Patrick Paligraf, a hard-hitting middle infielder from Cathedral HS, has verbally committed to Xavier University. The 6-foot-1, 175-pound Paligraf is one of the state’s best shortstops and was a big reason why the Irish finished with 25-plus wins last spring. 

Many of the top sophomores and freshmen prospects from Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin participated at the Chicago White Sox Silver and Black showcase at Triton Junior College in River Grove, Ill. on September 27. While there were many standout performances at the six-hour event, these players stood above the rest, led by Highland's Jordan Minch ...

Rockville High's Matt King and Steven Ball have recently named Indiana State University as their school of choice. King (pictured right), a left-handed pitcher and first baseman, will be playing football and baseball at Indiana State. Ball will be make an impact as an outfielder and pitcher. 

Within 24 hours of landing Homestead High right-handed ace Patrick Veerkamp, Notre Dame received another commitment from Adam Norton.  Norton, a 6-foot-1, 165-pound right-handed pitcher and shortstop from Andrean High School, is the Prep Baseball Report’s No. 2 overall prospect in the state and one of the most coveted talents in the Midwest.  

Playing against the best 14-year-olds from across the country at the final National Tournament Identification Series tryout over Labor Day weekend in Jupiter, Fla., Nolan Rogers from small-town Smithville made big news when he earned a roster spot on the 14U USA National Team. The left-handed hitting shortstop and right-handed pitcher was one of 24 players in the country selected for the team.

Several players from all over Indiana saw their stock rise with their performances at the Prep Baseball Report’s Open I.D. Showcase at Indiana Tech in Lafayette on Sunday. From top to bottom, the talent was strong, and there were a handful of players who emerged as prospects to pay close attention to in the coming year. Jeff McNeely, a 6-foot-6, 190-pound RHP/1B from Lafayette Jefferson HS, was named the top overall prospect in the Class of 2009 after he displayed power to all fields and was 81-83 off the mound with a solid changeup.

Kirby Campbell, Cowan High's standout outfielder, has committed to play at Ball State University.  The 5-foot-9, 165-pound Campbell posted a .516 batting average with 10 home runs and 40 RBI for Cowan in 2008.  The speedy outfielder performed well all summer long while playing for the Indiana Bulls. 

Kevin Simms, a 6-foot-5 RHP/OF from Brebeuf Jesuit HS, has chosen to play his college baseball at Wright State University. Simms became a hot commodity over the summer playing for the Indiana Pony Express ...

Indiana State scored a pair of top-level prospects when it received commitments from West Vigo HS teammates Jordan Pearson and Jeremy Lucas (pictured right). Pearson did it all for West Vigo during a junior campaign in which he earned IHSBCA first-team 3A all-state honors, and Lucas is one of the best defensive catchers in the state.

Scott Scheumann, a 6-foot-4, 180-pound right-hander from Bishop Dwenger High, has committed to the University of Evansville. Relatively unknown before the summer, Scheumann emerged as a prospect to pay close attention to playing with the Fort Wayne Cubs.

Indiana University landed a major coup when it received a commitment from Mike McKinley, who’s one of the top right-handed pitchers in the state of Illinois. The 6-foot, 165-pound McKinley has posted a 14-1 record in two varsity seasons and has helped lead Neuqua Valley HS to consecutive state semifinal appearances, including the school’s first state championship as a sophomore in 2007.

 Since the spring, Lawrence North High standout Nick Cunningham kept watching his stock climb and climb. So much so, in fact, the athletically built, 6-foot-3, 185-pound right-handed pitcher will be playing his college ball at national power University of Arizona, Cunningham announced recently.

Ryan Dineen, a left-handed hitting middle infielder from Andrean High School, has verbally committed to Eastern Illinois University. The 6-foot-2, 175-pound Dineen is one of the state’s best defensive infielders and was a big reason why Andrean finished 31-2 last spring.

Pat Gannon, who’s one of the top left-handed prospects in Illinois, has verbally committed to play at Purdue University. The 6-foot, 160-pound Gannon has been Brother Rice’s big-game pitcher since his sophomore year, when he helped lead the Crusaders to a fourth-place finish at the Class AA state tournament.

Brownsburg standout Tucker Barnhart, who’s the No. 1 ranked senior in Indiana, made his college decision when he verbally committed to Georgia Tech on Saturday. Barnhart, switch-hitting catcher, possesses one of the nation’s best throwing arms behind the dish.

Wes Winkle, Yorktown High’s standout OF/RHP, has committed to play at Ball State. The athletic 6-foot-3, 175-pound Winkle has been instrumental in Yorktown’s consecutive Semi-State appearances, and has compiled a two-year record of 13-1.