From Wednesday, March 20th through Saturday, March 22nd, the Prep Baseball Illinois Staff traveled down to the Metro East area to cover the sixth annual Metro East Kickoff Classic, sponsored by Prep Baseball. The four-day event featured 46 teams spanning the entire state of Illinois competing against each other in the St. Louis area across 10 venues in the Metro East. We send multiple scouts to games throughout the event and cover it as comprehensively as possible. 

Today, we are highlighting some of the standouts from the first two days of gameplay, found below. 

Wednesday, March 20

St. Joseph-Ogden vs. Columbia

By: Peter Hamot
Assistant Scouting Director, Illinois/Wisconsin

RHP Nolan Earley, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2025
Southwestern Illinois JC commit. 6–foot, 205-pound frame, evenly proportioned. Got the start on the mound and threw it well over his four innings of work, not allowing a single run while scattering just two hits, walking one and striking out four. He has a simple delivery that he can repeat, working into a slightly coiled balance point before working with intent down the mound. He creates some angle on his fastball at times from a higher ¾ slot, topping out at 89 mph while cruising mostly 84-86 mph. He also was comfortable in going to his curveball for strikes, showing developing spin with 11/5 shape, 70-72 mph. Also flashed a changeup with arm-side fade that he threw with fastball intent. At the plate, he took some intentful swings from the right side, staying on-time with good direction through the ball, finishing the day 2-for-4.

RHP, Parker Fitch, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2026
Uncommitted. 6-foot-3, 200-pounds, projectable frame with room to continue to add strength. Impressed out of the ‘pen for the Spartans with three shutout innings of no-hit baseball, striking out two. The big right-hander has a simple tall/fall delivery and high ¾ arm action, creating a fastball in the 83-86 mph range with slight running action through the zone and easy life out of the hand. He showed a tight curveball with 11/5 shape to pair off the fastball at 75-76 mph, and also a changeup at 76 mph with similar action to the FB.

LHP, Jack Schoentag, Columbia, 2025
Three Rivers JC commit. The southpaw threw the ball well for the Eagles despite receiving the loss, going four innings with one earned run, four hits, four walks and five strikeouts. His control wavered at times, but it was still an impressive look, as he was able to work his fastball to both sides of the plate in the 83-86 mph range, settling in more around 81-84 mph later in the game. He liked to go to his changeup often, showing confidence and feel for the pitch, 78-79 mph with depth.

OF, Mason Voegele, Columbia, 2025
Uncommitted. Started in left field and hit out of the leadoff spot for the Eagles, finishing the day 2-for-3 with a double. Athletic 5-foot-11, 173-pound frame, room to continue to fill out. The left-handed hitter showed an aggressive and ready-to-hit approach, attacking early in the count when given the opportunity, also showing to control the zone well with the ability to manipulate his hands and the barrel. Showed off a strong and accurate arm in the infield during IO, playing with life and carry. Table-setter type atop the lineup, uncommitted name to know.

RHP, Ayden Sepich, Columbia, 2028
Uncommitted. Lean and projectable 5-foot-9, 150-pound frame. Came out of the bullpen for the Eagles and looks to be a name for our staff to follow throughout the coming years. The slender right-hander is an easy mover with a simple delivery, working with a shorter leg-lift into a tall/fall operation that stays in-line with a high ¾ arm action. The fastball played around 80-84 mph with some tilt through the zone, setting up a changeup at 71-74 mph with similar actions, and a curveball in the upper-60s with over the top break and some depth. High-follow arm to keep tabs on.