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PBR IL: Lake Land and Olney Central, Takeaways

September 20, 2023
By: David Seifert and Peter Hamot
PBR Scouting Staff

On September 8th, our scouting staff traveled to Mattoon, IL for the Lake Land and Olney Central Scout Day. This event hosted just under 40 players, and gave our staff an in-depth look at a number of these schools' top prospects. 

Click HERE to view the full event page, and continue reading below to see which players popped in front of our staff.

Lake Land  

Danny Cihocki, RHP, Princeton (IL), 2023
The Lakers top pitching prospect, Cihocki is a true freshman up to 89 mph with mid-2300s RPM. Clean, compact arm action on an athletic 6-foot-3, 180-pound frame. Good shape to his 76-77 mph curve and very good feel for a fading changeup at 81-82 with spin in the 1600s. Projectable arm/body type with high likelihood of adding velocity in the near future. 

Kayden Althoff, RHP, Teutopolis (IL), 2022
Athletic-framed right-hander with a live two-seam fastball at 87-88 mph. Good shape to 77 mph curve. Above average split is best pitch with late dive, swing/miss offering. Low-80s with spin in the 1200s. Struck out 51 in 43 innings pitched last spring. 

Drake McDonald, RHP, Shelbyville (IL), 2023
Converted catcher with upside on the bump. Loose arm with high 3/4 release point. All three pitches show strong potential. Fastball 88-89 mph for strikes. Good feel for 77-80 mph changeup and fair feel to spin mid-70s curve. 

Benjamin Benoit, RHP, Hampshire (IL), 2021
Funky delivery right-hander with 3/4 release point. Above average life on 87-88 mph fastball. Plus slider at 80-81 mph with tight spin (2600+ RPM) and very good lateral break (20” HB). Change of pace was a work-in-progress at 82 mph. 

Luis Pezzotti, RHP, International Berckley (IL), 2023
True sophomore. Struck out 21 in 17.1 innings last spring. Fastball worked in the 85-88 mph range with cut, pairing effectively off a high-spinning slider at 77-83 mph (2600+ RPM). Also went to a straight change in the low/mid-80s. Side-saddle delivery with some rhythm and a high ¾ release.  

Bret Baldus, RHP, Avon (OH), 2021
Towering 6-foot-6, 195-pound frame, high waist with evenly proportioned weight. Controlled leg-lift into a slightly coiled balance point, over the top release. Fastball worked in the 85-87 mph range with over 2500 RPM at times with slight run and carry. Changeup worked in the 77-80 mph range with over 15” of run at times.  

Ajani Henke, RHP, Home School (MO), 2023
Athletic delivery with a controlled tempo into leg-lift, fires down the mound with a drop/drive lower-half and athletic finish, high ¾ release with a loose arm. Fastball worked in the 87-89 mph range with life through the zone, spinning over 2400 RPM. Gradual 11/5 curveball played in the 66-69 mph range and paired with a gradual 10/4 slider at 70-72 mph. Also went to a straight change at 73-75 mph.  

Dicky Gonzalez, MIF/RHP, Lake Land (IL), 2023
Sophomore. Lean and athletic build, 5-foot-10, 175-pounds with plenty of room to add on strength. Gonzalez brings back a .342 batting average in 111 at-bats from last spring, also recording eight doubles and 27 RBIs. Simple, fluid right-handed stroke with intent to lift, pummeled the ball with lifted contact to his pull-side, more power projection as he fills out, currently reaching up to 98 mph for his max EV with a 93.2 mph average and 382’ max distance. Fluid defender on the infield with athletic actions, soft hands and a clean transfer, moves well side-to-side with easy range. Well above-average arm, touching 94 mph across the diamond. He also showed extremely well on the mound; live-arm from low 3/4 release point, easy velocity. Fastball touched 91, mostly 89-90 mph with late tail and sink. Inconsistent, yet sharp 71-74 mph slider at times. Throws around the ball too often. Will also drop down to sidearm slot and tickle 85 mph. 

Moises Rosario, C, Cenapec (DR) 
Sophomore. Listed at a durable 5-foot-10, 196-pounds, round shoulders with some strength throughout. A top returner for the Lakers, putting up a .301 batting average in 146 at-bats last spring with 11 doubles, four home runs and 27 RBIs. The right-handed hitter has some pre-pitch movement in his hands along with a fluid rhythm in his operation, consistently working his pull-side and middle of the field with authority, reaching up to 100 mph for his max EV with an average EV of 96.9 mph (T379’). High-level catch/throw behind the dish, quick/clean transfer, stays short and works in-line, reaching as low as 1.88 for his pop-time and topping at 83 mph from the chute.  

