Program: Kankakee Cavaliers
Head Coach: Bryce Shafer: 2nd year
NJCAA Region/Division: Region IV, DII
Last Year's Record: 46-10
Email: [email protected]
Twitter: Coach_Shafer19
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Roster Link

Coming off his second year as Head Coach, taking the reins from long-time and Hall of Fame Head Coach Todd Post. Coach Shafer led his squad to a

 46-10 record, falling in the Region IV tournament championship game. An eight-win improvement from the previous year. Coach Shafer will look to improve on this year, returning six key contributors to the roster. While the pitching looks to be the strength of this 2026 squad, returning over 180 innin

gs, the bats are where the question marks are. Losing six starters with over 1,000 at-bats, this Kankakee lineup will be looking to lean heavily on returning Jack Vogt and Thomas Offill, along with incoming transfers and freshmen looking to take the next steps.

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PITCHERS

Now, as already touched on, the arms are where this Kankakee squad is going to have to lean on. With the top returners being RHP Kollin Asbury, Clay Gadbois, Joseph Catalano, and Maddox Quesnelle, bringing back a combined 175.5 innings. Asbury will be a familiar face starting 11 games for the Cavaliers last spring, posting a 3.28 ERA through 68.2 IP, striking out 71. Making 11 starts, going 7-2, the right-hander is set to take the one spot in the rotation. Right behind Asbury is right-hander Clay Gadbois, who started nine games posting a 3.83 ERA, striking out 63 through 44.2 innings of work. The combination of these two will look to sure up the top half of this rotation. Then there are a pair of right-handers in Joseph Catalano and Maddox Quesenelle, who each tossed just shy of 30 innings each. Two arms who will be looking to fight for rotation spots going into this year. Our staff had the chance to visit this Kankakee squad in early September, and this is what they had to say about these returners.

• SO. RHP Kollin Asbury (Armstrong) is an athletic 6-foot-3 right-hander with arm speed and more room to add to his frame. The right-hander works in line to the plate working in rhythm and balance throughout, visible arm speed working on time throughout the ‘pen from a ¾ slot. Potential starters arsenal showing a five pitch mix, the fastball sat 88-89 mph throughout with life out of the hand and feel to locate to different areas, flashed an upper-80s sinker with fading action and 16.9” of HM on average. Showed two different breaking balls and a changeup all thrown with intent, the curveball sat in the mid-70s throughout with sharp two-plane break and located both a sweeping slider and fading changeup in the zone.
  

• SO. RHP Clay Gadbois (Kankakee) is an athletic and strong 6-foot-3, 195-pound right-hander with more room to add to his frame. Showing feel to repeat his delivery, showing a four pitch mix throughout his pen. The fastball sat 87-89 mph with carry out of the hand and finish up in the zone, flashed a 87-88 mph two seam with life as well. Both secondaries are potential go-to options in game, the slider sat 75-77 mph with late lateral two plane break, the changeup was firm and flashed heavy diving action at the plate.
  

• SO. RHP Maddox Quesnelle (Sir William Mulock, ON) is a strong and quick armed right-hander with feel for four pitches. Standing at 5-foot-10, 175-pound with strength to his frame and more room to continue to add. The fastball sat in the upper-80s, topping out at 88.7 mph throughout his ‘pen, three secondaries showing feel to locate a mid-70s slider around the zone with tight breaking action. The change up and cutter are both thrown with fastball intent out of the same window with the cutter sitting in the low-80s with tight lateral action and the changeup playing with late fade at the plate.
  

• SO. RHP Joe Catalano (Kankakee CC’ Illinois commit) presenting a 6-foot-3, 200-pound frame with levers, Catalano would show a quality three pitch mix during his stint on the mound. The fastball would sit 89-92 mph with spin rates north of 2300 rpm and carry. Showed a 76-77 mph breaking ball with depth and spin rates north of 2300 rpm. Flashed a changeup in the mid-70s that he killed spin on. Was an impact arm for Kankakee last spring, sporting a 2.81 ERA and 43 strikeouts across 32 innings out of the bullpen. A follow for professional evaluation this upcoming spring.
  

