Prep Baseball Report

IHSA Playoff Diamond Notes


By: Peter Hamot
Area Scout, Staff Writer

Each week, IHSA coaches around the state submit to us their nominations for the PBR Illinois Player of the Week honor. Although we didn't crown a lone winner this week, we still wanted to highlight some of the top performers from the first bit of playoff action.

Below are some of the players who helped their team inch closer to a dog-pile.

Playoff Diamond Notes:

Nick Drtina RHP / 1B / Nazareth, IL / 2024

The Louisville commit tied a 25-year old Nazareth record of 11 wins in a single season with a 10-0 victory over Evergreen Park. With the win, the Roadrunners claimed their 12th Regional title in 13 years. 

Spencer Geake RHP / OF / Glenbrook North, IL / 2023

The uncommitted junior has been on a tear so far in the playoffs, acting as a key contributor in both of North's wins so far. In the Regional opener, Geake collected the game-tying single in the fifth inning - later leading off the eighth inning with a double and scoring the winning run. In the Regional Championship, Geake once again came in clutch during the fifth inning, notching a go-ahead single - he then went on to club a bases clearing double in the following inning for North. In his two game stretch, Geake is 6-for-8 with two doubles, five RBIs and one run scored.

Jaxson Grubbs RHP / 1B / Maroa-Forsyth, IL / 2022

Jaxson Grubbs was lights out on the mound and hit a two-run home run in the Super Sectional game against Monticello to power a talented Maroa club to a 4-3 victory. On the mound, he fired eight innings with nine strikeouts, no walks and allowed just two earned runs. 

Eli Hoerner SS / Freeburg, IL / 2022

The Iowa Western commit put together an impressive three-game stretch, going 6-for-9 at the plate with two home runs, a triple, seven RBIs, five runs scored and three stolen bases - hitting to a .667 average and 1.556 slugging percentage. His most dominant game came in a 12-2 victory over Harrisburg, where he went 3-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs and two runs scored. 

Carter Kaye 3B / C / Grant, IL / 2022

The senior right-hander was instrumental in Grant's Regional opener as he fired a no-hitter to cap off a 10-0 win over Elgin. Over six innings of work, Kaye struck out 12 to no walks and allowed just one base-runner on a hit-by-pitch.

Owen Kelly RHP / Belleville East, IL / 2023

The uncommitted junior pitched in both of Belleville East's Regional games, combining for 6.2 innings with no earned runs, one hit, two walks and nine strikeouts. Kelly also earned the win in the Regional Championship over Belleville West, where he fired five shutout inning with no hits, five strikeouts and two walks.

Jake Munroe 3B / SS / Champaign Central, IL / 2022

In Champaign Central's 2-1 win over No. 13 Normal University, Munroe was a key contributor on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he slugged a triple and scored both of Central's runs to boost the offense. While on the mound, he fired two innings with four strikeouts to notch the win.

Roger Simon OF / RHP / Loyola Academy, IL / 2022

The senior right-hander came up big in the Regional Final for Loyola going 6.1 innings with two hits, no earned runs, three walks and 14 strikeouts - also scoring both runs for the offense, wearing two hit-by-pitches and swiping three bags in their 2-1 victory over Elk Grove.

Ysen Useni RHP / 1B / Crystal Lake South , IL / 2022

The Illinois-Chicago commit fired 6.2 innings with scattering three hits, no runs, four walks and 15 strikeouts in a 3-0 victory over Lakes in the Regional Semi-final.

Lake zurich

3-2 win over Palatine (5/27/22):

LHP, Lucas Foley, 2023: The southpaw fired a dominant eight innings over Palatine to notch the win, striking out 11 and not walking a single batter.

INF, Jonathan Fleaka, 2024: The Illinois-Chicago commit collected three hits in Lake Zurich's 3-2 win over Palatine, including the game-winner in the top of the ninth inning.

Lyons township

12-7 win over St. Rita (5/28/22):

RHP, Adam Severson, 2022: The Coe College commit relieved Lyons' starting pitcher in the third inning and went 4.2 innings with six hits, one earned run and two strikeouts to help secure the win.

INF, Troy Stukenberg, 2023: The uncommitted junior helped power Lyons' offense in their win, going 3-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored. 

OF, Cooper Ohlson, 2022: The John A. Logan commit supplied some firepower for LT, going 2-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored. 

INF, Charlie Greifenkamp, 2022: The senior right-handed hitter chipped in going 2-for-3 at the plate against St. Rita with three RBIs and one run scored. 

Neuqua Valley

2-1 win over Metea Valley (5/27/22):

RHP, Daniel Cercello, 2024: The sophomore right-hander got the start against Metea Valley and threw well over his four innings of work; allowing one run on five hits, three walks and striking out two on top of earning the win.

LHP, Mark Mennecke, 2023:  The southpaw was nails out of the 'pen for Neuqua to earn the three-inning save; allowing just one hit, one walk and striking out four. 

OF, Alex Camaj, 2022: The uncommitted senior notched the game-winning hit for Neuqua in their 2-1 victory; a two-run single in the third inning to finish 1-for-2 on the day with two RBIs.

INF, Josh Wenz, 2023:  The uncommitted junior helped to pace the offense on Friday, finishing 2-for-3 at the plate with a run scored. 

2-0 win over Plainfield East (5/28/22):

RHP, AJ McEneany, 2023: The right-hander fired a seven-inning complete game shutout to lead the Wildcats to a Regional Championship; only allowing three hits, three walks and striking out eight. McEneany struck out the side in the second and seventh innings for his sixth win of the year.

INF, Colin Lewandowski, 2022: The St. Thomas (MN) commit singled and drove in Benedictine commit Justin Nonnenmann (1-for-3, R) in the sixth inning to help secure the Cats' win over Plainfield East.

Wheaton North

3-1 win over St. Charles North (5/27/22):

RHP, William Fletcher, 2022: The Heartland CC commit tossed a complete game over St. Charles North to advance to the Regional Finals. Throughout his seven innings of work, Fletcher only allowed three hits, no earned runs and struck out eight to earn the win.

6-5 win over Addison Trail (5/28/22)

INF, Aaron Holland, 2022: Holland came up clutch in the Regional Championship game against Addison Trail on Saturday, blasting a solo home run to tie the game with two outs in the bottom of the sixth inning.

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