Week 6 Diamond Notes
April 28, 2023
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 honor. On Wednesday, we awarded the Week 6 Player of the Week honor to INF/RHP Daniel Gierer (Father McGiveney, 2023) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to RHP Hank Liss (Evanston, 2023; Belmont). Last week, Gierer went an impressive 11-for-12 (.917) with a home run, triple, three doubles, six RBIs, nine runs scored, three walks, one hit-by-pitch and two stolen bases. Liss earned the honor after he threw six shutout innings and struck out nine against No. 10 New Trier.
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
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Sam Carr SS / OF / Brown County, IL / 2023Uncommitted. Brown County went 3-1 last week in large part to the success Carr had at the plate where he went 10-for-14 (.714) with two grand slams, 13 RBIs, and seven runs scored. In their 16-0 win over Pleasant Hill/Western, Carr went 2-for-3 with a grand slam, five RBIs, and two runs scored. He went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and a run scored in their 13-1 win over Triopia. He also earned the win on the mound, striking out eight, walking three, allowing no earned runs and two hits. Carr went 2-for-4 with another grand slam, four RBIs, and two runs scored in their 15-0 win over Griggsville-Perry. To cap off his stellar week, he went 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk against Hamilton. |
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Nate Nazos SS / RHP / Batavia, IL / 2024Uncommitted. The junior threw a complete game, two-hit shutout against Lake park (4-0). He tallied four strikeouts and only walked two. On the year, Nazos hasn’t allowed a run in 17 innings pitched (0.00 ERA/.824 WHIP), and he has boasted an impressive .148 batting average against. |
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Nolan Seneczyn SS / 2B / Belleville East, IL / 2023Uncommitted. The Lancers went 5-0 last week with wins over Centralia, Alton, and Carbondale. In those wins, Seneczyn went 9-for-17 (.529) at the plate with two doubles, seven RBIs, and six stolen bases. In their 11-1 win over Carbondale, he went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, three RBIs, and two runs scored. In their next game against Carbondale, he added two more hits with two RBIs and a stolen base. |
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Karlos Otero SS / 2B / Romeoville, IL / 2025Romeoville went 2-2 on the week with two wins over Plainfield South (7-6 & 6-4). Otero was a big factor in their wins last week going 8-for-14 (.615) with a double, six RBIs, five runs scored, no strikeouts, six stolen bases, and no errors in the infield. In their 9-8 loss to Plainfield South, Otero went 3-for-4 with a double, two runs scored, and a stolen base. He added a hit with two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base in their 7-6 win over Plainfield South. He went a perfect 3-for-3 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and two stolen bases in their 6-4 win over Plainfield South. Season Stats: |
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Kaden Griffitts CF / LHP / Williamsville , IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 50 / POS: 2
Heartland CC commit. The Bullets went 3-0 on the week with wins over Maroa-Forsyth (4-1), PORTA (6-1), and Bloomington Central Catholic (8-7). On the week, Griffits went 6-for-7 (.857) with a home run, two triples, four walks, and six stolen bases. Against Maroa-Forsyth, he went a perfect 2-for-2 with two runs scored and four stolen bases. He went a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI, run scored, a walk, and two stolen bases in their win over PORTA. To round out his impressive week, Griffitts went 2-for-3 with a home run, triple, one RBI, two runs scored, and a walk in their game against BCC. Season Stats: |
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Seth Winkler SS / OF / Saint Charles East , IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 213 / POS: 32
Kirkwood CC commit. Winkler threw five innings on the week. He threw one inning against Glenbard North, struck out three, walked two, and allowed no hits or runs with the game being suspended after one. In their 17-6 win over Wheaton-Warrenville South, Winkler threw four innings, struck out 12, walked three, allowed two earned runs and four hits. On the week, he struck out 15 batters and allowed two earned runs. |
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Drew Zemaitis RHP / 1B / Providence Catholic, IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 52 / POS: 22
