The Alabama Diamond Notes will focus on highlighting some top performances across the state based on nominations from high school coaches. We will highlight positions players, pitchers and two-way players every Wednesday of the high school season that had impressive weeks during their team's games. Special thank you to the many high school coaches that sent in nominations this week. These stats are for games played between February 26th-March 2nd.

Let's check out some of the top performances from Week 2 of the 2024 high school season.

 

Carson Loosier OF / James Clemens, AL / 2024 The uncommitted senior finds his name on the list for a second consecutive week as he went 7-for-8 (.875) on the week for the Jets. He had a double and drove in five runs while also scoring six runs. He got on base twice via walk and three more times being hit-by-pitch and also had three stolen bases.

Cayden McMichael 1B / OF / Southside High School, AL / 2024 McMichael, a senior headed to Belhaven to play football, was 7-for-11 (.636) on the week. Of those seven hits, one was a double and another was a triple. He also drove in five runs and and had an on-base percentage of .667.

Easton Walsh LHP / Florala High School, AL / 2026 Walsh, a sophomore, was 6-for-9 (.667) with two triples and two runs driven in while scoring four more runs. On the mound, he tossed eight innings, including a complete-game no-hitter) and only allowed one hit. He struck out 19 and only walked two hitters.

Kennith Dalton Jackson 3B / Florala, AL / 2025 The uncommitted junior has gotten off to a hot start for Class 1A No. 6 Florala. Last week he was 6-for-8 (.750) with two doubles and a triple. Jackson also scored three runs and drove in four more.

Jace Duckett OF / LHP / Madison County , AL / 2027 The freshman has helped the Tigers get off to an 8-1 start in 2024. Last week he was 9-for-15 (.600) with five doubles. He also drove in six runs and walked four times. Duckett stole four bases and had an on-base percentage of .684.

Carson Joyner RHP / 3B / Bayside Academy, AL / 2024 The Louisiana-Monroe recruit finds his name on the list again this week after another impressive offensive performance. For the week, Joyner was 5-for-7 (.714) with two homeruns and seven runs driven in. For the year he is 19-for-26 (.731) with three homeruns, ten stolen bases and 12 runs scored.

Camden Payne 1B / 3B / Baker , AL / 2024 Payne was 11-for-16 (.688) last week with four doubles and a triple for the Hornets. He also drove in seven runs, scored four runs and walked four times. On the mound, the senior went 1-0 on eight innings pitched, allowing six hits with four strikeouts. He did not allow a run and only walked four. This included a complete-game win over Gulf Breeze (FL).

Drew Puccio SS / 2B / Arab , AL / 2025 Puccio, an uncommitted junior, has been a key cog for the Knights since his freshman year and last week was no exception. He was 5-for-12 (.417) with a triple and a homerun. Puccio also drove in four runs, scored four times and was credited with two stolen bases.

Jacob Pearl 2B / OF / Bob Jones, AL / 2024 The Montevallo recruit continues to produce out of the leadoff spot for the Class 7A No. 1 Patriots. Last week he was 5-for-12 (.417) with a triple and six runs scored. He also drove in three runs, walked four times and had two stolen bases.

Braden Booth 3B / RHP / Bob Jones , AL / 2024 Another week in the books and as usual, Braden Booth continues to lead the Patriots in a two way role. On the mound, the MIssissippi State recruit was 1-0, including a five inning complete-game no-hitter, with no runs allowed and three walks. His WHIP for the week was 0.600. With the bat, Booth was 4-for-10 (.400) with three doubles, four walks and two hit-by-pitches. He drove in four runs, walked four times and had a stolen base.

Zackary Johnson C / OF / Bob Jones , AL / 2025 Johnson was 4-for-11 (.364) on the week and also played spectacular defense behind the plate for the Class 7A No. 1 Patriots. The Alabama recruit had two doubles, walked three times and also got on base twice via hit-by-pitch.

Emory Yohn OF / C / Central-Phenix City, AL / 2025 The uncommitted junior was 8-for-15 (.513) last week hitting in the middle of the order for the Class 7A No. 2 Red Devils. Yohn is a threat on the bases as well after stealing five bases a week ago. He also scored four runs and drove in six more runs.

Caiden Combs 1B / 3B / Gardendale, AL / 2025 Combs was perfect at the plate last week as the Class 6A No. 4 Rockets only played two games. The Auburn recruit was 5-for-5 (1.000) with a home run and two runs driven in. Opposing pitchers are careful throwing to Combs as he also drew four walks over those two games.

