Week 8 Diamond Notes
May 12, 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 8 ‘Player of the Week’ honor to Collin Mowry (Lincoln-Way Central, 2024; Louisville), and the ‘Pitcher of the Week’ honor to Aidan Dodson (South Central, 2023; John A. Logan). Last week, Morwry went 7-for-13 with six home runs, 12 RBIs, eight runs scored and seven walks. Dodson started on the mound against undefeated Father McGivney who was ranked No. 6 at the time. He threw 6.2 innings and allowed one earned run, six hits, no walks and he struck out 14.
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 8 DIAMOND NOTES
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Ryan Boe RHP / SS / Batavia, IL / 2024Uncommitted. Boe went 8-for-16 (.500) at the plate with three home runs and 10 RBIs. In their 10-9 win over Wheaton Warrenville South, Boe went 4-for-5 with two home runs, five RBIs and two runs scored. He also threw two innings in relief, striking out two, walking two, and picking up the win. In their 14-0 win over Geneva, he added a home run with three RBIs and a run scored. Rounding out his impressive week, Boe went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. |
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Noah Caceres C / 3B / Reavis , IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 111 / POS: 13
Illinois-Springfield commit. Caceres had an impressive week going 8-for-12 (.667) with two home runs, three doubles, seven RBIs and five runs scored - helping lead the Rams to 3-0 on the week. In their 9-0 win over Shepard, he went 3-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, a run scored and a walk. He went a perfect 4-for-4 with a home run, two doubles, three RBIs, three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base in their 13-6 win over Stagg. |
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Blake Crancer SS / 2B / Normal West, IL / 2024Rankings StateRank: 98 / POS: 20
Uncommitted. The Wildcats finished the week 3-2 behind some impressive performances from Crancer. On the week Crancer hit 5-for-9 (.556) with a home run, two doubles, six RBIs, six runs scored and a walk. In their 13-1 win over Peoria, he went 3-for-3 with a home run, double, three RBIs and two runs scored. He went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs and three runs scored in their second win over Peoria. |
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Evan Davis SS / RHP / Waterloo , IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 144 / POS: 22
Quincy commit. Davis had an impressive week going 10-for-16 (.625) with two triples, five doubles and 12 RBIs. Davis had a multi-hit game in seven straight games, leading the Bulldogs to 10 straight victories. In their 19-4 win over Civic Memorial, Davis went 3-for-4 with two triples, a double, eight RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. He went 2-for-4 with a double, an RBI, three runs scored and a walk in their 15-4 win over Civic Memorial. In their 9-5 win over Althoff Catholic, Davis went 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs, three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Rounding out his impressive week, Davis went 3-for-4 with a double, an RBI and three runs scored. |
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Conor Essenburg 1B / LHP / Lincoln-Way West, IL / 2025Kansas State commit. The Warriors went 3-0 on the week with two wins over Stagg and one win over Hanover Central. Essenburg had an impressive week on the mound and at the plate. For the week he went 3-for-9 (.333) with a home run and two RBIs. In their 5-1 win over Stagg, Essenburg threw 6.2 innings on the mound, with two hits allowed, one earned run, one walk and 17 strikeouts. Week 2: Essenburg was named the Week 2 PBR Illinois Pitcher of the Week after tossing six innings with 13 strikeouts, one hit and one walk.
