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High School  | General | 2/24/2021

Regional HS Preview: Great Plains

David Rawnsley
Photo: Ian Moller (Perfect Game)
For all of Perfect Game's regional previews as part of the 2021 high school baseball preview content, the Dream Team list is available for free. The Dream Team reports, top tools list and corresponding top tools breakdowns can be viewed with an Insider subscription. To learn more about Perfect Game's subscription packages and to sign up today please visit this link.

2021 High School Baseball Preview



Regional Previews: Florida | Pacific | Southeast | Texahoma | Southwest | Midwest | Mid-Atlantic | Northeast

The Great Plains Region features a strong core of senior talent, including three PG All-Americans in catchers Ian Moller and Carter Jensen and right-handed pitcher Drew Christo. The aberration of having two of the country’s top catchers from this northern tier region is a bit ironic. Still, the most interesting thing about this region may be in following some of the high-end talent as it develops over the next three or four years, as All-Region players such as Chase Mason, CJ Hood and Brody Brecht have all played multiple sports at a high level and have little or no national-level baseball experience.
 
While there are no schools in the region ranked in the Perfect Game Preseason Top 50, there are a pair of schools that feature two of the All-Region honorees. Wahlert High School (Iowa) claims Moller and 2022 outfielder Tommy Specht, while Blue Valley Southwest (Kan.) has balance on both sides of the ball in right-hander Ben Kudrna and slugging infielder Carson Hornung.
 
C – Ian Moller (Sr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
Moller is one of the rare catching prospects who stands out not only for his defensive tools behind the plate but also for his offensive potential, as the right-handed hitter has consistently shown his power and barrel skills at high level events. A Louisiana State signee, Moller is ranked fifth overall in the 2021 class nationally.

1B – Carter Jensen (Sr., Park Hill HS, Mo.)
The Great Plains Region is blessed with two PG All-American catchers in Jensen and Ian Moller. As they are also the two highest-ranked position players in the region, both will make the team, with Jensen and his plus power left-handed bat shifting over to first base, although he is a lock to continue catching far into the future.

MIF – Brock Daniels (Sr., St. John Vianney HS, Mo.)
Daniels is a very polished left-handed hitting middle infielder with a combination of barrel skills and some real extra-base power. He brings the same type of polish defensively, where he projects as a second baseman in the future. An Oklahoma signee, Daniels is ranked 95th in the 2021 class nationally.

MIF – Carson Hornung (Sr., Blue Valley Southwest HS, Kan.)
Hornung has lept up the national rankings already this year with a very strong performance at the 2021 World Showcase along with hitting .556 at the PG East MLK Championships playing for US Nationals. A Missouri signee, Hornung is a 6-foot-3, 215-pound left-handed hitter with easy bat speed and lots of power potential. He plays shortstop now and runs a 6.95 sixty but will likely move to third base at the next level.
 
3B – Kendall Diggs (Sr., St. Thomas Aquinas HS, K.C.)
A strongly-built athlete with an easy left-handed swing, Diggs has always raked at PG tournaments and is a .381 career hitter in 64 games and has also notably drawn 48 walks in those games, giving him a .542 on-base percentage. The seventh-ranked third baseman in the senior class, Diggs is signed with Arkansas.

OF – Chase Jans (Sr., Blue Valley HS, Kan.)
Jans is a dynamic athlete with 6.42 speed in the sixty who has split his time between the baseball field, where he is signed with Kansas, and the football field, where he rushed for over 1,000 yards as a junior. A primary center fielder with a strong arm, Jans also has played some middle infield and could get a look there again at the next level.

OF – Chase Mason (Sr., Viborg-Hurley HS, S.D.)
Mason is a precocious 6-foot-4, 210-pound four-sport athlete from tiny Hurley, S.D. (pop. 354) and is relatively unknown nationally except to baseball scouts and football recruiters, where he is a three-star dual threat quarterback. He’s a left-handed hitter with huge raw bat speed and has a low-90s arm on the mound. Mason is signed with Nebraska for baseball.
 
OF – Tommy Specht (Jr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
Specht is one of the best pure baseball athletes in the 2022 class, with a lean and projectable 6-foot-3, 195-pound body and a sweet left-handed swing that made him an all-tournament selection at both the WWBA World Championships and WWBA World Junior Championships this spring. He recently ran a 6.46 sixty and threw 96 mph from the outfield at the 2021 National Indoor Showcase. Specht is committed to Kentucky.

P – Brody Brecht (Sr., Ankeny HS, Iowa)
Brecht is signed with Iowa for football but plans on playing both sports in college. A 6-foot-4, 205-pound wide receiver with 4.45 speed in the sixty and a 3-star rating by the major recruiting services, Brecht has also been into the mid-90s on the mound with big spin on his breaking ball.

