By Drew Locascio 
 Illinois Scouting Director

Sunday, February 5th marked the 15^th annual Super 60 showcase hosted by Prep Baseball Report. The event has become the most heavily scouted preseason event for potential draft picks in the Midwest. The primary purpose of the Super 60 is to give professional area scouts and crosscheckers a head start on the high school season.

Last year Illinois had 12 players at the Super 60 and seven of them were eventually selected in the 2016 MLB draft. This year’s Super 60 featured 13 rising senior’s from Illinois. The event was loaded with talent from across the Prep Baseball Report landscape but today we touch on some of the top Illinois performances.

The Arms

+ Arguably one of the top arms at the entire event was RHP Austin Marozas (Plainfield South), a Kentucky commit. Marozas, a well-known commodity, continued to strengthen his case as the top 2017 in Illinois. The 6-foot-7, 240-pound right-hander came out of the gate touching 93 mph with his first pitch and proceeded to sit 90-92 mph the rest of the way. Marozas has a loose, quick arm out of a low ¾ slot which creates heavy, hard, run and sinking action that boars to the arm side. He also flashed a three-pitch mix, the best secondary offering being a changeup at 83-85 mph with arm-side-action and sink.

+ Another imposing and impressive right-handed arm from Illinois was 6-foot-6, 225-pound Glenn Albanese (Batavia). Albanese, a Louisville commit, touched 92 mph and had a number of 90’s and 91’s sprinkled in. He paired his fastball with a tight curveball flashing downer action and a changeup with good arm speed and feel.

+ Reid Detmers (Chatham-Glenwood) and Jimmy Burnette (St. Laurence) were two southpaws up to 90 mph and 91 mph respectively. Detmers, a Louisville commit, ranked No. 4 in Illinois, was his usual self. He pounded the zone with all three of his pitches, sat 89-90 mph with his fastball and threw his curveball with conviction, good depth and spin. Burnette is an Illinois commit with a live arm. His fastball, which jumps out of his hand, climbed up to 91 mph. Burnette also flashed the makings of a three-pitch repertoire.

+ 6-foot-2, 191-pound, right-handed pitcher, Marius Balandis (St. Laurence), still uncommitted, sat 91-93 mph and touched 94; the top velocity from Illinois. Balandis, who is originally from Lithuania, will be playing high school baseball for the first time in the United States this spring.

+ Another big arm from Illinois was 6-foot-5, 190-pound Bobby Miller (McHenry). The Louisville commit sat 90-92 mph with tilt and occasional boaring action. Miller’s curveball was thrown for strikes, flashed tight spin and late action at 75-79 mph. Miller also threw a changeup that has plus potential; occasional arm side action and sink at 79-82 mph.

INFIELDERS

+ Third baseman Donivan Williams (Richards) was one of the top defensive infielders at the entire event. Williams, an Illinois State commit, made plays on the move look easy with fluid footwork, maintaining body control and the ability to throw accurately from a multitude of different arm angles. He has athletic actions, soft hands and a big arm, clocked at 90 mph across the diamond. At the plate, simple swing, bat speed and uses the whole field.

+ Middle infielder Zion Pettigrew (Mount Carmel) showed a knack for finding barrels and made a lot of hard contact in his round of batting practice. The Iowa commit has quick twitch in his swing and bat speed. On the infield, Pettigrew is an actiony defender with confident soft hands. His arm carries and was clocked at 91 mph across the diamond.

stat line

+ Outfielder Brad Czerniejewski (Lake Forest) put up the most impressive stat line of the day from Illinois. The Texas Christian commit ran a 6.54 laser-timed 60, was clocked at 89 mph from the outfield and registered the best exit velocity of the event at 106 mph from a tee.

List of the 2017 Illinois Super 60 Participants:

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Glenn Albanese	IL	Batavia	2017	RHP	Louisville
Konnor Ash	IL	Plainfield South	2017	RHP	Missouri
Marius Balandis	IL	St. Laurence	2017	RHP
Jimmy Burnette	IL	St. Laurence	2017	OF	Illinois
Brad Czerniejewski	IL	Lake Forest	2017	OF	Texas Christian
Reid Detmers	IL	Chatham-Glenwood	2017	LHP	Louisville
Mark DiLuia	IL	Marian Catholic	2017	RHP	Maryland
Thomas Farrell	IL	St. Laurence	2017	OF	Illinois-Chicago
Austin Marozas	IL	Plainfield South	2017	RHP	Kentucky
Bobby Miller	IL	McHenry West	2017	RHP	Louisville
Zion Pettigrew	IL	Mount Carmel	2017	SS	Iowa
Bobby Seymour	IL	Mount Carmel	2017	1B	Wake Forest
Donivan Williams	IL	Richards	2017	3B	Illinois State

CLICK HERE for a look at the entire list of Illinois players at the Super 60 and a brief history from the event.

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