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IHSA Diamond Notes: Week 1

March 20, 2024
By: Gavin Smith & Tyler Defibaugh
Illinois Scouting Staff

Each week, IHSA coaches around the state submit to us their nominations for the PBR Illinois Player of the Week and PBR Illinois Pitcher of the Week honors. Yesterday, we awarded the Week 1 Player of the Week honor to Jack Swaney (Rochester, 2024; Northern Illinois) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to Brady Bengtson (Normal Community, 2024; Uncommitted). Swaney finished the week with seven hits in 16 at-bats, four home runs, one double, 10 RBIs, and six runs scored. Bengtson threw a combined seven innings, allowed one hit, no runs, struck out 14 and walked one. In Normal’s game against Belleville East, he struck out the first nine hitters he faced.

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 1 DIAMOND NOTES

Owen Young C / 3B / Joliet West , IL / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 208 / POS: 25

Lewis commit. Young went 5-for-8 for the Tigers over the weekend, helping lead Joliet West to a 2-1 record including a win over No. 13 O’Fallon (2-2) to begin the season. Out of the leadoff spot, Young had an outstanding .785 OPB in the first week of play hitting a double, a triple, and two home runs while driving in four. He also drew five walks and a hit-by-pitch. Joliet West also defeated Belleville East (0-2). 

Noah Grimm C / 3B / Westmont, IL / 2024

Uncommitted. On Saturday vs Chicago (Disney II) Grimm hit the first cycle in school history and hit his first career home run, totalling six RBI in the game. He went 2-for-3 with a double and two RBI vs Lisle on Tuesday. He batted .700 (7-for-10) for the first week with a .750 OBP with nine RBI, five runs scored, and four walks.

Tyler Kummer C / Evergreen park, IL / 2024

Uncommitted. Evergreen Park went 3-0 in the first week of play with wins over Agricultural Science, Hubbard (3-1), and Lisle (), and Kummer played a large part in that, going 8-for-9 on the week with two doubles, a home run, and eight RBI. Kummer’s biggest game came in their season opener vs. Agricultural Science going 4-for-4 with two doubles and two RBI.

Griffin Zweeres C / 3B / Morris Community High School, IL / 2025

Uncommitted. Zweeres went 8-for-15 at the plate, helping lead Morris to two wins in the first week of play over Bolingbrook (2-2) and Bradley-Bourbonnais (2-3). Zweeres had his biggest game against Bolingbrook in the opener going 4-for-4 with two doubles, six RBI, and two runs scored. He totaled nine RBI on the week and finished with a .714 SLG and a 1.314 OPS.

Ethan Feldman 3B / RHP / Grayslake North, IL / 2024

Uncommitted. Feldman went 5-for-8 with a double, a home run, five RBI, and a stolen base in the first week at the dish. He also threw four innings, giving up two earned runs, and punching out nine to earn the win over Zion-Benton. His biggest game at the plate came against Lake Zurich (2-2) where he went 3-for-5 with a double, a grand slam, five RBI, and two runs scored. 

Luke Blackwell RHP / 3B / Valmeyer, IL / 2026

Rankings  StateRank: 44 / POS: 11

Uncommitted. Blackwell went 5-for-10 with two doubles, six walks, three RBI, five runs scored, and two stolen bases offensively. On the mound, he got the save on Saturday against Midland Varna (0-4-1).

Jack Harre MIF / SS / Marion, IL / 2024

Uncommitted. Harre helped lead Marion to two wins in the opening week with solid performances on offense and on the mound. Offensively, he went 6-for-8 with a double, two walks, two hit-by-pitches, three RBI, and seven stolen bases. On the mound, he got the opening day win against DuQuoin tossing four innings, allowing three hits, one walk, one run, and striking out seven.

Nick Morsovillo OF / OF / Sandburg, IL / 2025

Uncommitted. In two games for the Eagles, Morsovillo went 5-for-7 with two doubles, four RBI, and two runs scored in the opening week. His biggest offensive performance came against Lemont (1-1) going 3-for-4 with two doubles and three RBI. Sandburg also collected a win over Eisenhower.