P – Drew Christo (Sr., Elkhorn HS, Neb.)
Christo is the only non-catcher from the region who was honored as a PG All-American and is the 48th-ranked player in the senior class. A big and physical 6-foot-4, 225-pound athlete who received plenty of D-I football interest as a linebacker, Christo works in the 91-95 mph range with his fastball and has a full arsenal of off-speed pitches that he commands well. He is signed with Nebraska.

P – CJ Hood (Sr., Norris HS, Neb.)
Hood is another Great Plains Region athlete who has received very little exposure nationally but who could explode this spring when scouts get in to see him throw. A long and projectable athlete at 6-foot-4, 190 pounds, Hood was up to 95 mph in his only PG tournament appearance in 2020 to go with a low-80s breaking ball that was a plus pitch at times. He is signed with Nebraska.

P – Ben Kudrna (Sr., Blue Valley Southwest HS, Kan.)
Kudrna is the 65th-ranked player in the senior class nationally and the 16th-ranked right-hander. He has a power pitcher’s arsenal with a fastball that works 91-94 mph to go with low- to mid-80s slider and a mid-80s changeup that is very advanced for a high school power arm. Kudrna is signed with Louisiana State.
 
P – Jackson Wentworth (Sr., Waukee HS, Iowa)
The 6-foot-1, 195-pound Wentworth had an excellent fall, throwing a complete game four-hitter with nine strikeouts at the WWBA Kernels Foundation Championships and following that up with a nice four-inning outing at the WWBA World Championships. The Kansas State signee worked 92-94 mph at the latter event with an upper-70s curveball and mid-80s changeup.

UT – Caden Marcum (Jr., Paola HS, Kan.)
Marcum is a long and very lean 6-foot-5 athlete who has always been a primary outfielder but who has made significant improvement on the mound as he’s got stronger and likely projects a higher ceiling as a right-handed pitcher. He was up to 91 mph to go with a 80 mph slider at the 2020 WWBA World Championships and struck out six in 2 2/3 innings in an outing against the eventual champions, GBG, during pool play. Marcum is committed to Tennessee.

Great Plains Region Top Tools
Best Hitter for Average: Brock Daniels (Sr., St. John Vianney HS, Mo.)
Watching Daniels take batting practice and game swings is a pleasure as he has such a professional approach at the plate, with very quick hands and the ability to adjust his swing to different pitch locations and speeds.
 
Best Hitter for Power: Chase Mason (Sr., Viborg-Hurley HS, S.D.)
Tails of Mason’s 500-foot home runs up in South Dakota aren’t hard to find. Carter Jensen, Ian Moller and Carson Hornung are all worthy candidates for this distinction as well.

Best Baserunner: Chase Jans (Sr., Blue Valley HS, Kan.)
While Jans and Tommy Specht have matching 6.4 speed in the sixty, Specht is more of a long strider with top end speed.  Jans' quick burst speed will be a big plus for him on the bases. His 1.41 10-yard split at the 2020 World Showcase is one of the best times ever recorded at a PG showcase.
 
Best Defensive Catcher: Ian Moller (Sr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
Many consider Moller to be the best defensive catcher in the country, although he still needs plenty of game repetitions, as many young catchers do, to polish off his receiving skills with high-level pitchers. He has easy athleticism shifting and blocking and an easy plus throwing arm.

Best Defensive Infielder: Brock Daniels (Sr., St. John Vianney HS, Mo.)
Daniels’ skill stands out on defense as well. He has nice footwork that really puts him in position to get rid of the ball quickly and makes very accurate throws as a result as well.

Best Defensive Outfielder: Tommy Specht (Jr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
A combination of 6-foot-3 length, 6.46 speed and a 96 mph throwing arm seems like a blue print for an outstanding defensive outfielder.

Best Defensive Arm: Tommy Specht (Jr., Wahlert HS, Iowa)
There are plenty of strong arms in the region but Specht can already throw 96 mph from the outfield and is only a junior. Shortstop Adam Ebling (Sr., Westminster Christian Academy, Mo.) is a strong candidate here who warrants mention.

Best Fastball: Drew Christo (Sr., Elkhorn HS, Neb.)
While CJ Hood and maybe even Brody Brecht may end up with higher velocity heat, Christo’s fastball not only can register 95 mph but he has next-level command of the pitch already and can move it around the strike zone effectively, making the already impressive velocity play up.

Best Off-Speed Stuff: Ben Kudrna (Sr., Blue Valley Southwest HS, Kan.)
Kudrna’s changeup is an impressive pitch for a high school power pitcher and his mid-80s slider has serious power with good feel in the strike zone.

Best Pitchability: Drew Christo (Sr., Elkhorn HS, Neb.)
It would be surprising to see Christo have any issues throwing strikes at the next level. His delivery is simple and athletic and, if anything, he has better present command of his slider than fastball.

