Prep Baseball Report

Diamond Notes: Week 2


By: Peter Hamot
Area Scout

Each week, IHSA coaches around the state submit to us their nominations for the PBR Illinois Player of the Week honor. On Wednesday, we awarded the Week 2 POTW honor to C Zion Rose (Brother Rice, 2023; Louisville commit). Rose hit out of the leadoff spot for the Crusaders and put together a stellar week; going 17-for-24 across six games (four of which were at the National High School Select Tournament) with a .708 batting average, four doubles, 12 runs scored, four stolen bases and NHHS Tournament MVP honors. To cap it all off, Rose was a key factor in his team's success over nationally ranked IMG Academy, helping to hand them their first loss of the year.

There were a number of other impressive performances that were in the mix for the award and deserve recognition. Here’s a look at some of the most notable.

Week 2 Diamond Notes

Corey Boyette OF / Romeoville , IL / 2022

Boyette, a Heartland CC commit, turned in an impressive week at the plate stretching over three games; going 4-for-7 with two doubles, two home runs, seven RBIs and four runs scored. Perhaps his most impressive day came against Thornton Fractional South, where he went 2-for-2 with a double, home run and three RBIs. We saw some more power out of Boyette's bat against No. 5 Nazareth Academy, homering in a tough loss to them on Tuesday while also diving in three runs. His 1-for-3 day against Metea valley to go along with a double and an RBI put a bow on his impressive week. Boyette is now 6-for-9 on the season with four doubles, two home runs, eight RBIs and four runs scored.

Brendan Brock C / OF / Mascoutah , IL / 2022

Mascoutah is off to a scorching 5-0 start, and Brock has no doubt been a key part in the team's overall success. This past week he helped the Indians to a clean 3-0 sweep, also going 9-for-12 at the plate with four doubles, a triple, home run, nine RBIs and a stolen base. His most dominant game of the week came on Friday against Salem, where he tallied a 4-for-5 day at the plate with two home runs and six RBIs - also lifting the team to a 17-7 victory. 

 

William Davidsmeier C / Beardstown, IL / 2022

Davidsmeier helped his squad to a 2-0 record this past week, making Beardstown 4-0 on the season now. His most impressive game of the week came against Williamsville in a 12-2 blowout; where he went 4-for-5 with a double, RBI and three runs scored. He finished the week going 6-for-9, scoring five runs and reaching base eight of nine times.

Daniel Darin OF / LHP / Gibault Catholic, IL / 2023

The uncommitted junior took care of business on both sides of the ball this week. On Monday against New Athens, Darin tossed 5.2 innings with no hits and 16 strikeouts, also homering with two RBIs in the same game. Darin also would go on to hit a grand slam later in the week in a 25-11 win over Red Bud. In four total games offensively, Darin went a combined 5-for-9 with two home runs, 10 RBIs, eight runs scored and six walks.

Bryce Goodwine OF / LHP / Hononegah, IL / 2022

The Indianapolis commit picked up right where he left off from last season's State Title run; helping Hononegah to an 11-2 win over Fox Lake Grant in their season opener. Goodwine finished the day going 3-for-5 with a home run from each side of the plate; the first being a two-run home run in the second inning, and the second coming in the seventh inning with two men aboard to put the game out of reach. 

Kameron Hanvey C / SS / Gibault Catholic , IL / 2023

The uncommitted junior put together an impressive week at the plate, going 7-for-10 in four games with a double, triple, home run, six RBIs, 11 runs scored and six stolen bases. Perhaps the most impressive part of Hanvey's stat line is that he reached base an eye-popping 15 times in a row throughout the week. His best game came against Coulterville; where he went a perfect 3-for-3 at the plate with a double, triple, home run, three RBIs, four runs scored and two stolen bases - all he needed was a single to complete the cycle.

                                             

Owen Housinger SS / 2B / Stevenson, IL / 2022

Housinger led Stevenson offensively to a 4-1 week and a Final Flight Baseball Classic championship in Union City, Tennessee. He finished the week with a .500 batting average, .444 OBP and .833 OPs - going 6-for-12 with two doubles, a home run and 12 RBIs. The most impressive game of Housinger's week came in a 21-2 win over Lake County (TN); where he finished the day 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored and five RBIs. 

Brady Kindhardt C / 3B / Payson, IL / 2022

Kindhardt put together easily one of the more impressive offensive lines for the week, finishing with an .857 batting average to go along with nine runs scored and 13 RBIs - also leading his team to a perfect 3-0 record in the throughout the course of the week. In 11 combined innings on Saturday, Kindhardt was perfect at the plate, including three home runs with 11 RBIs on the day.

Jack Lausch OF / RHP / Brother Rice, IL / 2022

Northwestern football commit Jack Lausch put on a show in Lake Point at the National High School Select Tournament, walking off the nationally ranked IMG Academy with an opposite-field home run in extra innings. The Crusaders went on to win the tournament later in the week and headed home with a spotless 7-0 record. Lausch finished the game against IMG going 2-for-5 with four RBIs against some of the top arms in the country - while over the course of the week, Lausch went 7-for-18 with a double, triple, home run, five stolen bases and six RBIs. 

