IHSA Diamond Notes: Week 8
May 8, 2024
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. Yesterday, we awarded the Week 8 Player of the Week honor to 3B Kaileb Hackman (Normal Community, 2024; Augustana) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to RHP Josh Vaughn (Illini Bluffs, 2024; Bradley). Hackman finished the week 7-for-11 with a home run, triple, four doubles, six RBIs, seven runs scored, two walks and one stolen base. Vaughn dominated on the mound, throwing a perfect game and striking out every batter he faced (21).
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.
DIAMOND NOTES
Wyatt Wawro, OF, Downers Grove South, 2025
Uncommitted. Wawro had an impressive week at the plate going 10-for-15 with a triple, two doubles, eight RBIs and five runs scored, helping lead DGS to a 4-0 week. In their 11-1 win over Addison Trail, he went 3-for-4 with a triple and two RBIs. He capped off his week with a 3-for-4 performance, collecting a double, two RBIs and two runs scored in their 5-2 win over Glenbard West.
Braxton Waller, C/1B, St. Joseph-Ogden, 2024
Danville Area CC commit. Waller went 10-for-17 on the week with two home runs, three doubles, 11 RBIs, eight runs scored and three walks. His most impressive game of the week came in their 12-5 win against Tolono Unity, going 3-for-5 with a home run, double, four RBIs and one run scored. In their 14-4 win over Paxton-Buckley-Loda, he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two runs scored to help clinch the IPC Conference Championship.
Season Stats: .547 AVG, 6 HR, 13 2B, 59 RBIs. Waller broke St. Joseph-Ogden’s single season record for RBIs (50), and he’s on track to enter the IHSA Top-20 for most RBIs in a single season.
Joshua Holst, LHP, Libertyville, 2025
Air Force Commit. Holst had an impressive performance in their win over Zion, throwing a complete game with 17 strikeouts, two walks and one hit allowed. In his last five games, he’s hitting .538 (7-for-13) with one home run, two triples, two doubles, eight RBIs and five runs scored.
David Cox, 3B/P, Nazareth Academy, 2024
Illinois-Chicago commit. Cox had an impressive performance against Prairie Ridge, going a perfect 4-for-4 with two home runs, six RBIs and four runs scored. He finished the week 6-for-10 with two home runs, one double, eight RBIs, five runs scored and two stolen bases. He started on the mound in their 5-0 win over Carmel, throwing 5.2 innings with five strikeouts, two walks and six hits allowed.
Logan Faust, LHP, Belleville East, 2025
Uncommitted. Faust earned the start against Effingham St. Anthony, throwing a complete game shutout on 74 pitches. He struck out three, walked one and allowed one hit, while earning the win on the mound.
Season Stats: 3-0 with a 3.07 ERA.
Reid Murray, RHP, Alton, 2025
Uncommitted. Murray threw a gem in their 1-0 win over Collinsville, throwing a complete game shutout (8 IP) with nine strikeouts and no walks, allowing only three hits.
Season Stats: 4-2 with a 1.67 ERA.
Danny Sheehan, LHP, Brother Rice, 2025
Uncommitted. Recorded two appearances last week, including a start against No. 7 St. Laurence, throwing six innings with one strikeout and no earned runs, helping the Crusaders win the game 2-1. He also threw an inning in relief in their 5-4 win over Mt. Carmel, allowing no runs or hits in the outing.
Season Stats: 5-1 with a 1.79 ERA.
Tim Witchger, C, Niles Notre Dame, 2024
Wisconsin-Oshkosh commit. Witchger went 8-for-10 with a double, two RBIs and three walks on the week. His most impressive performance came in their 8-0 win over Ridgewood, going 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs. He capped off the week with a perfect 3-for-3 day in their loss to Benet, scoring one run in the game.
Season Stats: Witchger is hitting .508 AVG on the season and .462 AVG in East Suburban Catholic Conference play.