Xavier commit. In No. 2 Providence Catholic’s 4-1 win over Loyola, Zemaitis shined. He threw a complete game with eight strikeouts, one hit, and one unearned run. |
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Ryan Klukas LHP / LHP / Lemont, IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 211 / POS: 26
Wisconsin-Parkside commit. In Lemont’s 8-2 win against Shepard, Klukas dominated on the mound. He threw seven innings, struck out 15, only walked one, allowed two earned runs and five hits. |
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Ethan Eberle LHP / 1B / Normal Community, IL / 2024Rankings StateRank: 26 / POS: 3
Louisville commit. Eberle had an impressive week last week. He committed to Louisville, was named the PBR Illinois Pitcher of the Week, and threw a complete game with 14 strikeouts, two walks, and only two hits allowed in their win over Normal West. |
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Ryan Skwarek SS / RHP / Crystal Lake South, IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 118 / POS: 17
McHenry County JC commit. In Crystal Lake South’s 6-0 win over Dundee-Crown, Skwarek threw a complete game shutout on the mound with six strikeouts and four hits allowed. |
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Louie Sisto 3B / Saint Rita, IL / 2024Uncommitted. In St. Rita’s 7-1 win over No. 2 Providence Catholic, Sisto dominated. He threw six innings with nine strikeouts, no walks, one earned run and six hits allowed. He earned the win on the mound moving his record to 3-1 on the season. |
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Jimmy Amptmann RHP / 3B / Sycamore, IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 75 / POS: 32
Heartland CC commit. In Sycamore’s 10-0 win over Plano, Amptmann threw a complete game (5 IN) with nine strikeouts, two walks, and two hits allowed. |
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Lewis Slade Lake Park, IL / 2024Uncommitted. Lake Park defeated Batavia by the score of 8-0. Slade started on the mound and struck out 14, walked one, and allowed three hits in the game. |
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Chase Knebel LHP / Highland, IL / 2025The sophomore threw a complete game against conference foe, Waterloo. Knebel struck out nine, walked none, allowed one earned run and six hits in their 4-3 victory. |
VON STEUBEN
The Panthers went 3-0 on the week with wins over Taft (7-1), Amundsen (11-6), and IC Catholic Prep (6-3). Below were some of the top performers from the week:
George Allen, OF/3B, 2025
On the week Allen went 5-for-9 (.556) with four RBIs. Allen collected a hit with an RBI and a walk in their game against Taft. In their win over Amundsen, Allen went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored, and Allen added two more hits with an RBI against IC Catholic Prep.
Axel Rivera, SS/3B, 2025
On the week Rivera hit 4-for-10 (.400) with three RBIs. In their win over Taft, Rivera collected a hit with two RBIs, and he went 3-for-4 with an RBI against Amundsen. He earned the win on the mound against IC Catholic Prep, throwing three innings with four strikeouts, one walk, and one hit.
Eddie Letamendi, SS/3B, 2023
Illinois State commit. For the week Letamendi hit 3-for-8 (.375) with four RBIs and seven stolen bases. Against Amundsen he went 1-for-3 with two RBIs, one run scored, a walk, and two stolen bases.
Week 2: Letamendi was mentioned within our Week 2 Diamond Notes after going 5-for-9 (.556) with two doubles and four RBIs.
Ethan Serrano, OF/RHP, 2023
Triton JC commit. Serrano went 3-for-9 (.333) on the week. Against Amundsen, he threw a complete game on the mound (7 IN), struck out five, walked none, allowed one earned run, and seven hits.
Week 2: Serrano was mentioned within our Week 2 Diamond Notes after two quality outings on the mound for the Panthers.
Week 3: Serrano was mentioned within our Week 3 Diamond Notes after two quality starts on the mound.
NO. 18 LOCKPORT
Lockport went 2-1 on the week with wins over No. 11 Lincoln-Way East (7-6) and Plainfield East (20-5) with their only loss coming to No. 11 Lincoln-Way East (6-3). Below were some of their top performers:
Jake Moerman, 1B, 2023
Uncommitted. Moerman went 4-for-9 (.444) on the week with a home run, six RBIs, five runs scored and two stolen bases. In their win against Lincoln-Way East, Moerman hit a two-strike, two-out, three-run home run to help propel them to the comeback win.
Week 1: Moerman was mentioned within our Week 1 Diamond Notes after going 3-for-5 with a home run, six RBIs, two doubles, and three runs scored.
