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 Southwestern Conference matchup between No. 2 O’Fallon and No. 4 Alton, which the Redbirds won 5-4 to earn a series split against the Panthers.
NO. 4 ALTON REDBIRDS
Ayden Calvert, C, 2025, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with strength throughout, started behind the plate and hit fifth for the Redbirds. Balanced at the plate with a simple, fluid load and level path to contact. Jumped all over a pitch in his first at-bat and sent it over the left-center wall for a no-doubt three-run home run, putting the Redbirds on the board in the bottom of the first inning. Really impressed defensively, consistently worked to both sides from a blocking standpoint and was comfortable squaring up the baseball. Also threw a runner out. An uncommitted senior backstop that showed well on both sides of the ball in this look.
Logan Hickman, RHP, 2026, Uncommitted
Long, loose, and projectable levers with all sorts of physical upside. Came out of the ‘pen and locked up a win for Alton, allowing one run on a hit over two innings of work, walking two with a pair of punchouts. Comfortable with pace and tempo out of the windup, short arm action that finishes out of a loose, clean, and fluid high ¾ slot. Still gaining comfort out of the stretch, can get sped up at times. Fastball touched 88 early, pitching at 84-87 mph, with late life in the zone. Pounded the lower half when he was around the strike zone, easy to project his velocity to continue climbing as he adds strength and repeatability. Did not use his secondaries much in this look, but both flashed above-average action when he did throw them. Known for his sharp, two-plane slider at 78-79 mph, and debuted a 79-80 mph splitter that, when right, fell off a table and recorded a strikeout. One of the area’s more intriguing uncommitted arms that slowly starting to come into his own on the mound.
Anderson Kaufmann, RHP/C/OF, 2028, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with present physicality and lean strength. Took the mound for Alton in his first career Southwestern Conference start and strung together an impressive effort, allowing three runs on six hits over five innings of work, walking two while striking out five. Gave up all three of those runs in the first inning, firing four straight scoreless innings after that. Immediately stands out for his mound presence and comfort, does not get phased by whatever goes on behind him. Repeats a fluid delivery with tempo, maintains his direction to the plate with a still head and clean finish through footstrike. Loose, athletic arm action with easy arm speed out front, throws all three of his secondaries with the same intent as his fastball. Comfortable throwing all four of his pitches for strikes in any count. Fastball touched 87 in the second, pitching at 83-86 mph, strikes often. Showed two different breaking balls; a 71-72 mph curveball with more arch/depth that played as more of a get-me-over pitch, while also showing a tight, more aggressive slider at 76-77 mph that he used for swing-and-miss. Feel for a polished changeup at 78-79 mph, sold it with fastball intent with heavy fade at times. Highly advanced confidence and comfortability, does not resemble a freshman on the mound by any means. Looks to be the next impact-type prospect to come out of the Metro East and should be a mainstay for this Alton club over the next four seasons.
NO. 2 O’FALLON PANTHERS
Connor Blue, RHP, 2025, Cincinnati commit
Strong, well-proportioned frame that holds strength throughout. Took the mound for O’Fallon and struck out 11 over five innings of work, allowing four runs on five hits with three walks. Simple stretch-only delivery without much added movement, works in rhythm and finishes towards the first base side with an open front foot. Long, continuous arm path that works out of a loose, clean, slightly elevated ¾ window. Fastball touched 93 in the first, pitching at 88-92 as he went on with late life up in the zone, flashing plus carry at times when he really stayed behind the baseball. Struggled to establish the breaking ball early, but found his rhythm as he went on and started to spin a sharp slider with bite and depth at 73-75 mph. Also chipped in two hits at the plate and scored a run, walking once. One of the area’s premier arms that’s also having an exceptional season at the plate for one of the top teams in the Metro East.
Dane Hrasky, MIF, 2025, Central Missouri commit
Wiry, athletic frame with lean strength and room to add more. Sets the table at the top of this Panthers’ lineup and starts at shortstop. Continues to impress offensively, jumping on the first pitch of the game – an 85 mph fastball right down the middle – and sending it over the left field wall for a home run. Would do a little bit of everything for the Panthers in this look; scored two runs, drew a walk, stole a base, and played his usual clean defense at shortstop.
Carson Bauer, MIF, 2026, Uncommitted
Lean, high-waisted frame with upside levers that is far from a finished product physically. Hits second for O’Fallon and serves as their everyday second baseman. Has done nothing but perform this spring, adding two more hits to his year’s total, including a two-strike RBI single the other way that brought the Panthers within one run in the top of the sixth inning. Short, direct left-handed swing that doesn’t swing-and-miss much in the zone and covers the entire field. Does a lot of things right at the plate and will only grow into more offensive impact as he further fills out his frame. Continues to show clean, fluid actions on the infield and cement himself as a next-level defender on the dirt. A high academic, high upside all-around prospect to follow for the Panthers.
Sam McCollum, RHP, 2026, Uncommitted
Compact, muscle-bound frame with strength throughout. Came out of the ‘pen and fired a scoreless inning, striking out two and inducing a weak groundout to second base. Clean, continuous arm stroke, fastball plays true out the hand at 84-87 mph. Completely confident in a tight, sharp slider with depth that he will throw in any count and to either side of the plate at 73-76 mph, has consistently proven to be his bread-and-butter pitch.
