Team Illinois kicked off the 2026 Prep Baseball Future Games with a 3-1 win over Team Indiana on Thursday night.

RHP Anderson Kaufmann (Edwardsville, 2028) got the ball to start for Team Illinois and showed why he is regarded as one of the top arms in the entire country. He sat 88-90 mph with his fastball, playing with carry and earning swing and miss throughout his two innings of work. Perhaps his best secondary on the night was an 80-82 mph changeup that was effective against left-handed hitters. Kaufmann would also show the ability to spin in a slider at 75-79 mph. One to watch closely as August 1st inches closer.

‘28 Anderson Kaufmann (IL)

FB: 88-90+
CH: 80-82 (17-1800)
SL: 75-79

6’ athletic frame with close to 7’ extension. Low slot with FB that gets on the plate. Commands the game. Competes in the zone. Like it. 👍#PBFG28 || @PrepBaseballIL pic.twitter.com/xfKxVDb4cm

— Shooter Hunt (@ShooterHunt) July 24, 2026

Relieving Kaufmann was the current top ranked southpaw in Illinois’ 2028 class, Collin Lawlor (Marist, 2028). Lawlor showed what our staff has become accustomed to seeing, present pitchability, from a projectable 6-foot-1, 196-pound frame. His fastball worked 85-87 mph with carry and an average of over 14 inches of armside run. He would then show feel for all three of his secondary offerings; most notably an 81-83 mph changeup that he could throw to both left-handed hitter and right-handed hitters. Lawlor would then go to a 78-79 mph slider, and show a 69 mph curveball to go along with it.

LHP Collin Lawlor (Marist, 2028) displayed a projectable southpaw profile with present pitchability.

6’1” | 196 lbs.

FB: 85-87 mph
SL: 78-79 mph
CB: 69 mph
CH: 81-83 mph#PBFG26 | @collinlawlor22 pic.twitter.com/OYmJWWDHD2

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) July 24, 2026

Next out of the ‘pen was LHP Dayne Franks (Orion, 2028), who provided an upside look at 6-foot-3, 190-pounds. His fastball earned plenty of swing and miss in-zone at 85-87 mph (T88.8) with 16.5 inches of armside run on average. Franks would also toss in a curveball at 71 mph and a slider at 77 mph.

LHP Dayne Franks (Orion, 2028) is a left-handed arm to know from last night.

6’3” | 190 lbs.

FB: 87-88 mph (T88.8 mph)
SL: 77 mph
CB: 71 mph #PBFG28 | @Daynefranks pic.twitter.com/1eXTJ10B07

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) July 24, 2026

Closing things out on the bump for Team Illinois was RHP Ryan Pipkins (Champaign Central, 2028), who pounded the zone and struck out the side in his lone inning of work. At 6-foot-1, 174-pounds, he sat 83-86 mph with his fastball, topping out at 87 mph with nearly 17 inches of carry. He flashed the ability to spin a slider at 70-72 mph (T2300+ rpm) and also mixed in a changeup at 72 mph.
PIPKINS TWEET

INF Ryder Rennette (Dunlap, 2028) drove in two runs late in the game for Team Illinois to help propel them to the win with a hard single back up the middle.

MIF Ryder Rennette (Dunlap, 2028) sends this one up the middle for a 2️⃣ RBI single.👇

Confident defender with soft hands, scrappy gamer type that plays the game hard. #PBFG26 | @ryder_rennette1 pic.twitter.com/udZTNR64kv

— Prep Baseball Illinois (@PrepBaseballIL) July 24, 2026

Great defense was played all night long for Team Illinois with nearly every position player contributing in the effort defensively. They are back in action on Friday against Team Missouri.

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