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Trevor Fishman RHP / Lincoln Way East, IL / 2023Wabash Valley JC commit. Fishman went 7-for-14 (.500) on the week with six RBIs. In their 12-2 win over Bolingbrook, Fishman went 3-for-5 with two RBIs. In their 7-2 win over Bolingbrook, he threw 6.2 innings, struck out nine, walked four, allowed two runs and five hits. He finished the week going 3-for-5 with two doubles and four RBIs in their 13-5 win against. No. 1 Providence Catholic. |
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Brady Gilroy OF / SS / Burlington Central, IL / 2024Rankings StateRank: 106 / POS: 19
Uncommitted. Central went 2-1 last week with two wins over Crystal Lake Central. Gilroy went 9-for-13 (.692) with a home run, triple, three RBIs and four runs scored. In their 11-5 win over CLC, Gilroy went a perfect 4-for-4 with a triple and a walk. He went a perfect 1-for-1 with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored in their second win of the week over CLC. In a suspended game against Cary, he went 3-for-5 with three runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. Season Stats: |
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Yoel Guerra / Farragut, IL / 2026The freshman had an impressive performance in their 10-0 win over Juarez last week. Guerra threw a perfect game with 11 strikeouts, only needing 59 pitches, with 41 of them being strikes (69%). |
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Riley Iffrig 1B / LHP / Edwardsville, IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 55 / POS: 2
Indiana State commit. Iffrig helped the Tigers go 5-0 on the week, including winning the 15th Annual Tiger Baseball Classic. On the week, Iffrig went 8-for-12 (.667) with three home runs, a double, 13 RBIs, nine runs scored and four walks. Iffrig went a perfect 2-for-2 with an RBI, four runs scored and a walk in their 16-3 win over Belleville West. In their 3-1 win over Glenwood, Iffrig added a home run with two RBIs, a run scored and a walk. Rounding out his impressive week, Iffrig went a perfect 3-for-3 with two home runs, eight RBIs and three runs scored in their 13-2 sin over Teutopolis. |
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Lance Kiesewetter 1B / RHP / Henry-Senachwine, IL / 2024Uncommitted. The Mallards went 2-1 last week with two wins over Dwight. Kiesewetter had an impressive performance on the mound in their 4-0 win, throwing a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts and three walks. Season Stats Pitching: 22/50 (.440/.586/.720/1.306), 2 HR, 8 2B, 24 RBI |
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Jackson Natanek SS / 2B / Brother Rice, IL / 2025Rankings StateRank: 11 / POS: 2
The Crusaders went 3-2 on the week, and Natanek was a big help going 8-for-15 (.533) with three doubles, five RBIs, five runs scored and two walks. In their loss to No. 1 Providence Catholic, Natanek went a perfect 4-for-4 with two doubles, three RBIs and a run scored. Rounding out the week with a 14-5 win over Loyola, Natanek went 2-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, one run scored and a walk. |
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Joe Richardson LHP / 1B / Stevenson , IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 135 / POS: 15
Eastern Illinois commit. Stevenson went 3-1 on the week with Richardson being a major factor in their wins, going 9-for-14 (.643/1.140/1.790) with a home run, four doubles, seven RBIs, nine RBIs, two walks and one strikeout. In their 15-1 win over Zion-Benton, Richardson went 2-for-2 with a double and two runs scored. He went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored and three stolen bases in their 10-3 win over McHenry. Season Stats:39-for-89 (.438/.490/.619), HR, 13 2B, 25 RBI, 28 R, 8 BB |
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Gianni Royer OF / 2B / Lake Forest, IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 44 / POS: 11
Holy Cross commit. Lake Forest went 3-1 on the week with Royer going 11-for-14 (.786) with four home runs, two doubles, nine RBIs and nine runs scored. He went a perfect 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in their loss to Lake Zurich. In their win over Lake Zurich, he went 2-for-3 with a home run, three RBIs, three runs scored and two walks. Royer went 3-for-4 with a home run, double, four RBIs and three runs scored in their 16-0 win over Deerfield. |
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TJ Schuyler C / RHP / Antioch, IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 20 / POS: 3
Indiana commit. Schuyler went 4-for-11 (.364/.462) with two doubles, four RBIs and two stolen bases. In their 8-5 win over Stevenson, Schuyler went 1-for-3 at the plate with two RBIs and a run scored. He also threw 6.1 innings on the mound, allowed five hits, two earned runs and struck out 10, earning the win. |
