Preseason Bubble Teams: Galesburg

March 4, 2019
By Drew Locascio
Illinois Scouting Director

The Illinois high school baseball season kicks off on March 11, opening day for regular season action under IHSA regulations. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2019 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Illinois Preseason Power 25 Rankings.

Perennially, we’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

Our 2019 preseason coverage continues today.

Team: Galesburg
Preseason Rank: On The Bubble
2018 Record: 20-15
Conference: Western Big Six
IHSA Class: 3A
Head Coach: Jeremy Pickrel
Playoff Run: Lost to Dunlap in Regional Championship 4-3
2018 Final Rank: NR
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: 5

TOP PLAYERS

NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POSITION	COMMITMENT
Nick Fields	IL	Galesburg	2019	RHP	Heartland CC
Connor Aten	IL	Galesburg	2020	RHP	Bradley
Noah Matheny	IL	Galesburg	2020	3B	-
Mitchel Sampson	IL	Galesburg	2020	RHP	-
Tyler Steck	IL	Galesburg	2020	C	-
Nikko Deligiannis	IL	Galesburg	2020	INF
Ty Harter	IL	Galesburg	2020	RHP

KEY LOSSES

NAME	STATE	SCHOOL	CLASS	POSITION	COMMITMENT
Renedage Schott	IL	Galesburg	2018	INF	Illinois Central JC
Donnivan Reed	IL	Galesburg	2018	SS	-

OUTLOOK

After winning 20 games in 2018, the Silver Streaks return five pitchers and seven position players. On the mound, they arguably have as good of depth as anyone is class 3A. Senior RHP/SS Nick Fields, a Heartland CC commit, is the reigning top pitcher in the conference and will be looked upon as the ace of the staff. Junior RHP’s Connor Aten, Noah Matheny and Mitchel Sampson should not be far behind however. All three have mid-to-upper 80’s fastballs and should play a big role as position players as well. Aten, a Bradley commit, is highly-athletic, runs a sub 7.00 60, has pop in his bat and runs his fastball up to 87 mph. Matheny and Sampson both impressed at the winter Peoria Preseason I.D. Matheny, also a left-handed bat, has a strong, 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame, a lively mid-80’s fastball and three-pitch mix. Sampson a chiseled right-hander works across his body, creating deception and touched 88 mph this winter. Junior RHP Ty Harter gives the Silver Streaks even more depth on the mound if needed.

Receiving these talented arms should be junior catcher Tyler Steck. Steck has an athletic 5-foot-11, 170-pound build, a strong arm (79 mph from the crouch) and pop times that are consistently around 2.00-2.10.

Offensively, all of the aforementioned arms will also be some of the top position players this spring, with Aten and Fields leading the way. Keep an eye on 2020 infielder Nikko Deligiannis to play a role as well.

Coach Pickrel will have plenty of high-quality arms to choose from in 2019 and if they can stay healthy and score enough runs they will be a tough matchup for anyone come playoff time.

VIDEO SPOTLIGHT

Connor Aten (8.9.18)

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