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 No. 2 Edwardsville and No. 4 Alton, which the Tigers won 13-8.
NO. 2 EDWARDSVILLE TIGERS
Joe Chiarodo, RHP/OF, 2025, Alabama commit
Athletic frame with strength throughout, particularly in the lower half. Drew the start for the Tigers in a Southwestern Conference matchup against ranked Alton. Didn’t have his best showing, but battled through 4 ⅔ innings in a winning effort for the Tigers. Athletic drop/drive mover, stacks his backside early and stays on it to footstrike. Finishes with a closed front toe, keeps his direction to the plate with intent through release. Arm plays short and compact on the backside, finishing out of a clean high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 92 in the second, held 87-91 mph as he went on, reaching back for 91 mph twice in the fourth inning, carrying it up and down in the zone. Spun two breaking balls; a sharp, but more bendy 71-73 mph curveball with depth, and a harder, sharper, and more lateral slider at 78-82 mph. Confident in both, landed the latter for strikes more consistently while using the former as a swing-and-miss pitch. Showed a fading changeup at 79-82 mph, used it sparingly. Continues to perform at a high level at the plate, finishing 2-for-3 with a walk and run scored in this look. Drove in the game’s first run with an RBI single through the left side of the infield in his first at-bat, would barrel a two strike pitch that way his next trip to the plate as well. Short, quick right-handed swing with bat speed and bat strength, keeps his barrel through the hitting zone with leverage through contact. A dynamic two-way talent that continues to show out as one of the top talents in the area and a front runner for our ‘Player of the Year’ award.
Lucas Krebs, INF, 2025, Illinois commit
Athletic, well-proportioned frame with strength throughout. Hit second and started at shortstop for the Tigers in this look, finishing 2-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, and a walk. Doubled twice – barreled a line drive to right field in his first at-bat, would go down the left field line later in the game for his second of the game. Also backspun a deep line drive into the left-center gap that was caught. Simple, quiet, and balanced operation, loads in rhythm and stays behind the baseball. Strong hands, level path with some length through the zone, fluid finish. Took a highly impressive round of pregame I/O. Highly athletic, clean, and rhythmic actions, knows how to slow the game down and play at his pace. Effortless mover, covers ground to both sides. Arm plays with some length to release, but has the arm strength to stick on the left side at the next level with easy carry across the diamond. Another high-end senior on this Edwardsville club that’s among the area’s most talented players.
Tyler Powell, RHP/1B, 2025, SIUE commit
Strong, sturdy frame with physicality throughout. Propelled the Tigers’ offense in this one, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs scored, an RBI, and three doubles. Strong hands, long and uphill path to contact, balanced finish, doesn’t get cheated. Two of his doubles went to the backside, the other down the left field line on a two strike pitch. Also one of this team’s top arms, tossing four scoreless innings and striking out seven in four innings of work the night before.
Greyson Rathgeb, OF, 2025, Maryville commit
Athletic, well-proportioned frame with present lean strength and room for more. Hit out of the seven hole and started in center field, shifting over to right field later in the game. Went 1-for-3 with a run scored, drove in two. Doubled off the left field wall in his first at-bat, bringing a run home, and drove an outer-half pitch to right-center field for a sacrifice fly. Short, athletic right-handed swing, stays level through the zone with a two-hand finish through contact. Continues to show highly advanced arm strength for his age, threw a runner out at home plate in a huge spot to end an inning in this game.
Logan Porter, OF, 2025, Uncommitted
Lean, high-waisted, athletic frame with upside, started in left field and was productive out of the eight hole, finishing 3-for-4 with two runs scored and two RBI. Tripled to the right-center gap and singled twice. Tall start with balance in the lower half, tips his barrel and turns his hands with a fluid, level path to contact.
Hunter Baugh, INF/RHP, 2026, Uncommitted
Lean, wiry frame with plenty of room to continue adding mass and strength. Continues to do a little bit of everything for the Tigers, hitting out of the top spot in the lineup while starting at third base. Finished 2-for-5 with a run scored and an RBI. Dropped a bunt down late in the game that forced an errant throw and brought home a run in a key spot. Elevated a double down the left field line in his last at-bat that also drove in a run. Clean, direct, and level bat path with a balanced two-hand finish. Continues to show well defensively. Fielded a ground ball in the seventh inning, opened up his feet, and fired an accurate, clean strike to second base as the first leg of a potential double play feed. Doesn’t let the game speed him up, has an internal clock and knows how to sync his hands/lower half up when he’s still, but also on the move. One of the area’s top uncommitted juniors that continues to impress each time we see him.
NO. 4 ALTON REDBIRDS
Ayden Calvert, C, 2025, Uncommitted
Strong, athletic frame, started behind the plate and hit leadoff for the Redbirds. Finished 1-for-3 with a run scored and an RBI. Worked a deep count, spoiling a few pitches, and finding a barrel for a single through the left side of the infield. Fluid, athletic hands, drifts his lower half forward with a short, level path through the zone. Really works behind the plate, especially from a blocking standpoint. Consistently squares up the baseball, not afraid to throw his body around. Average arm strength, quick glove-to-hand. Tough, competitive uncommitted senior, dislocated his pinky sliding into third base and stayed in the game.
Deon Harrington, INF, 2025, St. Charles CC commit
Athletic frame with lean strength, started at third base and hit fifth for Alton. Went 2-for-3, scored a run and drew a walk. Barreled a hard ground ball through the right side in his first at-bat, slapped one back up the middle later in the game for another single. Active all-around operation, high leg kick with a barrel tip load before making his move. Long, uphill bat path, ball carries some when he finds the barrel.
Nolan Parker, INF, 2025, Uncommitted
Lean, well-proportioned frame with room to continue filling out. Started at shortstop and hit sixth in this look. Finished 1-for-2 with a single through the right side in his first at-bat, drew two walks and scored two runs as well. Has looked the part defensively in multiple looks this spring, slows the game down and is comfortable staying in rhythm on the move. Steady, sure-handed glovework, clean glove-to-hand with a short, quick release.
Alex Pilger, OF, 2026, Uncommitted
Athletic, well-proportioned frame with present strength. Was the key contributor to Alton’s offense, driving in five runs with three hits out of the nine-hole. Doubled and singled twice, all three of them to the backside. Balanced setup, quick barrel wrap load, short and direct path to contact, works on top of the baseball.
Anderson Kaufmann, RHP/C, Uncommitted, 2028
Athletic frame with present physicality and lean strength with room to continue adding more. Took the mound for the Redbirds and, while he didn’t have his best stuff, continued to show traits of a high-end prospect in the state’s current freshman class. Strike-thrower with pace, tempo, and repeatability, arm plays loose with easy arm speed out front from a high ¾ window. Fastball touched 88 mph on the last pitch of the first inning, played anywhere from 83-86 mph as he went on. Flipped in a 71-73 mph curveball with more bend/depth for strikes while also showing strike feel for a tighter, more aggressive slider at 76-78 mph. Continues to look the part as one of the area’s top talents despite not having his strongest showing.
