Prep Baseball Report

Become a Member

More +

National Player of the Week: 5/13 to 5/19

May 22, 2024
By Andy Sroka
Managing Editor, Scouting

Today, we’re announcing our 12th and final National Player of the Week of the 2024 campaign. Quite a few states have concluded their postseason play and have crowned state champs, as we all begin to turn our attention to the summer circuit ahead. Before we put a bow on the spring, each state will publish its choice for Player of the Year following its state tournaments, and we’ll also select our choice for Prep Baseball Player of the Year in June.

But we won’t get too far ahead of ourselves. Here’s the final National Player of the Week of the season, an Alabama senior who just guided his program to a state title in a head-to-head matchup with the top-ranked team in the state.

PAST WINNERS

The stats below span performances from May 13 through earlier this week.

🏆 NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE WEEK

Braden Booth 3B / RHP / Bob Jones, AL / 2024

“Booth carried his high school to a state title against in a battle between the top two teams in the state's largest classification last week, his Bob Jones squad against No. 1 Central-Phenix City. In that series, he went 7-for-10 with three homers, four RBIs, seven runs, and he twirled a complete-game gem in the first game of the series, throwing seven innings and allowing just one run on two hits, two walks, with seven Ks.

He went on the become the MVP of that state finals series, and subsequently, he won Prep Baseball Alabama's Player of the Year award, announced this week as well. Booth is the state's sixth POTY recipient, following last year's Coleman Mizell, as well as Riley Quick (2022), Maddux Bruns (2021), Gunnar Henderson (2019), and Garrett Wade (2018).

A dynamic two-way talent, the Mississippi State recruit led the way in nearly every category for the Patriots en route to a 44-9 record and hoisting the Blue Map in Class 7A. At the plate, the right-hander posted a .429 batting average, 17 doubles, a triple, 10 home runs, 49 RBIs, 57 runs scored, 36 walks, and 14 stolen bases. On the mound, he was equally as impressive, recording a near-flawless 13-1 record with 83.1 innings pitched while striking out 127 hitters and compiling a 1.51 ERA.”

– David Sharp, Deep South Supervisor
(5/2/24)

STATE PLAYERS OF THE WEEK

California

+ Ethan Schiefelbein, LHP (Corona HS, 2024) | UCLA:
“Schiefelbein was tasked with taking the ball in the biggest game of the year – and not just in California. Schiefelbein and the No. 1-ranked team in the nation, Corona, dueled Harvard-Westlake, another top-10-ranked team in the country, for California's Southern Section Division 1 title. All the southpaw did was toss a complete-game shutout of the Wolverines, going seven strong while limiting Harvard-Westlake to just two hits, he walked none, and he K'd nine.

On the season, he allowed just 17 hits in 47 innings, and just one run over that span, against 71 strikeouts and only 13 walks.”

– Les Lukach, California State Director

Georgia

+ Ashton Roache, 3B (Tallulah Falls HS, 2026) | Uncommitted:
“It was a first look at the uncommitted third baseman, and the first impression was 'wow.' Tapered, athletic frame at 6-foot, 160 pounds with huge projection remaining, Roache certainly looks the part on the left side of the infield. Flashed good lateral range with ability to bend and present above-average arm strength across the diamond with easy carry from any angle, but the bat was what really stood out. Showing possible plus-plus bat speed from the left side, Roache was able to find the barrel on multiple occasions including two massive home runs, the first being as big as it gets. Down one in the seventh, Roache would take a 1-1 fastball off the scoreboard to tie it in what is one of the biggest parks in the state in American Legion field. The ability to take incredibly tight turns on the ball with the premier bat speed allows the third baseman to tap into his potential plus raw power with ease while showing the ability to barrel both velocity and spin. There’s some aggression in the approach but will get his best swings off at will without sacrificing chase too often. Has the makings of a potential game-changing bat and he was a major factor in Tallulah Falls’ run to a state championship berth.”

(5/10/24)

– Ian Smith, Georgia Asst. Scouting Director

Illinois

+ Mac McGarry, RHP (Nazareth Academy HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“McGarry took home the Illinois Player of the Week award after firing 9.1 innings with just three hits allowed, 10 strikeouts and no runs given up - earning both a win and a save. His save came against former No. 2 Joliet Catholic to help secure their conference title, and he took a no-hitter into the seventh in his other appearance.”

(4/13/24)

– Pete Hamot, Assistant Director Illinois & Wisconsin

Indiana

+ Corbin Snyder, RHP (Eastern HS, 2024) | Butler:
“The Butler recruit has put together one of the most impressive stat lines of any arm within the state in his senior campaign. He currently holds a 6-1 record, pitching to a 0.86 ERA, with 112 strikeouts (tied for state lead heading into this week) in 57 innings pitched. Last week, Snyder led Eastern to a win in each of his starts, striking out 21 batters, while allowing just three hits, three walks, and one earned run.”

