Prep Baseball Report

Midwest Super Sophomore Games: Game Recaps


By: Tyler Defibaugh & Peter Hamot
Illinois Staff

From August 1st to August 3rd, Prep Baseball Ohio is hosting the second annual Midwest Super Sophomore Games, with this year’s edition being held at Bill Davis Stadium on Ohio State University’s campus. The event features one team from each of the following states: Canada, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, and Ohio.

The event consists of a four-game round robin with the champion being the team who has the best record after the four games are completed. This event provides our staff with an early look at some of the top prospects in the state who are next in line for the prestigious Prep Baseball Future Games.

Below, we will be recapping each game’s action with a scoring recap as well as a look at the arms who threw for Team Illinois in each game.

GAME ONE

Team Illinois took down Team Indiana 5-4 to begin the 2025 Midwest Super Sophomore Games, held at Ohio State University.

The scoring got started for Team Illinois in the bottom of the first inning. OF Carver Cohn (McHenry, 2028) singled to begin the inning, then INF Kanon Baxley (Kaneland, 2028) walked, before OF Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central, 2028) singled home Cohn to give Illinois a 1-0 lead. INF Cole Clower (Providence Catholic, 2028) then walked to load the bases, allowing C/OF Weston Wyzukovicz (Libertyville, 2028) to bring another run home on an RBI sacrifice fly. The scoring would continue when OF Josh Ouimette (Carmel Catholic, 2028) hit a two RBI double to round out the inning’s scoring.

The Illinois’ bats would stay quiet for the next couple innings, before tallying their fifth and final run in the bottom of the fourth off an RBI single from Wyzukovicz, scoring Cohn who singled to lead off the inning. This would bring the score to 5-1 at the time in favor of Team Illinois.

Team Illinois got strong pitching throughout the day, started by RHP Jack Postma (Barrington, 2028). The 6-foot-3, 186-pound righty showed feel for a three-pitch mix, headlined by a sinking fastball at 82-85 mph, inducing whiffs in-zone. He would then go to a vertical breaking ball at 71-74 mph that he could land for strikes and occasional swing and miss, while rounding out his arsenal by showing a changeup at 76 mph. Postma punched out three and gave up just one hit in his two innings of work. After starring on varsity as a freshman for Barrington, Postma is a name to continue to follow as he enters his sophomore season.

RHP Connor Basinski (Columbia, 2028) then took over on the mound and showcased a lively fastball early and often throughout his three innings of work. His fastball sat 85-88 mph, touching 89 twice in the outing and earned plenty of swing and miss in the zone. He would allow just two hits, while punching out four. A high-follow name to continue to watch in the southern part of the state.

LHP Josh Ouimette (Carmel Catholic, 2028) would come on to finish out the last two frame for Illinois to secure the victory. The southpaw showed a three-pitch mix, running his fastball up to 84 mph. He would change speeds early and often, going to a big breaking ball at 65-66 mph, and a changeup at 68-70 mph. He struck out three batters over his two innings of work, and will be a staple atop the Corsairs’ rotation again in 2026.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Carver Cohn (McHenry): 2-for-3, 2 R
Weston Wyzukovicz (Libertyville): 1-for-2, 2 RBI
Josh Ouimette (Carmel Catholic): 1-for-2, 2B, 2 RBI / 2 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Austin Leipart (Providence Catholic): 1-for-2
Peter Pignatiello (Benet): 1-for-2
Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central): 1-for-3, RBI, R
Jack Postma (Barrington): 2 IP, H, 1 R, 1 ER, 3 K
Connor Basinski (Columbia): 3 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K

Team Illinois will play two games on Saturday, August 2nd. The first game is at 9:00 a.m. when they will take on Team Ohio. They will then take on Team Canada at 3:00 p.m. to finish the day.

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