Week 10 Games
May 21, 2026
The Illinois Scout Blog provides insider information and scouting notes from the Prep Baseball Scouting Staff during the season. This running blog will feature information on underclass prospects, unsigned seniors, draft prospects, and anything else that is notable. We will provide a wide range of information, including player evaluations, velocities, pop times, home to first times, and more. Simply put, the Illinois Scout Blog is loaded with information …
Wednesday, May 20th
No. 23 Dunlap vs. Metamora
By: Gavin Smith
Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout
Eli Michanicou, RHP, Dunlap, 2027
Bradley commit, ranked No. 112 in the state's junior class. Stands in a 5-foot-10, 188-pound frame with strength. Started on the mound and worked six innings, allowing eight hits and two earned runs while striking out six with no walks. Athletic, clean mover with a loose and quick arm path out of a ¾ slot. Fastball sat 86-88 mph and touched 89 twice. Mixed in a curveball at 74-77 mph with 11/5 shape, sharp action at times and swing-and-miss potential, and a changeup at 80-81 mph with sink. An arm to continue to monitor in the junior class.
Jake Weeks, 3B, Dunlap, 2027
Uncommitted. Stands in a 5-foot-11, 165-pound athletic frame with some lean strength. Started at third base and batted sixth. Didn't record a hit on the day but barreled two fly outs, one to center field and another to the right field warning track. A left-handed hitter, Weeks showed a fluid swing with quick hands through the zone. Defensively, showed confident hands with a clean transfer, quality arm across and clean footwork. An uncommitted junior to continue to follow the rest of the spring and summer.
Ryder Rennette, SS, Dunlap, 2028
Ranked No. 10 in the state's sophomore class. Stands in a 5-foot-8, 144-pound athletic frame. Started at shortstop and batted second. Finished the day 1-for-3 with one run scored. A fluid left-handed swing with quick hands and a flat path through the zone. Defensively continues to stand out, showing confident hands with quick feet and range to both sides. In-game, made a tough backhand play and showed a quick transfer and strong throw on the run, nearly getting the runner out with the throw slightly off line. Rennette continues to be a high-follow prospect in the sophomore class.
Brady Jones, 1B, Metamora, 2028
Ranked No. 16 in the state's sophomore class. Stands in a 6-foot-5, 196-pound lean frame with projection throughout. A two-sport athlete, also a standout on the basketball court. Started at first base and batted fourth. Finished the day 2-for-3, fluid left-handed swing, showed quality bat-to-ball skills with plate discipline and feel to use the whole field. In his last at-bat of the day, worked a 2-2 count and spoiled pitches, working an eight-pitch at-bat. A high upside name to continue to follow in the class.
Cooper Weyant, RHP, Metamora, 2027
Uncommitted. Stands in a 6-foot-2, 158-pound high-waisted, wiry frame with seemingly plenty of room for added strength. Worked one inning out of the 'pen, striking out two while allowing no hits or walks. Loose mover with a clean arm path out of a ¾ slot. Fastball sat 83-86 mph and touched 87, showing sink at times and garnering swing-and-miss. An uncommitted name to monitor in the junior class.
Tuesday, May 19th
No. 3 Lincoln-Way East vs. Montini Catholic
By: Tyler Defibaugh
Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout
Rocco Triolo, C, Lincoln-Way East, 2027
Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 59 in the state. Lean 6-foot, 191-pound frame with room for added strength. Batted third and caught for the Griffins. Triolo continues to show well in front of our staff this spring. The right-handed hitter uses the whole field and takes what the pitcher gives him, operating with a loose swing and bat speed to match. His barrel strength stands out, evidenced by a double to the opposite gap in this game plus a loud flyout to the warning track in his final at-bat; has 11 home runs on the season to-date. Behind the plate, he posted pop times ranging from 1.95 to 2.07, and is a willing blocker and quality receiver. He has positional versatility to round out his profile, as he has experience playing the outfield for the Griffins as well. An uncommitted name to follow as we move into the summer.
Matthew Ritter, 1B, Lincoln-Way East, 2028
Uncommitted. Well-proportioned 6-foot, 178-pound frame with present strength. Batted fifth and played first base for the Griffins. The left-handed hitter has high bat-to-ball ability paired with easy barrel strength to the pull-side, hitting a grand slam in this game while holding down a spot in the middle of one of the better lineups in the state as a sophomore. His hands work compact through the swing with the barrel staying in the zone a long time. At first base, he showed to be a quality defender with comfortable actions at first base.
Tyler Osmanski, RHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2027
Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 177 in the state. Athletic, proportional 5-foot-11, 156-pound frame. Started on the mound for the Griffins. Osmanski moves well down the mound, working from a high ¾ slot. His fastball sat 83-85 mph with sinking action, playing effectively at the bottom of the zone, while his curveball sat 72-74 mph with 11/5 shape, flashing as both a strike-getter and an out-pitch. He punched out eight over four innings, showing mound presence and the ability to navigate trouble on the basepaths.