Anthony Francone, OF/LHP, 2023
St. Xavier commit. On the week, Francone went 5-for-9 with three doubles, six runs scored, and two stolen bases. Francone has found ways all season to get on base and produce runs for the offense. He’s found time in left field and has helped hold down the outfield for Lockport.
Week 5: Francone was mentioned within our Week 5 Diamond Notes after going 6-for-16 (.600) with nine RBIs, four runs scored and two stolen bases.
Joey Manzo, OF, 2023
North Central College commit. Manzo reached base 9 times out of 11 plate appearances and scored five runs throughout the week.
Week 5: Manzo was mentioned within our Week 5 Diamond Notes after going 7-for-20 (.350) with five RBIs, nine runs scored, three walks, three hit-by-pitches, and three stolen bases.
FREEPORT
The Pretzels went 4-0 last week with wins over Jefferson (19-0), Rockford Auburn (13-0 & 11-1), and Dixon (15-0). In their win over Jefferson, three pitchers combined for a shutout with 11 strikeouts, three walks, and two hits. Below were some of their top performers from the week:
Ryan Coon, OF/1B, 2024
Uncommitted. Coon went 6-for-14 (.429/.556) on the week with a double, seven RBIs, five runs scored, and going a perfect 8-for-8 on stolen bases. Against Jefferson, Coon went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, one run scored and a walk. In their second game against Rockford Auburn, Coon tallied a hit, run, walk, and two stolen bases. To round out the week, Coon had his most impressive performance. He went 2-for-4 with four RBIs, one run scored, and a walk in their win over Dixon.
Week 4: Coon was mentioned within the Week 4 Diamond Notes after going 6-for-10 (.600) on the week with two doubles, three RBIs, seven runs, and four stolen bases.
Carson Price, INF/OF, 2023
Uncommitted. Price went 5-for-10 (.500/.571) on the week with three doubles, seven RBIs, and he went a perfect 3-for-3 on stolen bases. Price went an impressive 2-for-3 with two doubles, three RBIs, and a run scored against Jefferson. He went a perfect 1-for-1 with a double, an RBI, two runs scored, a walk, and two stolen bases against Rockford Auburn. In their second game of the week against Rockford Auburn, Price went 2-for-4 with two RBIs.
Mason Lei, RHP, 2023
Rock Valley commit. In their 13-0 win over Rockford Auburn, Lei threw a complete game (5 IN), struck out eight, walked none, allowed no runs, and one hit.
Week 4: Lei was mentioned within the Week 4 Diamond Notes after throwing a complete game against Sterling with 10 punchouts, no walks, no runs, and four hits.
Cole Trickel, RHP/SS, 2023
Uncommitted. Trickle threw a complete game (5 IN) in their second game against Rockford Auburn. He struck out eight, walked one, allowed one run, and two hits.
Zach Arnold, RHP/OF, 2024
Uncommitted. Arnold threw a complete game shutout (6 IN) in their 15-0 win over Dixon. He tallied nine strikeouts, two walks, and one hit.
LANE TECH
Lane Tech went 3-1 on the week with wins over Lincoln Park (13-0 & 14-4) and Whitney Young (16-2). Below were some of their top performers from the week:
Louie Derechin, 3B, 2023
Uncommitted. Derechin went 7-for-13 (.538) on the week with two home runs, a double, eight RBIs, and four runs scored. In their first win over Lincoln Park, Derechin went 2-for-3 with two RBIs, a run scored, and a walk. He went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, four RBIs, and a run scored in their second win of the week over Lincoln Park. Rounding out the week against Whitney Young, Derechin went 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk.
This Season:
Derechin is leading Lane Tech in hits with 28 and has posted a 1.233 OPS through 22 games.
Carson Berg, OF, 2023
Uncommitted. Berg went 5-for-11 (.455) with three triples, a double, nine RBIs, and six runs scored. He went a perfect 2-for-2 with two triples, two RBIs, two runs scored and a walk in their first win over Lincoln Park. Berg added another triple with four RBIs, two runs scored, and a walk in their second win of the week over Lincoln Park. Berg rounded out the week with a double, two RBIs, and a run scored.