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Weekly Diamond Notes

April 8, 2015

By Ryan Quigley
Illinois Scouting Director

St. Rita’s Tyler Halas was named this past week’s Porsche Exchange Player of the Week thanks to a sizzling performance at the plate to start off the year for the 12-0 Mustangs. Click Here to read about Halas’ early season success.

Several players narrowly missed out in winning the award, which we will highlight in our weekly Diamond Notes. Let’s take a look at some of the players around the state who have gotten off to a hot start during the spring 2015 campaign:

Jackson Dvorak, DH/1B, Providence, 2016
The 6-foot-1, 215-pound Celtic cleanup hitter was the catalyst in Providence’s WJOL Tournament title run, ending with a victory over then No. 1 Joliet Catholic 17-12 in the title game. Dvorak went 5-for-8 in three games with two homers, eight RBI, three walks, three hit by pitches, seven runs scored, and had the game winning RBI in the eighth inning of a semi-final victory over Joliet West. For his efforts, Dvorak was named the MVP of the WJOL/Don Ladas Memorial Tournament.

Nick Wisz, 1B/3B, Lemont, 2016
Last week Lemont’s three-hole hitter went 10-for-15 at the plate with four doubles, a homer, five RBI, seven runs scored, two walks, a hit-by-pitch, and 3-for-3 in stolen bases.

Cole Kmet, LHP/1B, St. Viator, 2017
On St. Viator’s spring trip to Georgia, Kmet hit .563 (9-for-16) with two doubles and six RBI. He drove in two runs during the Lions’ 3-2 win over the No. 1 ranked 3A team in Alabama (Hale County). He also started that game on the mound, throwing 3.2 innings of 1-hit baseball. The 6-foot-4, 225-pound Kmet also is a star on the football diamond, and just received a scholarship offer from Louisville (for football).

Jimmy Roche, SS/RHP, Sandburg, 2015
Ranked No. 152 in Illinois, Roche is one of the top unsigned senior talents in the state of Illinois. In six games last week Roche hit .600 (12-20) with four doubles, nine runs scored, and five RBI. The speedy Roche also was 4-for4 in stolen bases.

Collin Clayton, CF/SS, Edwardsville, 2016
Clayton has helped lead the Tigers to an 8-0 start, playing shortstop until Jordan Hovey returned this past Thursday. The 6-foot, 160-pound fast twitch athlete has been hot at the plate against premium pitching. In four games last week Clayton went 11-for-14 with a triple, home run, eight runs scored, four stolen bases, and five RBI. He was a terror at the top of the lineup in Edwardsville wins against three aces: Moline’s Mitch Owens, Glenbrook South’s Fitz Stadler, and Alton’s Bryan Hudson.

Jesse Forestell, C, Homewood-Flossmoor, 2015
The left-handed hitting catcher went 8-for-9 last week with four doubles and four RBI.

Cody Grosse, SS, Joliet West, 2015
The four-year varsity standout at Chicago State-commit has continued his torrid hitting ways, going 13-for-19 last week with four doubles, two triples, six runs scored, and two stolen bases against Marmion, Lincoln-Way West, Providence, Plainfield Central, and Coal City.

Cody Rogers, LF, Normal West, 2015
Rogers went 9-for-13 last week with two doubles, four runs scored, four RBI, and three stolen bases.

Mac Hickman, 3B/RHP, Clifton, 2018
In three games the freshman on varsity went 6-for-9 with three doubles and five RBI. He also got a win on the mound. He is hitting .500 on the year (6-for-12) with a 1.05 ERA in 7.2 innings pitched.

Kyle Novotney, OF, St. Charles North, 2016
Novotney had a phenomenal spring trip in Tennessee for the North Stars hitting .571 (8-for-14) in five games with three doubles, one triple, and one homer. He also leads the team with 11 RBI and eight runs scored. He’s posted an impressive .611 on base percentage, while slugging 1. 071, and playing error-free baseball in the outfield.

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