Prep Baseball Report

Illinois Recruiting Notebook



By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

We haven’t had a recruiting update in a few weeks, so there’s a lot to report. Here’s a recap of the recent commitments from around Illinois:

+ Jake Bartels, a 6-foot-4, 210-pound senior RHP from Nazareth Academy, has committed to Western Michigan. Bartels, who’s ranked No. 127 in Illinois’ 2014 class, has been a three-year impact player for the Roadrunners.

+ Ben Dickey, an athletic 2015 OF from St. Viator HS, has committed to Northwestern. The 6-foot, 190-pound right-handed hitter is a top-level athlete. He ran a 6.71 60 at a past PBR event. Dickey is currently ranked No. 80 in Illinois’ 2015 class.

+ Jeremy Gaines, a 2016 OF/2B from Oak Park-River Forest HS, has committed to Missouri. The 5-foot-9, 155-pound right-handed hitter ran a 6.70 60 at the Underclass Invitational in January. Gaines is currently ranked No. 44 in Illinois’ 2016 class.

+ Sam Heilenbach, a senior C/RHP from Lyons Township HS, has committed to Wisconsin-Whitewater. The 6-foot-2, 185-pound multi-positional standout is currently ranked No. 98 in Illinois’ 2014 class.

+ Austin Covers, a senior OF/LHP from Prairie Ridge HS, has committed to Southern Illinois. The 6-foot-3, 160-pound left-handed hitter ran a 6.89 60 at a past PBR event. Covers is currently ranked No. 110 in Illinois’ 2014 class.

+ Blake Deatherage, a senior RHP/OF from O’Fallon HS, has committed to McKendree University. Deatherage has been the ace of the staff for the No. 7 Panthers.

+ Joe Fredrickson, a senior RHP from Lincoln-Way North HS, has committed to Black Hawk College. Fredrickson is currently ranked No. 203 in Illinois’ 2014 class.

+ Ryan Sitter, a senior RHP from Elgin HS, has committed to Elgin CC.  The 6-foot-1 sitter is currently ranked No. 234 in Illinois’ 2014 class.

+ Illinois Wesleyan landed two more prospects when it received commitments from Stevenson LHP Mitchell Goll and Loyola Academy INF Danny Kelly. Goll is currently ranked No. 188 in Illinois’ 2014 class.

+ Dan Brokop, a senior 6-foot-3, 225-pound 1B from Lincoln-Way West HS, has committed to South Suburban.

+ Clayton Welker, a senior OF from Williamsville HS, has committed to Milikin.

+ Bryce Styninger, a senior OF/1B from Nashville HS, has committed to Kaskaskia JC.

+ Emmanuel Kwesi Amoah, a senior INF from Springfield HS, has committed to Robert Morris-Springfield.

Get immediate updates on commitments by following @pbrillinois on Twitter.

Email [email protected] with all Illinois recruiting information.

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