Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

Coop's Scoop: Sectional Notebook

June 2, 2022
Cooper Trinkle
Indiana Scout

May 28-30 Sectional Games

JJ Oliver, INF, Mishawaka Marian HS, 2024
I wrote briefly about Oliver after my first trip to South Bend, but the 5-foot-7, 145 pounder had a big day in my second look. Oliver was 4 for 4 with an RBI and 2 R scored out of the Marian lead off spot. Quiet, smooth load with a short, simple swing plane. High contact type with good bat-to-ball skills. Above-average runner, with more quickness than speed right now. Quick feet in the infield with sure hands, makes the routine play. Good follow in the 2024 class.

Jayce Lee, OF, South Bend Saint Joseph HS, 2024
I’ve seen Lee twice this spring and in both looks he has hit long, no doubt home runs. Lee’s physical development has really paid off for him this spring, hitting .421 with 7 2Bs and 4 HRs in his sophomore campaign. He has tons of swagger/presence in the box and has an aggressive approach. Looks to do damage. Lee hit a long, walkoff home run in this game against the best velocity I’ve seen him face in the two games I’ve seen him play. There is still some swing-and-miss in his game, but this 2024 OF is trending in the right direction and he will be a good one to follow this summer.

Joey Wilmoth, RHP, Fishers HS, 2022
One of my favorite arms in Indiana’s 2022 class, Wilmoth is an absolute bulldog on the mound. In this appearance, he was handed a tall task, coming out of the bullpen in the 1st inning with RISP and a 2-run deficit. The 6-foot-2, 185 pound Illinois State signee proceeded to throw the next 7 innings, allowing just 2 Hs and 0 Rs, striking out 13. Inward turn at his balance point, Wilmoth moves down the slope really well and the ball jumps out of his hand with electric arm speed. He sat 88-92 mph on his fastball and held that velo well, still sitting 88-91 in the 5th inning. Wilmoth really had his sharp, 74-77 mph breaking ball going in this game. He throws the breaking ball with really good arm speed, causing late break. He flashed a CH at 78-80 with some sink to it, mainly against LHHs.

Cameron Heaney, RHP, Carmel HS, 2023
Uncommitted 2023 RHP. Projectable, 6-foot-2, 185 pounder with long legs. Heaney had a really solid junior campaign for Carmel, and kept the Greyhounds in the game despite four errors committed in his four innings of work. He sat 82-85 mph on his fastball and 71-73 mph on his breaking ball. Heaney won’t wow you with his stuff, but he attacks hitters in the zone and does a good job keeping hitters off balance. 

Hunter Snow, OF, Carmel HS, 2024
Long, projectable 6-foot-2, 175 pound 2024 OF. Snow preloads his lower half with a controlled load and small hover-type stride. Loose swing plane with bat speed. Really good runner, long strides that really cover ground. Snow was susceptible to get on his front foot on off speed pitches, but hit a couple fastballs with good velocity hard to his pull side. Snow was 2 for 4 on the day, including a 2B and an RBI. An uncommitted 2024 OF that college coaches are going to want to see this summer.

Hogan Denny, C/INF/RHP, Mooresville HS, 2024
Hogan Denny is one of my favorite players in the state, regardless of class. I’ve seen the 6-foot, 165 pound IU commit three times this spring, and each time he wows me in a different area of the game. In my first look this year, it was a no-doubt home run to go along with instinctual base running and arm strength behind the dish. I saw him later in the year at SS, where he showed lateral quickness and soft hands. This game, Denny hopped on the mound and beat the #1 ranked team in the state on the mound, with a CG shutout in the sectional semis, holding one of the best lineups in the state to just 5 hits. Denny pitched with an unmatched competitive fire, sitting 84-86 on his fastball from multiple arm slots. In my opinion, his 73-77 mph slider was his best pitch on the day and he showed tons of feel for it, with numerous swing-and-misses. At the plate, Denny hits from a strong, balanced setup. Uses a quick tempo leg kick and tight, compact load. Minimal head movement, even with the leg kick. Explosive bat speed. Hogan had a seriously impressive sophomore campaign, batting .419 with 9 2Bs, 10 HRs, and 44 SBs in just 30 games.

Evansville Reitz/Bloomington South Sectional Games

Caden McCoy, LHP, Bloomington North HS, 2024
My second look at the physical, 6-foot-2, 210 pound southpaw this spring and I was more impressed by McCoy in this look. McCoy went 6 IP, allowing 6 H, 2 ER, and 4 BBs, while striking out 13. He sat 85-88 early in the game, but settled in more at 83-85 mph as the game went on. Some armside run on the fastball with command to both sides of the plate. His breaking ball was more consistent in this game, leading to more strikeouts. When the breaking ball is good it’s a slurvey, low 70s pitch with good depth. He compliments his fastball well with a sinking, 77-78 mph changeup.


