By Steve Nielsen
Scouting Supervisor – Wisconsin/Illinois
The Prep Baseball Report Labor Day Challenge is scheduled for Saturday August 30 through Sunday August 31 at the brand new Curtis Granderson Stadium at University of Illinois-Chicago and the all turf Cougar Stadium at Chicago State.Â
Last year the St. Louis Gamers took the crown going 4-0 led by tournament MVP and Notre Dame recruit, Matthew Vielring.
CLICK HERE for 2013 Labor Day Challenge Recap.
Tourney Machine will hosting all of the schedule and results and can be seen here. All of Saturday's action will take place at UIC and Sunday's game play will take place at Chicago State.
This year the field is set with five of the top travel programs in the Midwest – GRB Rays, Indiana Outlaws, Rawlings Hitters, Southern Illinois and Top Tier. All five teams will feature some of the top 2016 prospects in the area, here’s a look at how some of the rosters break down.
GRB Rays
The Rays will feature some of the top left handed pitching in Wisconsin’s Class of 2016 with Jordan Krueger (Mukwonago) and Keaton Knueppel (Verona Area) on top of the two southpaws the Rays bring No. 9 prospect in the state RHP Ryan Schmitt (Arrowhead).
CLICK HERE for complete team preview.
Name | Position | Jersey # | Height | Weight | Â | |
Keith Kutzler | RHP | 6-3 | 185lbs | View Profile | ||
Aaron Mutter | RHP | 6-4 | 225lbs | View Profile | ||
Keaton Knueppel | LHP | 6-1 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Travis Berg | RHP | 6-2 | 195lbs | View Profile | ||
Jeff Steuck | 1B | 6-2 | 190lbs | View Profile | ||
Jordan Krueger | LHP | 6-0 | 190lbs | View Profile | ||
Joe Acker | OF | 6-0 | 170lbs | View Profile | ||
Grant Frazer | SS | 6-0 | 170lbs | View Profile | ||
Taylor Borchers | 3B | 6-0 | 180lbs | View Profile | ||
Jack Jensen | C | 5-10 | 170lbs | View Profile | ||
Ryan Schmitt | RHP | 5-10 | 160lbs | View Profile | ||
Logan Michaels | C | 5-9 | 140lbs | View Profile | ||
Jackson Hoang | OF | 6-2 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Ben Carew | SS | 6-0 | 165lbs | View Profile | ||
Isaiah Cronk | C | 5-10 | 170lbs | View Profile |
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Indiana Outlaws
The Outlaws easily boast the best pitching staff in the tournament. In order of 2016 state ranking No. 4 RHP Michael McAvene (Roncalli), No. 5 LHP Andrew Saalfrank (Heritage), No. 7 RHP Dalton Leighty (Western) and No. 12 RHP Collin Lollar (Columbus North) will all be on the bump for the Outlaws. All four arms have seen their fastball reach the mid to upper 80’s and are highly regarded arms in our overall rankings.
CLICK HERE for complete team preview.
Name | Position | Height | Â Weight | |||
Michael McAvene | RHP | 6-3 | 180lbs | View Profile | ||
Jacson McGowan | 3B | 6-1 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Ricky West | OF | 5-10 | 193lbs | View Profile | ||
Brice McDaniel | 1B | 6-2 | 215lbs | View Profile | ||
Logan Ames | RHP | 6-4 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Janzen Bloom | RHP | 6-3 | 235lbs | View Profile | ||
Kyle Matter | 2B/MIF | 5-11 | 165lbs | View Profile | ||
Leo Watson | C | 5-11 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Cedric (CJ) Vaughn | OF | 5-10 | 160lbs | View Profile | ||
Jake Franklin | SS | 6-0 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Collin Lollar | RHP | 6-1 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Andrew Saalfrank | LHP | 6-3 | 185lbs | View Profile | ||
Drew Summeier | RHP | 5-11 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Nathanial Bye | RHP | 6-0 | 160lbs | View Profile | ||
Roy Thurman | OF | 6-0 | 190lbs | View Profile | ||
Dalton Leighty | RHP | 6-2 | 180lbs | View Profile | ||
Andrew Deleon | RHP | 5-7 | 140lbs | View Profile |
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Rawlings Hitters
As impressive as the Outlaws roster is from Indiana the Rawlings Hitters are equally impressive when talking about in state talent. The Hitters’ roster features seven of the top 11 ranked players in Wisconsin’s 2016 class. 3B Justin Lavey (Tremper), SS Gavin Lux (Indian Trail), C Ben Rortvedt (Verona Area), OF Cyrillo Watson (South Milwaukee), OF Dominic Clementi (Arrowhead), RHP Ty Weber (Menomonee Falls) and RHP Ryan Selner (Milwaukee Lutheran).