Cade McComb RHP / James Clemens High School, AL / 2024 The uncommitted senior has helped the Jets get off to an impressive start in 2024 and a Class 7A No. 7 ranking. McComb was 1-0 on seven innings pitched last week while not allowing an earned run. He only walked two and struck out eight hitters, finishing with a 0.286 WHIP last week.

Tyler Pierce SS / RHP / Boaz, AL / 2025 Pierce, a junior, finds his name on the list again this week as the Pirates have gotten off to a 7-0 start and Class 5A No. 6 ranking. Pierce has obviously been a focal point on the mound for his team's hot start. Last week, he was 1-0 on six innings pitched while not allowing a run and only allowing two hits. He struck out 13 hitters and only walked three.

John Luke Stephens RHP / SS / Gulf Shores High School, AL / 2026 Class 5A No. 3 Gulf Shores is another team off to a hot start in 2024 and Stephens has been a mainstay on the mound so far. The sophomore was 2-0 on 10 innings pithced last week while only allowing two hits and two walks. He struck out ten and did not allow an earned run as opposing hitters hit only .063 against him. For the year, Stephens is 4-0 on the mound.

Connor Gehr SS / RHP / Gulf Shores , AL / 2024 Gehr, a Meridian CC recruit, shows high two-way skills but this week he turned in an impressive performance on the mound. He tossed seven innings of two-hit baseball and only allowed one earned run. He struck out ten and walked three hitters. For the week, he finished with a .714 WHIP and opposing hitters only hit .087 against him.

Jake Thornton RHP / 3B / Madison County , AL / 2024 Thornton, a Calhoun CC recruit, finds his name on the list again this week after going 2-0 last week for the 8-1 Madison County Tigers. The senior tossed eight innings and did not allow an earned run. He allowed only four hits and struck out 20 opposing hitters.

Carter Samuelson SS / RHP / Springville, AL / 2025 Springville has gotten off to a solid start in 2024 and appear poised for a big year. Samuelson, an uncommitted junior, helps lead the way on the mound for the Tigers. Last week he twirled a complete-game no-hitter versus Clay-Chalkville. He went all seven innings only walking four and striking out ten.

Matthew Cash SS / RHP / Bibb County , AL / 2024 The Jacksonville State recruit continues to lead the way for the Class 4A No. 2 Choctaws. In a complete-game win last week versus Tuscaloosa County, Cash struck out 12 and and only allowed three hits while walking one. He was also 2-for-3 with the bat in the game.

Macain McMillan RHP / OF / Bibb County High School, AL / 2025 McMillan is another arm, who also doubles as an outfielder, that the Choctaws will continue to look to for quality innings in 2024. Last week he was 1-0 with a win over Demopolis. He allowed only one hit and issued two walks. He struck out seven opposing hitters over six innings.

Lane Edwards RHP / Arab High School, AL / 2024 Edwards was 1-0 last week with a complete game victory over Etowah. He went all seven innings on the mound and struck out seven hitters. He allowed only two earned runs and walked three.

Brodie Moody RHP / 1B / Marion County, AL / 2025 Moody, an uncommitted junior, was 1-0 last week on the mound as he did not allow an earned run and allowed only three hits. He tossed six innings on the week and struck out eight over two appearances. One of those appearances was a perfect game versus Holy Spirit Catholic, in which he also added a three-run homer.

Kai Kuroda RHP / Bob Jones High School, AL / 2024 The uncommitted senior turned in a brilliant performance for the Class 7A No. 1 Patriots in their win over Prep Baseball nationally ranked No. 5 IMG Academy. Kuroda went the distance on the mound and held one of the best offensive lineups in the country to five earned runs. He struck out two and walked three. The Patriots find themselves ranked No. 18 in the latest Prep Baseball national rankings.

 

Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
Mobile Summer ID	May 30th, 2024	Coastal Alabama-South CC (Bay Minette, AL)
Yellowhammer State Games (Invite-Only)	June 18th-19th, 2024	Sand Mountain Park (Albertville, AL)
Birmingham Summer ID	June 26th, 2024	Gardendale High School (Gardendale, AL)
Birmingham Rising Stars ID	June 26th, 2024	Gardendale High School (Gardendale, AL)
Huntsville Rising Stars ID	July 2nd, 2024	James Clemens High School (Madison, AL)
Huntsville Summer ID	July 2nd, 2024	James Clemens High School (Madison, AL)
Montgomery Summer ID	July 16th, 2024	Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL)
Montgomery Rising Stars ID	July 16th, 2024	Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL)

 

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