Gavin Awbrey, SS/RHP, Alleman, 2025
Uncommitted. Awbrey had an impressive performance in the Pioneers’ 8-7 win over Bureau Valley, going a perfect 4-for-4, and hitting for the cycle, tallying four RBIs and three runs scored. He also threw two innings on the mound in relief, striking out five and allowing one hit. He earned the save on the mound in their 7-3 win over Rock Falls, striking out five and walking two in three innings of work. At the plate, he finished the week 8-for-12 with one home run, one triple, four doubles, eight RBIs, seven runs scored and three stolen bases (.667 AVG/.750 OBP/1.417 SLG).
Season Hitting Stats: .435 AVG/.556 OBP/1.308 SLG, 2 HR, 2 3B, 17 2B, 15 RBI, 29 R, 26 SB
Season Pitching Stats: 34.2 IP, 3.23 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 54 K
Camden Raddatz, INF, Effingham, 2024
Kaskaskia JC commit. Raddatz helped the Hearts to four wins on the week, going 9-for-15 with three home runs, one double, 13 RBIs, three walks and one hit-by-pitch. In their 8-0 win over Flora, he went 2-for-3 with a home run, double, four RBIs and one run scored. In their double header against Taylorville, Raddatz finished the day 5-for-7 with two home runs, one double, eight RBIs, five runs scored and one walk, leading them to two Apollo Conference wins.
Ryan Dabe, OF, Huntley, 2025
Uncommitted. Dabe helped lead Huntley to a 3-1 week, going 9-for-14 with two doubles and three RBIs. He had an impressive game in their 15-3 win over Boylan Catholic, going 3-for-4 with a double, one RBI, one run scored and a walk. In his last 19 at-bats, Dabe has tallied 12 hits with one home run, two doubles and seven RBIs.
FREEPORT
Freeport went 4-0 last week with wins over Jefferson (15-4 & 14-4) and Guilford (6-0 & 12-2). Below were some of their top performers:
Zach Arnold, LHP/OF, 2024
Uncommitted. In Freeport’s 6-0 win over Guilford, Arnold threw a complete game shutout with eight strikeouts, one walk and one hit allowed. He finished the week going a perfect 8-for-8 with one double, six RBIs, seven runs scored and seven stolen bases.
Payton Woker, SS, 2025
Uncommitted. Woker went 11-for-15 on the week with two triples, two doubles, eight RBIs, six runs scored and three stolen bases. He went 4-for-5 with a triple and two runs scored in their 6-0 win over Guilford, and in their 15-0 win over Jefferson, he added two hits, one being a triple, with two RBIs and one run scored.
LOCKPORT
Lockport went 3-1 last week with wins over Marist (11-5), Glenbrook South (12-6), and Barrington (10-3). Below were some of their top performers:
Colton Benaitis, INF, 2026
Uncommitted. Benaitis had a big week at the plate going 8-for-14 with five doubles, two walks, ten RBIs, four runs scored, and three stolen bases. His biggest game came in their win over Glenbrook South, where he went 3-for-4 with two doubles, driving in five, while coming around to score twice.
Ryan Groberski, OF, 2024
Triton JC commit. Groberski went 9-for-14 with two doubles, a home run, five walks, and six RBIs on the week. Groberski’s biggest performance came in their win over Marist, where he went 3-for-4 with a double, two RBI, and two runs scored. He hit his home run in their win over Barrington later in the week.
Justin Vander Tuuk, OF, 2025.
Uncommitted. Vander Tuuk batted .400 on the week, with his biggest game coming in their win over Barrington, going 2-for-2 with a HBP and a run scored.
NEUQUA VALLEY
Neuqua Valley picked up a win over Jones College Prep (11-0) last week. Below were some of their top performers:
Daniel Kim, RHP, 2024
Uncommitted. Kim tossed the third ever Perfect Game in program history in their win over Jones College Prep. In his five innings of work, Kim pounded the zone throwing 48 of 68 pitches for strikes, while striking out seven batters in the outing.
Will Zalabak, 1B, 2024
Uncommitted. Zalabak went 7-for-12 on the week with two home runs, one double, eight RBIs, three runs scored and one walk. In a loss to Waubonsie Valley, Zalabak went 2-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs and one run scored. He had his best performance of the week in their win over Jones College Prep, going a perfect 3-for-3 with a home run, double, five RBIs and two runs scored.
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