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 conference matchup between ‘Large School’ No. 4 Glenwood and ‘Small School’ No. 5 Sacred-Heart Griffin, which the Titans won 7-3.
GLENWOOD TITANS
Cameron Appenzeller, LHP, 2025, Tennessee commit
Long, lanky, lean-levered frame with all sorts of upside and physical projection left to come. Took the mound for the Titans, his third start of the spring. Fired four scoreless innings, scattering four hits with no runs allowed, no walks, and five strikeouts. Premium athleticism helped lead Glenwood’s basketball team to a state ‘Final Four’ appearance and is also a highly skilled golfer. Effortless, free-flowing mover down the mound, stays closed and on his backside to front footstrike, consistently repeats. Maintains his direction to the plate, still head with balance through release, square finish. Long, fluid, and continuous arm pattern, finishes out of a loose, clean ¾ slot. Fastball touched 93 mph in this look, sat 88-92 mph, with plenty of velocity left to come as he continues to add strength and fill out his frame. Commands it to the glove-side corner, more than comfortable establishing the inside corner to right-handed hitters and going there often. Spun a tight, sweeping slider at 76-79 mph, landed it for strikes and flashed backfoot feel to right-handed hitters for swing-and-miss. Did not show his changeup much in this look – threw one left on left at 83 mph with two strikes – but it’s a pitch that’s flashed plus fading action and polish in previous looks. High-floor, high-ceiling arm that’s plenty polished, fills up the strike zone with three pitches, and offers high amounts of projection from a physical standpoint. One of the top prep arms in the country and a high follow MLB Draft prospect.
Dylan Huff, RHP/OF, 2026, Uncommitted
Lean, wiry athlete with lanky levers capable of continuing to add mass as he continues to mature physically. Has been a staple for this club at the plate this spring and is known for his efforts on the mound as one of the top uncommitted juniors in Illinois. Finished 2-for-3 with two runs scored and drove in three runs. Barreled an RBI single to left field to put the Titans on the board early, launched a no-doubt home run to left-center field later in the game as well. Fast, athletic right-handed swing that keeps his barrel through the hitting zone on a level path, feel for it. Jumped on the mound out of the ‘pen and threw two innings. Easy, low-effort all-around operation with a long, continuous, and clean arm path that finishes from a high ¾ slot. Fastball touched 89, pitched at 85-88 mph, sprayed it some but came out the hand clean with several ticks of velocity left in the tank. Turned to a slider as his go-to secondary at 75-77 mph that flashed sharp spin and got whiffs when he stayed behind it.
Grady Mueller, OF, 2026, Uncommitted
6-foot, 180-pound frame with strength throughout, football background. Started in right field and hit eighth for the Titans. Produced from the bottom of the lineup, finishing 3-for-3 with two runs scored, an RBI, and drew a walk. Flared a pitch that dropped in between the left fielder and shortstop for a hustle double in his first at-bat, barreled a hard ground ball through the left side of the infield his next trip to the plate. Capped off a productive day at the dish by swatting a solo home run over the left-center wall in his final at-bat. Strong hands with intent to pull the baseball, swing works long through the zone with a leveraged two-hand finish.
Colten Knoedler, C, 2026, Uncommitted
Proportionally strong 6-foot-2, 195-pound athlete that really looks the part. Was an All-State quarterback for the Titans and is garnering recruiting interest on the gridiron. Has professional baseball bloodlines too – his dad played in the Detroit Tigers’ minor league system and his uncle played three seasons for the San Francisco Giants. Finished 1-for-3 with an infield single and an RBI, but his best swing of the day was a backspun barreled line drive that carried deep into the left fielder’s glove for an out. Strong hands that load in rhythm, above-average hand speed, keeps his barrel through the zone with a short path to contact. Has long been known for his efforts behind the plate; sound, fundamental receiver, arm plays true/clean to the bag, has the frame to stick behind the plate at the next level. A multi-sport uncommitted junior to follow that plays a huge role for this Glenwood team.
Michael Lucas, INF, 2026, Uncommitted
Strong, compact frame, started at shortstop and hit seventh for the Titans. Didn’t record a hit in this look, but stood out for his efforts on the defensive end. Had four 6-3 putouts, including a huge one in the bottom of the second inning that kept Sacred-Heart Griffin off the board. With two outs, and the bases-loaded, ranged up the middle to his glove-side, picked a ball on the move, and threw a short hop over to first base to retire a would-be baserunner. Sure-handed defender with strong fundamental glovework/footwork, makes the routine plays and is capable of covering ground to both his gloveside and backhand.
SACRED-HEART GRIFFIN CYCLONES
Carson Butler, INF, 2026, Uncommitted
Strong, athletic well-proportioned frame that really looks the part and has more room to continue adding strength. Started at shortstop and hit cleanup for the Cyclones. Picked up a hit in his first at-bat of the game, spraying an 89 mph fastball back up the middle to center field for a single. Short, direct, and controlled right-handed swing with balance, doesn’t try to do too much and has feel for the barrel. Continues to look the part at shortstop. Ranged up the middle, picked a ball, squared his feet to his target and threw a straight bullet across to first base to end the top of the seventh inning. An on-the-rise uncommitted junior that should firmly be on college coaches’ radars.
Austin Rutter, INF, 2027, Uncommitted
Athletic frame with lean strength and room to continue adding more. Started at second base and hit out of the six-hole. Clean, polished left-handed stroke that looks the part of a top-of-the-order profile. Matched up against one of the top left-handed arms in the country and wasn’t afraid, consistently puts together competitive at-bats while making for a tough out. Understands the strike zone, doesn’t expand out of his approach unless he needs to, or has two strikes with confident, consistent takes. Did have a hit in the game, dropped a bunt single down the third base line and scored a run. A mature, advanced sophomore at the plate that figures to be a key piece for this Sacred-Heart Griffin club over the next few years.