LeBaron Lee Jr. LHP / Yorkville, IL / 2023

The Illinois State commit was completely in control in his start over Greenfield, tossing a no-hitter in five innings with 15 strikeouts and one hit-by-pitch. Lee needed just 70 pitches to complete the game while cruising with a 69% strike rate. No. 22 Yorkville is now 5-2 on the season. 

Angelo Luna OF / RHP / St. Laurence , IL / 2022

Illinois-Springfield commit, Angelo Luna, looks to be off to an authoritative start; turning in a line of 8-for-17 with two doubles, a home run, 10 RBIs and nine runs scored for this past week. Most of Luna's success came in the Choctaw Festival Tournament against some of the top high school teams Oklahoma has to offer; where he went 6-for-13 with 10 RBIs and eight runs scored - eventually being named the MVP of the tournament. The most impressive game of Luna's came in a 5-3 victory over Edmond Memorial (OK), where he went 2-for-3 at the plate with a double, home run and three RBIs.

Colin McClure SS / RHP / Mt. Vernon, IL / 2023

Colin McClure had a week to remember, helping to improve Mt. Vernon's overall record to 6-1. On Saturday against Pinckneyville, McClure finished the day 3-for-6 with three homes runs (one being a grand slam) and nine RBIs in a 23-7 routing. McClure showed to be able to deliver in clutch spots as well, recording the game winning RBI in the eighth inning against Civic Memorial, finishing the day 3-for-5. McClure also added a 1-for-3 day with an RBI to his weekly total in a 10-0 win over Chester, and is now batting .440 on the year with a .516 OBP.

Harry Oden OF / 1B / Quincy Notre Dame, IL / 2022

Oden, a Lindenwood commit, has been a key component for the Raiders, helping them to a 5-0 start to the spring. On Saturday against Kirksville, Oden hit for the cycle to go along with five RBIs and four runs scored, finishing the week going 7-for-10 at the plate with two doubles, a triple, home run and five RBIs.

Lane Otten RHP / OF / Freeburg, IL / 2023

Uncommitted junior right-hander Lane Otten tossed a no-hitter against Nashville on Saturday in the No 18 Midgets' 11-0 victory. Otten struck out three while walking just one en route to picking up the win - also driving in a run at the plate.

Tony Pluta RHP / C / St. Viator, IL / 2022

Pluta, an Arizona commit, has been a key contributor to No. 7 St. Viator's success, helping the Lions to an overall record of 5-0 at the end of last week. Pluta's most dominant game came in a 14-1 win over Jasper; where he went 3-for-3 with a double, two home runs, six RBIs and three runs scored. The future Wildcat finished his week going 8-for-12 with four doubles, two home runs and eight RBIs.

Sammy Ritter C / 2B / Belleville East, IL / 2022

Sammy Ritter was on a tear this past week, going 4-for-8 at the plate with two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored. Ritter's best game came against Jersey in a 12-6 victory, where he went 2-for-4 at the plate with a home run and four RBIs. He also homered against Jersey in the game prior, tallying two RBIs in their 14-0 victory and sealing the two-game sweep. The No. 25 Lancers are now 6-1 on the year. 

Peyton Schaefer 1B / OF / Gibault Catholic, IL / 2025

Freshman Peyton Schaefer put together some upperclass numbers this week, going 7-for-11 in four games with two doubles, two triples, three RBIs and six runs scored - he also walked three times and was hit by a pitch. His best game came in a 25-11 win over Red Bud, where he went 2-for-3 on the day with a double, triple and two RBIs.

Simon Skroch LHP / OF / Yorkville , IL / 2024

Sophomore left-hander Simon Skroch had a game to remember last week, hurling a perfect game to earn the 7-0 win over Guntersville. Skroch needed just 84 pitches to toss the seven-inning perfect game, striking out a staggering 16 batters along the way with a 74% strike rate. Skroch has been a key contributor in the No. 22 Foxes 5-2 start.

Payton Soske RHP / 3B / Barrington, IL / 2023

Payton Soske had a dominant game over Boylan Catholic, going 4-for-4 on the day with a home run and two doubles - helping to lead the Broncos to victory. 

Alex Stanwich OF / RHP / Lincoln-Way East, IL / 2022

Alex Stanwich, a Tennessee commit, put together one of the more impressive overall lines on the entire week, - finishing 10-for-12 with three home runs, three doubles, a triple, 11 RBIs and eight runs scored. All three of his home runs came in No. 12 Lincoln-Way East's 8-1 win over No. 15 Marist. Stanwich finished the game going 4-for-4 with three home runs, five RBIs and scoring three times. Stanwich is a catalyst in the lineup for East, and we can expect to see more weeks like this in the future from him.

Blake Wolters RHP / OF / Mahomet Seymour, IL / 2023

In a week full of stellar pitching, Blake Wotlers added to that tally with a perfect game in the Bulldogs' 16-0 win over Danville. The game was cut to four innings, but that doesn't take much away from how impressive Wolters was. The right-hander struck out 11 of the 12 hitters he faced, with a 1-3 come backer being the only ball in play. Wolters also went 2-for-2 at the plate with an RBI, four runs scored and two walks.

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