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Senior Future Games Game Recaps: Team Heartland

July 22, 2025
By: Tyler Defibaugh
Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout

GAME THREE

Team Heartland closed out the Senior Future Games with a 7-6 victory over Team Great Lakes to go a perfect 3-0 in gameplay. The pitching staff combined to punch out nine batters over eight and a third innings of play, while the offense continued to swing hot bats with the team hitting another home run, this time courtesy of OF Callen Tomsyck (Muskego, 2026; Wisconsin). Tomsyck would get the team’s scoring started in the bottom of the third when he swatted a two-run homer to left field that scored INF Kyle Ziebell (Harvest Christian, 2026; Illinois) who walked to begin the frame.

The offense would score three more runs in the bottom of the fifth. 1B Anthony Chavez (Mount Carmel, 2026; Illinois) had an RBI single to begin the scoring, bringing home INF Caleb Liggon (Madison Memorial, 2026; Wisconsin) who doubled to leadoff the inning. Ziebell would then drive in two more runs on an RBI single, scoring C Drew Satunas (Lockport, 2026; Illinois) and Chavez.

In the bottom of the sixth, the team would tack on two more runs to complete the team’s scoring for the game. OF Patrick Connors (Hinsdale Central, 2026; Illinois) had an RBI single, scoring C Keenan Donaldson (New Trier, 2026; Illinois) who singled earlier in the inning. INF Jace Mataczynski (Hudson, 2026; Wisconsin) would then hit a sacrifice fly bringing home Tomsyck who also singled earlier in the inning.

On the hill, RHP Tre Cole (Champaign Central, 2026; Illinois) got the start for Team Heartland and filled the zone throughout his two innings of work. The right-hander showed an easy fastball that topped out at 91 mph early, while also showing a slider that sat in the upper 70’s. He would go on to punch out three batters over the course of his outing.

Another central Illinois product showed well in RHP Alec Novotney (Ottawa Marquette, 2026; Illinois). Throwing four pitches for strikes, he sat 86-88 mph with his fastball, while showing above-average spin on both breaking balls; with his curveball (2500+ rpm) sitting 71-73 mph, while his slider (2500+ rpm) sat 77-78 mph. Novotney completed his repertoire with a 78-79 mph changeup that had over 17 inches of horizontal movement.

RHP Cail Geiger (Menomonee Falls, 2026; Wisconsin) was a big winner from the event. Tossing two clean innings and punching out two batters, Geiger also threw 19 of his 28 pitches in the zone for strikes. He sat 89-91 mph with his fastball, while tossing in a 77-82 mph breaking ball, and an 83-85 mph changeup to round out his offerings.

RHP Connor McKay (Nazareth Academy, 2026; Illinois) is a high upside arm that tossed two innings for Team Heartland. He attacked hitters with an 87-89 mph fastball (T90) that consistently worked the corners with sink, while pairing that with a 77 mph slider. McKay would strikeout two batters over the course of his outing.

RHP Jace Mataczynski (Hudson, 2026; Wisconsin) closed out the event for Team Heartland, getting two quick outs while touching 93 mph with his fastball. A very big winner from the event as a whole.

GAME TWO

Team Heartland moved to 2-0 for the event with an 8-4 win over Team South Plains Wednesday morning. INF Jace Mataczynski (Hudson, 2026; Wisconsin) swatted a three-run homer in the bottom of the fifth that ended up being the deciding blow to clinch the win.

Team Heartland scored two runs in the bottom of the second when C Adam Swanson (Ottawa, 2026; Illinois) doubled home OF Adam Kozak (Lockport, 2026; Illinois), who singled to leadoff the inning. C Keenan Donaldson (New Trier, 2026; Illinois) then singled home Swanson to complete the inning’s scoring.

Team Heartland would tack on another run in the bottom of the third when INF Caleb Liggon (Madison Memorial, 2026; Wisconsin) hit an RBI groundout to bring home Mataczynski who singled to leadoff the inning.

Team Heartland would then score three runs in the bottom of the fifth when Mataczynski homered, bringing home OF Callen Tomsyck (Muskego, 2026; Wisconsin) who walked earlier in the inning, and OF Patrick Connors (Hinsdale Central, 2026; Illinois) who singled one batter before.

In the bottom of the eighth, they would go on to score two more runs to finish the game off with Tomsyck collecting an RBI single in the inning.

