Diamond Notes is a weekly compilation of notes on North Carolina players from last week.  Each week Coaches from across the state send in player notes and stats as the PBR staff is working to name a PBR Player of the Week.  PBR scouts are also compiling player notes from attended games, as well as box scores from across the state.

Below we take a look at some of the top performers from April 26 - May 2.  This was the first week of full action, with schools in the NCHSAA starting their seasons.

The North Carolina Player of the Week was Riley Ledford from West Wilkes.  You can see the full NC Player of the Week release HERE.

 

Diamond Notes: April 26 - May 2

 

Riley Ledford, LHP/CF, West Wilkes HS, 2021
+ NC PBR Player of the Week
+ Team Record for the Week:  Record: 2-0
+ 1-0, 4.0 IP, 1H, 9k, 0ER, .071 BAA
+.400 BA, .500 OBP, 2HR, 6RBI, SF, 1BB, 1HBP
+ Riley dominated on both sides of the ball Friday, earning a 1-hit win on the mound and hitting 2 HR and driving in 5.
+ He picked up his 20th career win on the mound as well.
+ Signed to play baseball at Queens University of Charlotte.

 

 

Chris Katz, C, Heritage High School, 2021

+ 2-0 Team Record for the Week
+ 5 for 6 5 RBI’s 2 2b’s 4 Runs
+ Wake Forest U Commit  

 

Blake Hanly, P, Heritage High School, 2021

+ 2-0 Team Record for the Week
+ 4 innings pitched 10 K’s 0 BB’s 1H 
+ Belmont Abbey Commit 

 

Carson Kelly, Pitcher, Lee County High School, 2021 

+ Team Record for the Week:  Record 1-1
+ 6 innings pitched, no runs, no walks, 13 strikeouts 82 pitches record 1-0.
+ 3-4 at the plate with 2 RBI’s
+ Carson is committed to pitch at NC State.  

 

Jake Absher, OF, Hibriten HS, 2023

+ 1-1 Team Record for the Week
+ 2 - 3, HR, 7 RBI's, 5 BB
+ Jake hit a Grand Slam and totaled 7 RBI's for the week, despite drawing 5 BB's in 8 PA 

 

Chapel Matson, P, McDowell High School, 2021

+Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+5 IP , 0R, 0H, 0BB, 0E, 6K
+10-0 win 

 

Drew Tyndall, Catcher, Ashley, 2021

+2-0 record
+3 for 5, 2B, HR, 4RBI, 3 runs, 2 BBs,
+Currently carries a 2.114 OPS
+Committed to Charlotte 

 

Braeden Murray, 1B, DH Conley High School, 2022

+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ Avg .667 (4/6) 3 runs scored, 6 RBI 1 2B, 2 HR 

 

Michael Forret, RHP, Providence HS, 2022
+ Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+ Win, 6 inn 12K 1 run 2 hits
+ East Carolina commit

Jake Knepp, INF, Providence HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+ 2-2 2run homerun double 3 RBI

Nolan Connaughton, RHP, Middle Creek HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0 on week
+ Pitched 5 2/3 innings and earned the Win vs. Apex.  Struck out 7 and gave up only 2 runs.  
+ Pitched 1 1/3 inning Monday April 26 vs. S. Garner in relief giving up no earned runs.
+ Committed to Queens University

Nick Norville, INF, Wake Forest HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ Homered in each game
+ Grand Slam vs. Southern Nash / Solo HR vs. Clayton

Isaac Williams, P, Wake Forest HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ CG Win vs. Clayton, 7IP, 4R, 11K

Delaney Powell, OF, Hickory Ridge, 2022 

+ Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+ went 4-7, scored 2 runs, 3 rbi, 2 sb  

Caden Haywood IF, Hickory Ridge, 2024  

+ Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+ went 4-7, scored 2 runs, 3 rbi

Brandon Cartrett LHP, Hickory Ridge, 2022 

+Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+Went 4.1 inn, 7 k, 0 BB, 2 h, 1 r

Daniel Eagen, RHP, Fuquay-Varina HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+ 8 innings 3 hits 1 walk 1 run 0 earned 16ks
+ Presbyterian commit

Dalton Pence, Pitcher, Cherryville HS, 2021

+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ Win vs. Christ the King
+ 5IP, 1H, 0R, 1BB, 14K
+ 73 pitches with 51 strikes thrown
+ North Carolina commit 

Kobie Cushing, RHP, West Forsyth High School, 2021

+Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+Complete game no hitter vs. Mt Tabor
+CG 5IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 11K

Steele Lee, RHP/IF, East Forsyth High School, 2023

+Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+3 for 7 with a HR, 2 RBI's, 2 runs and 1 stolen base
+1-0 5IP, 2H, 0R, 1BB, 12K
+Pitched 5 innings in win vs Dudley and also hit a homerun in the game

