The junior college regular season in Illinois has concluded with the playoffs for the Great Rivers Athletic Conference (GRAC) set to start this coming Wednesday, May 6th.

 

Eight teams from the GRAC qualified for postseason play and were dispersed into two different hosting sites. This year, John A. Logan in Carterville, IL, will be a host, as well as Southwestern Illinois College in Belleville, IL. The highest remaining seed between the two host sites once the first round of playoffs conclude will host district play. 

 

Earlier today, we previewed the first side of the bracket, which includes John A. Logan, Wabash Valley, Frontier, and Kaskaskia. You can find information on those teams HERE. 

 

We’re taking a look at the second side of the GRAC bracket below, which is made up by SWIC, Lake Land, Lincoln Trail, and Rend Lake. 

 

SOUTHWESTERN ILLINOIS 

Hosting this side of the bracket are the Blue Storm, who have built themselves into a perennial powerhouse over the last few seasons. SWIC made it to districts last year and is once again in a pole position to do so, finishing the regular season with a 39-15 record, and 23-7 showing in the GRAC. 

 

The Blue Storm offense has the ability to beat you in multiple ways, whether it’s from a slug perspective, or the ability to create runs on the basepaths. Their most productive hitter this spring has been 1B Jackson Stanek (Illinois State). A left-handed bat, Stanek has greatly improved his approach, bat to ball, and all-around offense from a year ago. This spring, in 185 at-bats, he’s slashing .422/.539/.822 with 18 doubles, 18 home runs, 68 RBI, and more walks (41) than strikeouts (32). 

 

Jackson Stanek

 

Another left-handed bat that finds himself near the top of this lineup is uncommitted sophomore OF Jake McGhee. An Evansville transfer, McGhee has 19 doubles with 10 home runs and 67 RBI, batting .393 on the year in 191 at-bats while posting a 1.162 OPS. He’s a threat on the bases too, swiping 25 bags on 28 attempts, and plays a strong defensive center field. 

 

Jake McGhee

 

Maybe the biggest revelation for SWIC’s offense is the emergence of freshman OF Filippo Baratta, who’s a dynamic, do-it-all type that’s allowed this offense to elevate to another level. He finished his regular season hitting .404 with a .509 on-base percentage and 24 extra-base hits, 17 of them doubles. His run tool fits perfectly into what SWIC’s trying to do on the basepaths, and he’s chipped in 19 stolen bases of his own on the year. Joining him in the outfield is fellow freshman Carter Bleakney, a physical right-handed hitter with easy all-fields juice that’s hit right in the middle of SWIC’s lineup all season. He’s homered 12 times, the second most on this club, while driving in 56 runs and slashing .372/.404/.643 over 199 at-bats. 

 

Filippo Baratta

 

Making up the rest of the SWIC infield is INF Kolton Wright (SIUE), INF Max Oswald, and INF Ryan Colucci. Wright’s been the most productive of the bunch at the plate, hitting .370 on the year with seven home runs, 42 RBI, and 25-of-29 on stolen base attempts. Oswald’s ability to play on the left side of the infield has greatly helped this club, and his upside at the plate as a long, lanky right-handed bat is evident. As for Colucci, he’s a highly athletic right-handed bat that can run who’s hitting .303 in 132 at-bats and has stolen 11 bags. 

 

Kolton Wright

 

1B/DH Colin Ryder (Western Michigan) has huge raw power from the right side to match a highly physical frame, and has homered four times this spring in 81 at-bats. Behind the plate, C Austin Bertsch has handled a bulk of the duties as SWIC’s everyday catcher. He has above-average arm strength and catch/throw from the chute, while also flashing bat strength from the right side in our looks. 

 

Colin Ryder

 

While their offense is talented, what SWIC’s able to do on the mound is the defining factor for this year’s team. It starts with their top arm in RHP Nate Phillips (Illinois-Chicago), a standout from a year ago that’s been as productive this year in his sophomore campaign. Over 49 innings, and 16 appearances, Phillips has a 2.39 ERA with 58 strikeouts and only eight walks. His ability to live in the strike zone with power stuff is certainly an outlier in today’s game; it’s a heavy fastball that plays in the low-90s and he’ll spin a hard, sharp slider off it. 

