The Illinois High School Association (IHSA) baseball playoffs are now in full swing, drawing attention from coaches, players and a growing cadre of baseball enthusiasts who love to dissect the tournament’s possibilities. This year, a team of scouts and analysts has added a twist by staging a draft‑style competition that blends preseason forecasts with real‑time scoring.
How the Draft Works
Participants draft two teams from each class — 1A, 2A, 3A and 4A — using a snake‑style order that reverses after each round. Wildcard teams must be seeded sixth or lower in their sectional, ensuring that only the underdog programs get a shot at the extra points.
Points are awarded for every playoff victory, with wildcard teams receiving double the usual tally. The system is designed to reward both bold preseason picks and the ability to translate those picks into actual wins as the bracket progresses.
Current standings illustrate the competition’s intensity. Gavin Smith leads the pack with 14 points, while Tyler Defibaugh, Drew Locascio and Peter Hamot are tied for second at 13 points each. Nick DiBenedetto sits in fifth with eight points, underscoring how tightly contested the race remains.
The draft’s legacy adds another layer of intrigue. In 2025, analyst Dane Poe captured the championship with a staggering 170 points, a performance that still reverberates among participants and observers alike.
Beyond the numbers, the exercise serves as a barometer for postseason expectations. By forcing analysts to commit to specific teams, the draft offers fans a clearer picture of which programs might surprise the bracket and how deep each team’s playoff run could become.