PBR Louisiana Diamond Notes (Week 2)

March 7, 2023
Alex Armand
Louisiana Scouting Director

Our Week 2 Edition of Diamond Notes is here, as we highlight some of the top performances, from across the state in Week 2 (02/27/23-03/05/23), as well as our Player of the Week and Pitcher of the Week. To submit your player(s) for next week's edition of Diamond Notes, please email Alex Armand ([email protected]) with the player's name, class, position, and any relevant statistics from the week. We are fired up for what's in store in Week 3 and the rest of the season!

Player of the Week

Donovan Lasalle CF / 2B / Barbe , LA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 7 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 484 / POS: 3

The Bucs have gotten off to a hot start this spring, as they currently own an 11-0 overall record and LaSalle has been equally as hot at the plate. Over the Bucs five games last week, the Oklahoma State University signee went 8-10 (.800) with 2 HR, 3 2B, 6 R, 14 RBI, and also swiped 3 bases.

Pitcher of the Week

Hayden Robinson RHP / SS / Berwick, LA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 2

The former Future Gamer was a 1st team All-State selection as a junior last season, and he seems to be picking up right where he left off a season ago. The Nicholls State University signee got the ball in a big matchup last week against Iowa HS and turned in a brilliant performance. Robinson threw a complete game no-hitter with 13 K’s and only 2 BB.

Other Top Performers

Cade Durbin RHP / SS / Parkview Baptist, LA / 2025

Rankings StateRank: 29 / POS: 6

The uncommitted right-handed hurler went 1-0 and recorded a save in two appearances for the week. In a 11-9 win over Episcopal last Thursday, Durbin came in with a runner on 2nd and 2 outs and struck out the last hitter of the game, to earn the save. He then got the start against Cecilia on Saturday and accomplished the rare feat of completing a perfect game. Parkview Baptist won the game 10-0 in 5 innings, as Durbin went the distance and gave up 0 R, 0 ER, and 0 H with 0 BB and 11 K's.

Cohen Elkins 3B / RHP / Lafayette Christian, LA / 2024

The uncommitted right-handed pitcher had a stellar outing on Friday against Vermilion Catholic, as he tossed a complete game shutout, giving up only 3 hits, while striking out 11.

Braxton Demopulos RHP / 1B / Live Oak, LA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 140 / POS: 24

Live Oak had a tough series over the weekend against St. Thomas More, in which the Eagles ended up taking 2 of 3 games from the Cougars. Demopulos, a Holmes Community College recruit, took the ball on Friday night and delivered another impressive outing. He ended up throwing 6 ⅓ innings, giving up 1 hit and 2 earned runs, while striking out 10 with 2 walks.

Layne Swanson OF / St. Amant, LA / 2024

There was a lot of “buzz” in the air for our Week 2 Game of the Week, which featured St. Amant taking on then undefeated Fontainebleau. The Gators gave the ball to Swanson, an uncommitted southpaw, and he was masterful on the mound. Over 6 innings pitched, he only gave up 2 hits and 0 earned runs, while striking out 10 and walking 3, as St. Amant gave Fontainebleau its first loss of the year.

Luke Benoit C / 3B / Sulphur , LA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 47 / POS: 6

Benoit, a UT-Tyler recruit, did a little bit of everything for the Tors in Week 2, as the team improved its record to 9-1 overall. At the plate, he went 6-11 (.545) with 2 2B, 7 R, and 10 RBI. On the mound, Benoit tossed a complete game 3 hit shutout with 4 strikeouts.

Cooper Winchester C / OF / St. Pauls, LA / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 13 / POS: 1

The former Future Gamer and Air Force recruit had a big week at the plate for St. Paul’s. He went 4-16, belting 3 HR and 1 2B with 3 R and 6 RBI.

Kade Anderson LHP / OF / St. Paul's, LA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 2 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 147 / POS: 22

Anderson is still recovering from an off-season surgery, so he’s unable to pitch at this time, but he’s still making an impact with his bat. The LSU signee went 6-14 (.429) with 2 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, 5 R, and 2 RBI.