Braxton Stewart, LHP/OF, East Forsyth High School, 2023

+Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+3 for 4 with 2 doubles, 1 run, 1 RBI
+0-1 5IP, 4H, 2R (2ER), 5BB, 5K  +Took the tough luck loss at East Rowan. Left the game down 2-1 and gave East a chance to win.
+ Louisville commit

Josh Hartle, P/1B, Reagan HS, 2021
+ 1-1 team record for the week
+ 2 for 5, .400 BA, 1 2B, 1 HR, 3 RBI, 3 runs, 3 BB
+ Pitching - 1-0 record, CG, 5 IP, 1 H, 2 runs, 9 K, 1 BB
+ Pitching stats were vs. Providence. Had the 2B vs. Providence and the HR vs North Davidson
+ Wake Forest commit

Justin Carden, RHP, Person, 2021 
+ Team Record for the Week:  0-2
+ Loss, 6 IP, 0 H, 4R, 2ER, 4 BB, 12K
+ After not pitching last season in the shortened year, Justin threw a no-hitter in his return to the mound for the Rockets.
+ Concord University commit

Tyler White, IF/P/C, Person, 2023
+ Team Record for the Week:  0-2
+ 2-4, 2B, 1 R, 1 RBI, 4 BBs
+ .500 AVG and .750 OBP through the first week of the season.

Connor Kane, Pitcher, Laney, 2022
+ Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+ On the mound: Win, 7IP CG, 2H, 1R, 1ER, 1BB, 16K in 8-1 win vs West Brunswick
+ Offense: Hit .428 going 3-7, 1R, 1RBI
+ Connor is a commit to UNCW

Walker Jenkins, OF, South Brunswick HS, 2023
+ Team Record for the Week:  1-0 on the week
+ 2 doubles, 2 Walks, 5 R, 1RBI
+ Hit 1.000 going 4-4
+ North Carolina commit

Matthew McCowan, OF, East Lincoln HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ Offensive: 4-6, 4 R's, 5 RBI's, 1 DBL, 2 HR's, 1 sac fly, 1 sac bunt,
+ Defensive: OF 4 putouts, 0 Errors

Casey Gouge, LHP, West Rowan HS, 2022
+ Team Record for the Week:  Record for the week: 1-1
+ Win, 6IP, 2H, 1R, 0ER, 2BB, 8K

Nick LaBarca, Catcher, Langtree Charter Academy, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  Record for the week: 0-2
+ 3-7, 1 run scored, 1 RBI, 1 SB

Matt Linkner, First base, Laney, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+ Offense: 6-8, 3b, 2b, 3 RBI 3 runs scored for the week.

Brooks Booth, OF, Leesville Road High School, 2023
+ Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+ 5-7 Avg. 714 1 2B 6 RBI's 2 Run's
+ Brooks throws left handed hits right.  LHP as well. Plays extremely hard.  Hit every ball hard this week.

Austin Oakley, OF/IF/P, Person, 2022
+ Team Record for the Week:  0-2
+ 3-6, 2B, R, BB
+ .500 AVG, .571 OBP during the first week of the season  

Tyler Brinkley, LHP/1B, Wallace-Rose Hill, 2021
+Team Record for the Week:  1-1
+3 1/3 innings, 11k's, 1.9 ERA
+3/7 at the plate with a double and triple, 2 rbis, 2 runs scored, .429 batting average  

Ethan Spell, Harrells Christian Acad, 2023
+ 5-8 in 2 games with 6 RBI and 3 2B

Clay Edmondson, SS/RHP, Southern Guilford HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ 4-7, 1 1B, 1 2B, 2 HR, 2BB, 5 RBI’s, 7 Runs Scored, 3 Stolen Bases
+ 5IP, 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Walks, 8 Strikeouts, 0.00 ERA, .400 WHIP

Thomas Soriano, 3B, Berry Academy, 2023
+ Team Record for the Week:  0-3
+ Hit .625, 2 3B, 5 RBI

Nick Moran, RHP, Wake Forest HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ No-hitter vs. Southern Nash in 10-0 win
+ 5IP, 0H, 0R, 2BB, 10K
+ 64 pitches with 43 strikes

Dusty Revis, P, McDowell High School, 2021
+Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+7IP, 1R, 0ER, 0BB, 12K, 4H
+4-1 win

Noah Dail, Outfield, Ashley, 2021
+2-0 Record
+6 for 7, 4 runs, 4 RBIs, SB
+Noah recorded 3 hits in each of the first 2 games

Richard Warren, P, Hobbton HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ 6 IP, 1.17 ERA, 5 hits, 1 Earned run,1 BB, 13 K win vs. Rosewood

Daniel Britt, Hobbton HS, 2021
+ Team Record for the Week:  2-0
+ 6 IP, 0 Runs, 4 Hits, 2 BB, 14 K win vs. Lakewood