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Midwest Super Sophomore Games: Game Recaps

August 2, 2025
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 THREE

Team Illinois is firing on all cylinders with a 22-3 win over Team Canada to improve to 3-0 on the week.

The biggest swing of the game came off the bat of C Weston Wyzukovicz (Libertyville, 2028), who sent a two-run shot over the left field wall, and it’s also worth noting that it was into the wind. He finished game three 1-for-2 with the aforementioned two RBIs, a run scored and a walk.

3B Austin Leipart (Providence Catholic, 2028) had a huge day at the plate as well, collecting two hits including a double with five RBIs, also scoring once.

1B Tommy Gasner (Huntley, 2028) is another one that is really starting to heat up, piggybacking his strong two-hit game earlier today, Gasner collected two more hits with four RBIs to pair - scoring twice.

OF Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central, 2028) (2 RBI, 2R, 2 BB), INF Kanon Baxley (Kaneland, 2028) (3B, RBI, 3 R, BB), OF Josh Ouimette (Carmel, 2028) (RBI, 2 R, BB) and INF Kameron Cox (Montini, 2028) (RBI, R) all had two hits on the day.

INF Alex Govoni (Loyola, 2028) (3 R), C Hunter Lockefeer (St. Viator, 2028) (RBI, 3 R, 2 BB), OF Collin Lawlor (Marist, 2028) (RBI, R) and INF Peter Pignatiello (Benet, 2028) (RBI, R) all added a hit apiece.

LHP Dylan Jones (Lemont, 2028) got the start and was lights out over his four innings of work, scattering three hits, an earned run, three walks and three strikeouts. The long-levered southpaw is an easy mover with a loose, clean arm, delivering his fastball in the 83-86 mph range with life, collecting swing and miss in the zone. He went to a curveball in the 70-74 mph range with 1/7 shape, flashing depth. It is also worth mentioning that Jones picked off two runners at first base in the contest with a deceptive move.

The aforementioned Pignatiello came out of the ‘pen to relieve Jones, and he attacked hitters in the zone with a fastball up to 80 mph. Over his three innings of work, he scattered four hits without allowing an earned run, walking one and striking out one.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:

Austin Leipart (Providence Catholic): 2-for-3, 2B, 5 RBI, R

Tommy Gasner (Huntley): 2-for-2, 4 RBI, 2 R, BB

Weston Wyzukovicz (Libertyville): 1-for-2, HR, 2 RBI, R, BB

Kanon Baxley (Kaneland): 2-for-3, 3B, RBI, 3 R, BB

Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central): 2-for-2, 2 RBI, 2 R, 2 BB

Josh Ouimette (Carmel Catholic): 2-for-2, RBI, 2 R, BB

Kameron Cox (Montini Catholic): 2-for-3, RBI, R

Peter Pignatiello (Benet): 1-for-3, RBI, R - 3IP, 4H, 0ER, BB, K

Dylan Jones (Lemont): 4IP, 3H, ER, 3BB, 3K

GAME TWO

Team Illinois moves to 2-0 on the weekend, after defeating Team Ohio 10-4. Illinois tallied 12 hits over the course of the game, while the pitching staff combined to punch out six, while only surrendering six hits to pair.

Illinois jumped out to an early 1-0 lead in the top of the first. OF Josh Ouimette (Carmel Catholic, 2028) walked to begin the inning and he would eventually reach third base, before OF/1B Collin Lawlor (Marist, 2028) singled him home.

In the top of the fourth, Illinois would grab a run when Ouimette scored off a passed ball.

In the top of the fifth, INF Peter Pignatiello (Benet, 2028) and INF Kameron Cox (Montini Catholic, 2028) walked to begin the inning. OF Carver Cohn (McHenry, 2028) would then plate Pignatiello on an RBI single to left field. Cox would then come around to score on a passed ball that led to Cohn reaching third base, allowing for INF Kanon Baxley (Kaneland, 2028) to hit an RBI sacrifice fly to give Illinois a 5-2 lead at the time.

Illinois would tack on another run in the top of the sixth when Ouimette doubled to left field to bring home C/OF Weston Wyzukovicz (Libertyville, 2028), who reached earlier in the inning on a fielder’s choice.

In the final inning Illinois would erupt for four runs. C/OF Hunter Lockefeer (St. Viator, 2028) singled to lead off the inning, followed by another single from 1B Tommy Gasner (Huntley, 2028). INF Austin Leipart (Providence Catholic, 2028) would then record an RBI single plating Lawlor, who reached on a fielder’s choice earlier in the inning. Pignatiello would then knock in a run with a single into center field bringing the score to 8-4 in favor of Illinois. Cox would then round out the inning’s scoring with a two RBI double into right-center field to bring the score to 10-4.

On the mound, RHP Henry Murphy (Maine South, 2028) got the ball to start and showed advanced pitchability in his two and two-thirds of work. The trim 6-foot-1, 160-pound right-hander would change speeds well throughout the outing, attacking opposing batters with an 81-84 mph fastball. Showing feel for both breaking balls, he would go to a 69-72 mph curveball for strikes and swing and miss, while also showing a 72-75 mph slider. Murphy would turn in a final line of: 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K.

RHP Cole Clower (Providence Catholic, 2028) would then come out of the ‘pen for Illinois and did well navigating trouble on the basepaths throughout his two and two-thirds. A strong and sturdy 6-foot-1, 186-pounds, Clower would work 81-84 mph with his fastball, while also showing a breaking ball at 70-72 mph, and rounding out his arsenal with a 76-77 mph changeup. He would go on to allow just one earned run in his outing while also punching out a batter.

Closing things out on the mound was RHP Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central, 2028). Pipkins attacked batters throughout his inning and a third of work, while scattering just one hit and one walk, while allowing no runs, and recording a strikeout in the process. The physical 6-foot-1, 170-pound righty worked his fastball in the low 80’s, topping out at 85 mph. He showed high confidence in a 68-70 mph breaking ball that he could go to in any count.

Illinois will play their next game at 3:00 p.m. against Team Canada.

NOTABLE PERFORMANCES:
Kameron Cox (Montini Catholic): 2-for-2, 2B, BB, 2 RBI, R
Tommy Gasner (Huntley): 2-for-3, R
Josh Ouimette (Carmel Catholic): 1-for-1, 2B, 2 BB, RBI, 2 R
Hunter Lockefeer (Saint Viator): 1-for-2
Peter Pignatiello (Benet): 1-for-2, BB, RBI, 2 R
Carver Cohn (McHenry): 1-for-2, RBI, R
Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central): 1-for-2 / 1.2 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 1 K
Weston Wyzukovicz (Libertyville): 1-for-2, R
Henry Murphy (Maine South): 2.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 4 K

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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