Prep Baseball Illinois Playoff Draft
May 28, 2026
It is Playoff Baseball Time in Illinois as the IHSA playoffs are underway across the state. On the latest episode of The Bullpen, we had a unique twist on previewing the playoffs with a draft. We did a similar exercise as a staff last year, and decided to do the same in 2026. Below, we have laid out the rules and format for the exercise, the scoring breakdown, as well as all of the draft results for each round.
RULES
- Before the year, we each made a preseason state champion pick for classes 1A-4A, as well as a Preseason Wildcard selection (This Wildcard selection had to be a team that was deemed a “Bubble Team” from our Preseason Power 25). In total, we made 5 selections before the Regular Season began; those 5 teams stick with us entering the IHSA Playoffs.
- Entering the playoffs, we each selected 2 teams from each class (1A, 2A, 3A, 4A) in a snake-style draft.
- We also drafted another Wildcard team. This time, the stipulation for a Wildcard team was that they had to be a 6 seed in their sectional or worse.
- These Wildcard selections will earn double the amount of points for each win they may earn throughout the playoffs.
- *Note: Teams that qualified for a Bye in the Regional Semifinals and their first game played will be a Regional Final are automatically rewarded 1 point for getting past the Regional Semifinals*
SCORING BREAKDOWN (Wildcard point total)
- Regional Semifinal Win: 1 point (2)
- Regional Final Win: 2 points (4)
- Sectional Semifinal Win: 3 points (6)
- Sectional Final Win: 4 points (8)
- Super-Sectional Win: 5 points (10)
- State Semifinal Win: 10 points (20)
- State Championship Win: 20 points (40)
- 3rd Place Game Win: 8 points (16)
PARTICIPANTS
- Drew Locascio, Illinois & Wisconsin Scouting Supervisor
- Peter Hamot, Illinois & Wisconsin Assistant Director
- Gavin Smith, Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout
- Tyler Defibaugh, Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout
- Nick DiBenedetto, Area Scout, Operations
FULL EPISODE
1A DRAFT RESULTS
- Peter: #1 Tremont
- Nick: #1 Lena Winslow
- Drew: #1 Armstrong
- Tyler: #1 Gibault Catholic
- Gavin: #1 Goreville
- Gavin: #1 Pawnee
- Tyler: #2 Galena
- Drew: #1 Mt. Pulaski
- Nick: #2 Altamont
- Peter: #2 Orion
*Preseason 1A Selections (in order)*
- Drew: #1 Routt Catholic
- Gavin: #1 North Clay
- Tyler: #1 Monmouth United
- Nick: #5 Springfield Lutheran
- Peter: #1 Forreston
2A DRAFT RESULTS
- Nick: #1 Teutopolis
- Tyler: #1 Freeburg
- Gavin: #1 Harrisburg
- Peter: #2 Coal City
- Drew: #1 Carterville
- Drew: #1 Byron
- Peter: #2 Harvest-Westminster
- Gavin: #2 Brimfield
- Tyler: #1 Chicago Hope
- Nick: #2 Tolono Unity
*Preseason 2A Selections (in order)*
- Nick: #3 Wilmington
- Tyler: #1 St. Joseph-Ogden
- Peter: #2 Father McGivney
- Drew: #1 Ottawa Marquette
- Gavin: #1 Rockridge
3A DRAFT RESULTS
- Drew: #1 Lemont
- Tyler: #1 St. Rita
- Peter: #1 Normal U-High
- Gavin: #1 Newman Central Catholic
- Nick: #1 Mascoutah
- Nick: #1 Metamora
- Gavin: #1 Glenwood
- Peter: #3 Montini Catholic
- Tyler: #4 Lake Forest
- Drew: #1 Crystal Lake South
*Preseason 3A Selections (in order)*
- Gavin: #2 Sacred Heart-Griffin
- Nick: #1 Triad
- Tyler: #2 Nazareth Academy
- Peter: #2 East Peoria
- Drew: #1 Geneva
4A DRAFT RESULTS
- Gavin: #1 Lincoln-Way East
- Nick: #1 Huntley
- Tyler: #1 Lane Tech
- Peter: #1 Lockport
- Drew: #6 Providence Catholic
- Drew: #2 Maine South
- Peter: #1 McHenry
- Tyler: #1 Edwardsville
- Nick: #2 Minooka
- Gavin: #2 Naperville Central
*Preseason 4A Selections (in order)*
- Nick: #1 Libertyville
- Peter: #2 Brother Rice
- Gavin: #1 Normal Community
- Drew: #1 St. Laurence
- Tyler: #4 Mount Carmel
Preseason WILDCARD Selections in Order (Preseason Power 25 Bubble Team)
- Peter: #2 Champaign Central
- Gavin: #1 Dunlap
- Tyler: #4 Rochester
- Nick: #2 Saint Viator
- Drew: #1 Willowbrook
DARKHORSE/WILDCARD RESULTS (6 seed or lower)
- Gavin: #6 Benet Academy
- Peter: #6 New Trier
- Tyler: #6 Highland Park
- Nick: #6 Prairie Ridge
- Drew: #6 Alton
CURRENT RESULTS
1st Place: Gavin Smith (14 points)
T2nd Place: Tyler Defibaugh (13 points)
T2nd Place: Drew Locascio (13 points)
T2nd Place: Peter Hamot (13 points)
5th Place: Nick DiBenedetto (8 points)
2025 RESULTS
1st Place: Dane Poe (170 points)
2nd Place: Gavin Smith (109 points)
3rd Place: Drew Locascio (95 points)
4th Place: Tyler Defibaugh (92 points)
5th Place: Peter Hamot (73 points)
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