With the MSHSAA 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 look at four Missouri teams on Tuesday, April 22nd.
TIMBERLAND WOLVES
Richie Swain, RHP, 2025, Mississippi State commit
Athletic, proportionally strong frame with room to continue adding strength, really looks the part. Put together arguably his best start of the season yesterday, firing seven no-hit innings with two walks and six strikeouts in a 1-0 extra-inning win for Timberland. Simple, stretch-only delivery, stays tall at balance point and works down the mound with effort through release. Long arm action, ¾ slot. Fastball touched 95 once in the first inning, pitching at 92-94 mph. Was 91-93 mph in the second inning, settling in at 88-92 mph from the third inning on and holding it. Effective down in the zone, induced 10 ground ball outs and stayed off barrels all game. Threw his slider with the same effort and intent as his fastball, tight spin, 78-82 mph. A power-armed right-hander that continues to draw MLB Draft interest as the spring rolls on.
Carson Ramos, C, 2025, Northern Illinois commit
Compact, physical frame that holds strength throughout. Started behind the plate and hit cleanup for the Wolves. Finished 1-for-3 with two walks. Stayed on a two-strike breaking ball and pushed it back up the middle for a single in his first at-bat of the day. Strong hands, long and level path, doesn’t get cheated with aggressive, high-intent hacks. Continues to show well defensively as one of the area’s more impactful catchers. Handled a live arm well, works down to up with soft hands and strong wrists that present the baseball. Backhanded a slider in the dirt in the sixth inning, handled it cleanly, and threw a runner out at third to end the frame in a big spot.
Ethan Chiodini, CIF, 2025, St. Charles CC commit
Strong, physical right-handed hitter, started at third base and hit out of the three-hole. Has been a big piece to Timberland’s offense this spring, entering play yesterday with a .357/.400/.482 triple-slash on the year. Added two more hits to that total, singling back up the middle and doubling on a line drive to center field in the bottom of the 10th that would eventually be the game-winning run. Played a quality defensive third base, made a diving play to his glovehand, popped up, and threw a runner out in the fifth inning.
FORT ZUMWALT EAST LIONS
Carter Hollingsworth, RHP, 2025, State Fair CC commit
6-foot-4, 195-pounds. Fired seven shutout innings for the Lions yesterday, scattering five hits with two walks and three strikeouts. Deceptive, tough look on hitters, works across his body with an open front foot at landing. Long arm stroke with reach on the backside, slightly elevated ¾ finish. Pitched down in the zone at 82-85, touching 86 mph in the first, with sink. Changed speeds with a sweeping slider at 70-72 mph, landed it for strikes.
NO. 1 FRANCIS HOWELL VIKINGS
Eli Skidmore, RHP, 2025, St. Louis commit
Athletic, broad-shouldered frame that holds proportional strength throughout. Multi-sport background, was the Vikings’ starting quarterback this past fall. Turned in yet another impressive outing for the Vikings, striking out six over six innings with no walks and an unearned run in a 2-1 win. Controls his pace and tempo, does not get rushed or sped up. Drop/drive type delivery, stacks his backside and rides it down the mound to front footstrike. Level shoulders, athletic finish, does land with an open front toe at times with drift towards the first base side. Short, tight arm stroke, finishes out of a high ¾ slot with arm speed out front. Fastball played at 91-93 mph over the first two innings, touching 93 mph multiple times, and settling in at 88-91 mph as he went on. Clean out the hand, played true up in the zone with four-seam backspin, 2500+ RPM. Easy velocity, doesn’t have to exert much effort. Continues to show above-average feel for both of his secondaries. Slider showed sharp spin at times with hard sweep at 77-81 mph, able to land it for strikes and bury it glove side for swing-and-miss. Started to turn over his changeup more as he went through the lineup a second and third time, throws it with the same intent as his fastball with depth, 81-83 mph. An impressive look at one of the area’s top arms.
Jackson Vaughn, 1B, 2025, Wichita State commit
6-foot-3, 200-pounds with lean strength throughout and long levers. Hits out of the three-hole and starts at first base for the top-ranked Vikings. Has been a key piece of this offense, slashing .389/.484/.556 in 54 at-bats. Went 1-for-3 yesterday, backspinning a double over the right fielder’s head in his first at-bat of the day. Drove in a key run for Francis Howell in the top of the sixth inning, driving a deep fly ball to the center field warning track that brought home a run and put the Vikings ahead 2-1. Has made some notable changes to his all-around offensive operation; starts more crouched than before with higher hands, uses a leg kick trigger to get himself on time. Doesn’t swing and miss much and controls the strike zone. A polished left-handed hitter that’s among the area’s best.
Mason Bogard, OF/MIF, 2025, Moberly Area CC commit
Compact frame that holds strength, started in left field and hit seventh for the Vikings. Led Francis Howell with two hits on the day. Sprayed a flare single to left field in his first at-bat of the day, stayed on a breaking ball and barreled it to right-center field for another single in his last trip to the plate. Short, direct left-handed stroke with some leverage through contact. Able to play multiple positions defensively, was in a corner outfield role today but can also defend on the infield. A scrappy, do-it-all type senior that’s slashing .420/.463/.560 on the year.
Brady Tanner, MIF, 2026, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with proportional strength, hit out of the two-hole and started at second base. Epitomizes the scrappy, gamer-type mantra, does a little bit of everything and consistently plays the game hard. Clean, polished left-handed swing that stays level through the zone with leverage through contact. Comes up in a key spot in the game and pushes a bunt single down the third base line to extend an inning. Sure-handed defender on the infield, comfortable on the move and doesn’t get sped up or rushed. Ranged to his glove side, secured a ground ball, opened up his feet and threw a runner out at first base. One of the top uncommitted juniors in the St. Louis’ area.
Drew Dierks, LHP, 2027, Uncommitted
Long, lanky 6-foot-3, 170-pound frame with lean limbs that offer plenty of room to fill out further. Came out of the ‘pen and locked up his fifth save of the season, tying the Francis Howell program record, with two strikeouts and a lineout to first base. Controls his tempo, works across his body and finishes with effort through footstrike. Long, continuous arm path, finishes out of a high ¾ slot. Fastball sat 81-83 mph, played down in the zone and on the corners. Spun a 70-71 mph breaking ball with big sweep. An upside left-handed arm to follow.
FRANCIS HOWELL NORTH KNIGHTS
Carson Howard, RHP/3B, 2026, Uncommitted
Strong, sturdy frame with physicality throughout. Took the mound for the Knights and hit out of the two-hole as well. Struck out seven in a complete game effort, allowing two runs on five hits with one walk. Some drop/drive pattern in the lower half, raises his front shoulder slightly as he works downhill. Maintains his direction to the plate, throws through his front foot with effort. Arm plays with some length on the backside, continuous path to an over-the-top finish. Fastball touched 87 mph multiple times over the first two innings, held 84-86 mph throughout with late run at times. Raises arm slot slightly on his curveball, 71-74 mph, sharp at times with depth and strike feel. Physical at the plate with strong hands and bat strength, went 2-for-3 with two singles to the backside, and drove in the Knights’ only run.
