In our fifth edition of the season’s Weekly Diamond Notes, a collection of submissions for the PBR Illinois Player of the Week honor, we have a number of prospects who fell just short of the POTW award. Ultimately, we crowned OF Connor Milton (Illinois commit), from Champaign Central, with our latest honor. In a week where the Maroons went 4-0, Milton went 8-for-15 with two home runs, three doubles, 14 RBI, seven runs scored and a stolen base. 

There were a number of impressive performances that were in the mix for the award and deserve recognition. Here’s a look at the submissions from across the state.

WEEKLY DIAMOND NOTES

Carter Dawson, CIF/RHP, Pontiac, 2020
During a week in which Pontiac went 3-0, and 2-0 in Illini-Prairie Conference action, Dawson went 8-for-15 (.615 BA) with two home runs and a double. He also drove in nine and scored six runs. He had a 1.154 SLG % and an OPS of 1.769. Dawson also saw his first action on the mound since opening day, tossing 2.1 innings v. Dwight, striking out 6 and walking none, picking up the non-conference win. Dawson is hitting .511 on the season.

Kendal Ewell, OF, Marist, 2019
Eastern Kentucky commit, currently ranked No. 4 in the Illinois’ 2019 class. The high-ceiling right-handed hitter had arguably his best offensive output of the season this past week for the No. 13 Redhawks. In five games last week, Ewell went 10-for-20 with two home runs, a double, triple, 10 RBI and four runs scored.

Jake Green, RHP, Lake Zurich, 2019
The Lake Zurich Bears (13-7) got a huge start last week from senior Jake Green. In a 3-0 victory over conference opponent Libertyville, Green got the win going 6.2 innings, scattered five hits, no runs, struck out five and walked one.  

Jeremiah Hurt, OF, Lindblom, 2020
The 6-foot-4, 195-pound, right-handed hitting outfielder had a big week at the plate last week for Lindblom. On the week Hurt went 7-for-10 with four doubles, a home run, 10 RBI, five runs scored and a stolen base. Last Wednesday, Hurt also picked up a win on the mound, throwing five innings, allowing five hits, one runs and striking out 10. On the season, Hurt is hitting .597 with 18 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 45 RBI, 26 runs and seven walks; good for a .644 OBP.

Nick Kosmetatos, RHP/3B, St. Francis, 2019
Butler commit, currently ranked No. 41 in the Illinois’ 2019 class. Kosmetatos, no stranger to the weekly diamond notes, made his impression last week on the mound. In a win over Timothy Christian, the strong-armed right-hander twirled a complete game, seven innings, scattering two hits, no runs, striking out 12 and walking one. Kosmetatos is now 6-0 on the season and has only given up one earned run on the year.

Eddie Lovell, INF, Stagg, 2020
Lovell was strongly in the running for this week’s Player of the Week with his impressive offensive performance last week. In four games last week Lovell went 6-for-10 with four home-runs, two doubles, eight RBI’s and eight runs. He also walked seven times, three intentionally. In an 11-3 win over Homewood-Flossmoor last Monday, Lovell went 3-for-5 with three home runs and five RBI’s.

Billy Miller, SS, Evergreen Park, 2020
Miller had a big three games last week for Evergreen Park. Miller went 6-for-9 (.667 BA) with two home runs and triple, nine RBI’s, six runs scored and three stolen bases. On the week he had a .769 OBP and a 1.556 SLG %.

Tyler Snep, C, Lake Zurich, 2019
Iowa commit, currently ranked No. 39 in the Illinois’ 2019 class. In three games last week for the Bears, Snep went 6-for-9 (.667 BA) with a home-run, double, walk, three RBI and four runs scored.

Cole Yearsley, OF, Yorkville, 2021
Yearsley did it all for Yorkville in a three-game series with Sycamore last week. For the week of Yearlsey went 8-for-10 with two doubles, a triple, a home run, five RBI, seven runs, two walks and two stolen bases. He also collected eight putouts in right field and threw a runner out at the plate. For the season, Yearsley is hitting .403, with a .742 slugging percentage; six doubles, three triples, three home runs. He also has walked 11 times, has 18 RBI and 20 runs scored.

NEUQUA VALLEY HS

Kevin Butler, C, Neuqua Valley, 2020
Left-handed hitting, junior, went 4-for-8 last week with three RBI.

Nolan Clifford, INF, Neuqua Valley, 2020
Creighton commit. Currently ranked No. 75 in the Illinois’ 2020 class. Clifford, Neuqua’s lead-off man, went 7-for-13 (.538 BA) with a triple, four RBI and five runs scored on the week.

Jake Karaba, RHP, Neuqua Valley, 2019
Lewis commit, currently ranked No. 59 in the Illinois’ 2019 class. Karaba, who is 4-1 on the season went six innings and got the win over Naperville Central last week. Karaba went six innings, scattered four hits, no earned runs struck out 12 and did not walk a batter.

Casey Pickering, RHP/3B, Neuqua Valley, 2019
Wisconsin-Stevens Point commit. Got the win last week against Naperville Central, twirled a complete game, seven-innings, allowing one earned run, striking out eight with no walks. He also hit a home-run in a 3-2 win over Naperville Central the following day.

Josiah Scott, C, Neuqua Valley, 2019
College of DuPage JC commit, went 4-for-9 with two doubles and two RBI’s on the week.

Anthony Sterchele, RHP, Neuqua Valley, 2019
Santa Fe JC commit, currently ranked No. 52 in the Illinois’ 2019 class. Got the win on the mound against No. 11 Metea Valley. Sterchele went six innings, allowed one hit, no runs, struck out two and walked three.

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