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. 

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  
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

 

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  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

 

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  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

 

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  
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

 

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.  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  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