 

Nate Phillips

 

From a starts and bulk standpoint, SWIC has relied on two freshman arms to make 20 starts for them in LHP Chase Knebel and RHP Brock Fearday. Knebel, a southpaw, has a 3.35 ERA in 48 ⅓ innings, punching out 45 while walking just 18. He’s a crafty, high pitchability arm that can shape the baseball in multiple ways, pairing that with a mid-80s fastball. In 51 ⅔ innings, Fearday has pitched to a 3.48 ERA, walking 22 with 43 punchouts. He throws a heavier fastball in the upper-80s and compliments it with both a breaking ball and changeup he can throw in the zone. 

 

Brock Fearday

 

RHP David Barker (Western Kentucky) is another talented arm that’s started games for SWIC this season. The long, lanky right-hander has a 4.82 ERA over 52 ⅓ innings of work across 11 starts, striking out 60, while walking just 14. He throws a true two-seam fastball with hard, diving action at its best, ranging anywhere from 88-93 mph. Off that, he’ll spin a short, tight slider that’s his best secondary, and has also shown a changeup in the past. 

 

David Barker

 

RHP Michael Barker (Valparaiso), LHP Lewis Slade (UIC), RHP Michael Barker (Western Kentucky), and RHP Jackson Reeves (Western Carolina) are four Division I caliber arms that have thrown 20+ innings this spring for SWIC that you could see this weekend. RHP Ethan Stewart, a freshman, has thrown well in his opportunities, striking out 16 with just three walks in 14 innings, good for a 3.21 ERA.

 

Lewis Slade

 

LAKE LAND 

The postseason darling from a year ago, Lake Land is firmly back in the playoff mix with a group that’s capable of making a bunch of noise. They’ll travel to Belleville on Wednesday with a 37-16 record, including a 20-10 mark in conference play. 

 

From an offensive perspective, the Lakers’ ability to create and score runs spans throughout their entire lineup. They don’t have a designated “star” at the plate, per se, but it’s mostly a collective of names from top to bottom that put together quality at-bats and have the ability to produce in any given moment. 

 

MIF Madden Johnson has been plenty successful as an everyday regular as a freshman for the Lakers. He leads the team with a .415 batting average across 130 at-bats that includes 14 doubles and a 1.141 OPS. Another freshman, CIF Logan Nagle, has been a force in the heart of Lake Land’s lineup and is a physical right-handed bat that blends power production with feel to hit. He leads the team with 10 home runs and also has 13 doubles while slashing .373/.493/.633 over 166 at-bats. 

 

Logan Nagle

 

As far as their returners go, CF Kaiden Maurer and MIF Sharif Colon (Bellarmine) were two huge pieces from last year’s playoff run that have been consistent producers throughout the spring. Maurer leads the team with 75 runs scored and his ability to produce offense from the top spot in the lineup is unparalleled. He’s getting on base at a .529 clip, has 25 more walks (45) than strikeouts (20) and is 37-for-39 on the basepaths this spring. The power that Colon provides from the shortstop position is integral – he’s second on the team in home runs with nine and also leads the Lakers with 62 RBI. 

 

Kaiden Maurer

 

Two in-house names that have each taken a step forward are R-FR C Logan Winkleman and OF Owen Hawkins. Winkleman, who’s always been known for his strong defensive skills behind the plate, has really progressed offensively, and is slashing .361/.481/.694 with nine doubles, seven home runs, and 44 RBI. Hawkins was thrust into an everyday role roughly at the midpoint of the spring and has done nothing but perform, batting .392 with a 1.269 OPS and he’s homered eight times, driving in 45. One other name of note should be C Nate Steumke, an uncommitted sophomore that served as the Lakers’ backstop throughout their deep postseason run in 2025. This spring, in 91 at-bats, Stuemke is hitting .407 with 17 walks to 12 strikeouts and has 10 extra-base hits. 