Wyatt Buratt / Ascension Christian, LA / 2025

Ascension Christian went 3-1 on the week and Buratt had a big week at the plate. He went 6-13 (.462) with a .583 OBP, that included 2 HR, 1 2B, 1 3B, and 8 RBI.

JC Vanek 1B / LHP / Barbe , LA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 12 / POS: 1

The Chipola College recruit had a nice week at the plate and on the mound for the Bucs. Vanek earned a win on the mound against Mandeville HS, where he threw a complete game, giving up only 2 H and 0 ER with 11 K’s. Offensively, he went 6-12 (.500) on the week with 4 2B’s, 3 R, and 5 RBI.

Mason Bordelon 3B / 1B / Avoyelles Public Charter, LA / 2023

Bordelon did a little bit of everything for Avoyelles Public Charter in Week 2. The LSU-Eunice recruit went 8-11 (.727) at the plate with 3 2B, 1 3B, 9 R, and 5 RBI. On the mound, he was equally as effective, earning both a win and a save last week across 6 IP giving up 1 ER with 11 K’s

Presley Courville C / SS / Barbe, LA / 2025

Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 111 / POS: 6

Courville earned the starting catching job as a freshman a season ago, and has gotten off to a nice start to his sophomore year so far. Hitting out of the leadoff spot for the Bucs, the Texas A&M recruit went 5-12 (.417) last week with a HR, 2B, 6 R, and 4 RBI

Hunter Hodges 1B / LHP / Southside, LA / 2023

Rankings StateRank: 93 / POS: 5

A member of our Southeast Senior Games team last summer; Hodges was a consistent performer last year and is off to a great start this spring. The uncommitted prospect went 7-18 (.389) with 2 HR, 4 RBI, and 5 BB. He also logged 4 innings on the mound and gave up 1 H and 0 ER with 8 K’s.

Owen Galt SS / RHP / Barbe, LA / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 16 / POS: 4

A steady and reliable defender, Galt swung the bat well last year as a sophomore for Barbe and that has carried over so far this spring. The LSU commit went 5-14 (.357) last week with 3 HR, 4 R, and 6 RBI.

Drew Daigle RHP / SS / Brusly, LA / 2025

Rankings StateRank: 71 / POS: 14

The Panthers are off to a great start this spring, as they currently own a 7-1 overall record, and Daigle has been really good for Brusly, both on the mound and at the plate. The uncommitted two-way prospect went 10-13 (.769) last week with 1 2B, 1 3B, and 9 R. Daigle also earned a win on the mound, after logging 4 ⅔ innings giving up 0 R with 1 K.

Landon Victorian RHP / SS / Barbe, LA / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 1 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 71 / POS: 14

The state’s top ranked player in the ‘24 class went 9-1 last year as a sophomore and is now the Bucs #1 starter this spring. The LSU commit has been really good so far this spring and Head Coach Glenn Cecchini gave Victorian the ball this past Saturday against Zachary HS, and he turned in another quality outing. He earned the win in a complete game effort, giving up only 1 H and 0 ER with 12 K’s and 0 BB.

Payton Cormier RHP / Ponchatoula, LA / 2024

Ponchatoula and Acadiana battled it out last Tuesday, in what turned out to be a pitcher’s duel that went into extra innings with the Rams coming out on top, by a score of 2-1. Cormer, albeit in a losing effort, was brilliant on the mound for the Green Wave. He pitched 7 ⅔ innings, giving up only 2 hits and 0 earned runs with 1 walk and 3 strikeouts.

Joe Bordelon LHP / Alexandria, LA / 2023

Alexandria Senior HS moves into our Power 25 Rankings this week at the #25 spot and Bordelon is a big reason why. The senior southpaw tossed a complete game two hit shutout against Carencro on Saturday with 17 strikeouts.

Hayden Federico SS / OF / West Monroe, LA / 2024

Rankings StateRank: 3 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 105 / POS: 26

Junior INF Hayden Federico caught fire this past week, as did the West Monroe offense, on route to a perfect 5-0 record in Week 2. The Ole Miss commit went 12-17 (.706) at the plate with a HR, 3 2B's, 7 R, and 11 RBI.

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