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Louie Sisto 3B / Saint Rita, IL / 2024Uncommitted. Sisto had an impressive performance on the mound in their 5-2 win over Brother Rice. He threw a complete game with four strikeouts, two earned runs and four hits allowed, only needing 76 pitches to complete the game. Week 6: Sisto threw six innings, struck out nine, walked none, allowed one run and six hits, earning a mention within our Week 6 Diamond Notes. |
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Rocco Tenuta SS / 3B / St. Francis, IL / 2023Rankings StateRank: 114 / POS: 16
Hillsdale College commit. Tenuta went 5-for-11 (.455) with two home runs and five RBIs. In their 3-1 win over Wheaton, he went 1-for-2 at the plate with a home run, two RBIs, a run scored and two walks. He also threw 1.1 innings in relief, striking out two, allowing one unearned run. In their 4-0 win over Wheaton, Tenuta went 1-for-3 with a home run, two RBIs and a run scored. He also threw a complete game shutout with 15 strikeouts, two walks and one hit allowed. |
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Joshua Vaughn RHP / 3B / Illini Bluffs , IL / 2024Rankings StateRank: 58 / POS: 21
Uncommitted. Vaughn continued his dominant spring campaign with another impressive performance on the mound. He fired a perfect game in the Tigers 10-0 win over Peoria Heights, tallying 13 strikeouts in the outing. He threw 56 pitches with 47 of them being strikes (84%). Week 3: Vaughn threw seven innings, struck out 20 hitters, and only allowed two hits, earning himself a mention within the Week 3 Diamond Notes. |
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Jake Zitella 3B / SS / St. Charles East, IL / 2023Illinois commit. The Saints went 4-1 on the week behind impressive performances from Zitella. On the week he went 5-for-10 (.500) with two home runs, two doubles, five RBIs, seven runs scored, three walks and a stolen base. In their 7-0 win over Geneva, he went 2-for-3 with a double, two runs scored and a stolen base. He had his most impressive performance of the week in their 4-2 win over St. Charles North, going 3-for-4 with two home runs, a double, three RBIs and two runs scored. Week 5: We awarded Zitella the Week 5 PBR Illinois Player of the Week after going 11-for-15 (.733) with four home runs, two doubles, 10 RBIs and seven runs scored.
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FREEPORT
The Pretzels went 3-0 on the week with wins over Harlem (1-0) and Guilford (14-0 & 10-6). Below were some of their top performers from the week:
Maddux Shockey, SS/RHP, 2023
Uncommitted. Shockey went 8-for-11 (.727) with two doubles, three RBIs, two runs scored and a stolen base. He threw two innings with a strikeout, no earned runs, three hits allowed in their 10-6 win over Guilford.
Mason Lei, RHP, 2023
Rock Valley commit. Lei continued his impressive performance this spring with a complete game shutout, striking out eight and allowing only one hit. It was Lei’s third shutout in a row.
Week 4: Lei was mentioned within our Week 4 Diamond Notes after a complete game, 10-strikeout performance.
Week 6: In the Week 6 Diamond Notes, Lei was mentioned for throwing a complete game with eight strikeouts and one hit allowed.
Week 7: Last week, Lei was mentioned within out Week 7 Diamond Notes for throwing a complete game shutout with eight strikeouts.
Cole Trickel, RHP/SS, 2023
Uncommitted. The senior threw a complete game shutout (5 IN) with six strikeouts and two hits allowed, earning the win on the mound in Freeport’s 14-0 win over Guilford.
LANE TECH
The Champions went 3-1 on the week with wins over Chicago Hope (4-1), Ogden International (11-0) and Highland Park (17-5). Below were some of their top performers from the week:
Jeffrey Kapp, IF, 2023
Uncommitted. Kapp had an impressive week going 7-for-11 (.636) with three RBIs, six runs scored and four walks. The senior recorded two three-hit games against Highland Park and Hope Academy.
Jack Tzur, 1B, 2023
Uncommitted. Tzur went 6-for-9 (.667) with two doubles, five RBIs, four runs scored and a walk. Tzur picked up the game-winning hit with a two-run double in their win over Hope Academy.
Josh Katz, RHP, 2023
Pennsylvania commit. Katz started on the mound in their 11-0 win over Ogden International and threw a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts, one walk and two hits. In their 17-5 win over Highland Park he went 4-for-5 with two doubles, five RBIs and four runs scored.
Week 3: He threw five innings against Taft and struck out 10 and allowed no earned runs, earning a mention within our Week 3 Diamond Notes.
Week 5: Katz was mentioned within our Week 5 Diamond Notes after throwing a complete game shutout with seven strikeouts and two hits allowed against Mundelein.
This Season:
Katz has thrown two shutouts this year and has boasted a 1.98 ERA in 28.1 innings pitched.
