By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

Team Illinois will look to continue its winning ways at the Midwest Future Games this weekend at Indiana University. In fact, Team Illinois has yet to lose a game in the first two years of this invitation-only event that features the top incoming juniors in the Midwest.

With the field expanded to eight states, the road for Team Illinois won’t be easy, but the roster is again loaded with high-level Class of 2015 prospects. This year’s squad has big shoes to fill, as last year’s team featured a dominant pitching staff that included RHP Jake Godfrey, LHP Jake Latz, RHP Brad Bass, RHP Wyatt Trautwein, RHP Mitch Vogrin and several others.

Our scouting staff has assembled another talented group of prospects, despite some omissions from highly ranked committed players.

A quick look at Team Illinois’ roster:

Pitchers

If nothing else, Illinois’ pitching staff will look good coming off the bus. Indeed, the team has some imposing physical specimens, with six pitchers standing 6-foot-3 or taller. RHP Jeremy Orbik (Homewood-Flossmoor HS), ranked No. 6 in Illinois, should be one of the most coveted right-handers at the event.

Other right-handers include 6-foot-3 Tyler Lass (Belvidere HS), 6-foot-5 Steven Skolarz (Lincoln-Way West HS) and 6-foot-4 Mike Kogut (Nazareth HS).

From the left side, Illinois features Brett Newberg (Moline HS), Jake Hurst (Peoria Notre Dame HS), Kyle Shimp (Yorkville HS), Mitchell Townsend (Libertyville HS), and Cory Wright (St. Charles North HS). Hurst, Shimp and Townsend all stand 6-foot-4 or taller.

Infielders

Left-handed hitting 3B Willie Bourbon (Stevenson HS), who’s ranked No. 5 in Illinois, anchors the offense. Up the middle, left-handed hitting SS Cole Daily (Springfield Sacred Heart-Griffin HS), 2B Ako Thomas (Mount Carmel HS) and MIF Brady Fairfield (Metamora) add excellent speed and defense.

Wright, whose style of play and baseball IQ is reminiscent of PBR 2010 Player of the Year Shane Conlon, is a top-level first baseman. Newberg also provides plenty of offensive pop. Tyler Fitzgerald, an extremely athletic SS from Rochester HS, is the only 2016 prospect on the roster.

Outfielders

Left-handed hitting Terrance Robertson (Simeon HS) brings top-level speed to the squad, as does Andy Shadid (Peoria Notre Dame HS), who earned PBR third-team All-State honors as a sophomore. Matt Hopkins (Alton HS) adds a big left-handed power bat. Hopkins, who can also play both corner infield positions, follows in the footsteps of Alton 2013 C Brent Gibbs, an Indiana recruit who represented Illinois in the Midwest Future Games. Ryan Sargent (Jacobs HS) rounds out the outfielders.

Catchers

A pair of left-handed hitting catchers headlines the group: Peyton Isaacson (Galesburg HS) and Jesse Forestell (Homewood-Flossmoor HS). Both prospects feature pure left-handed swings and solid arms. Shadid also is a standout catcher.

More in-depth information about Team Illinois’ prospects will be posted leading up the Midwest Future Games. Complete schedules and all state rosters will also be posted in the near future.

Roster:

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Willie Bourbon	IL	Stevenson	2015	3B
Cole Daily	IL	Sacred Heart Griffin	2015	SS	Notre Dame
Brady Fairfield	IL	Metamora	2015	SS
Tyler Fitzgerald	IL	Rochester	2016	SS
Jesse Forestell	IL	Homewood-Flossmoor	2015	C
Matt Hopkins	IL	Alton	2015	3B
Jake Hurst	IL	Peoria Notre Dame	2015	LHP
Peyton Isaacson	IL	Galesburg	2015	C
Mike Kogut	IL	Nazareth	2015	RHP
Tyler Lass	IL	Belvidere	2015	RHP
Brett Newberg	IL	Moline	2015	LHP
Jeremy Orbik	IL	Homewood-Flossmoor	2015	RHP
Terrance Robertson	IL	Simeon	2015	OF
Ryan Sargent	IL	Jacobs	2015	OF
Andrew Shadid	IL	Peoria Notre Dame	2015	C
Kyle Shimp	IL	Yorkville	2015	LHP
Steven Skolarz	IL	Lincoln Way West	2015	RHP
Ako Thomas	IL	Mount Carmel	2015	SS
Mitchell Townsend	IL	Libertyville	2015	LHP
Cory Wright	IL	St Charles North	2015	1B