On Saturday, Oct. 19, the PBR Wisconsin team is headed back to STiKS Academy in Waukesha to host its annual fall showcase the Southern Wisconsin Open. Every October, since 2013, we’ve hosted this end-of-the-year showcase as we all prepare for the offseason ahead. This showcase is open to all high school graduating classes and spots still remain.

Currently, there are nearly 60 prospects set to join us on Saturday. For a look at the most up-to-date roster, click here.

Last year’s Open provided us with an opportunity to identify a couple members of Team Wisconsin’s PBR Future Games roster, INF/RHP Grant Ross (Pewaukee, 2021) and 1B Jared Everson (La Crosse Aquinas, 2021). Also in attendance last year, RHP/INF J.P. Gauthier (De Pere, 2021), who committed to Illinois State last November.

This year’s roster contains a healthy mix of graduation classes, ranging from 2023s to 2020s, but it’s a junior from Tremper who’s been earning looks for at least a couple years now. SS/2B Benjamin Loyd committed to Purdue at the very end of December 2018, but a coaching change in West Lafayette had Loyd reconsidering his options and he announced his re-introduction back onto the market in mid-July.

Our look at Loyd will be the first since July 2018 at the Underclass Games, where he was among the top infielders in attendance. Video from that day can be seen below.

Benjamin Loyd (7/23/18)

Bay Port’s Carl Cano is another junior headed our way on Saturday. He’s a strong 6-foot-1 athlete who generates fast bat speed and hard contact off the barrel from the right side. He possesses a big arm on the infield, and reports are he’s beginning to use it well from the mound, so we’ll get to see it for ourselves first-hand this weekend.

Representing the 2022 class, backstop Heath Venne (Muskego) had a great summer in front of our staff, and it all started back at The Rock for the 15U tournament we hosted there. Venne came away from the weekend as a follow 2022 bat, and made his presence felt against a lot of real competition. We last saw him at an event back in March, but he’s only been trending up since then.

Heath Venne (3/3/19)

And, as far as uncommitted seniors go, it’ll be nice to get a look at McFarland outfielder Xavier Schreiber in a showcase setting. We’ve not yet seen Schreiber at an event, but he impressed down the stretch for his high school as they battled their way into an unlikely state tournament bid. We saw Schreiber again over the 4th of July weekend at our annual Badger State Battle tournament where he swung a strong left-handed bat all while utilizing an advanced level of athleticism.

ITINERARY

•  8:20 to 8:40 a.m. – Position Players Check-in
  + Stretching
  + 60-yard Dash
  + Defensive Evaluations
  + Offensive Evaluations
  + Round of Batting Practice
• 11:45 a.m. to noon – Pitcher Only Check-in
  + Stretching
  + Bullpen Session
  + (Catchers will also be evaluated during this time)
• Catchers will stay for both sessions.

RELATED CONTENT