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 stood out to our staff in a non-conference matchup between No. 2 Triad and Granite City, which the Knights won 2-1.
NO. 2 TRIAD KNIGHTS
Hayden Bernreuter, OF/LHP, 2025, John A. Logan JC commit
Strong, compact frame that’s packed with physicality throughout. Hit out of the two-hole for Triad, started in right field and came out of the ‘pen. Continues to show big bat speed and strength, hammering a triple to right-center field in his first at-bat. Fluid left-handed swing, keeps a long, level barrel through the hitting zone. Hopped on the mound in the seventh inning and K’d the side to lock up a 2-1 win for the Knights. Poured in fastballs at 89-91, touching 92 mph once, and threw nine of his 11 pitches for strikes. A dynamic two-way prospect with loud tools on both sides of the ball.
Landon Loomis, C/1B, 2025, Minnesota State commit
Strong, physical left-handed hitter, hit cleanup and served as the DH. Went 1-for-2 with an RBI, stayed on a pitch and flicked it into right field for a single. Strong active hands pre-pitch that tip at load, comfortable with a leg lift trigger that helps him get on time and adjust when needed. Another impact-type left-handed bat in the middle of this Triad lineup.
Gabe Deaver, OF, 2025, McKendree commit
Lean, athletic left-handed hitter that hits leadoff and plays center field for the Knights. Has done nothing but hit all season, added to that total with two more on Saturday. Hustled out a double to center field, followed that up with a single the other way in his next at-bat. Loose, fluid hands that work in rhythm with his lower half, long strider. Barrel stays level through the zone with length to contact, ball jumps off the barrel with backspin feel. Covers ground in the outfield with above-average arm strength, chance to stick there at the next level. A true table-setter for one of the area’s top offenses.
Nolan Keller, INF/RHP, 2026, Uncommitted
Athletic, well-proportioned frame with lean strength and plenty of room to add more. Multi-sport background, played a key piece on a Triad basketball team that made it to a 3A Super-Sectional this winter. Showed well with the bat in this look, totaling two hits, both of them to the pull-side. Jumped on the first pitch he saw on the day and topspun a single over the shortstop to left field. Hammered a double off the top of the left-center field wall that missed a home run by a few inches later in the game. Controls the barrel with jump off it, able to match planes with a simple, level bat path. Really looked the part in I/O defensively, has soft hands that can pick it on the move, particularly to the backhand, and the arm strength to stick on the left side. An athletic, uncommitted junior that can do a little bit of everything and will be one that college coaches should follow this spring/summer.
Keegan Seipp, 1B/C, 2027, Uncommitted
Mature, physically advanced frame for age that holds strength throughout and room to keep adding more as he gets older. Got the start behind the plate and hit fifth for Triad. Strong hands with a heavy barrel, stays inside the baseball and works direct to contact. Sprayed a single back up the middle of the field for his only hit of the day, found a barrel that way later in the game for a loud lineout to center field. One of the area’s top sophomores that continues to produce as a key middle-of-the-order bat for Triad’s offense.
Nathan Klucker, RHP, 2027, Uncommitted
Athletic, well-proportioned frame. Took the ball for Triad in a start and fired 4 ⅓ innings of quality ball, scattering five hits, with two walks and one earned run. Fastball played in the upper-70s with arm-side run, favored that corner of the plate and is more than comfortable establishing the inside corner to right-handed hitters. Split the plate with an upper-60s short wrinkle slider that he was able to land for strikes as he went on.
Brody Hasquin, RHP, 2027, Uncommitted
Physical frame with broad shoulders and lower-half strength with a multi-sport background; is a quarterback for the Knights’ football team and also played a key role in their basketball program making a Super-Sectional run this winter. Came out of the ‘pen and struck out three over 1 ⅔ innings of quality work, allowing one hit and walking one. Fastball played heavy at 79-82 mph and showed a hard, two-plane slider at 74-76 mph with tight spin that he was able to land for strikes consistently.
GRANITE CITY WARRIORS
Nathan Hopper, OF, 2025, Uncommitted
Strong, well-proportioned frame, started in center field and hit second for Granite City. Strong hands with a long, slightly uphill path through the zone. Had two doubles, both of them to right-center, in this look. An uncommitted senior that’s performed well for the Warriors early in the season.
Connor Schaefer, MIF, 2028, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with lean strength, started at shortstop and hit ninth. Went 1-for-3 with a run scored. Was on the barrel for a lineout to the right side in his first at-bat, went that way again for a single in the following at-bat. Short, compact right-handed swing with a high two-hand finish. Showed clean, athletic actions on the infield pre-game, attacks the baseball with fluid feet that put him in a strong fielding position. A freshman to follow for the Warriors.
