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Midwest Super Sophomore Games: Team Illinois Takeaways

August 4, 2025
By: Pete Hamot
Assistant Scouting Director, Illinois & Wisconsin

This past weekend, our staff held the Midwest Super Sophomore Games at Nick Swisher Field on the campus of Ohio State University. This invite-only event was made up of some of the top rising sophomores from Illinois, Michigan, Ohio, Indiana and Canada - making for one big pool in which each team played each other once. 

Team Illinois ended up going a perfect 4-0 in gameplay to take the title, and you can read up on those games, HERE.

Today, we are taking some time to spotlight the members of Team Illinois, with scouting reports and videos, below. 

Position Players 

Kanon Baxley, INF, Kaneland, 2028
Ranked No. 7 in the state, No. 172 in the country. Trim, athletic build, listed at 5-foot-9, 160-pounds. Also a high-level prospect on the mound, the right-handed hitter just worked out as a position player this weekend and did not disappoint. He’s an impressive athlete with a 6.99 in the 60, and his athleticism transfers over to gameplay with explosive actions out of the box and in the field, showing range to either side of his glove. The right-handed hitter gets his “A” swing off more often than not, showing an intentful yet flat stroke through the zone that is able to adjust to off-speed. His arm is plenty strong and should allow him to stick on the left side of the infield, topping at 89 mph across. 

Carver Cohn, OF, McHenry, 2028
Ranked No. 1 in the state, No. 18 in the country. Trim, athletic 5-foot-9, 163-pound build, room to add strength. High-level athlete with a switch-hitting profile, recorded a person-best in-event 60 with a 6.64 this past weekend. High-level bat-to-ball with the ability to cover the plate, premium plate coverage with athletic hands, creates consistent loud contact with 100+ mph EVs in the past from both sides. The BLAST metrics also really stand out, averaging 74.3 mph for his bat-speed and 23.7 mph for his hand-speed. Finished the weekend 3-for-5 at the plate with an RBI and four runs scored. True centerfield profile, easy and accurate reads off the bat with range, explosive first step, well above average arm (T88 mph). 

Kameron Cox, INF, Montini, 2028
5-foot-10, 172-pound frame, high-waisted and wide-shouldered, present lean strength with room to add more. Really started to heat up at the plate this weekend, finishing 6-for-10 with two doubles, four RBIs and two runs scored. The right-handed hitter has a compact and strong right-handed swing that works directly to the baseball, he’s able to stay on time and cover the plate while not expanding the strike zone, making for consistent competitive at-bats - 91 mph peak EV in the workout. High-level defender, soft and fluid hands/feet with timing through the baseball, easy range to both sides of the glove - made an impressive over the shoulder catch deep over his right shoulder in left field. Quick/clean release, T85 mph across the diamond. 

Alex Govoni, INF, Loyola, 2028
5-foot-11, 185-pound frame, athletic and round-shouldered build, room to add more strength. Successful week at the plate for the right-handed hitter as he finished 3-for-8, adding an RBI, four runs scored and three walks. The right-handed hitter takes a direct and intentful route to the baseball with consistent results on the barrel, mature approach with quality swing decisions as well - 95.4 mph peak EV in the workout. Athletic defender with sure-handed actions, stays low and through the baseball with fluid footwork. Quick, strong arm, peaking at 82 mph across with life from the hand. 

Hunter Lockefeer, C, St. Viator, 2028
5-foot-9, 150-pound frame, wiry and trim with room to add more strength. The left-handed hitter had a strong week at the plate, finishing 3-for-8 with three RBIs, three runs scored and three walks. The left-handed hitter has a smooth swing and flat stroke that stays through the hitting zone, adjusting well to different speeds while staying balanced - 91 mph peak EV in the workout. Hard worker behind the plate, soft hands, works under the baseball and tries to present pitches around the zone for strikes. Strong arm with easy life, plays with carry on the bag, limits the run-game. 7.14 runner, should only continue to get better. 

