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 …

Saturday, April 12

Crystal Lake Central vs. Stevenson

By: Peter Hamot
Assistant Scouting Director, Illinois/Wisconsin

James Dreher, SS, Crystal Lake Central, 2025
Wisconsin-Whitewater commit. 6-foot, 150-pound frame, lean with room to add strength. Got the start at shortstop and gave a highly impressive look at the top of the order. Scrappy left-handed hitter with a short and compact swing, didn’t have anything to show for it but was on the barrel a couple times and handled his at-bats well, controls the zone with limited chase. High-level defender on the dirt, clear feel for the position, quick hands and transfer, fluid footwork with range, will be able to stay on the infield at the next level. 

Carter Kelley, OF, Crystal Lake Central, 2025McHenry County commit. 5-foot-10, 170-pound frame. Got the start in center field and hit in the two-hole for the Tigers. Spark plug type, took a pitch the other way and was thinking two bases out of the box, turned a single into a double, flat and quick swing, also recorded a 3.85 on a bunt. Athletic actions in the outfield with a strong arm, natural defender with easy movements to all directions. Hopped on the mound to close it out and was sitting 85-86 mph with life through the zone. Athletic and simple mover with a clean arm, high ¾ release. Also flashed a curveball and changeup in the mid-70s. 

Rhett Ozment, 3B, Crystal Lake Central, 2025
Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 297 in the state. Strong-bodied 6-foot-1, 204-pounds, looks the part in the uniform with present strength. Got the start at third base and hit out of the three-hole for the Tigers, finishing the day 2-for-2 with two singles, a walk and a hit-by-pitch. Simple right-handed swing that stays on time, showed bat-speed through the zone with a flat path, present bat-to-ball with power to pair. Smooth actions at third with soft hands, moves well for size. 

Wade Ozment, LF, Crystal Lake Central, 2027
Uncommitted. Highly projectable 6-foot-3, 185-pound frame, long-levered with plenty of room to add on strength in the coming years. Started in left field and hit out of the five hole for the Tigers. The right-handed hitter was on the barrel a couple times, one being a single and the other being a hard lineout to CF. Simple and smooth swing that stays direct to the baseball, keeps his hands inside the ball. Moves athletically around the outfield, long strides, gains ground with ease, quick first step. Arm plays well above-average with strength and carry to his target. High-level two-way prospect to follow. 

Connor Gibour, OF, Crystal Lake Central, 2025
Ohio commit, currently ranked No. 154 in the state. Long-levered 6-foot-4, 195-pound frame, all sorts of room for added strength in the coming years. Hit out of the four-hole for the Tigers and tallied a single and a home run to his pull-side, also walking once. Uses his levers well to lift the baseball, simple and easy swing with strength, should continue to add more power as he matures, could be a real power threat at the next level. 

Danny Adams, RHP, Crystal Lake Central, 2027
Uncommitted. Got the start for the Tigers and threw it well over his six innings of work, scattering nine hits while allowing just one earned run, not allowing a walk and striking out four. The right-hander had some deception in his delivery, hiding the ball well in the back before coming through with a high ¾ slot with some length on the backside. He worked around 82-83 mph with the fastball, filling up the zone and creating weak contact. His go-to secondary was his curveball at 70-75 mph, showing clear confidence in the offering and throwing it often, even throwing it the first pitch of the game, big-breaking 11/5 shape with depth and feel. 

Kosuke Sakamoto, CF, Stevenson, 2025
Uncommitted. Compact and athletic 5-foot-9, 165-pound frame. Hit out of the leadoff spot and started in centerfield for the Patriots, finishing the day 3-for-4 with three doubles. The left-handed hitter has quality bat-to-ball skills, covering the entire plate and using the whole field, allows the ball to travel, quick hands with a direct swing, easy effort with a balanced swing. 

Frank Costabile, RHP, Stevenson, 2026
Uncommitted. Currently ranked No. 19 in the state. Came out of the ‘pen with a loud showing for the Patriots, firing two shutout and hitless innings with one walk and one strikeout. He’s an easy mover with a shorter leg-lift into balance point, works in-line with low effort, still head through release. Quick arm plays from a ¾ window. Fastball sat 89-91 mph, topping at 92 mph with easy life. He got under his slider at times but it showed quality 10/4 shape when he stayed on top of it, playing in the low-80s with sharp bite. Also flashed a changeup in the low/mid-80s with hard dive at times. High-level arm to follow, twitchy athlete with impressive all-around metrics on both sides of the ball.