On Wednesday, March 18th, the ScoutConnect staff traveled to Illinois-Springfield to take in a double-header matchup between Lake Land and Lincoln Land. Continue reading below to learn more about a few players that stood out to our staff from the day within these ‘Scout Notes’. 

LAKE LAND 

Kaiden Maurer, CF/MIF, Sophomore
Uncommitted. Strong, compact frame with athleticism, hits out of the top spot of the Lakers’ lineup and started yesterday in center field. Has been one of Lake Land’s top performers for some time now, played regularly as a freshman in their World Series run and entered yesterday’s game hitting over .400 on the year. A true top-of-the-lineup profile that will fit in nicely in that role at the next level. Doesn’t swing-and-miss in zone much or expand, has a clear understanding of the strike zone and where he can work within it. Hands work on top of the baseball, flat barrel path through the zone. Finished yesterday 2-for-6 with a triple to the center field wall, a single, and two RBI. Defensively, profiles to stick in center field at the next level, can really go get it in the outfield with above-average arm strength for the position. Athletic enough to bounce around the infield as well and provide versatility in that regard defensively. 

Kaiden Maurer

Isaac Flowers, INF, R-Freshman 
Uncommitted. Strong, sturdy frame, thick lower half. Hit out of the two-hole for Lake Land and started at second base. Finished 3-for-4 with two runs scored and an RBI. Stayed on a breaking ball and sprayed it to right field for a single in his first at-bat, went backside twice for his other two hits, both of them singles. Short, simple, and handsy left-handed swing. Adept at covering the plate and being able to use the whole field consistently. 

Isaac Flowers

Logan Nagle, CIF, Freshman 
Uncommitted. Mature, physically advanced right-handed hitter that served as Lake Land’s DH and hit out of the three-hole. Has easy bat speed and hand strength with a short, strong right-handed swing, ball carries off the barrel. Hammered a pitch into the pull-side gap for a 99 mph single in his first at-bat, went backside for another hit his next trip up at 101 mph. Went 2-for-5 on the day with a pair of RBI and a run scored. A strong, middle-of-the-order type bat for the Lakers. 

Logan Nagle

Kyle Hartmann, C, Sophomore
Uncommitted. Earned the start behind the plate and hit fourth for the Lakers, going 1-for-4 on the day with an RBI. Has always shown the capable tools at the plate to be an impact right-handed hitter. Hands work loose and easy with above-average bat speed. Keeps his barrel through the zone on a level path, ball carries off it, looking to do damage to the pull-side. Took an excellent swing on a two strike pitch in his third at-bat, barreling it to left field at 96 mph. 

Kyle Hartmann

Eduardo Letamendi, MIF, R-Sophomore
Uncommitted. Athletic with strength throughout and tools across the board. Started at shortstop and hit sixth in the Lakers’ win, finishing 2-for-3 with three runs scored. Short, strong right-handed swing with jump off the barrel when he’s on it. Covered the plate with two strikes and barreled a hard double deep into the right-center field gap in his second at-bat. Athletic on the infield. Showed well up the middle and on the move in this look, ranging up to his glove side, funneling to a quick release, and throwing a runner out. A toolsy, talented uncommitted redshirt sophomore on this club. 

Eduardo Letamendi

Owen Hawkins, OF, Sophomore 
Uncommitted. Packs strength throughout a compact, physically advanced frame. Hit out of the eight hole and started in left field. Finished 3-for-4 with two doubles, a bases-clearing triple to dead center field, and a 96 mph barreled lineout to left field. Strong hands that work short to the zone and long through it with leverage and intent to elevate. Had three different 95+ mph in-game exit velocities, per TrackMan. 

Owen Hawkins

Carter Orner, RHP, Sophomore
Uncommitted. 6-foot-7, 225-pounds. Earned the start for the Lakers, tossing three perfect innings with five strikeouts. Athletic on the mound with a tempo, balanced delivery, works with pace. Long arm swing with some dip on the backside, finishes from a straight over-the-top slot. Uses his length and levers to create downhill action on his fastball, sat 84-87 mph, plays up. Spun two breaking balls; a bigger, show-me curveball at 74-75 mph that he showed strike feel for, and a harder, sharper, more slurvy slider at 77-78 mph, strikes and whiffs. A physical, intriguing arm for the Lakers that’s still on the market. 

Carter Orner

Carson Bantz, RHP, Sophomore
Uncommitted. 6-foot-4, 220-pounds. Came out of the ‘pen and threw two scoreless innings, punching out three, one hit, no walks. Starts on the first base side of the rubber and works across body to front footstrike. Quick, continuous arm swing finishes from a high ¾ slot. Fastball played with some angle to it, created by his delivery, at 87-89 mph. Spun a short, tight slider at 77-80 mph, strikes with glove side feel. 

Carson Bantz

Teague Hallahan, RHP, Sophomore 
Uncommitted. 6-foot-5, 235-pounds. Worked the final inning out of the ‘pen in Lake Land’s win, struck out two and walked one. Fastball plays with real carry and life through the zone, relied on it mostly in this look at 89-92 mph. A strong-armed, physical uncommitted right-hander with power reliever vibes, still uncommitted. 

LINCOLN LAND 

Jack Swaney, 1B, Sophomore
Uncommitted. Hit out of the two-hole and started at first base. Entered yesterday as one of the Loggers’ most productive bats, hitting .413 on the season in 63 at-bats. Finished 1-for-3 yesterday with a hard backside single, drew a walk and scored a run. Has strong hands with above-average bat speed for age, short to the zone and level through it. 

Jack Swaney

Kaeden Bowles, OF/MIF, Sophomore 
Uncommitted. Lean, athletic frame with room to continue adding strength, hit fifth and started in right field. Went 1-for-4 with a single through the right side, a hard barreled flyout to right field, and an RBI. Loose hands that really work, fluid left-handed path with leverage and extension out front. Has had a strong season at the plate to date for Lincoln Land, came into yesterday’s game hitting .390 with a 1.048 OPS in 59 at-bats. Above-average runner that profiles to play either corner outfield spot at the next level and/or can also bounce around the infield. 

Kaeden Bowles

Garrick Winkeler, RHP, Sophomore 
Ashland commit. 6-foot-4, 220-pound frame that holds strength throughout, prototypical starter’s frame. Worked a quick inning out of the ‘pen, allowing a run on one hit with no walks, struck out two. Athletic, up-tempo delivery with consistent rhythm and pace, works in line to the plate. Long and loose arm swing, ¾ slot. Fastball played mostly at 87-88, threw one at 86 mph, with tight/late run. Consistent feel for sweeping slider at 75-77 mph, landed it in zone and grabbed swing-and-miss.  

Garrick Winkeler