 

Logan Winkleman

 

From an outside perspective, two transfers that have played key roles for Lake Land are R-FR INF Isaac Flowers and C/1B Kyle Hartmann (Eastern Illinois). Flowers has a simple, direct left-handed swing with high bat-to-ball and is hitting .331 on the year with a 1.041 OPS, including 14 doubles and six home runs. Hartmann’s ability to slug in any given at-bat is noteworthy, as the recent Illinois commit has eight home runs on the season with a .309 batting average. 

 

Isaac Flowers

 

Lake Land’s pitching staff will be the ultimate defining factor in how far the Lakers make it this spring. It’s a talented bunch that has the stuff to shut down an opposing offense, but consistency is a factor. 

 

LHP Lucas Bixby (Austin Peay) leads the charge for this staff in 2026 like he did a year ago. The physical left-hander has thrown a team-high 60 innings, striking out 69 with 30 walks across 14 starts. His fastball plays in the mid-to-upper-80s and he’ll spin a big sweeping slider off it, while also adding in a new splitter this year.

 

Two right-handed arms that have each thrown 40+ innings, mostly as starters, for Lake Land are RHP Skyler Lhamon (Bellarmine) and RHP Ethan Loffer. Lhamon was impressive in a recent start against SWIC, pitching in the upper-80s with his fastball and spinning a short, hard, downer slider off it. On the year, he’s thrown 44 ⅓ innings, punching out 44 with 20 walks. Loffer has shown flashes at times, honing a fastball that sits in the mid-to-upper-80s, though can climb into the low-90s at peak, while also owning a SL/CH mix. He’s struck out 53 batters in 46 ⅓ innings and walked 22. 

 

Skyler Lhamon

 

Two freshman arms that have thrown well in spurts for the Lakers are RHP Tino Villagomez and RHP Matt Murphy. Villagomez is a live-armed, highly athletic prospect with a carry fastball that can play into the low-90s. He’s struck out 25 batters in 21 ⅓ innings, but has also walked 21, and has wavered with his consistency at times despite the impressive raw stuff. Murphy’s a strike-thrower, tossing 38 ⅓ quality innings so far on the season with 16 walks and 41 strikeouts. 

 

Villagomez

 

RHP Carson Bantz, RHP Carter Orner (U-Indy), and RHP Teague Hallahan are three highly physical right-handed arms that work out of the ‘pen for the Lakers. The Lakers also have RHP Tyler Zuber (Indiana State), who’s capable of running his fastball up to 95 mph at peak, pitching in the low-90s. On the season, Zuber has 29 strikeouts and 16 walks in 22 innings, making 17 appearances in relief. 

 

Carter Orner

 

LINCOLN TRAIL 

The Statesmen enter the GRAC tournament with a 22-24 record on the season and are 14-16 in conference play. 

 

Lincoln Trail’s offense is a powerful bunch, with five different players totaling 10+ home runs on the season. From a power perspective, FR UTL Colin Wilbon is the leader in the clubhouse. On the year, Wilbon has the most doubles (15) and is tied for the lead in home runs (14) with a .320/.447/.740 triple-slash in 150 at-bats. R-FR MIF/OF Bryce Brabender is another name that’s provided plenty of thump throughout the season, homering 14 times with 11 doubles and a 1.215 OPS in 147 at-bats. 

 

Colin Wilbon

 

C Gabe Wilke and 1B/OF Ty Snyder are two more power threats in this lineup. They both have double-digit home runs, both have OPS above the 1.200 mark, are both hitting over .400 on the season, and have each driven in 40+ runs. FR INF Landen Smith has some swing-and-miss in his game, but the 6-foot-2, 180-pound right-handed hitter has also launched 12 home runs this spring and has a .716 slugging percentage. C/UTL Drew McTagertt and INF Jaxon Herrera are a pair of freshmen that are both hitting over .350 on the season in 100+ at-bats. 

 

Gabe Wilke

 

INF/RHP Pernell Whitsett (Alabama State) is one of the more intriguing players on this club for his ability to produce on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he’s homered nine times and is hitting .333 on the year with a 1.130 OPS, while striking out 36 batters over 33 ⅓ innings on the mound across seven starts. 

 

Turning our attention to the mound, the Statesmen will have a collective group of arms toeing the rubber for them this weekend. They don’t have an arm on staff that’s thrown more than 40 innings this spring, or made more than eight starts, so it’ll be a staff effort throughout their postseason play. 

