PBR Illinois Diamond Notes: Week 6

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 6 POTW honor to OF Adison Worthman (Bloomington, 2023), who became the first underclassman to win the award this season. 

Worthman was a combined 10-for-16 with three home runs, generating 12 RBIs, and he added eight stolen bases as well, all while captaining the outfield from center error-free.

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 6 DIAMOND NOTES

Eddie King OF / Marian Catholic, IL / 2021 A staple of consistency for Marian Catholic throughout the spring, King went 12-for-20 across a five-game span last weekend for the Spartans. He doubled four times and also added three home runs, driving in 10 runs total. King also scored 10 times and swiped three bags, doing a bit of everything for Marian Catholic, something the Spartans are used to seeing.

Connor Lockwood RHP / Libertyville, IL / 2021 Committed to Valparaiso, Lockwood has been dominant for Libertyville all season and he kept that momentum rolling throughout last week. Lockwood made two appearances, one start against Stevenson and the other a relief appearance, and threw nine innings total, allowing just one earned run across that span. He struck out 10 total batters, walking none and he only gave up two hits. On the season, Lockwood now sports a 1.04 ERA and 0.926 WHIP across 27 innings, striking out 32.

Julius Sanchez RHP / LaSalle Peru, IL / 2022 One of the top pitchers in the Midwest, Sanchez continues to dominate each time he toes the rubber for La Salle-Peru. The Illinois commit and No. 47-ranked ‘22 prospect in the nation twirled a complete game one-hitter in his start last week, striking out 17 without allowing a run. Sanchez walked just one batter and threw 69 percent of his pitches for strikes.

Luke Lawrence C / 1B / Brother Rice, IL / 2021 The Crusaders went 4-0 last week and Lawrence played a pivotal role in their offensive success. He went 7-for-13 with two home runs, two doubles, and also tripled, driving in nine runs total. Lawrence also walked twice and stole four bags, scoring seven runs on top of the offense he personally produced for Brother Rice.

Wes Hunt RHP / OF / Peoria Christian, IL / 2022 Hunt had quite the game for Peoria Christian last week against Lexington. The 6-foot-7, 195-pound Hunt started on the mound for his squad and hurled a five inning no-hitter, striking out 12 on just 64 pitches. He didn’t walk anyone and threw just 10 balls in the entire game. Hunt also helped pace Peoria Christian’s offense in the 10-0 victory, going 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run.

Maxton Polad 3B / 1B / Lincoln Way East , IL / 2021 Polad’s offensive performance last week was nothing short of explosive, as the LWE senior went 6-for-14 with four home runs and he scored 10 runs, too. Polad's helped the Griffins continue to play like one of the top 4A programs in the state, with genuine state title hopes.

Joey Hagen OF / LHP / Johnsburg, IL / 2021 In three games played for Johnsburg last week, Hagen went 4-for-8 with a home run and three RBIs. He also doubled and scored eight runs, walking four times throughout. Hagen hopped on the mound for the Wildcats and pitched them to a win, striking out nine in 5.1 innings of work.

Eli Hensley SS / 2B / Normal West, IL / 2022 Hensley tallied nine hits across a five game span for Normal West last week, good for a .529 batting average, along with a pair of stolen bases. He doubled twice and reached base five times via a free pass, striking out just one time in the entire week.

Jack Scheri SS / 2B / LaSalle Peru, IL / 2022 Committed to Creighton, Scheri’s Week 6 work was his best of the season so far. The physical, athletic infielder went 6-for-8 at the plate last week with three doubles and two home runs, driving in four runs total.

Aidan VanDuzer C / 1B / LaSalle Peru, IL / 2022 The junior backstop had a noteworthy offensive week for the Cavaliers, clobbering four home runs and driving in seven total. Three of his long balls came in one game against Rochelle, where he brought home four runners as well.

Ian Farrell 3B / SS / Saint Viator, IL / 2022 Farrell helped lead the way to a 5-1 week for Saint Viator, by tallying 12 hits in 17 total at-bats. He doubled three times, homered once, and drove in seven runs total. Farrell also walked twice and stole three bags, scoring six runs on the week. He went a perfect 8-for-8 against Marian Catholic on Saturday as well.

Lukas Wenz INF / Neuqua Valley, IL / 2021 Wenz went 8-for-12 on the week with two doubles, seven RBIs, and he scored two runs as well. He also threw a five-inning complete game against DeKalb on May 18, where he struck out five and only gave up three hits.

Jaden Mitchell OF / 1B / Neuqua Valley, IL / 2021 Mitchell just missed hitting for the cycle on May 20th against DeKalb, falling a home run short of an impressive feat. He finished the week with eight hits in 13 at-bats, doubling and tripling twice. He drove in six runs and scored six times, too.

+ Owen Wolcott, Lincoln-Way West, 2021: Wolcott had a loud offensive week for Lincoln-Way West, as the senior outfielder had six of his 11 hits go for extra bases, including three home runs. He also doubled twice and hit a triple, finishing the week with 12 RBIs.

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