Ethan Ianni, RHP, Columbus East, 2022
Ianni had a big-time performance in the sectional semi-final, with a CG 13 K performance, allowing just 1 unearned run. Athletic, 6-foot RHP that was able to throw all 3-pitches in any count. Quick tempo, athletic delivery with a longer, clean arm swing. His fastball was 84-87 T 88 mph. His breaking ball was at 69-72 mph with good depth and late break. Ianni threw his breaking ball early in the count for strikes, and late as an out-pitch, keeping Bloomington North hitters off balance. Ianni had confidence in his 77-78 mph changeup, even throwing it R/R. Ianni is a Jackson JC signee. Max McCammon, C, Bloomington South, 2023
Sturdy, 5-foot-10, 195 pounder that I’ve seen hit in game multiple times this year. Early in the year, I watched him hit a HR & 2B against a very quality arm, in this look he went 3 for 3 and was intentionally walked in his 4th plate appearance. McCammon hits from the right side with a slow, smooth tempo and control throughout his load. Creates good separation at heel strike and showed a flatter bat path with good bat speed.

Ethan Lyke, LHP, Evansville Central, 2022
My first look at the Murray State signee was an impressive one. The game got delayed due to weather, but Lyke threw 3 IP before the delay with 6 punch outs. Lyke is a lean, 6-foot, 150 pounder with a bulldog mentality. Lyke attacked hitters in the zone with an athletic, quick tempo delivery from a ¾ arm slot. He was 86-89 T 90 mph with heavy ASR on his fastball. He threw a sharp breaking ball at 74-78 mph. Flashed a CH but was more fastball/breaking ball in the 3 innings I saw. Really tough matchup for LHHs. Cameron Tilly, RHP, Castle, 2023
An Auburn commit, I only saw Tilly for about 30 pitches before the weather delay, but he was very impressive nonetheless. The first thing that stands out about Tilly is his 6-foot-3, 185 pound frame. Looks the part with long arms, a high waist, and good strength throughout. Clean, repeatable delivery with moderate arm action. He sat 88-92 mph on his fastball. My favorite pitch in his repertoire was his 76-80 mph slider with sharp, late break. He flashed an 82-83 mph changeup with good downward action. Tilly has a very high ceiling and showed why he’s ranked as the #3 prospect in Indiana’s 2023 class.

SECTIONAL 15 - JENNINGS COUNTY

Tucker Biven, RHP/SS, New Albany HS, 2022
The best pitching performance I’ve seen all year, Biven was electric for 7 innings, allowing just 3 H’s, 1 BB, while striking out 14. Biven sat 94-95 in the first with his fastball, holding 93-95 for 3 innings. The 6-foot-1, 205 pound Louisville recruit had all three of his pitches working on this night. His sharp, wipeout slider was 84-88 mph and he was able to tunnel it off the fastball for swing-and-misses. His changeup had heavy sinking action and was 84-86 mph, mainly used against LHHs. Biven has a repeatable, athletic delivery with electric arm speed.
Bishop Letson, RHP, Floyd Central HS, 2023
I saw Letson in a relief appearance earlier in the season where he struck out 7 of 8 batters he faced, and his start against New Albany in the opening round of the sectional was just as impressive. The long, lanky 6-foot-3, 160 pound Purdue recruit sat 91-92 in the 1st inning, setting in at 88-91 for his 5 innings of work. His slider was better in this look, with sharp action at 78-79 mph. Very good feel for the slider. Letson doesn’t use his changeup often but it's an above-average pitch at 78-80 mph with fade to his armside. Letson finished the night with 5 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, & 7 K’s. Letson has some of the best stuff that I’ve seen in Indiana’s 2023 class and his long, lanky frame and clean, quick arm suggests that he will continue to get better.
Max McEwen, RHP, Jeffersonville, 2022
McEwen looks the part at 6-foot-2, 205 pounds and has a repeatable, low effort delivery. The Indiana State signee was very efficient in the opening round of the sectional, throwing a complete game, allowing just 3 Hs, 1 ER, 2 BBs, while striking out 8. McEwen attacked hitters with an 88-90 T 91 mph fastball that he could command to both sides of the plate. His breaking ball ranged from 75-78 mph and showed slurvey type action.

Kannon Stull, OF, Jeffersonville, 2022
Stull led the Jeffersonville offense with a 2 for 4 night, including 2 2B’s and 2 RBIs. The 5-foot-11, 180 pound Evansville recruit hits from an athletic stance with a compact load and toe tap stride. Quick bat speed. Aggressive approach, Stull looks to do damage early in the count. Good athlete, good runner.

Noah Wathen, LHP, Floyd Central HS, 2023
Wathen came out of the bullpen to throw the final 2 innings for Floyd Central. Solid, 5-foot-11, 185 pounder struck out 4 in his 2 IP, allowing 2 H and 1 ER. Wathen sat 82-83 mph on his fastball with some ASR. He throws a sweeping, 67-70 mph breaking ball that he has a ton of feel for. Wathen’s third pitch is a 70-71 mph changeup with fade to the armside. Wathen comes at hitters with a crossfire delivery which creates deception. The crafty southpaw has really good pitchability and is especially a tough matchup for LHH.

MORE SCOUT BLOG CONTENT