with upside, listed at 5-foot-10, 155-pounds.
+ RHP Eli Dreier (Wisconsin Lutheran, 2027) is a physically impressive 6-foot-1, 194-pound underclassmen to know in the state of Wisconsin. Dreier punched out six batters over four innings of work. His delivery has some explosiveness to it, paired with an 80-83 mph (T84) arm-side run fastball that had life to it. Dreier rounds out his repertoire with a big-break curveball that got swings and misses from opposing hitters throughout the game. Dreier can also swing it at the dish from the right side, collecting two hits in the same game.
(Eli Dreier)
+ OF Niko Frangopoulos (Arrowhead, 2026) is a smooth-swinging left-handed hitter who found barrels all game on Saturday afternoon. Frangopoulos is an athletic 5-foot-10, 150-pounds who runs well around the bases, going home to third in 12.18 seconds at one point in the game. Frangopoulos also had a hard single in the game as well.
HITTERS NAVY 2027
+ LHP Cal Schneider (New Berlin Eisenhower, 2027), a recent PBR Junior Future Games alum this past summer, built off that status with his start on Friday night. Schneider attacked hitters all night within the strike zone and showed confidence in all three offerings. Schneider works at a fast pace on the bump, which led to some uncomfortable swings from the opposition. Schneider’s repertoire included a fastball sitting in the low-70s, a 1/7-shaped breaking ball that induced whiffs, and a changeup that Schneider could throw in any count. Schneider would go on to throw 4.2 innings, scattering three hits, walking only one, punching out seven, and surrendering one earned run against a very talented Cangelosi Sparks lineup.
+ Another recent PBR Junior Future Games participant, OF Jack Spielmann (Milton, 2027) was a spark plug at the top of the Hitters’ lineup, reaching base twice Friday night and coming around to score each time. Spielmann’s performance included a hard single up the middle to start the game before walking later on. Spielmann is a left-handed hitter that has a hitterish presence about him in the box. He has a quick, minimal stride and a swing that provides extension through the zone.
+ INF Caden Baker (Mukwonago, 2027) gave an upside look at the plate, recording a double in our brief look with easy gap-to-gap juice. Long and loose right-handed swing with extension through the ball, power upside as he continues to fill out.
+ RHP Luke Bryant (Hall, 2027) gave an intriguing look out of the bullpen for Hitters on Sunday. Bryant stands at a lean, long-levered 5-foot-11, 145-pound frame with plenty more to come. The right-hander worked in the high-70s, T80 mph with the fastball with some occasional carry. Also flashed feel for a quality breaking-ball in the low-70s.
+ INF Nolan Julseth (New Glarus Schools, 2027) has impressed in front of our staff across multiple looks this fall. Julseth is a high-motor infielder that plays the game hard. The left-handed hitter has a smooth swing that works through the ball and to all fields. To pair with the bat, Julseth also showed quality actions on the dirt. A prospect to watch as he continues to physically develop.
MIDWEST HALOS FALL 2027
+ INF Mason Sturma (Muskego, 2027) is an upside infielder to know within the state of Wisconsin. Listed at 5-foot-10, 120-pounds with all sorts of room to add on strength. The right-handed hitter has a simple right-handed stroke, staying through the zone with a flat path and looking to keep the ball on a line. Power should tick up as he continues to fill out. Quality defender on the infield with a strong arm, playing with carry across the diamond. Steady and confident hands with active footwork.
RHINO BASEBALL 2026
+ In yet another look, OF Dominic Battista (Oswego East, 2026) continued to produce in front of our staff, highlighted by consistent contact at the plate from the left side. Battista presents effortless power and bat speed in an athletic 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame. The left-left prospect plays the game with fluidity, and a sneaky aggression, especially at the plate. While he didn’t have much to show for on Saturday morning aside from one hit, Battista caught barrels in nearly every one of his at-bats. It’s a constant trend that our staff has witnessed throughout the summer and now into the fall, as the No. 19 ranked prospect in Illinois’ 2025 class solidified himself as a name-to-follow in the offseason.
(Dominic Battista)
+ LHP Rocco Szambelan (Joliet Catholic, 2026) was dominant in his outing on Sunday, presenting our staff with a quality look coming back from a lengthy injury. Szambelan, at a wiry 6-foot-1, 175-pound frame, is mature on the mound and featured a competitive edge. He heavily utilized a fastball, ranging from 81-84 mph in his outing. It was there where he threw it both for strikes and generated swings and misses. While the offspeed arsenal continues to develop for the young prospect, the tools and projectability are present. Szambelan looks to continue to build on this start in the offseason and eventually into the spring of 2024.
(Rocco Szambelan)
+ Building off an already impressive summer circuit was INF Jailen Veliz (Yorkville, 2026). Currently ranked No. 49 in the state for his class, Veliz is a highly athletic 5-foot-10, 155-pound middle-infielder that showed improvement offensively this weekend. Veliz is a right-handed hitter that was making loud contact all game long Saturday morning for Rhino. In his first at-bat, he nearly left the yard with a short, but powerful swing leading to a pull-side double off the fence. In his next at-bat he had a hard lineout to shortstop. Defensively, Veliz continues to be one of the smoother defenders at the position for his class. Veliz trusts his hands defensively and has a quick transfer that allows him to be on-time with his throws across the diamond. High-motor athlete.
RHINO BASEBALL 2027
+ A name that stood out consistently over the weekend was Josh Repmann (Neuqua Valley, 2027). Lean and wiry frame with room to add on strength. The right-handed hitter has a simple and loose stroke with barrel control, staying on-time and using the middle of the field consistently.
(Josh Repmann)
+ RHP Cameron Delahoussaye (Waubonsie Valley, 2027) gave a polished look on the bump for Rhino. The 6-foot-3, 230-pound right-hander moves well down the mound for his size, also showing the ability to repeat his delivery. He worked his fastball in the 78-80 mph range and showed feel for a curveball/changeup combination to change the pace.
(Cameron Dalehoussaye)
TOP TIER NATIONALS
+ RHP Tommy Estock (Homewood-Flossmoor, 2026) fired six strong innings for Top Tier Nationals, attacking the zone and working quickly throughout. He worked his fastball in the low to mid-70s and paired it with a 66-67 mph curveball. Simple and repeatable delivery that should continue to add on velocity as he matures physically.
+ C David Klein (Nazareth, 2026) impressed behind the plate on Sunday. Highly projectable 6-foot-1, 195-pound frame. Klein worked to present pitches in and around the zone for strikes, stealing some calls off the plate. Active and willing blocker, moves well into a crouch and deadens the ball out front. Clean catch/throw operation to limit the run-game.