(4/30/24)

– Cooper Trinkle, Indiana Lead Scout

Kansas

+ Christian Ryan, RHP (Blue Valley West HS, 2025) | Uncommitted:
“The uncommitted junior was nearly perfect as he tossed a complete-game one-hitter with five strikeouts and no walks in the opening round of regionals for the Jags. On the year, Ryan has tossed 54 innings with a 1.00 ERA. ”

– Andy Urban, Central Region Supervisor

+ Anthony Mazza, C (Shawnee Mission East HS, 2024) | Hutchinson CC:
“One of the top hitters in the state this year, the Hutchinson CC commit delivered again in the regional for the Lancers. The left-handed hitter went 5-for-8 in two games with five RBIs and a triple.”

(3/18/24)

– Andy Urban, Central Region Supervisor

Minnesota

+ Finn Furcht, RHP/OF (Esko HS, 2024) | Iowa Western CC:
“Furcht has been an offensive juggernaut that is helping drive the Esko baseball into space. Speaking of space, the Iowa Western commit launched three balls into it, including two against Pequot Lakes this past Friday.

Part of the reason he had just four RBIs is because no one is pitching to him (he had four walks and a hit-by-pitch as well) and the other part is because hitting right in front of him is teammate Isaak Sertich, who also had three home runs on the week.”

(6/19/23)

– Andy Judkins, Minnesota State Director

Nebraska

+ Garrett Springer, C/1B (Lincoln East HS, 2024) | Missouri State:
“This year, the Missouri State commit has been a force to be reckoned with at the plate. He not only launched his state-leading eighth home run of the year last week against Creighton Prep, but collected two additional hits and four total RBIs, playing a crucial role in leading the state's best offense to a 9-4 victory.”

– Pascal Paul, Nebraska Scouting Director

Virginia

+ Jake Wise, RHP (Benedictine Collegiate HS, 2025) | William & Mary:
“The Future Game alum led Benedictine to VISAA DI State Championship, earning two wins last week for a final combined line of no runs in 13.2 innings, on eight hits, and he struck out 17 batters against two top-25-ranked teams, including a complete-game shutout against Miller School, the No. 1-ranked Power 25 team, in the state championship game."

– Jason Burton, Virginia Scouting Director

Wisconsin

+ Sam Mommer, RHP/UTL (St. Thomas More HS, 2024) | UW-Parkside:
“Mommer has been tasked with taking over the ace role for St. Thomas More in his senior season, and he has thrived. This past week was no different for the right-hander, as Mommer twirled a no-hitter in a 3-0 win for the Cavaliers over their rivals in Kenosha St. Joseph.

Mommer officially sealed St. Thomas More’s conference championship in the Metro Classic in doing so, as the Cavaliers finished a perfect 12-0 against their competition. The senior struck out an impressive 13 batters in his outing against a formidable offense put forth by the Lancers.

He only allowed one walk throughout the entire game, as that wound up being the lone batter to reach base in all seven innings. Mommer has emerged as one of the top performing arms in the state, and will be tough to battle come playoff time.

St. Thomas More plays two more games this week before taking over as the No. 2 seed in their regional. They will face the winner East Troy and Saint Francis on Tuesday, May 28, to officially start their journey in making a push toward the Division 2 State Tournament up in Appleton for a second straight year.”

(4/9/24)

+ Tate Schmidt, SS (Waunakee HS, 2024) | UW-Milwaukee:
“Schmidt came up clutch for Waunakee numerous times in a week where they finished 4-1—winning four straight games to cap off the week and earn himself the state's POTW honors.

Schmidt, standing at an athletic 6-foot, 155-pound frame, was a catalyst at the top of the lineup for the Warriors. He first scored the game-winning run against Sun Prairie West on Wednesday—finishing 1-for-2 with two stolen bases in a narrow 2-1 victory.

Arguably his most noteworthy performance came versus the No. 1 team in the state in Sun Prairie East on Saturday, where Schmidt was not retired at the plate. The smooth-swinging lefty went 2-for-2 with a triple, a pair of RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. He led Waunakee to an upset victory over the Cardinals with a 6-4 final score—getting hot at the right time before their upcoming playoff stretch, all while handing Sun Prairie East their second loss of the year.

Throughout the week, Schmidt finished 8-for-15 with four extra base hits, six RBIs, three walks and four stolen bases. The shortstop was also a part of two doubles plays turned during their five games of action. The Warriors seemed to have hit their stride with his high production rates, too—boding well for the near future as the regular season comes to a close.”

(7/11/23)

– Maddox Durst, Wisconsin Staff

Related Content