By Matt Yarber and Sean Duncan

Today we examine the top corner infielders from the Prep Baseball Report Preseason All-State Showcase on Sunday, February 19, 2012 at The Max.  The top honors go to Nicholas Kowalczuk, a physical 6-foot-3, 210-pound first baseman from Oak Park-River Forest HS who impressed with his power potential, athleticism and solid glovework at first base.

A look at the top corner infielders:

1. Nicholas Kowalczuk, 1B, Oak Park River Forest HS, Class of 2013
Kowalczuk is a physically impressive 6-foot-3, 210-pound first baseman who impressed with his offensive prowess and athleticism. At the plate, the right-handed hitting Kowalczuk has a open setup and an explosive lower half with good barrel whip through the zone. He has a balanced and advanced plate approach; he has an easy yet explosive swing, and generates considerable power from his lower half.  The ball jumps off his bat with backspin carry to all fields. Defensively, Kowalczuk is an athletic first baseman with good footwork and soft hands around the bag. He showed advanced feel for the position.  Additionally, Kowalczuk showed his athleticism by running a 7.14 60.

2. Ryne Blanton, 3B/RHP, Richmond Burton HS, Class of 2013
Blanton is 6-foot-1, 190-pound two-way player who impressed in every aspect of the game.  On the mound, Blanton showed solid feel and easy effort in his delivery.  He throws from a high 3/4 arm slot and has three pitches: an 82-84 mph fastball with run, a 61-64 mph curveball, and a 77-78 mph changeup with sink.  Defensively, Blanton showed extremely well at third base, demonstrating good lateral range and solid hands.  He exhibited a strong, accurate arm across the diamond (83 mph). At the plate, Blanton has a balanced setup and maintains excellent balance throughout.  He creates good loft in his swing, as he consistently made hard contact to the power alleys.

3. Derek Bangert, C/3B, Lockport Township HS, Class of 2013
Bangert is a 6-foot-3, 225-pound physical specimen and uses his strength in every aspect of the game.  Bangert impressed at the plate with his ability to consistently square up the baseball with authority. Bangert has impressive juice in his bat; the ball comes off his barrel differently than most. For his power potential, he has remarkably quiet and balanced swing mechanics. Defensively, Bangert moves well for a big man, and showed off a strong arm, 84 mph from across the diamond.  Behind the dish, Bangert was 81 mph from the crouch and posted a top pop time of 2.0.

4. Ricardo Ramirez, 3B/RHP, De La Salle HS, Class of 2013
Ramirez is a 6-foot, 190-pound two-way player who opened eyes with his offensive prowess and defensive abilities at third base.  He impressed defensively, with soft hands, concise footwork and solid arm strength (84 mph) from across the diamond.  Offensively, Ramirez has a balanced setup and creates good whip through the zone with his strong upper body.  He maintained good balance throughout his line drive swing. The ball jumps off his bat with carry and force.  On the mound, Ramirez continued to impress. Operating from a high 3/4 arm slot, he has three different pitches: an 81-83 mph fastball with run, a 70-73 mph curveball, and a 72-76 mph changeup.

5. Trayvond Crockett, 3B/RHP, Brooks College Prep HS, Class of 2013
Crockett is a 6-foot-1, 190-pound two-way player who impressed with his athletic left-handed swing at the plate.  Crockett has a balanced setup and uses his strength to create solid whip through the zone.  He has a relaxed plate approach, and showcased bat speed and the ability to drive the baseball with authority.  Crockett also ran a 7.31 60. On the mound, Crockett has a quick, short arm action and throws from over the top.  His fastball topped at 84 mph, and he also threw a 66-70 mph curveball, and a 76-78 mph changeup.

6. John Peltz, 3B, Wheaton North HS, Class of 2013
At 6-foot-3, 215 pounds, Peltz is an impressive physical presence. The corner infielder showcased significant right-handed power potential at the plate. Peltz stays tall and balanced throughout his swing, and generates big power from a strong lower half. The ball jumps off his bat with backspin carry and loft. Defensively, Peltz showed reliable hands and footwork at third base; he was clocked at 74 mph from across the diamond. Peltz, who is also a standout quarterback in football, looks to be one of the better power-hitting prospects in the class.

7. Alec Semersky, OF/1B, Libertyville HS, Class of 2013
Semersky is a physically impressive 6-foot-3, 195-pound multi-positional player who showed good athleticism in all facets of the game.  Semersky ran a 7.08 60, and his athleticism continued to shine in the outfield as he moved with fluid purpose to the ball.  Semersky showed an accurate arm and was clocked at 75 mph from the position. At first base, Semersky showed excellent glovework around the bag. Offensively, Semersky has a fundamental approach at the plate. He showcased a quick and compact swing and the ability to square up the baseball.

8. Adam McGinnis, C/3B, Normal West HS, Class of 2013
McGinnis is a 5-foot-11, 185-pounder who proved himself to be one of the better defensive catchers in the class. Behind the dish, McGinnis exhibited an accurate arm (77 mph) and had a best pop time of 1.98. Furthermore, he demonstrated quick feet and soft hands during bullpens.  At third base, McGinnis moved well laterally and once again showed an accurate arm across the diamond, being clocked at 79 mph.  Offensively, McGinnis has a balanced setup and takes an aggressive approach at the plate.  He consistently squared up the baseball with authority, showing gap-to-gap power.

9. Zach Trusk, C/3B, Plainfield North HS, Class of 2013
Trusk was one of the event’s biggest surprises, as he impressed with his ability to play multiple positions well.  Behind the dish, Trusk exhibited soft hands and the ability to handle all types of pitching with ease.  He posted a best pop time of 2.00 and was clocked at 75 mph from the crouch.  Trusk continued to impress at third base with soft hands and good lateral range, being clocked at 78 mph from across the diamond.  At the plate, Trusk had a balanced setup and a compact swing, maintaining excellent balance throughout.  Trusk has a strong lower half and an easy swing in which he sprayed line drives to all fields.