Jackson Stanek 1B / C / St Rita, IL / 2024

Southwestern Illinois JC commit. In two games for the Mustangs, Stanek went 5-for-7 with two doubles, a home run, a walk, six RBI, and a run scored. Stanek’s biggest game came in a win against Glenbrook North (1-1-1) on Saturday when he went 3-for-3 with a double, a home run, a walk, four RBI, and a run scored.

Ryan Kondrad 3B / SS / Lake Zurich , IL / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 148 / POS: 9

Parkland JC commit. In three games, Kondrad went 5 for 9 (.556 avg), with three doubles, two home runs, two walks, a HBP, and six RBI, to go with a slugging percentage of 1.566. Kondrad’s biggest offensive performance came in a 14-13 victory against Grayslake North where he went 3-for-4 with a double, two home runs, a walk, five RBI, and two runs scored. Lake Zurich collected wins over Saint Viator (2-2) and Grayslake North (1-2).

Nico Avendano RHP / OF / Monmouth-Roseville, IL / 2024

Uncommitted. Avendano pitched a five-inning complete game, one-hit shutout with one walk and five strikeouts in a victory against Stark County (2-4), with the only hit he gave up failing to leave the infield. He was efficient in this outing also, throwing just 54 pitches.

Joey Gainer C / OF / St Francis, IL / 2025

Rankings  StateRank: 121 / POS: 11

Uncommitted. Wheaton St. Francis went 2-0 in the opening week with wins over Wheaton Academy (2-1) and Glenbard West (0-4) and Gainer was a big reason why. In their two games, Gainer went 6-for-9 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, a walk and five RBI. His biggest performance was against Glenbard West where he went 5-for-6 with a triple, a homer, four RBI, and a run scored.

David Cox SS / 3B / Nazareth Academy, IL / 2024

Rankings  StateRank: 37 / POS: 10

Illinois-Chicago commit. Nazareth started the season off 4-0 with wins over Timothy Christian (2-0), Reavis (16-7), Naperville Central (5-3), and Kenwood (6-2). Cox played a pivotal role in these wins, going 6-for-12 (.500/.571/.1.16) with two home runs, two doubles, four RBIs, four runs scored and two stolen bases. In their win over Reavis, he went 3-for-4 with a home run, one RBI and two runs scored. He went 2-for-3 with a home run, double, three RBIs and two runs scored in their win over Naperville Central, while also earning the start on the mound. He threw three innings, struck out four, walked two and allowed three hits. 

Ellis Alexander C / OF / Jones College Prep, IL / 2025

Uncommitted. Alexander had an impressive week going 9-for-11 with a double, four RBIS and two stolen bases. He helped the Eagles start off the season 3-0 with wins over Von Steuben (7-2), Holy Trinity (14-12) and Lincoln Park (3-2). In their win over Von Steuben he went a perfect 4-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored. He had another perfect performance at the plate against Holy Trinity, going 3-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.

Anthony Fry RHP / 3B / Libertyville , IL / 2025

Uncommitted. Started on the mound against Barrington, which resulted in a 0-0 tie. Fry threw seven innings, struck out two and allowed four hits on 79 pitches.

John Composono C / Stagg, IL / 2024

Composono led the Chargers to a 4-1 week with wins over Chicago Christian (8-4), Blue Island Eisenhower (15-2), Argo (9-4), and Romeoville (8-2). He went 8-for-15 (.533) with a triple, four doubles, nine RBIs, seven runs scored and six stolen bases throughout the week. Against Chicago Christian, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and two runs scored. He added two more hits, one being a triple, with two RBIs and two runs scored in their win over Blue Island Eisenhower. To round out his impressive week, Composono went 2-for-4 with two doubles, four RBIs and one run scored in their win against Romeoville.

CJ Regillio 1B / OF / Crystal Lake South, IL / 2024

Uncommitted. Regillio helped lead Crystal Lake South to a 2-0 week with wins over Boylan Catholic (14-2) and Richmond-Burton (19-4). In their win over Boylan Catholic, Regillio went 2-for-3 with two grand slams, eight RBIs and two runs scored. He added another home run, three RBIs, and two runs scored in their win over Richmond-Burton.

