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. 4 Alton and No. 9 Belleville East, which the Redbirds won 3-0.

NO. 4 ALTON REDBIRDS

Ayden Calvert, C, 2025, Uncommitted
Athletic, proportionally strong frame, hit leadoff and started behind the plate. Did not record a hit in this look, but was on the barrel twice, both to left field. Topspun a line drive in his first at-bat, backspun a deep line drive that way again that was taken away via an impressive route from the Lancers’ left fielder. Simple, level right-handed stroke, tips his barrel at load and works inside the baseball. Average arm strength behind the plate, steady hands, consistently squares up the baseball on blocks. An uncommitted senior catcher to know for the Redbirds. 

Nolan Parker, INF, 2025, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with lean strength, hit sixth and started at shortstop for the Redbirds. Finished 1-for-3 with an infield single and a run scored. Glove appears to be the carrying tool, has impressed at shortstop in a few looks this spring. Comfortable, controlled on the move, slows the game down and doesn’t get sped up. Hands play true with a short, quick arm stroke to release. Chance to stick on the infield at the next level, still uncommitted. 

Logan Hickman, RHP, 2026, Uncommitted
Long, athletic frame with lean strength throughout and all sorts of upside. Came out of the ‘pen and tossed two scoreless innings to secure a win for the Redbirds, striking out three with no hits, walked one. Worked with more pace and tempo today than we’ve seen before, repeated his delivery more consistently and fluidly. Short arm stroke that works free and easy, high ¾ slot. Fastball comes out clean, sat 85-88, touching 89 mph once, with late life on the glove-side corner. Easy to project on the velocity, should comfortably be pitching in the low-90s at this time next year. Showed a 78-79 mph slider as his best secondary in this look, tight spin with late break, landed it for strikes and glove-side for swing-and-miss. Did flash a 79-80 mph splitter that tumbled late. One of the area’s higher ceiling junior arms that’s still uncommitted. 

Alex Pilger, OF, 2026, Uncommitted
Athletic, well-proportioned frame. Started in right field and hit out of the nine-hole. Had an all-around strong performance that certainly contributed to the Redbirds’ win. Saved a run with a diving catch in right field to end the top of the fifth inning. Came to the plate in the bottom of that frame and sprayed a two out, two strike single to left-center field, plating two and putting Alton up 2-0 at the time. 

Anderson Kaufmann, 2028, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with present physicality and lean strength. Turned in another strong effort for the Redbirds on the mound, firing five scoreless innings with three hits, zero walks, seven strikeouts, and threw 60 of 75 pitches (80%) for strikes. Has three walks, two of which came in one game, in 27 ⅔ innings on the season. Confident, competitor on the mound, attacks hitters and doesn’t shy away from anyone. Repeats a fluid delivery with tempo, maintains his direction to the plate with a still head and clean finish through footstrike. Comfortable out of the stretch, holds runners and does not get sped up. Loose, athletic arm action with easy arm speed out front, maintains fastball intent on all of his pitches. Fastball touched 87 mph early, pitched at 83-86 mph as he went on, mostly backspun it on the corners but did show late arm-side action at times. Advanced feel and polish for his slider and changeup; the latter is a tightly spun offering at 75-77 mph, while the former plays at 78-80 mph with late fade sold from the same arm speed as his fastball. Has a chance to be the next special talent to come out of the Metro East. 

NO. 9 BELLEVILLE EAST LANCERS

Tommy Kramkowski, RHP/INF, 2025, Missouri State commit
Athletic, well-proportioned frame with lean strength and room to continue adding more. Took the mound for Belleville East in this Southwestern Conference matchup, allowing three runs on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts. Competitor on the mound, consistently on the attack. Works with pace and tempo, heavy stack onto his backside and stays on it down the mound. Athletic, high-intent delivery that throws with effort through footstrike. Short arm stroke, high ¾ finish. Fastball sat 90-91 mph in the first inning, settled into the upper-80s as he went on and worked down in the zone, especially to the glove-side corner. Showed two breaking balls in this look; a 74-75 mph curveball with higher shape and more depth, as well as a tighter, sharper 77-78 mph slider that he turned to for swing-and-miss. Offers a blend of athleticism, present pitchability, and future upside – one of the area’s top arms. 

Grady Davis, INF, 2025, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with proportional strength. Started at shortstop and hit out of the three-hole for the Lancers. Has been one of the area’s top offensive performers this spring. Came into today’s game slashing .580/.618/.749 in 50 at-bats this spring. Strong, flat right-handed swing, stays through the hitting zone with backspin off the barrel. Jumped all over a pitch and sprayed it to center field for a single in his first at-bat. Went that way again his next trip up to the plate, driving a pitch to deep center field for a loud lineout. 

Author: Diego