Ryan Flanagan, LHP, Lincoln-Way East, 2026
Rock Valley JC commit. Currently ranked No. 157 in the state. Trim, high-waisted 6-foot-1, 170-pound frame. Came out of the bullpen for the Griffins. Flanagan is a loose and athletic mover down the mound, working from a high ¾ slot with deception. His fastball worked 83-86 mph with run and sink, missing barrels, while his slider sat 73-76 mph with sweeping action. He worked a clean 1-2-3 inning in the final frame, punching out one.
Kameron Cox, 2B, Montini Catholic, 2028
Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 21 in the state. Proportional 6-foot, 180-pound frame with some present strength. Batted leadoff and played second base for the Broncos. Cox has natural and clean actions on the dirt that should allow him to stick up the middle at the next level. At the plate, the right-handed hitter carries sneaky pop, leading off the game with an opposite field solo home run. He has a loose swing with some flatness through the zone.
Julio Ayala, SS, Montini Catholic, 2027
Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 55 in the state. Athletic 6-foot, 191-pound frame with noticeable strength in the lower half. Batted cleanup and played shortstop for the Broncos. At the plate, the left-handed hitter is aggressive in the box with a clean, balanced swing and stronger hands through the zone, showing barrel strength to the pull-side at times. Ayala is a confident and athletic defender up the middle with a strong arm that should allow him to stick on the dirt at the next level. An uncommitted name to follow as we move into the summer.
Sonny Mateja, RF, Montini Catholic, 2028
Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 51 in the state. Trim, high-waisted 6-foot-2, 165-pound frame with projection. Batted sixth and played right field for the Broncos. At the plate, the right-handed hitter has rhythm in the box with a loose, easy swing and length through the zone, tallying a hit in the game to go along with quality takes throughout. Mateja is an athletic and clean mover in right field with the arm strength to stick there in the future. A name to keep tabs on as the summer circuit approaches.
No. 1 St. Laurence vs. No. 4 Huntley
By: Nick DiBenedetto
Content Manager/Area Scout
Tristan Stegar, C, St. Laurence, 2027
Kentucky commit. Currently ranked No. 6 in the state’s junior class and No. 183 nationally. Athletic 6-foot-2, 196-pound frame. Batted second in the lineup and caught for the Vikings. Stegar stood out at the plate, showing a physical presence in the box and driving a backside double off the wall in left field to bring in St. Laurence’s first run of the game in the top of the sixth. The glove works behind the plate and plays with some carry. One of the top prospects in the 2027 class.
Cory Les, SS, St. Laurence, 2026
Louisville commit. Currently ranked No. 18 in the state’s senior class and No. 391 nationally. 6-foot-1, 210-pound frame. Batted in the lineup and played shortstop. Les continues to show well in front of our staff this spring, finishing with a double down the left-field line before later coming around to score. The left-handed hitter works from a balanced base with feel to hit at the plate. One of the top seniors in the state.
Kyle Ziebell, MIF, Huntley, 2026
Lake Land JC commit. Currently ranked No. 122 in the state’s senior class. 5-foot-11, 171-pound, athletic defender up the middle. Batted leadoff and played second base in this one. Ziebell finished with an RBI single in the fourth inning, continuing to show well in multiple looks this spring. An athletic senior prospect who continues to perform in front of our staff.
Diego Herrera, OF, Huntley, 2026
Parkland JC commit. 5-foot-9, 195-pound frame with compact strength throughout. Batted in the lineup and played the outfield for the Red Raiders. Herrera came through in a key spot, crushing a double off the wall into the wind to clear the bases and drive in the first three runs of the game in this high-level matchup. He finished 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, and a run scored.
John Artinghelli, C, Huntley, 2028
Uncommitted. 5-foot-9, 147-pound frame. Caught for the Red Raiders in this one. What stood out most in this look was the defense for the sophomore backstop. Artinghelli controlled the run game throughout, throwing out both runners attempting to steal. He showed soft blocking skills behind the plate and recorded pop times in the 2.20-2.25 range between innings. The defense is ahead right now for the sophomore, with the offensive side likely to continue trending up as added strength and size come. A name to follow throughout the coming years in the FVC.
Liam Nash, RHP, Huntley, 2027
Uncommitted. A member of Team Select at the 2025 Future Games. Currently ranked No. 34 in the state’s junior class and the No. 10 ranked RHP in the state. 6-foot-2, 195-pound frame. Got the start on the mound for the Red Raiders and held arguably the top offense in the state in check. Nash works with an up-tempo delivery from a high ¾ slot, limiting barrels throughout the outing. His fastball sat 87-91 mph, topping at 92 mph early, with 2600+ rpm. He paired it with a 79-82 mph slider with tight spin (2600+ rpm) and an 83-85 mph changeup with bite. Nash allowed just one run on two hits over five innings, walking five and striking out two while earning the win. Instantly one of the top uncommitted junior arms in the state.
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