Best Multi-Sport Athlete: Chase Mason (Sr., Viborg-Hurley HS, S.D.)
It’s a function of high school sports in the Upper Midwest, where the best athletes, especially in smaller communities, usually play multiple sports. Mason may be the best pure athlete among many multi-sports standouts (he was also Third-Team All-State in basketball) but Brody Brecht, Drew Christo, CJ Hood and Chase Jans are also standouts.

 
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High School | Rankings | 6/2/2026

High School Top 50 Update: June 2
Tyler Russo
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With another few weeks in the book of the high school season, we’ve already had state champions crowned with playoffs happening in some northern states. There have been some upsets so there has been a good amount of movement in the National High School Top-50. We have a new number-one this update with Tomball (TX) taking over the top spot and will be playing for a state championship this week. They sport a 42-1 record heading into the title game and have been one of the best teams from start to finish this year. St. John Bosco (CA) has now gone back-to-back with Trinity League and CIF Southern Section titles and take over the No. 2 spot. No. 3 Aledo (TX) continues to win, No. 4 Trinity (KY) has been dominant in Kentucky play and No. 5 Norco (CA) lost the Southern Section title game and had a great year. Magnolia Heights (MS) moves up a few spots to No. 8 after winning their 8th...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/4/2026

California Kickoff Scout Notes

Joey Cohen
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Jayce Dejong (‘27, CA) finished 6-for-14 on the weekend which included a big HR in the championship game. Intriguing @PG_Uncommitted player to monitor this summer. #CAKickoff https://t.co/UbuSQxNalf pic.twitter.com/kjVcyiG8km — Perfect Game California (@California_PG) June 1, 2026 Jayce Dejong (2027, Yorba Linda, Calif). Really strong weekend at the plate, going 6-for-14 with multiple line-drive barrels, including a no-doubt pull-side HR. Medium, lean, athletic frame with room to add. Hits from a wider base from the left side, starts early and consistently gets to launch on time. Loose barrel turn with adjustability and length through the middle, showing the ability to create lift and impact out front. Coming off a strong junior season at Crean Lutheran and should be a priority uncommitted follow this summer. Evan Stroner (2027, Huntington Beach, Calif). Impressive...
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Showcase | Story | 6/4/2026

Soph. & Junior National Arrive in Georgia

Hannah Jo Groves
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This weekend will kick off the 2026 PG Junior National Showcase with the Sophomore National Showcase following close behind. Both in Marietta, Georgia, these showcases will feature lots of top-50 talent along with the ever-present potential for lesser-known players to turn heads.  For the Junior National Showcase, starting on June 6, 7 of the top 10-ranked players will attend - No. 2 Colin Anderson, No. 3 Cullen Scott, No. 4 Carter Shouse, No. 6 Aiden Kearney, No. 8 Keelan Zumwalt, No. 8 Landon Bonner and No. 9 Theo Swafford.  Anderson won’t have to travel far to attend, coming from Acworth, Georgia. At last year’s Sophomore National Showcase, he impressed scouts with his calm approach and explosive bat speed. Scott, a right-handed pitcher and third baseman from Melissa, Texas, has shown his arm strength getting up in the 90-mph zone....
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Draft | Story | 6/4/2026

Pence Makes the Jump to 2027

Perfect Game Staff
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    667 Progress Way | Sanford, FL 32771 | 319-298-2923 www.perfectgame.org | facebook.com/perfectgameusa | @PerfectGameUSA     FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE   PERFECT GAME STANDOUT STRIKER PENCE RECLASSIFIES TO CLASS OF 2027, ACCELERATING PATH TO MLB DRAFT   Corona, California (Thursday, June 4, 2026) - Perfect Game, the world’s largest youth baseball and softball platform and scouting service, today announced that Perfect Game prospect Striker Pence, one of the most watched young prospects in amateur baseball, has officially reclassified from the Class of 2028 to the Class of 2027, making the 17-year-old eligible for the 2027 Major League Baseball Draft. Pence is currently the #2 ranked player on Perfect Game’s national rankings and the top-ranked right-handed pitcher. Pence, a 6-foot-6, 215-pound right-handed pitcher and left-handed hitting first...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/3/2026

Gulf Coast Classic Kicks Off

Alyssa Golden
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The 2026 Perfect Game Gulf Coast Classic will bring together teams from across the region this weekend as players in the 14U-16U and 18U divisions take the field looking to capture a championship and make their mark on one of the summer’s premier events. Held in Fort Myers, Florida, the tournament will feature a talented mix of standout programs, nationally ranked prospects and emerging young talent. Swamp Baseball enters the 18U division with one of the most talented rosters in the event. The Cape Coral-based team features three nationally ranked top 500 prospects along with several additional High Follow players. Outfielders Nicholas Raber and Austin Schoolcraft, along with right-handed pitcher Tyler Reeder, are all ranked among Perfect Game’s top 500 prospects nationally. Raber will have the opportunity to compete in his hometown of Fort Myers. The 2026 graduate has shown...
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Tournaments | Championship | 6/3/2026

