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 Saturday, March 22nd, in our three team look at Monticello, Waterloo, and Murphysboro.
MONTICELLO SAGES
Ike Young, RHP, 2025, Illinois commit
Athletic, projectable frame with lean strength and plenty room for more, listed at 6-foot-2, Premium athlete – was the quarterback for Monticello’s state team and also played basketball for the Sages. 190-pounds. Started the second game of the double-header against Waterloo, striking out 12 over five innings of work with three hits, two walks, and three earned runs. High intent, athletic mover, fluid delivery and works through the baseball at footstrike. Clean, continuous arm path that finishes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 90-92 mph in the first, settling at 88-90 mph as he went on, played straight with efficient backspin at the top of the zone. Spun a slider at 78-82 mph, lightened up on it at times but was sharp with late break when he threw it with the same intent as his fastball. High upside arm that has a chance to really pop once he focuses on baseball only and continues to tack on strength to his frame.
Eli Craft, C, 2025, John A. Logan JC commit
Strong, physical, well-proportioned frame that looks the part in a uniform. Hit third and started behind the dish in both games for Monticello. Drew three walks in game one, followed that up with two singles in game two. Put together some of the day’s best at-bats, didn’t swing-and-miss in the zone and consistently battled into deep counts. Strong hands that flashed bat speed, works with intent out of load and does not get cheated. Long, level path through the hitting zone, favors the pull-side. Has the potential to be an asset defensively behind the plate. Soft hands that work down-to-up at gather, present the baseball properly and able to stick it on both corners of the plate. Accurate arm with a quick release, plays true out the hand and knows when to use it, back picked a runner at first base in game one. Impressive look at one of the top backstops in the Illinois’ 2025 class, will be a name to follow throughout his career at John A. Logan JC.
Carter Foran, OF, 2025, DePauw Football commit
Lean, athletic frame, started in center field and hit leadoff in both games of the Sages’ double-header. Had a hit in both games – two barrels to right field, including a two-run double that way. Athletic hands with a short, flat, and direct path to contact. Plays multiple sports – football, basketball, baseball, track – at Monticello and can run.
Eric Arnold, 3B, 2025, Uncommitted
Started at third base and hit sixth for the Sages in the first game of this double-header action. Finished 2-for-4 with four RBI on the day, both hits came in a left/left matchup on the mound. Stayed back on a two strike pitch and barreled it back up the middle for a single in his first at-bat. Followed that up by barreling a two-run double into the right-center field gap. Long, level left-handed swing with strong hands.
Koyie Williams, INF/RHP, 2026, Uncommitted
Compact, athletic frame with some strength and room for more. Showed well on both sides of the ball in this two game look. Started on the hill for the Sages in game one and struck out six over four scoreless innings, walking one with two hits allowed. Drop/drive type delivery with tempo, gets into his backside and stays on it down the mound to footstrike. Quick arm stays short on the backside and finishes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 83 in the first, sat 80-82 mph as he went on and induced a high amount of ground balls. Spun a big, bendy breaking ball at 64-68 mph for strikes and showed a 75-76 mph changeup that he’s still developing full feel for. Switch hits at the plate, picked up a hit from both sides and drove in two runs. Stays level to contact with some length through the zone. A two-way contributor that figures to be a key piece of this Monticello club.
Zeke Young, RHP, 2027, Uncommitted
Athletic frame, came out of the ‘pen and struck out five over two innings of two-run ball, walking one. Simple in-line delivery, repeats and finishes out front with intent through footstrike. Short quick arm stroke, finishes out of high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 81 mph early, played in the upper-70s and for strikes. Consistently turned to an upper-60s breaking ball with depth, able to land it in the zone and spot it beneath for swing-and-miss. Completely confident in it, doubled up on it at times. A young, athletic arm to follow for the Sages.
WATERLOO BULLDOGS
Patrick O’Donnell, CF, 2025, Uncommitted
Strong, compact frame, started in center field and hit leadoff for the Bulldogs. Barreled an 88 mph fastball the other way in his second at-bat of the game. Had an impressive delay steal on a dirt ball for a stolen base as well.
Max Oswald, INF, 2025, St. Charles CC commit
Long, lean-levered frame with all sorts of upside. Started at third base and hit in the two-hole, finished 1-for-4 with a triple and an RBI. Twitchy hands with barrel speed, controls his long levers well and stays short to contact with a flat path through the hitting zone. Steady actions on the infield, has the arm strength to stick at third base at the next level.
Caleb Papenberg, OF, 2026, Uncommitted
Physical, well-proportioned 6-foot-3, 190-pound frame that stands out. Hit in the three-hole and started in left field for Waterloo. Strong hands with a short, uphill left-handed stroke, ball jumps off the barrel. Covered the plate in his first at-bat and barreled a 90 mph fastball the other way for a loud double into the left-center gap. Finished 1-for-2 with two runs scored, two RBI, and a walk. Arm played true from the outfield in I/O, easy carry out the hand. A standout from our Winter Showcase in February that has the potential to be a middle-of-the-order bat and will be a name to watch this spring/summer.
MURPHYSBORO RED DEVILS
Gage Taylor, OF, 2027, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with well-proportioned strength. Hit at the top of Murphysboro’s lineup – third in game one and second in game two. Did not record a hit in game one, totaled two in the second game, including an RBI double. Got off several aggressive hacks, showed bat speed from the left side with a flat path through the zone, does pull off at times.
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