 

With that being said, five different Lincoln Trail arms have thrown 30+ innings on the season. Of that group, RHP Justin Hoevel and RHP Jackson Frasure have made eight, and six, starts respectively. LHP Lucas Davids has struck out 42 batters in 39 ⅓ innings, while LHP Cameron Baker and RHP Isaac Waggner have each thrown 30+ innings. Three other names of note are  RHP Jarett Stewart, RHP Matthew Fortner, and RHP Owen Murphy. 

 

REND LAKE

The Warriors enter these playoffs with a 24-25 record under first year head coach Nate Glant. In conference play, Rend Lake finished 13-17, though had some impressive wins on their resume. 

 

From an offensive standpoint, this Rend Lake crew is one of the more athletic teams in the GRAC. They love to create offense through the short game, whether it be bunting, running, or whatever it takes.

 

Headlining this Warriors’ team is MIF Jack Harre (Trevecca), who starts at shortstop and has been their top all-around offensive producer this spring. On the season, in 164 at-bats, Harre is slashing .372/.438/.549 with 14 doubles, three home runs, 30 RBI, and 17 stolen bases. 

 

Jack Harre

 

A pair of freshman bats that fit that athletic mold are MIF Kobie Howard and OF Brendan McKinley. Howard, who’s a 6.5 runner, finished his freshman regular season batting .340 with more walks (26) than strikeouts (24) and he stole 18 bags. McKinley is an absolute burner – he ran a 6.4 60 at our Scout Day with Rend Lake in the fall and is 31-for-36 on the season in stolen base attempts. From a batted ball perspective, he’s hitting .315 with 12 extra-base hits and has driven in 31 runs. 

 

Brendan McKinley

 

Two other freshman bats that can provide more power to this offense are OF Seth Parsons and C Carson Wort. Parsons holds plenty of strength in a physical right-handed barrel and slashed .308/.381/.462 on the year with nine doubles, six triples, and 30 RBI. As for Wort, the right-handed hitting backstop has 11 extra-base hits on the year, batting .322 with a .968 OPS. 

 

Seth Parsons

 

Other names to know in this Rend Lake lineup are OF Drew Isenberg, C Devin Kiebler, INF Gavin Powell, and OF/RHP Bryce Minton. 

 

The strength for this Rend Lake club is on the mound, and the Warriors enter these playoffs firmly in the discussion for the most consistently complete pitching staff in the GRAC. 

 

It starts with staff ace RHP Eli Maynor, whose case for Conference Pitcher of the Year is strong. The uncommitted sophomore right-hander has a 3.09 ERA over 75 ⅔ innings, punching out 80, and walking just 25. His fastball is capable of running into the upper-80s, and he throws two different breaking balls off it, while also showing a changeup. 

 

Eli Maynor

 

Two other arms that have thrown well in a bulk load for the Warriors are RHP Konner Myatt and RHP Noah Nix. Myatt, who’s mostly been used as a starter, has a 4.41 ERA over 63 ⅓ innings. He’s a strike thrower with four pitches, including a mid-80s fastball, with 18 walks in 57 innings. Nix is a highly physical freshman right-hander that has the potential to be one of the top arms in the GRAC next spring. We saw him pitch at 88-91 mph with his fastball in a start last spring and he was consistently landing a short, tight slider at 79-81 mph in the zone for strikes. On the season, Nix has a 4.17 ERA in 41 innings, striking out 53 with 14 walks. 

 

Noah Nix

 

Two bullpen arms that have been plenty successful for the Warriors are RHP Ryan Lambert and LHP Cade Kelly. Lambert has power stuff from the right side, most notably a fastball that can play in the low-90s, and he’s struck out 39 over 24 ⅔ innings, good for a 3.28 ERA. Kelly is a crafty, strike-throwing left-hander that’s pitched to a 3.33 mark over 24 ⅓ innings. RHP Alex Calhoun and RHP Gunner Massey (Kentucky Wesleyan) are a pair of sophomore arms with mid-to-upper-80s fastballs that have combined to throw 65 innings for Rend Lake this spring.