RHP Chase Rhodes (Tremont, 2026; Illinois) got the ball to start for Team Heartland, sitting 88-90 mph with his fastball, while also working in a 76-78 mph slider. The projectable 6-foot-4, 190-pound righty would allow just one hit with one strikeout in his two innings of work.

RHP Tanner Effertz (Whitnall, 2026; Wisconsin) would then relieve Rhodes for the third and fourth inning. A top-ranked Quarterback on the gridiron, he showed a high-carry (avg. 18-20” IVB) fastball at 87-91 mph, while rounding out his mix with a high-spin (2700+ rpm) curveball at 72-74 mph showing sharp actions and depth.

Another Wisconsin product would take the mound for the fifth and sixth innings in RHP Liam Hagland (Germantown, 2026; Wisconsin). Hagland would work two scoreless innings, allowing just one hit while punching out one. He showed a carry fastball at 86-90 mph, while pairing it with a late-breaking slider at 80-82 mph.

LHP Sam Chin (St. Laurence, 2026; Illinois) would close things out for Team Heartland in the final two frames. The loose and easy moving southpaw showed three pitches; headlined by an 84-86 mph fastball, then pairing that with a high-spin (2800+ rpm) breaking ball at 66-68 mph, and completing his arsenal with a 75-78 mph changeup.

Team Heartland will take on Team Great Lakes on Field 16 at 3:00 p.m. to close out the event.

GAME ONE

Team Heartland began gameplay in the 2025 Senior Future Games on Tuesday afternoon with a 7-3 win over Team South. The team collected 12 hits on offense over eight innings of play, while the pitching staff combined to allow just three hits while also tallying eight strikeouts.

The Heartland offense scored two runs in the bottom of the first. C Keenan Donaldson (New Trier, 2026; Illinois) hit an RBI single, scoring INF Kyle Ziebell (Harvest Christian, 2026; Illinois) who reached on an error earlier in the inning. INF Callen Tomsyck (Muskego, 2026; Wisconsin) followed that up with an RBI single of his own, scoring C Adam Swanson (Ottawa, 2026; Illinois), who drew a walk earlier in the inning.

Team Heartland would then score two more runs in the bottom of the third when 1B Anthony Chavez (Mount Carmel, 2026; Illinois) would swat a long two-run homer out to right-centerfield - scoring OF Ezra Liggon (Madison Memorial, 2026; Wisconsin) who singled to centerfield earlier in the frame.

Tomsyck would continue to swing a hot bat when he drove in a run in the bottom of the fourth with a single into left field that scored Swanson who led off the inning with a double. That RBI would bring the score to 5-2 in favor of Team Heartland.

They would round out their scoring for the afternoon in the bottom of the eighth when INF James Feigleson (St. Charles East, 2026; Illinois) hit a two RBI single into left field that scored Tomsyck and INF Jace Matacynski (Hudson, 2026; Wisconsin).

The Heartland arms showed well from start to finish in this one. LHP Paxton Schuh (Kaukauna, 2026; Wisconsin) got the ball to start and worked his fastball in the 84-86 mph range, while tossing in a breaking ball at 72-75 mph. He would scatter just one hit over his inning and a third of work.

LHP Sam Finn (Plainfield North, 2026; Illinois) was a big winner on the day, showing dynamic stuff in his two innings of work. The 6-foot-3, 200-pound southpaw did not allow a hit in the outing while sitting 88-90 mph (T91.4) with his fastball, before turning to a high-spin (2700-2800 rpm) breaking ball at 75-78 mph. Finn would go on to punch out two batters while not allowing a run in his outing.

RHP Ryan Harris (Stevenson, 2026; Illinois) would then come on for the fifth and sixth for Team Heartland. He competed in the zone with his three pitch mix; headlined by an 89-92 mph (T93) fastball that showed high spin (T2607 rpm). He would then go to two different breaking balls, a 76-80 mph slider, and a 72-76 mph curveball. Harris would punch out two hitters and allow just one hit and one unearned run over his two innings of work.

RHP Luke Parkinson (Whitnall, 2026; Wisconsin) would close things out for Team Heartland. The right-hander would punch out three batters over the final two innings, scattering one hit and zero runs. He worked his fastball in the 85-89 mph range (T90), then would go to a 77-81 mph changeup, and round out his mix with a 67-71 mph curveball (T2525 rpm).

Team Heartland will play two games tomorrow (Wednesday), beginning at 9 a.m. against Team South Plains, followed by their final game of the event at 3 p.m. against Team Great Lakes.

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