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It is Playoff Baseball Time in Illinois as the IHSA playoffs are underway across the state. On the latest episode of The Bullpen, we had a unique twist on previewing the playoffs with a draft. We did a similar exercise as a staff last year, and decided to do the same in 2026. Below, we have laid out the rules and format for the exercise, the scoring breakdown, as well as all of the draft results for each round.

SCORING BREAKDOWN (Wildcard point total)

  • Regional Semifinal Win: 1 point (2)
  • Regional Final Win: 2 points (4)
  • Sectional Semifinal Win: 3 points (6)
  • Sectional Final Win: 4 points (8)
  • Super-Sectional Win: 5 points (10)
  • State Semifinal Win: 10 points (20)
  • State Championship Win: 20 points (40)
  • 3rd Place Game Win: 8 points (16)

PARTICIPANTS

  • Drew Locascio, Illinois & Wisconsin Scouting Supervisor
  • Peter Hamot, Illinois & Wisconsin Assistant Director
  • Gavin Smith, Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout
  • Tyler Defibaugh, Manager, Content & Operations/Area Scout
  • Nick DiBenedetto, Area Scout, Operations

1A DRAFT RESULTS

  • Peter: #1 Tremont
  • Nick: #1 Lena Winslow
  • Drew: #1 Armstrong
  • Tyler: #1 Gibault Catholic
  • Gavin: #1 Goreville
  • Gavin: #1 Pawnee
  • Tyler: #2 Galena
  • Drew: #1 Mt. Pulaski
  • Nick: #2 Altamont
  • Peter: #2 Orion

*Preseason 1A Selections (in order)*

  • Drew: #1 Routt Catholic
  • Gavin: #1 North Clay
  • Tyler: #1 Monmouth United
  • Nick: #5 Springfield Lutheran
  • Peter: #1 Forreston

2A DRAFT RESULTS

  • Nick: #1 Teutopolis
  • Tyler: #1 Freeburg
  • Gavin: #1 Harrisburg
  • Peter: #2 Coal City
  • Drew: #1 Carterville
  • Drew: #1 Byron
  • Peter: #2 Harvest-Westminster
  • Gavin: #2 Brimfield
  • Tyler: #1 Chicago Hope
  • Nick: #2 Tolono Unity

*Preseason 2A Selections (in order)*

  • Nick: #3 Wilmington
  • Tyler: #1 St. Joseph-Ogden
  • Peter: #2 Father McGivney
  • Drew: #1 Ottawa Marquette
  • Gavin: #1 Rockridge

3A DRAFT RESULTS

  • Drew: #1 Lemont
  • Tyler: #1 St. Rita
  • Peter: #1 Normal U-High
  • Gavin: #1 Newman Central Catholic
  • Nick: #1 Mascoutah
  • Nick: #1 Metamora
  • Gavin: #1 Glenwood
  • Peter: #3 Montini Catholic
  • Tyler: #4 Lake Forest
  • Drew: #1 Crystal Lake South

*Preseason 3A Selections (in order)*

  • Gavin: #2 Sacred Heart-Griffin
  • Nick: #1 Triad
  • Tyler: #2 Nazareth Academy
  • Peter: #2 East Peoria
  • Drew: #1 Geneva

4A DRAFT RESULTS

  • Gavin: #1 Lincoln-Way East
  • Nick: #1 Huntley
  • Tyler: #1 Lane Tech
  • Peter: #1 Lockport
  • Drew: #6 Providence Catholic
  • Drew: #2 Maine South
  • Peter: #1 McHenry
  • Tyler: #1 Edwardsville
  • Nick: #2 Minooka
  • Gavin: #2 Naperville Central

*Preseason 4A Selections (in order)*

  • Nick: #1 Libertyville
  • Peter: #2 Brother Rice
  • Gavin: #1 Normal Community
  • Drew: #1 St. Laurence
  • Tyler: #4 Mount Carmel

Preseason WILDCARD Selections in Order (Preseason Power 25 Bubble Team)

  • Peter: #2 Champaign Central
  • Gavin: #1 Dunlap
  • Tyler: #4 Rochester
  • Nick: #2 Saint Viator
  • Drew: #1 Willowbrook

DARKHORSE/WILDCARD RESULTS (6 seed or lower)

  • Gavin: #6 Benet Academy
  • Peter: #6 New Trier
  • Tyler: #6 Highland Park
  • Nick: #6 Prairie Ridge
  • Drew: #6 Alton

CURRENT RESULTS

*As of 6/10/26*

1st Place: Tyler Defibaugh (120 points)

2nd Place: Peter Hamot (92 points)

3rd Place: Drew Locascio (91 points)

4th Place: Gavin Smith (87 points)

5th Place: Nick DiBenedetto (70 points)

The Bullpen News

  • The Prep Baseball Shop is now LIVE! The store features hats, hoodies, t-shirts, and more! Head to the shop TODAY to get your closet ready for 2026.

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