LOCKPORT
Lockport went 4-0 last week with two wins over No. 16 Sandburg. Below were some of their top performers from the week:
Anthony Martinez, 3B/SS, 2023
South Suburban JC. Martinez went 5-for-12 (.417) with three RBIs, three runs scored, four walks and four stolen bases. He also threw five innings on the mound against Minooka and earned the win, striking out six and allowing four hits.
Week 7: Martinez was mentioned within our Week 7 Diamond Notes after going 8-for-14 with a home run, double, four RBIs, five runs scored and two stolen bases.
Joey Manzo, OF, 2023
North Central commit. Manzo had yet another impressive week going 7-for-13 (.538) with three RBIs, eight runs scored, four walks and three stolen bases. Manzo reached base 65% of the time and was a spark plug for their offense throughout.
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.
Week 6: Manzo had an impressive week, reaching base 9 times out of 11, which earned him a mention within our Week 6 Diamond Notes.
Week 7: Manzo went 4-for-11 (.364) with a home run, two RBIs, and four hit-by-pitches, earning a mention within our Week 7 Diamond Notes.
Ryan Groberski, 1B, 2024
Uncommitted. Groberski went 5-for-14 (.357) on the week with a home run, two doubles and five RBIs. Against No. 16 Sandburg, he went 2-for-3 with a go ahead home run, a double, three RBIs and a run scored.
Niko Mastoras, MIF, 2023
St. Xavier commit. Mastoras recorded three hits on the week with five runs scored, four walks and two stolen bases. He recorded two saves on the week with two punchouts, no earned runs, in 1.1 innings of work.
ROMEOVILLE
The Spartans went 3-0 on the week with all three wins being over Joliet Central. Below were some of their top performers:
Jonny Lee, SS, 2025
Lee went 5-for-7 (.714) on the week with a double, five RBIs, three runs scored, a walk and two stolen bases. He also earned the win on the mound in their 2-1 win, throwing six inning, striking out four, walking two, allowing one run and four hits.
Season Stats Hitting:
22-for-68 (.324), 3B, 5 2B, 23 RBI, 15 R, 9 BB, 5 SB
Season Stats Pitching:
3-2 record, 28 IP, 1 SV, 6 ER, 12 BB, 26 K, 1.50 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, .193 BAA
Nolan Holgado, OF, 2025
Holgado went 7-for-13 (.539) on the week with two game-winning hits, four RBIs and a stolen base. He also recored seven putouts in center field.
Season Stats:
25-for-83 (.422/.529), 3B, 3 2B, 14 RBI, 21 R, 12 BB, 8 SB
VON STEUBAN
The Panthers went 3-1 on the week with two wins over Payton College Prep and one win over Taft. Below were some of their top performers from the week:
Eddie Letamendi, SS/3B, 2023
Illinois State commit. Letamendi went 5-for-9 (.556) on the week with two home runs, a double, four RBIs, eight runs scored and five stolen bases. One of his home runs was a three-run shot in a two-strike count with two outs in the bottom of the eighth inning to tie the game. The Panthers eventually won the game in the 10th inning to clinch a share of the conference title. Letamendi also threw four scoreless innings in relief with five strikeouts and two walks in their 3-2 win over Payton College Prep.
Week 2: Letamendi was mentioned within our Week 2 Diamond Notes after going 5-for-9 (.556) with two doubles and four RBIs.
Week 6: Letamendi went 3-for-8 (.375) with four RBIs and seven stolen bases, earning a mention in our Week 6 Diamond Notes.
Week 7: He went 6-for-11(.545) with three home runs, two doubles, four RBIs, nine runs scored, four walks, three hit-by-pitches, and eight stolen bases, earning himself a mention within our Week 7 Diamond Notes.
Owen Rivera, MIF/RHP, 2023
Uncommitted. Rivera threw six innings on the week with 11 strikeouts and no earned runs. He threw two innings in relief in their 8-3 win over Payton College Prep, striking out three. In their 10-9 win over Taft, he threw four innings in relief with eight punch outs. He added four hits on the week with a triple, double, three RBIs, three runs scored and three stolen bases.
Week 7: Rivera earned a mention within our Week 7 Diamond Notes after going 6-for-15 (.400) with two extra base hits, four RBIs and four runs scored.
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