Weston Wyzukovicz, C, Libertyville, 2028
5-foot-8, 178-pound frame, round-shouldered build with a developed lower-half. One of the most consistent performers at the plate all weekend long with loud contact, finished 4-for-8 with a home run, four RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. Simple, compact swing with obvious strength, flat swing with length through the zone, impressive bat-to-ball with minimal swing/miss, quality awareness of the zone. Steady hands and receiver of the baseball behind the plate, works to present pitches around the zone, 72 mph peak EV to second with a 2.12 pop-time. 6.97 runner in the 60. 

Two-Ways

Tommy Gasner, 1B/LHP, Huntley, 2028
Strong-bodied frame, 6-foot, 198-pound frame, lean strength. The physical left-handed hitter was a consistent force in the lineup, finishing 4-for-8 with five RBIs, three runs scored and three walks. Simple and fluid swing that stays direct to the baseball, quality feel and awareness for the barrel, strength at impact with the ability to drive it to all fields. On the mound, the southpaw was one of the more efficient pitchers in attendance, firing 2.1 innings with just one hit allowed and no runs - working in the mid-70s with the fastball. 

Collin Lawlor, OF/LHP, Marist, 2028
6-foot-2, 175-pound frame, high-waisted with wide shoulders, plenty of room to add more strength. The southpaw provided an extremely tough look for opposing hitters, delivering his arsenal from a low release and hiding the ball well. The fastball played mostly in the low-80s, but topped at 84 mph with natural sinking action. He showed impressive feel for the breaking ball and the changeup, throwing either offering in any count with confidence. Over 2.2 innings of work, he scattered five hits with just one earned run, two walks and four strikeouts. At the plate, the left-handed hitter has a loose, athletic swing that stays balanced throughout with length through the zone. 

Austin Leipart, RHP/INF, Providence Catholic, 2028
5-foot-10, 142-pound frame, wiry with long limbs and plenty of room to add more strength. On the mound, the right-hander is a clean mover with a loose, easy arm that delivers his arsenal from a high ¾ window. The fastball played in the 81-84 mph range, topping at 85 mph. He also showed a low-70s breaking ball with depth and a changeup with arm-speed at 76-79 mph. He struck out two over his two innings of work. On the other side of the ball, the right-handed hitter finished 4-for-9 with a double, six RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. Smooth defender on the infield with a strong arm to pair, feel for the position with an internal clock. 

Josh Ouimette, OF/LHP, Carmel Catholic, 2028
Currently ranked No. 10 in the state. 5-foot-9, 183-pound frame with some present strength, round shoulders. The top performer at the plate for Team Illinois, Ouimette finished 6-for-7 with three doubles, seven RBIs, six runs scored and four walks. He’s an athletic left-handed hitter with a flat, fluid swing, covering the plate with ease and control of the barrel, doesn’t expand the zone and attacks within - 91 mph peak EV in the workout. On the mound, the southpaw allowed just one earned run over two innings of work, striking out and walking three. He showed no hesitancy to pitch backwards, consistently starting hitters off with breaking balls or changeups, featuring the curveball at 65-66 mph for swing/miss and a changeup at 68-70 mph. The fastball played with life at 81-84 mph, scattered strikes but proved effective when paired with his other offerings. 

Peter Pignatiello, INF/RHP, Benet, 2028
5-foot-9, 154-pound frame, athletic and proportioned, room to add more strength. The left-handed hitter had a quality weekend at the plate, finishing 3-for-10 with two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. He has a fluid and balanced swing with strong hands, allowing him to stay on pitches all over the zone and adjust to different speeds - 92.3 mph peak EV in the workout. Soft hands on the infield with fluid feet, quick/clean release (T81 mph). On the mound, the right-hander threw it well over his three innings of work, scattering four hits with a walk and a strikeout. He worked his fastball in the 78-80 mph range, topping out at 81 mph and attacking in the zone. He garnered some uncomfortable swings on his curveball, playing at 70-72 mph with sharp 11/5 action and depth. 

