With the IHSA season underway, the ScoutConnect scouting staff will be out and about in full force throughout the spring, providing quality coverage to high school athletes on a game-to-game basis. Aside from the social media aspect of our scouting, we’ll release our ‘Scout Notes’ the day after each game, which will provide a more detailed analysis of some players that stood out to our staff on that given day.
Continue reading below to learn more about a few names that impressed on Wednesday, March 18th, in a non-conference matchup between Marion and Du Quoin.
MARION WILDCATS
Chase Niemeyer, C, 2025, John A. Logan JC commit
Strong, compact right-handed hitting backstop that started behind the plate and hit cleanup for Marion in a win. Finished 2-for-3 with a run scored and two RBI. Sprayed one back up the middle to center field for a single in his first at-bat, barreled a backside double into the right-center gap his third trip to the plate for a two-run double. Strong hands that showed bat strength and some hand speed, worked with a quick barrel tip trigger on a slightly uphill path to contact. Stood out behind the plate defensively. Quiet hands that work down-to-up when receiving, doesn’t try to do too much and presents the baseball well. Willing blocker that moves laterally freely with the ability to square himself up to the baseball. Arm plays short and true to release with a 2.00 pop time in between innings but was not tested in-game. Has the potential to be an above-average defender behind the plate at the next level.
Aiden Pickles, INF/RHP, 2026, Uncommitted
Athletic, well-proportioned 6-foot-2, 200-pound frame with present strength and room for more. Started at second base and hit third for Marion in this look, was also one of their top arms as a sophomore last season. Strong hands at the plate with a simple load and move to start his swing. Barrel plays on a loose, level path to contact, matched planes with an upper-quadrant mid-80s fastball and sent it over the left field wall for a two-run home run in the first inning.
Will True, INF, 2026, Uncommitted
6-foot, 170-pound athletic left-handed hitter that started at shortstop and hit out of the two-hole. Finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, two runs scored, and three RBI, while drawing a walk, in a winning effort. Loose, athletic hands that work in rhythm out of load, has a quick leg kick trigger and a tight turn to the baseball. Steady defender on the infield, hands deepen on him at times, was able to work around the baseball on the move in I/O, arm works out of a ¾ window.
Gabe Hart, OF, 2026, Uncommitted
Strong, compact 5-foot-10, 165-pound left-handed hitter that led off and started in right field for Marion. Went 2-for-5 with a double and a run scored. Consistently competitive at the plate, put together some of the day’s best at-bats. Short, direct swing with fast hands that get on top of the baseball, doesn’t try to do too much but put the ball in play. True scrappy, gamer-type that looks like a tough out.
DU QUOIN INDIANS
Cy Craft, RHP, 2027, Uncommitted
6-foot, 178-pound compact frame with square shoulders and strength in the lower half. Earned the start on the mound for the Indians in a loss and did not have his best stuff, but continues to flash why he’s regarded as one of the top sophomores in Southern Illinois. Fastball played at 84-86, touching 87 mph several times in the first inning. Played mostly straight and to the glove-side corner in this look, did flash late run at times, particularly in the upper-quadrant. Showed a 75-76 mph slider with late lateral break early, used it sparingly as he went on.
Max Zimmerman, INF/RHP, 2027, Uncommitted
Strong, compact right-handed hitting infielder, started at third base and hit fifth for Du Quoin. Picked up two hits on the day; turned an inner-half pitch around for a loud double off the barrel to left field in his first at-bat, and flared a two-strike single to right field in his next trip to the plate. Simple, quiet start at the plate with minimal load, has strong fast hands that work on a level path to the baseball. Ball carried off the barrel on that aforementioned double, should continue to add more impact as he fills out his frame further. Worked on the mound in relief later in the game, pitching in the low-80s with his fastball while showing a tight curveball that flashed sharp 12-6 spin at times in the low-70s.
