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 Monday, March 24th in a non-conference matchup between Freeburg and Byron.
FREEBURG MIDGETS
Sam Rauckman, INF/RHP, 2025, St. Louis CC
Strong, compact frame, started at shortstop and hit third for Freeburg in a win on Monday afternoon. Finished 1-for-4 with a run scored. Was on the barrel twice to the pull-side, long and flat path through the zone, backspins the baseball. Stable presence defensively, captains the infield with steady, sure-handed actions. Is also a mid-80s arm on the mound that figures to be an impact in that regard this season.
Evan Foster, 1B, 2025, Lewis & Clark CC commit
Highly physical 6-foot-3, 220-pounds, started at first base and hit cleanup for Freeburg. Brought two runs in on two hits, scoring once on his own. Strong hands with bat speed, stays short to the baseball with a clean, level path through the zone. A strong right-handed hitter that should stick in the middle of the Midgets’ lineup.
Max Biehl, OF/LHP, 2025, Uncommitted
Compact frame with strength, particularly in the lower half. Was a key component to Freeburg’s win on both sides of the ball. Offensively, hit second and finished 1-for-3 with a run scored, an RBI, and drew a walk. Direct, compact left-handed stroke, gets on top of the baseball, barreled a single through the right side of the infield in his first at-bat. Hopped on the mound and secured a two-inning save, punching out four across two scoreless innings with just one walk allowed. Fluid, athletic delivery that he repeats, arm plays short and tight on the backside from an over-the-top slot. Fastball played at 81-83 mph, jumped on hitters from a tight window and got swing-and-miss in the zone often. Relied mostly on the fastball, but did show a straight changeup and slurvy-type breaking ball.
Evan Rapp, INF, 2025, Uncommitted
Compact, muscle-bound frame that holds strength throughout. Hit leadoff and started at second base, finished 2-for-4 with a run scored. Was on the barrel three times – two to the opposite field, the other a first-pitch rocket to left field for a single in his first at-bat. Strong hands, Above-average runner, gets to peak speed quickly out of the box.
Beau Breyman, C, 2027, Uncommitted
Compact frame that holds strength, particularly in the lower half. Started behind the plate and hit sixth. Picked up his lone hit of the game in his first trip to the plate, spraying a single back up the middle of the field to bring home a run as part of a seven-run first inning for the Midgets. Quiet, balanced, and low-effort operation at the plate, simple hand load with a short stride. Strong hands that work direct to contact, long barrel path through the zone. Advanced defender for age at a premium position. Willing blocker, squares up the baseball and consistently works. Arm plays short to release from a ¾ window, recorded pop times of 1.95, 2.03, 2.13 in between innings.
Liam Scaiefe, RHP, 2027, Uncommitted
6-foot-4, 190-pound frame with strength in the lower half and room to continue adding more. Turned in a strong start on the mound, allowing one run on one hit with two walks and four strikeouts over 3 ⅓ innings of work. Works with tempo, drops slightly into his lower half and rides it down the mound with a slightly closed finish at footstrikes. Arm plays with some reach on the backside, travels on a short path to release out of a loose ¾ slot. Fastball touched 85 mph in the first, pitching at anywhere from 80-84 mph as he went on. Spun a slurvy-type breaking ball with gradual spin at 69-71 mph, some feel to land it for strikes. A physical, upside arm to follow for the Midgets.
Dane Johnson, INF, 2027, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with compact strength throughout. Started at third base and hit eighth in this look. Lone hit of the day came in the first inning, where he sprayed an RBI single to center field to bring home a run. Strong hands with a quick load on the backside, long and slightly uphill path to contact.
BYRON TIGERS
Andrew Talbert, MIF, 2027, Uncommitted
Athletic frame that holds lean strength, looks the part in a uniform. Started at shortstop, and shaded over to second base, in this look, hitting in the three-hole for Byron. Walked twice, did not record a hit. Aggressive at the plate, does not get cheated with high-effort hacks on the regular. Long bat path with intent to do damage, flashed notable bat speed at times. Athletic on the infield with easy arm strength, ball carries out the hand. A toolsy sophomore to follow for Byron.