When it comes to the newcomers to the Kankakee staff, it is headed by all freshmen. Right-hander Chase Harrison highlights this freshman class, showcasing a crafty five-pitch mix with an upper-80s fastball. Putting together a solid year with Oakwood in his senior year, Harrison looks to make an immediate impact for this staff. Other notable freshmen are two Illinois natives in right-hander Caleb Clutteur and left-hander Caden Keleminic. In a right-handed heavy staff, Kelemininc will be looking to have immediate high-leverage innings. Another pair of freshmen with roles still uncertain, but with the ability to make an impact, are right-handers Holden Cargo and Luke Gallet. Here is a look at those freshman arms from when we saw them in early September.

• FR. RHP Chase Harrison (Oakwood) stands at 6-foot-2, 180-pounds with room to continue to add to his frame. The quick armed right-hander showed a five pitch mix out of a ¾ slot with clear arm speed throughout release. Multiple offerings already looking like potential options and weapons in game, the fastball plays with life out of the hand and heavy sinking action at 85-87 mph. The changeup played firm with heavy fading action and 18.5” of HM at 2.7” of IVB, the cutter topped out at 80 mph with tight and late lateral movement. Rounding off his arsenal showing two breaking balls both in the mid-70s with similar sweeping action.
  
• FR. RHP Caleb Clutteur (Milford) is a strong 5-foot-10 right-hander with strength throughout his frame. The right-hander showed feel for a crossfire delivery with a quick arm from a high-¾ slot. The fastball reached 86.7 mph with life and finish at the top of the zone, flashed a two plane curveball and sweeping slider. Rounding off his arsenal was a changeup that he threw out of the same window as the fastball.
  
• FR. LHP Caden Keleminic (Bismarck Henning) is an athletic 6-foot-1, 185-pound left-hander with a quick and easy arm. The fastball played with life out of the hand, peaking at 85.5 mph throughout his ‘pen with running action and feel to locate to spots. Showed feel for three different secondary offerings that he throws out of the same window and repeats, the curveball was located in the zone each time he threw one, playing with tight 1/7 action. The slider played with tight sweeping action in the upper-70s, the changeup also sat in the upper-70s and played with late fading action.
  
• FR. RHP Easton Blankenship (Williamsville) is a quick armed strike throwing freshman to follow throughout his JUCO career. standing at a strong 6-foot, 190-pound frame with strength throughout. Showed feel to repeat both his delivery and release, working in sync with rhythm throughout. Simple delivery, rocker step into leg kick, working down the mound with balance towards the plate, repeating a ¾ slot with intent and arm speed. The fastball played with life out of the hand topping out at 85.9 mph throughout his pen, showed two sharp breaking balls that he located in the zone, a sweeping slider and two plane curveball while showing feel to locate a fading changeup in the zone as well.
  

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OFFENSE

Touched on earlier, this is where the question marks begin with this Kankakee squad. Last year, this offense found itself top four in numerous amount of categories for Region 4, including runs, hits, RBIs, stolen bases, and batting average. Now this lineup is facing six departures, one of which includes OF Amarion Paxton leaving for Missouri Western after posting a .320/.454/.550 slash line with 10 HRs and 58 RBIs. While this was a major hit to the production of this lineup, they still returned two freshman stars poised to take control of the lineup. Infielders Thomas Offill and Jack Vogt both put together impressive freshman year campaigns and will look to solidify the top of this lineup. Offill slashed .395/.495/.447, with five doubles, driving in 28, and swiping 17 bags in the process. While Vogt hit .278, with 12 doubles, three home runs, and drove in 34. This duo will look to add more this coming year and add a veteran presence to what is a young lineup. Take a look at what our staff had to say about the two when we last saw them.

• SO. INF Thomas Offill (Bradley-Bourbonnais) Strong and athletic 5-foot-8, 165-pound frame. Started the day running a 6.88 60-yard dash, took an on the barrel round of BP with consistent elevated contact throughout the field while reaching a max exit velocity of 93.2 mph. Defensively in the infield Offill is an athletic defender with range to both sides with arm strength that plays on the move.
  

• SO. INF Jack Vogt (Andrean) stands at 6-foot-3, 200-pound with strength throughout the frame. At the plate the right-handed hitter showed feel for the barrel throughout his round reaching a max exit velocity of 93.3 mph throughout his round spraying line drives throughout. Defensively the infielder is a steady and capable defender in the dirt with clean actions and an accurate arm with arm strength up to 84 mph.
  