EBC 17U-Griggs Takes Title

Kinley Kitchens
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After a week of dominant performances, timely hitting, and resilient play, EBC 17U-Griggs capped off its run through the 2026 Perfect Game Hoover Invitational with a championship victory Monday, securing the program’s first tournament title of the summer. Despite a lengthy rain delay, EBC never lost focus, relying on contributions throughout the lineup and another strong pitching performance to secure the win. “This being our first [win] of the summer, we have an amazing group right here,” head coach Rodd Griggs said. “Some of the guys I’ve had for years, some of the guys just joined us this summer, but it’s an amazing group.” EBC’s championship performance reflected the depth that carried the club throughout the tournament. Paxton Wright set the tone of the mound, working four innings while allowing just two hits striking out two hitters....
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Tournaments | Story | 6/3/2026

AZ Summer Kickoff Scout Notes

Perfect Game Staff
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JJ Utash (‘27, AZ) tripled to both gaps, collecting 3 RBI along the way. Big time strength. Balls jumps off the barrel to all fields. Good runner/athlete too. #HookEm commit #AZKickoff pic.twitter.com/h1SbsSxpMy — Perfect Game Four Corners (@PG_FourCorners) May 30, 2026 JJ Utash (2027, Gilbert, Ariz.) is the top-ranked player in the state and showed off why over the weekend. The Texas commit collected five hits, including a pair of doubles and a pair of triples. The mix of power and speed is impressive. The ball jumps off the barrel with ease to all fields. Utash consistently lifts balls with authority, resulting in loud in-game power. The speed on the bases stands out as well. Utash looks to be aggressive and can take extra bags when they present themselves. The tools are some of the loudest in the class and will draw considerable draft interest next July.  Soren...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/2/2026

Southeast Elite Scout Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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Southeast Elite Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Auburn commit Brennan Neal (2027, Columbus, Ga.) had a good showing on Sunday on the mound, putting the clean, athletic delivery on display in an inning of work. Neal worked in the 90-93 range with the fastball with plenty of life, and showed some run to it when working to the arm side. Neal also worked in a tight slider in the upper 70s, but also showed confidence in a fading changeup in the mid 80s. Neal also has room to add strength to his lanky frame, which could be big for him to continue to add velocity. South Florida commit Taylor Casson (2026, Atlanta, Ga.) had an impressive showing on the hill with the stuff and results, going 5 innings of no-hit baseball with 10 strikeouts. The fastball worked in the 89-92 range with downhill angle and tail, and was in the zone often. He worked a 3-pitch mix, showing some impressive swing and miss stuff...
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Tournaments | Story | 6/2/2026

WWBA South Invite Notes: Days 3-5

Perfect Game Staff
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WWBA Scout Scout Notes: Days 1-2 Raylen Hunter (‘30 TX) stays living on the barrel; this one burning the CFer for a double. Just an electric ballplayer. #WWBASouth https://t.co/1LThRBqN80 pic.twitter.com/z5RF5dy47o — Perfect Game Texas (@Texas_PG) May 30, 2026 Raylen Hunter (2030, Cypress, Texas) took home MVP honors for the tournament and helped lead his team to a big championship win. Was a big standout on a loaded Banditos team that steamrolled their way to the championship. He ended the week going 10-16 with a pair of doubles while scoring ten runs atop the lineup. Hunter is a true spark plug who makes consistently hard contact line to line. The swing is short and works to all fields with plenty of twitch and bat speed. Bat to ball plays at an extremely high level as he rarely gets cheated never taking an at-bat off. Once on base, Hunter causes havoc on the base-paths, a...
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Tournaments | Championship | 6/2/2026

EC Astros Win Back-And-Forth Thriller

Will Dembo
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In a highly anticipated matchup between two of the nation’s top 17u teams, the East Cobb Astros defeated eXposure National 9-8 in a thrilling extra-inning battle to claim the PG Southeast Elite Championship. The Astros completed the weekend undefeated, opening their summer season with a hard-fought, statement victory. “I mean, it's fun, it's been a grind today,” said Astros Head Coach, Josh Burress. “Been out here a long day, but our guys are competitors, they come out compete, they want to compete and win, so it's just fun to watch them come out here and not quitting playing to the end... so the guys did very well today, and they competed all the way through.” eXposure began the opening frame by taking the early lead on an error but quickly gave their lead away as the Astros came out of the gates hot, plating six runs in just the first inning. Mason Peek,...
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