Will Knapp, OF, Morris (IL), 2023
True Freshman. Highly projectable 6-foot-1, 185-pounds frame, lean/wiry strength with twitch. Knapp showed some of the highest-level tools all across the board, starting with his 6.77 in the 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter creates easy bat-speed with his loose/flat stroke, averaging 76.5 mph and reaching up to 81.8 mph according to BLAST. The ball jumped off his bat, working mostly line-drives to his pull-side/middle, reaching up to 101.1 mph for his max EV with an average of 91.2 mph. His aforementioned speed will allow him to patrol the outfield and cover ground with ease, and his arm is well above-average, reaching up to 93 mph from a crow hop.  

Cade Hamilton, OF, Inspiration Academy (FL), 2022
6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, physical build with muscle attached throughout. Above-average athlete, cruising to a  6.78 in the 60 to start his day. Switch-hitter at the plate with a similar look from both sides, reached up to 99.7 mph for his max EV with an average of 93.1 mph (T376’). Heavy pull-side approach, worked more line-drives from the right-side and lifted contact from the left. Fluid defender on the infield with soft hands and athletic footwork, easy range to both sides and gets around the ball. Well above-average arm, reaching up to 88 mph across the diamond. 

Luke Schieltz, OF, Beckman Catholic (IA), 2023
True freshman. The left-handed hitter showed the ability to stay through the ball and drive it with authority up the middle and to his pull-side, reaching up to 95 mph for his max EV and averaging 90.2 mph with a max distance of 365’. Steady and fluid actions in the outfield, reaching up to 83 mph from a crow hop.  

Joshua Ward, OF, Waiakea (HI), 2023
Athletic, 6-foot-1, 185-pound frame. The right-handed hitter impressed in BP with a loose/handsy swing, working primarily to his pull-side and occasionally getting around pitches on the outer-half, reaching up to 97.7 mph for his max EV. Athletic actions in the outfield with soft hands, clean arm stroke that reached up to 88 mph from a crow hop.  

Kyle Duff-Hudson, OF, Morgan Park (IL), 2023
True freshman. 6-foot-2, 164-pound frame, lean and wiry with room for added strength. Highly athletic, cruising to a 6.74 in the 60-yard dash. The right-handed hitter has a flat path with a line-drive approach, shooting the ball the other way and also showing the ability to use the whole field. Athletic actions in the outfield with fluid footwork, plays through the ball with soft hands and reached up to 86 mph from a crow hop.  

Jack Tobin, 1B, Prairie Ridge (IL), 2022 
True sophomore. Physical build listed at 6-foot-5, 230-pounds, evenly proportioned strength throughout. The right-handed hitter showed easy bat-strength in his round of BP, reaching up to 350’ for his max distance with a max EV of 94.6 mph. Simple and repeatable right-handed stroke, Tobin routinely put the ball on line to his pull-side/middle. Steady defender at first base, fluid footwork around the bag with a strong arm (T85 mph), flashed soft hands.  

Kannon Walker, OF/LHP, Belleville East (IL), 2022
True sophomore. 5-foot-10, 160-pound frame, athletic with room to fill out physically. Impressive two-way showing for Walker, starting with his round of BP. The right-handed hitter has a fluid rhythm in the box, utilizing a small step to start his load with a slight separation in the hands, firing through with an uphill path and reaching up to 95 mph for his max EV with a max distance of 365’. Athletic defender in the outfield with soft hands and fluid actions, reaching up to 86 mph from a crow hop. Above-average runner, cruising to a 6.99 in the 60-yard dash. On the mound, the southpaw worked his fastball in the 81-82 mph range with above-average spin (2500+ RPM), pairing off a sharp 1/7 curveball at 74-76 mph (2600+ RPM) and fading changeup at 76-78 mph.  

Owen Anderson, C, Geneva (IL), 2022
True Sophomore. 6-foot, 185-pound frame, some strength throughout with a strong base, good catcher’s build. Another top returner for the Lakers as he turned in a .350 batting average in 140 at-bats last spring with seven doubles, 21 RBIs and 35 runs scored. The right-handed hitter has a lift and place stride which allows him to create some coil with hand-separation, firing through the zone with a mostly flat path and using the whole field. Steady defender behind the plate with a quick/clean catch and throw operation, working in-line with second and reaching as low as 2.05 for his pop-time. Deadens the ball out front on blocks and hops out with a motor on bunts.  