Ryan Pipkins, OF/RHP, Champaign Central, 2028
Currently ranked No. 9 in the state. Strong-bodied 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame, wide shoulders with more room to add strength. The left-handed hitter finished 4-for-8 at the plate this weekend, also collecting three RBIs, five runs scored and four walks. Excellent swing decisions at the plate for the physical left-handed hitter, ambushed in the zone with a heavy barrel, direct swing to the baseball with simplicity, stays balanced. Showed off sneaky range in the outfield, quality reads off the bat. On the mound, the right-hander fired 1.2 innings with just one hit allowed and no runs - also walking and striking out one. The fastball played in the 81-85 mph range, pairing with an 11/5 curveball in the 68-70 mph range. 

Pitchers 

Connor Basinski, RHP, Columbia, 2028
6-foot-3, 180-pound frame, athletic with room to add more strength. Raw and athletic delivery, tall/fall with a whippy high ¾ release. Creates easy arm-speed out front with a fastball in the 85-89 mph range, garnering ugly swings and whiffs in the zone. The curveball looks to be developing spin and feel, but flashed sharp slurve action at 72-73 mph. Fired three innings with just two hits, an earned run, two walks and four strikeouts. 

Cole Clower, RHP, Providence Catholic, 2028
Currently ranked No. 4 in the state, No. 109 nationally. 6-foot-1, 186-pound frame with some present strength, still holds room to add on more. Threw it well over his 2.2 innings of work, scattering three hits with one earned run. The right-hander has a clean delivery that works in-line, holds a slight bend in the back knee down the mound, clean arm and high ¾ release. The fastball played in the 81-84 mph range with slight run to the arm-side, occasionally pulled off and missed glove side. Showed feel in the zone for his curveball at 70-72 mph, quality 11/5 shape and action. Also showed confidence in a changeup at 76-77 mph, similar action and arm-speed to the fastball. True three-pitch mix with starter upside. 

Dylan Jones, LHP, Lemont, 2028
6-foot-2, 160-pound frame, high-waisted and lean with projectability. Long-levered and clean mover, sinks into his back leg before working in-line, longer and loose arm swing out of the glove, high ¾ slot. The fastball played with easy life out of the hand and natural sink, 83-86 mph, collecting whiffs in the zone. Curveball was a go-to secondary at 70-74 mph, showing short 1/7 shape with arm-speed. Flashed a running changeup at 79 mph. Fired four innings with three hits allowed, an earned run, three walks and three strikeouts. 

Henry Murphy, RHP, Maine South, 2028
6-foot-1, 160-pounds, lean and projectable with long limbs, plenty of room to add more strength. Controlled mover with athletic movement patterns, medium leg-lift with a slight coil and tilt into his back leg, works in-line with hip/shoulder separation at footstrike. Loose and whippy arm, ¾ slot with arm-speed. The fastball played 81-84 mph with natural run, also collected ugly, late swings, setting up an effective CB/SL combination for whiffs - with the CB playing 69-72 mph and the SL 72-75 mph. Flashed a mostly straight changeup with slight run at 77 mph. Didn’t allow an earned run over 2.2 innings of work, walking one and striking out four. 

Jack Postma, RHP, Barrington, 2028
Currently ranked No. 3 in the state, No. 87 in the country. Long-levered 6-foot-3, 193-pound frame, appears much taller than listed. Efficient mover with a simple delivery, gets down the mound with ease and a long stride, elastic arm action with layback in the shoulder at footstrike, creates whip from a ¾ release out front. Fastball played 82-85 mph with natural sink, playing clean out of the hand with life. Curveball and slider both showed distinct shapes, with the CB (65-67 mph) showing more 11/5 action, and the SL (71-74 mph) more lateral break. Struck out three over his two one-hit innings. 

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