GHSA Diamond Notes: 3/2 to 3/8

Throughout the 2020 high school season, we’re accepting nominations from the coaches across the state of Georgia for their program’s Player of the Week candidates. While there can only be one Player of the Week in the state, we’ll be using this weekly GA Diamond Notes post to highlight the top performers of the past week who fell just short of POTW honors. We cover all corners of the state – from 1A to 7A – and the evidence is in this post.

Below are the Diamond Notes from March 2 to March 8.

Ryan Barsby, LHP, Georgia Military College Prep, 2020
Although this submission comes from 2/26, it is an impressive feat that must be recognized. Barsby, up against Thomson, threw a no-hitter, striking out an incredible 18 batters while only walking one. GMC would go on to win 12-0.

Preston Price, RHP, Burke County, 2020
Price put together one of the best starts we saw from a nominee. The uncommitted senior earned a region win versus Richmond Academy last Friday by tossing a complete game shutout. In the process, he struck out 18 batters while allowing only two hits and waling one batter.

Mason Cooper, C, Jefferson, 2021
A member of Team Select at the 2019 PBR Future Games, Cooper had a big week at the plate in two games against Monroe Area. The junior backstop went 4-for-5 with two home runs and five runs batted in.

Slade Taylor, RHP, Thomas County Central, 2020 & Griffin Taylor, RHP, Thomas County Central, 2023
Slade Taylor, an ABAC commit, pitched six innings of relief against Lee County in an 11 inning marathon. The senior gave up zero earned runs, allowing three hits, while walking two and striking out seven. He also went 3-for-8 at the plate. Griffin Taylor, only a freshman, got the start against Lee, allowing zero runs on two hits, two walks and striking out seven. On the week, he pitched eight innings, allowing one run on four hits, two walks with nine strikeouts.

Mason Brown, LHP, Parkview, 2021
The No. 1 team in the state traveled to Hoover, AL last weekend and came away with a 3-1 record. Brown contributed one of those wins, pitching eight innings, while allowing zero runs, zero walks, one hit and striking out 10 batters.

Jackson Daniel, OF/3B, Loganville, 2021
Loganville went a perfect 4-0 down in Hoover, AL last weekend, including a win over a loaded IMG Academy in the finals. Daniel was named MVP of the tournament, largely because of his bases-loaded double, clearing the bases, in the championship game. In the tournament, Daniels knocked in five runs.

Bear Madliak, C, Carrollton, 2021, Colton Cosper, LHP, Carrollton, 2021 & Samuel Simpson, RHP, Carrollton, 2021
Carrollton are off to arguably the best start in the state, with a perfect 12-0 record. Last week, the Trojans were limited to only two games against Rome. Madliak caught both games, while going 4-for-6 with three doubles, three walks, and two runs batted in, Cosper picked up a win in game one, allowing two hits and striking out 13. He also went 2-for-4 with two doubles and two runs batted in. Simpson picked up the win game two, allowing two hits and striking out 12. Simpson also pitched in offensively, going 3-for-6 with four runs scored, three walks and two runs batted in.

Kaleb Freeman, C/3B, Flowery Branch, 2021
Flowery Branch, like most teams in the state, was limited to only two games of action last week. In those two games Freeman hit 5-for-7. The switch-hitter caught one game and played third in the other, and even hoppedo on the mound for one inning to close a game out.

George Moraitakis, RHP, Fellowship Christian, 2020 & Matson Grose, C, Fellowship Chrisitan, 2021
Moraitakis earned his third win of the season, tossing six innings, allowing two earned runs on three hits while striking out four on only 84 pitches. Grose passed the Fellowship Chrisitan offense, going 4-for-6 with a huge two-out RBI in game two against Walker to tie the game up.

Jackson Westmoreland, SS, St. Francis, 2023
Westmoreland is having a remarkable start to his high school career, batting .696 with a .758 OBP through 10 games this season. Last week, the freshman batted .833, going 5-for-6 with four singles, a triple, one run scored, and one run batted in.

Johhny Bravy, LHP, Villa Rica, 2020 & Jacob Turner, LHP, Villa Rica, 2020
Villa Rica had a big week from their two southpaw pitchers. Bravy, a LaGrange College commit, threw a complete game shutout against region foe Cass, striking out 14 and giving up two hits in the process. Turner turned in back-to-back shutouts. Facing Heard County he threw a one-hitter in a 3-0 victory. Then he came back against Cass to toss a two-hitter in a 7-0 win.

Geoffrey Watkins, RHP, Lassiter, 2020 & Ryan Stephens, SS, Lassiter, 2021
A 6-foot-6 uncommitted arm, up to 88, Watkins threw a complete game no-hitter versus North Springs last week, striking out six and walking two batters. Stephens led the offense in the series, going 2-for-3 with a double, home run, two runs scored and four runs batted in.

Marshall Toole, OF, Decatur, 2021, Eddie Galatas, RHP, Decatur, 2020 & Jordan Walker, SS/3B, Decatur, 2020
Decatur was another team to make the trip down to Hoover, AL. In the tournamnet, Toole batted 5-for-11 with two triples, three stolen bases and three runs batted in. Toole is hitting .415 for the season. On the mound, Galatas turned in another quality start, picking up a win in a complete game against Smiths Station (AL). Galatas struck out nine batters and is now 3-0 with 28 strikeouts this season. Then there is the No. 1 ranked 2020 in Georgia, Duke commit Jordan Walker. Walker went 3-for-8 with an incredible seven walks and five stolen bases. He is hitting .438 with a .600 OPS this season.

Carter Fink, OF, Tattnall Square, 2021
Rain limited Tattnall Square to only two games last week, but that did not stop Fink from leading an offense onslaught in a 7-0 victory over Stratford and 10-0 victory over Mount de Sales. Fink went 3-for-6 with four RBI, three runs scored, one double and an OBP of .625.

Ethan Williams, SS/RHP, Long County, 2020
Signed with East Georgia State, Williams carried Long to an extra inning victory over Brunswick, 4-3. The senior had all four RBI in the game, including the game winning sacrifice fly in the 11th. He also picked up the win on the mound, pitching three scoreless innings in the 9th, 10th, and 11th innings. He also pitched three scoreless innings against Charlton and added two more hits and an RBI in the 9-3 victory.

Logan Hughes, RHP/INF, Treutlen, 2021
Huges is off to a hot start this season for Treutlen High School, batting .429 with three home runs and four doubles. This week he went 3-for-6 with two home runs, a double and four runs batted in.

Jaleel Andrew, Liberty County, 2022
Andrew had a big week at the plate in a doubleheader against rival Bradwell. The sophomore went 7-for-11 with six runs batted in, three doubles and runs scored.