Kiefer Tarnoki, OF, Sycamore (IL), 2023 
True freshman. 5-foot-11, 190-pound frame, lean strength throughout with room for added muscle as he matures. Switch-hitter, simple stroke from both sides with minimal wasted movement, path works flat from the left-side with a more uphill stroke from the right, favored his pull-side throughout with line-drives. 7.00 runner in the 60, athletic actions, soft hands with aggressive footwork through the ball, reaching up to 85 mph from a crow hop.  

Justin Somoza, INF, San Fernando (NY), 2020
Sophomore. 5-foot-11, 175-pound frame, lean build with room for added strength. The right-handed hitter has sneaky pop in his bat, reaching up to 98.8 mph for his max EV with an average of 90.6 mph (T370’). Simple, repeatable stroke, intent to lift with an uphill path, showed the ability to use the whole field. Steady defender on the infield with soft hands, fluid footwork to and through the ball, clean transfer on double play turn. Reached up to 80 mph across the diamond and played on the move.  

Austin Gabrielson, INF, Ames (IA), 2023
True freshman. 5-foot-11, 165-pound frame, athletic build with room to add on strength. The right-handed hitter attacked his pull-side throughout BP, reaching up to 93.3 mph for his max EV with a max distance of 347’. Steady defender on the infield, reaching up to 80 mph across the field.  

Drew DuPont, OF, Tecumseh (IN), 2023
True freshman. 6-foot, 185-pound frame, some strength in the lower-half with round shoulders. The left-handed hitter took an impressive round of BP, wearing out his pull-side while also showing the ability to drive the ball with authority up the middle and the other way. Simple stroke with extension in his hands before firing through with an uphill path, reaching up to 94.5 mph for his max EV with an average of 91 mph. He displayed above-average BLAST metrics as well, averaging 22.8 mph for his hand speed and 77 mph for his bat-speed. Steady actions in the outfield, deliberate footwork through the ball, reaching up to 89 mph from a crow hop.  

Collyn Ballard, OF, North Clay (IL), 2022
True sophomore. Compact, 5-foot-9, 180-pound frame, athletic with some strength attached. The right-handed hitter used the whole field throughout BP, mainly staying up the middle and to his pull-side, reaching up to 97.4 mph for his max EV with a 92.5 mph average EV. Steady hands and actions in the outfield, sequences well into a crow hop reaching up to 90 mph. 

Olney CC 

Chris Hedinger, OF, Jasper (IN), 2022
Sophomore. Physical 6-foot-1, 220-pound frame with muscle attached throughout. The right-handed hitter had one of the more impressive rounds of BP on the day, working up to 98.6 mph for his max EV with an average of 90.3 mph. Above-average bat-strength, showing intent to lift to his pull-side and leaving the yard for a home run. Steady actions with deliberate footwork in the outfield, reaching up to 84 mph from a crow hop.  

Keifer Wilson, C, Greencastle (IN), 2022
Sophomore. 6-foot-3, 210-pound frame, some lean strength throughout with room for added muscle. The right-handed hitter has some strength projection in his swing as he continues to fill out, presently looks to work line-drives up the middle and to his pull-side, reaching just under 93 mph for his max EV. Quality defender behind the plate, clean catch/throw with some carry on his throws, reaching as low as 2.01 for his pop-time and topping out at 80 mph from the chute. 

Tate Wischnack, OF/RHP, Waconia (MN), 2022
True sophomore. 6-foot-1, 195-pound build with some present strength, round shoulders. A top returner for the Blue Knights, turning in a .262 batting average last spring in 122 at-bats with seven doubles, two triples, three home runs and 26 RBIs. The right-handed hitter has easy bat-strength, reaching up to 99 mph for his max EV with a max distance of 344’. Steady defender in the outfield, sure-handed with a well above-average arm, reaching up to 94 mph from a crow hop. Arm strength easily transfers over to the mound, reaching up to 91 mph with his fastball and spinning it over 2400 RPM at times. Flashed a fading change up and developing breaking ball to compliment the fastball. Still very raw on the mound with untapped potential.   

Gage Reynolds, C, Newton Community (IL), 2023
True freshman. 6-foot, 190-pound frame with some strength in the lower-half. The right-handed hitter has some effort in his swing, reaching up to 92 mph for his max EV with an average of 88 mph, working to lift the baseball to his pull-side. Clean catch/throw operation, working in-line with second and reaching as low as 2.16 for his pop-time with a top velocity of 75 mph.  

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