LANE TECH

The Champions started their 2024 campaign off hot, going 4-0 with wins over No. 21 St. Rita (8-6), Brooks (11-1), and No. 17 Mt. Carmel (4-3). Below were some of their top performers from the week:

Ethan Borggren, INF/RHP, 2024
Northwestern commit. On the week, Borggren went 5-for-12 (.417) with a home run, triple, two doubles, four RBIs, six runs scored, three walks and a stolen base. His best game of the week came against No. 21 St. Rita where he went 2-for-3 with a home run, triple, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. He also threw 1 ⅓ innings, struck out one and allowed one hit to earn the save. He also threw 1 ⅔ innings in their win over No. 17 Mt. Carmel, striking out three and earning the save. He left 5-of-5 inherited runners stranded in both save opportunities.

Henry Murray, OF, 2025
Boston College commit. On the week, Murray went 7-for-8 (.875) with a triple, three doubles, five RBIs, six runs scored and seven walks. His breakout game of the week came against No. 17 Mt. Carmel where he went a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, double, RBI, two runs scored and an intentional walk.

Theodore Greco, INF, 2025
Uncommitted. On the week, Greco went 7-for-12 (.538) with three triples, nine RBIs, four runs scored, two walks and a stolen base. His best performance from the week came against Brooks where he went 2-for-3 with two triples, four RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. He also had a quality performance against No. 21 St. Rita, going 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBIs and one run scored.

LOCKPORT

The Porters are coming off an impressive 3-0 week with wins over Alton (8-6), Mt. Vernon (10-0), and Normal West (7-2). Below were some of their top performers from last week:

Adam Kozak, OF, 2026
Uncommitted. Kozak had a breakout week for Lockport, going 6-for-7 with two triples, two doubles, five RBIs, five runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. In their win over Mt. Kozak, Kozak went a perfect 4-for-4 with two triples, four RBIs and three runs scored. He went 2-for-3 with two doubles, an RBI, two runs scored and one walk in their win over Normal West.

Trace Schaaf, LHP, 2026
Uncommitted. Started on the mound against Normal West and earned the win. Threw four no-hit, shutout innings and struck out eight while only walking one.

Nate Byrdak, RHP, 2024
Triton JC commit. Byrdak earned the win on the mound against Mt. Vernon, tossing three innins, striking out five, walking two and allowing one hit.

Dylan Nagle, RHP/INF, 2024
Heartland CC commit.On the week, Nagle went 3-for-6 with two RBIs and two runs scored. He went 2-for-3 with two RBIs and one run scored in their win over Mt. Vernon. He also found some time on the mound in the game, throwing one inning and striking out all three batters he faced.

Colton Benaitis, C, 2026
Uncommitted. Benaitis had a stellar game in their win over Alton, going 2-for-4 with a home run, triple, two RBIs and two runs scored. On the week he tallied three hits; a home run and two triples with three RBIs and two runs scored.

Jack Schiek, RHP/3B, 2026
Uncommitted. Schiek had an impressive performance at the plate and on the mound in their win over Alton. At the plate, he went 2-for-2 with two singles. And on the mound, he earned the win, struck out five, walked two and allowed two hits in three innings of work.

NORMAL UNIVERSITY

​​The Pioneers went 2-2 on the week with wins over South Fork (9-2) and Ponte Vedra (8-3). Below were some of their top performers from the week:

Charlie Vercruysse, SS, 2024
Notre Dame commit. On the week, Vercruysse went 6-for-12 with three triples, two doubles and four RBIs. In their 8-3 win over Ponte Vedra, he went 2-for-3 with a triple, double, two RBIs and one run scored. He had another impressive performance against South Fork, going 2-for-3 with a triple, one RBI, two runs scored and a walk. 

Will Paxson, RHP, 2025
Uncommitted. Started on the mound against Barron Collier and threw four innings, struck out five, walked three and allowed one hit.  

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