CLICK HERE for complete team preview
Name | Position | Jersey # | Height | Â Weight | ||
Ryan Davila | LHP | 42 | 6-0 | 185lbs | View Profile | |
Jake Snider | 2B/MIF | 44 | 5-10 | 170lbs | View Profile | |
Dominic Clementi | OF | 24 | 6-2 | 180lbs | View Profile | |
Joe Gahm | SS | 10 | 6-0 | 175lbs | View Profile | |
TD Walker | OF | 23 | 6-1 | 175lbs | View Profile | |
Ryan Selner | RHP | 11 | 6-4 | 180lbs | View Profile | |
Gavin Lux | SS | 42 | 6-0 | 165lbs | View Profile | |
Cyrillo Watson | OF | 5 | 6-0 | 175lbs | View Profile | |
Houston Cowan | RHP | 34 | 6-4 | 200lbs | View Profile | |
James Wright | RHP | 15 | 5-10 | 165lbs | View Profile | |
Tanner Strommen | SS | 22 | 5-9 | 135lbs | View Profile | |
Ty Weber | RHP | 12 | 6-4 | 205lbs | View Profile | |
Ben Degracie | OF | 20 | 5-9 | 165lbs | View Profile | |
Takoda Metoxen | OF | 5-11 | 170lbs | View Profile | ||
Matt McCarty | RHP | 22 | 6-3 | 190lbs | View Profile | |
Aaron Steinhoff | RHP | 26 | 5-11 | 160lbs | View Profile | |
Garrett Gilbert | C | 5-11 | 160lbs | View Profile | ||
Ricky Bergstrom | C | 18 | 6-0 | 165lbs | View Profile | |
Jarred Kelenic | OF | 6 | 6-0 | 165lbs | View Profile | |
Alex Binelas | 3B | 1 | 6-1 | 175lbs | View Profile | |
Jacob DeLabio | RHP | 2 | 6-5 | 176lbs | View Profile |
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Southern Illinois
The Southern Illinois team features a mix of some of the top players in the Southern Illinois area. This team will feature several recognizable names and most intriguing are two uncommitted 2015 prospects in LHP Bryan Hudson (Alton) and SS Jordan Hovey (Edwardsville). Hudson is ranked No. 10 in Illinois and the LHP is literally a can’t-miss prospect standing 6-foot-7, 200-pounds with his fastball reaching 88-89 mph. Hovey, ranked No. 54 in Illinois, is an athletic left handed hitting middle infielder whose bat features pop to all fields.
CLICK HERE for complete team preview.
Name | Position | Jersey # | Height | Weight | Â | |
Jordan Hovey | SS | 6 | 6-0 | 175lbs | View Profile | |
Bradley Harrison | OF | 14 | 6-3 | 190lbs | View Profile | |
Bryan Hudson | LHP | 16 | 6-7 | 200lbs | View Profile | |
Matt Hopkins | 1B | 5 | 6-2 | 190lbs | View Profile | |
Andrew Millas | C | 8 | 6-1 | 165lbs | View Profile | |
Jacob Wilson | RHP | 18 | 5-10 | 200lbs | View Profile | |
Fahd Shakeel | OF | 11 | 5-11 | 160lbs | View Profile | |
Brady Schanuel | RHP | 10 | 6-2 | 180lbs | View Profile | |
Carter Hayden | RHP | 4 | 5-10 | 155lbs | View Profile | |
Bradley Snyder | 1B | 12 | 6-2 | 180lbs | View Profile | |
Chris Holba | RHP | 3 | 6-2 | 160lbs | View Profile | |
Kyle VanBevern | SS | 19 | 6-2 | 185lbs | View Profile | |
Austin Christ | RHP | 15 | 6-7 | 225lbs | View Profile | |
Collin Clayton | OF | 1 | 6-0 | 165lbs | View Profile | |
Grant Robison | RHP | 6-7 | 235lbs | View Profile | ||
Derrick Rozycke | OF | 5-9 | 165lbs | View Profile | ||
Dylan McEwen | 2B/MIF | 5-11 | 155lbs | View Profile |
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Top Tier
The Top Tier roster is highlighted by the No.2 and No. 4 prospects in Illinois with C Cooper Johnson (Carmel) and 3B Cal Coughlin (Lake Forest). Not only are both prospects top five in the state but are also top 15 prospects in our coverage area. Along with Johnson and Coughlin, SS Matt Burch (Warren) is ranked No. 14 in Illinois and brings a strong arm and left handed bat to the left side of the infield. Â Top Tier pitching will be led be the unique switch handed pitching of Joe Santoro (Carmel) who touches 86 mph from both sides.
CLICK HERE for complete team preview.
Name | Position | Height | Â Weight | |||
Matt Burch | SS | 5-9 | 155lbs | View Profile | ||
Joe Santoro | LHP | 5-11 | 175lbs | View Profile | ||
Cooper Johnson | C | 6-0 | 185lbs | View Profile | ||
William McKenna | C | 5-9 | 165lbs | View Profile | ||
Jeremy Gaines | OF | 5-9 | 155lbs | View Profile | ||
Jordan Libman | OF | 5-11 | 180lbs | View Profile | ||
Jack Coney | SS | 6-1 | 165lbs | View Profile | ||
Tyler Peterson | SS | 5-10 | 160lbs | View Profile | ||
Cole Miller | LHP | 6-4 | 200lbs | View Profile | ||
Mitch Owens | 3B | 6-3 | 193lbs | View Profile | ||
Max Downs | OF | 5-10 | 165lbs | View Profile | ||
Hank Christie | RHP | 6-0 | 155lbs | View Profile | ||
Tyler Garrity | LHP | 6-2 | 190lbs | View Profile | ||
Bobby Seymour | 1B | 6-3 | 210lbs | View Profile | ||
Reese Dolan | RHP | 6-3 | 177lbs | View Profile |