Week 1 Diamond Notes
March 24, 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 honors. On Wednesday, we awarded the Week 1 Player of the Week honor to Bryer Arview (Civic Memorial, 2023; Western Kentucky) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to Dylan Nagle (Lockport, 2024). Arview finished the week with six hits in eight at-bats, two home runs, two doubles, six RBIs, four runs, one walk, and a stolen base. Nagle pitched five scoreless innings against #1 Edwardsville, struck out nine, allowed one hit, and walked two in a 10-0 win.
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 1 DIAMOND NOTES
Austin Brown RHP / Triad, IL / 2023Chipola College Commit. The tall righty has one of the highest ceilings in the state. In six innings of work Brown tallied 13 strikeouts and only allowed one run. He featured a fastball that sat 85-88 mph, and a sharp swing-and-miss slider at 74-77 mph. Last season he pitched to a 0.50 earned run average over 56 innings pitched with 81 strikeouts and 12 walks.
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Dominic Voegele RHP / SS / Columbia , IL / 2023Kansas Commit. He is one of the state’s top right-handed pitchers and last week he showed why by starting his spring season off strong with a no-hitter in five innings. Voegele had eight strikeouts in the 10-0 win against St. Joseph-Ogden. He sat mostly 90-92 mph with his fastball, topping at 93 mph early on. He had a sharp bite on his 76-80 mph slider and his changeup sat 85-86 mph.
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Charlie Badgley CF / 2B / Warren, IL / 2023The senior posted an incredible performance in Warren’s win against No. 19 Lane Tech. Badgley went 5-for-5 with a double, three RBIs, five runs, and two stolen bases in their 21-10 win last week. He may be a prospect to keep an eye on for next week as well, as he started off hot once again going 5-for-5 in Warren's first game of this week. |
Johnny Liesen OF / Reavis, IL / 2026The freshman started his varsity prep career with stellar performance’s last week for Reavis. He went 4-for-6 with a grand slam, five RBIs, a stolen base, and two walks. In Wednesday’s game against Fenwick he collected two hits, and the following day he went a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, five RBIs, and a run scored. |
Cooper Thompson SS / 3B / Marion High School, IL / 2023Kaskaskia CC Commit. The right-hander started the season off with a win on the mound against DuQuoin. In 4 ⅓ innings, he recorded six strikeouts, three walks, and two earned runs. He was also dominant at the plate last week. Against Murphysboro, he collected three hits, one being a home run, along with two RBIs and three runs scored. In Friday’s game against Massac County he went 2-for-4 with a double, one RBI, two runs scored, and a stolen base. For the week, Thompson went 5-for-10 (.500 BA), one home run, three RBIs, six runs scored, and a stolen base helping Marion start out (3-0) in the early season. |
Jacob McKee 3B / Father McGivney, IL / 2023The right-handed hitter turned in a quality performance for the Griffins last week going 4-for-5 (.800 BA) with a double, two RBIs, two runs, and a walk. On Wednesday against Vandalia, McKee went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs and a run scored. The following day against Mt. Vernon, he collected one hit and scored a run, also making a diving play in the top of the fifth inning to end the inning in a one-run game. |
Lucas Haddix RHP / SS / Granite City, IL / 2024Last week against Gibault Catholic, Haddix did it all for the Warriors. The junior pitched three innings with seven strikeouts, allowed two hits, no runs, and earned the save. At the plate he tallied three hits, three RBIs, one run scored, and a walk in Granite City’s 11-8 win. |
LOCKPORT
Lockport started out the season last week (3-0) including a 10-0 win over #1 Edwardsville and tallied two more wins over Mascoutah and Mt. Vernon. Below are some of their top performers from last week’s games:
Caden Miller, C/INF, Lockport, 2023
Alvin CC Commit. Miller finished the week with three hits, one home run, a double, five RBIs, five runs, and three walks. He added a home run and a double with two RBIs and a run scored in the game against Edwardsville. Against Mt. Vernon, Miller collected a hit with three RBIs and two runs scored.
Jake Moerman, OF, Lockport, 2023
Moerman had a productive weekend at the plate going 3-for-5 with a home run, six RBIs, two doubles, and three runs scored. Against Edwardsville, he added two hits with a home run, a double, and four RBIs. Moerman added a double, two RBIs, and one run scored against Mascoutah.
Ryan Groberski, INF, Lockport, 2024
The junior got his first varsity at-bats last week, and he proved he belonged by hitting a home run, two RBIs, and scoring four runs in his limited playing time last week. Against Edwardsville he went 1-for-1 with a home run and two RBIs.
Giovani Zaragoza, OF, Lockport, 2023
Carroll University Football Commit. In 12 plate appearances last week, he reached base seven times and scored four runs.
Trey Ringelsten, LHP, Lockport, 2023
The uncommitted senior got the start against Mascoutah last week throwing five innings with five strikeouts, no runs, allowing four hits, and only walking one to lead the Porters to a win.