With so many losses to this lineup, Coach Shafer couldn't put that much pressure on a new group of freshmen, so to the portal he went. Able to grab three impact bats in INF/RHP Hendrik Vandermeer, C Connor Gaitens, and C Levi Hirst. Vandermeer is a transfer from Northern Oklahoma Tonkawa CC, where the right-hander slashed .344/.553/.563 in a small sample size. As he projects to take the starting spot at first, don’t be surprised if you see the big right-hander jump on the mound. Then, with the two catcher transfers, those who will look to battle it out for the starting position. Gaitens is a Southeastern CC transfer where he saw limited playing time, slashing .359/.479/.923. While Hirts is a Trition CC transfer who struggled a bit in his first year, but looks to rebound from it. These three will look to add some experience to a newly formed lineup. Here's what our staff had to say about them.

• SO. 1B Hendrik Vandermeer (Holy Trinity Catholic) Physical with strength throughout the long levered 6-foot-6, 215-pound frame with even more room for physical development. At the plate, the left-handed hitter is an imposing presence in the box with twitchy strength reaching a max exit velocity of 101.9 mph throughout his round with consistent hard contact to the pull side. Feel to leverage the baseball and drive the ball in the air with backspin when hit out in front.
  

• SO. C Connor Gaitens (Glendale) strong and physical right-handed hitting catcher with feel to drive the ball in the air. Standing at 5-foot-11, 195-pounds with strength throughout his frame was on the barrel throughout his round of BP reaching a peak exit velocity of 102.1 mph throughout his round with visible bat speed and twitch at the plate. Defensively Gaitens is a confident defender with arm strength up to 78 mph with accurate throws to the bag and soft hands looking like a reliable catch and throw option with some pop at the next level.
  

• SO. C Levi Hirst (St. John’s College, ON) stands at 6-foot, 190-pounds with strength throughout the frame. At the plate the right-handed hitter swings a strong right handed bat, working consistently in sync with rhythm. Loud round, consistently on the barrel, back spun line drives to the pullside while reaching a max exit velocity of 102.9 mph averaging 97.6 mph throughout the round. Defensively behind the plate, Hirst plays with reliable and confident actions from the crouch, arm strength up to 76 mph with accurate throws to the bag, soft blocker with bend and agile mover out of the crouch.
  

This freshman class is going to have to develop and grow at a high rate, as they will be heavily relied on throughout the year. The one who has the chance to make the biggest impact is INF Lucas Rink from Wilmington, Illinois. Rink may just have the opportunity to take the reins at shortstop, depending on how the infield fills out. Showcasing a follow bat from the left side, alongside projectable actions in the field. Two more freshmen looking to make an impact are OF Deegan Aeilts and C JJ Gillespie. Aeilts is an interesting profile, and it will be interesting to see where exactly the left-handed bat will fit, but one thing is for sure that he is a scrappy player who will be ready for his opportunity. Then Gillespie adds strength to Kanakee’s catcher depth, while his role still remains unclear, he is definitely a mix within the catcher battle. As this freshman class comes with some question marks, take a look at what our staff has to say about them.

• FR. INF Lucas Rink (Wilmington) Strong and physical standing at 6-foot, 189-pounds with strength throughout the frame. At the plate, the left-handed hitter took a loud round reaching 101.1 mph max exit velocity with elevated and line drive contact to the pull side. The ball jumps off the barrel, fast and visible bat speed with twitch recording an average bat speed of 74.6 mph throughout his round. Defensively the infielder has stray action and an accurate arm from the left-side of the field with arm strength up to 82 mph.
  

• FR. OF Deegan Aeilts (Armstrong) had a strong all-around day for the Cavaliers. Standing at 5-foot-11, 165-pounds with strength and more room to add to the frame. The left-handed hitter started his day by running a 6.96 60-yard dash before a quality round of BP where he showed barrel control throughout the round consistently driving the baseball on a line and in the air while reaching a peak exit velocity of 90.6 mph. Defensively in the outfield, Aeilts plays with steady and confident actions with arm strength up to 84 mph.
  

• FR. C JJ Gillespie (Kokomo) is another strong right-handed hitting catcher that took a strong round of BP. Standing at 6-foot-1, 190-pounds with more room to add to the frame as he continues to mature. At the plate, the right-handed hitter was on the barrel throughout his round of BP reaching a peak exit velocity of 93.7 mph with easy bat speed at 73.6 mph throughout his round. Defensively behind the plate the catcher has a strong arm up to 78 mph with accurate throws to second with steady hands receiving.
  

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