10. Taylor Field, C/3B, Newton HS, Class of 2013
Field is an athletic 5-foot-11, 175-pound multi-positional player who impressed with his defensive abilities.  Field showed best at third base with a quick exchange and athletic lateral movements.  He showed athleticism and the ability to play through the ball well; he was clocked at 74 mph from across the diamond.  Behind the plate, Field showed soft hands and the ability to receive the ball well.  He had sound, fundamental footwork and was clocked at 76 mph from the crouch with a best pop time of 2.09.  Offensively, Field has a balanced setup with a smooth load and a short compact swing.  He showed fluid rhythm throughout and excellent balance as he sprayed line drives to all fields.

Best of the Rest (Alphabetically)

Gabriel Gage, C/1B, Proviso East HS, Class of 2013
Gage is a 6-foot, 195-pound multi-positional player who was clocked at 75 mph from the crouch and had a best pop time of 2.26.  Additionally, Gage ran a 7.85 60.

Dalton Garst, RHP/3B, Winnebago HS, Class of 2013
Garst is a solidly built 6-foot, 190-pound two-way player. On the mound, the right-hander throws from over the top slot and has three pitches.  He throws a 78-79 mph fastball, a 68-71 mph curveball that demonstrated some late bite, and a 72-73 mph changeup.  At third base, Garst moved well laterally and showed an accurate arm (74 mph).  At the plate, Garst used his strong build to generate some pop in his swing.

Will Harvel, 3B/C, Prairie Ridge HS, Class of 2013
Harvel is an athletic 6-foot-1, 180-pound multi-positional player who showed well defensively.  Behind the plate, Harvel was clocked at 77 mph and had a best pop time of 2.15.  At third base, Harvel showed sound lateral movement.  Offensively, Harvel has a slightly open setup and has good extension through his swing.

Callahan Moltzan, 1B/OF, Willowbrook HS, Class of 2013
Moltzan is a 6-foot, 180-pound multi-positional player who showed well at the plate with his strong left-handed swing.  He has a balanced setup with a smooth load and strong hands.  When he squared balls up, it seemed to jump with considerable authority. Defensively, Moltzan is a solid first baseman who exhibited fundamental footwork around the bag and was clocked at 79 mph from across the diamond.  Additionally, Moltzan ran a 7.43 60.

Thomas Prescott, LHP/1B, Lyons Township HS, Class of 2013
Prescott is a 6-foot-1, 175-pound two-way player who showed well on the mound and impressed with his left-handed swing.  On the mound, Prescott commanded the zone with four pitches, and all with movement. He works from a high 3/4 arm slot and has a short back arm action.  His fastball topped at 82 mph, while his cutter sat in the 77-79 range. Prescott also filled up the zone with a 69-71 mph changeup, which exhibited sink, and a 63-65 mph curveball. Prescott hides the ball well, and with his short arm action and funk in his delivery, he should give hitters fits. Offensively, Prescott has a solid left-handed swing with good extension and whip through the zone.  A line drive hitter, Prescott took an impressive round of BP in which he squared the baseball up with consistent authority.

Alexander Shake, LHP/1B, Canton HS, Class of 2013
Shake is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound two-way player who showed well on the mound.  Throwing from a high 3/4 arm slot, Shake has a 78-80 mph fastball with run, a 62-65 mph breaking ball, and a 70-73 mph changeup.  Offensively, Shake impressed with his left-handed swing, as he barreled up the baseball.

Chans Sugden, RHP/1B, Galesburg HS, Class of 2013
Sugden is an athletic 6-foot-2, 187-pound two-way player who showed well on the mound with a loose, live arm.  He showed some rhythm in his delivery and his arm works with little effort.  He throws four different pitches: a 77-79 mph fastball, a 69-71 breaking ball that flashed tight spin and had a 12/6 break, a 75 mph changeup with arm side run and sink, and a71 mph splitter.  Defensively, Sugden showed good hands and an accurate arm (75 mph) with sound footwork around first base.  At the plate, Sugden has an open setup and showed good balance throughout contact.  Sugden showed good whip in his swing and exhibited gap-to-gap power.  Additionally, Sugden ran a 7.32 60.

Alex Ventrella, LHP/1B, Lisle HS, Class of 2013
Ventrella is a 5-foot-11, 180-pound two-way player who impressed with his easy left-handed swing.  He has a balanced setup with a smooth load and short stride to the baseball.  Ventrella is able to generate some whip through the zone, resulting in some pop to his swing.  On the mound, Ventrella works out of the stretch, and throws from a high 3/4 arm slot. He has three pitches: a 77-78 mph fastball, a 60-69 mph curveball, and a 69-76 mph changeup.

Zach Wade, 3B, Tremper HS (WI), Class of 2013
Wade is a 6-foot-1, 170-pound infielder who ran a 7.34 60 and was clocked at 75 mph from across the diamond.  He moved well laterally and exhibited fundamental footwork in the infield.  At the plate, Wade has a balanced setup and found barrel often in his round of bp, spraying the ball to all fields.

Ethan Wild, RHP/1B, O’Fallon HS, Class of 2013
Wild is a 6-foot-3, 180-pound two-way player who impressed at the plate with his left-handed swing.  He made hard contact in his round of BP. Wild has a balanced setup, has a level bat path and gets excellent extension after contact. On the mound, Wild throws operates from the stretch with an over the top arm slot.  He showcased three pitches: a 78-79 mph fastball, a 64-68 mph breaking ball, and a 69-71 changeup with arm side run and sink.

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