IHSA Diamond Notes: Week 1
March 26, 2025
Each week, IHSA coaches around the state submit to us their nominations for the Prep Baseball Illinois Player of the Week and Prep Baseball Illinois Pitcher of the Week honors. Yesterday, we awarded the Week 1 Player of the Week honor to 2B Austin Rutter (Sacred Heart Griffin, 2027) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to RHP Ryan Schaffnit (Morton, 2025; Bradley). Rutter went 7-for-11 with one home run, two triple, two doubles, 12 RBIs, a walk, three runs scored and three stolen bases. Schaffnit is one of the top arms in the senior class and tossed nine innings with no runs allowed, just five hits, and 13 strikeouts to zero walks.
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.
WEEK 1 DIAMOND NOTES
+ Austin Musso, RHP (Mascoutah, 2025):
Arizona State commit. Musso had an impressive week for the Indians last week, both on the mound and at the plate. On the mound, he tossed three innings, struck out eight, walked one, allowed no runs and two hits. In the same game, Musso blasted three home runs - a three-run, two-run, and solo homer in the game, totalling six RBIs. He finished the week 5-for-7 with three home runs, a double seven RBIs and five runs scored.
+ Tommy Kramkowski, SS (Belleville East, 2025):
Missouri State commit. Kramkowski showed well at the plate last week, going 5-for-7 with a double, three RBIs, four runs scored, one stolen base and a walk. In their 10-3 win over Moline, he went a perfect 4-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
+ Lance Cuddy, LHP/OF (Coal City, 2026):
Uncommitted. Cuddy had a strong week going 5-for-9 at the plate with two home runs, six RBIs and two runs scored. In their win over Prairie Central, he went 3-for-5 with a home run, four RBIs and one run scored.
+ Carson Norris, RHP (Lakes Community, 2026):
Uncommitted. Norris had a strong outing against Vernon Hills, helping lead them to a 3-0 win. He tossed five innings on the mound and struck out seven, allowed no walks, runs and only one hit. He tossed five innings in their win over Dwight, striking out 11, walking one, allowing two runs and three hits.
+ Landon Loomis, C (Triad, 2025):
Minnesota State commit. Loomis showed well in the Knights opening week of IHSA action, going 5-for-9 with two home runs, one double, seven RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. In their 15-4 win over Champaign Central, Loomis went 2-for-2 with two home runs, six RBIs, two runs scored and a walk.
+ Ayden Calvert, C/2B (Alton, 2025):
Uncommitted. Calvert went 2-for-6 with a triple, three walks, one RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base. In their win over Washington, Calvert delivered a lead-off triple in the seventh inning and went on to score the winning run in their walk-off win. He currently leads the team in batting average, on-base percentage, and slugging percentage.
+ Nolan Galla, 3rd (St Francis Wheaton, 2025):
Des Moines Area CC commit. Galla had a strong week at the plate going 8-for-11 with a home run, six RBIs, five runs scored, two walks and a stolen base. In their 14-3 win over Wheaton North, he went 4-for-5 with a home run, five RBIs and three runs scored
+ Max Wille, OF (Normal University, 2025):
South Suburban JC commit. Wille went 3-for-7 with two home runs, a double, three RBIs, four runs scored and three walks. In their 10-0 win over Oak Forest, Wille went 2-for-2 with a home run, double, two RBIs and two runs scored.
+ Reece Bohlen, SS/RHP (Staunton, 2026):
Uncommitted. Bohlen went 7-for-8 on the week with four doubles, three RBIs, six runs scored, two stolen bases, and three walks. In their 4-3 loss to Nokomis, he went 3-for-4 with one RBI and two runs scored. Against Metro-East Lutheran, he went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk.
+ Bo Gomric, SS/RHP (Althoff Catholic, 2025):
Southwestern Illinois JC commit. Gomric finished the week 7-for-14, one home run, a triple, double, seven RBIs, six walks, eight runs scored and five stolen bases.. He also tossed a complete game on the mound with four strikeouts. In their 13-8 win over Memphis University, Gomric went 3-for-4 with a triple, three RBIs, one run scored and one walk. He finished the week going 3-for-4 with a home run, two RBIs, three runs scored and a walk.
+ Antiono Brown Jr. , P (Homewood Flossmoor, 2026):
Uncommitted. Brown earned a start and a relief appearance last week, throwing 10 innings, striking out 11, walking three, allowing three hits and no runs. He earned the start against Hinsdale Central and tossed a complete game no-hitter, striking out eight and walking two.
+ Nicholas Whitford, OF (Romeoville, 2025):
Missouri Valley College commit. Whitford finished the week 4-for-6 with two doubles, three RBIs, three runs scored and a stolen base. In their game against Geneva, he went a perfect 3-for-3 with a double, RBI and one stolen base
+ Hudson Lovell, C (Morton, 2027):
Uncommitted. Lovell finished the week 8-for-21 with three home runs, one triple, three doubles, eight RBIs, six runs scored, a walk and a stolen base. In their 1-0 win over Briarcrest Christian (TN), Lovell hit a two-out double which led to the winning run in the game. In a loss to Grissom (AL), Lovell went 2-for-4 with a double, two RBIs and one run scored. He went a perfect 3-for-3 with a triple, double, one RBI, one run scored and a walk in their 8-6 loss to Lausanne Collegiate (TN).
+ Quinn Durkin, LF (Sandburg, 2027):
Uncommitted. Durkin went 6-for-8 with a triple, double, three RBIs, two walks, six runs scored and two stolen bases. In their loss to Lemont, he went 3-for-4 with a double, RBI and a stolen base.
+ Callum Paisley, 2B (Rolling Meadows High School, 2025):
Lake Land JC commit. Paisley went 7-for-10 last week with a home run, triple, double, five RBIs, six runs scored, two walks and three stolen bases. Against Larkin, he went 2-for-2 with a home run, five RBIs, three runs scored and a walk. He was a homer away from the cycle in their 7-1 win over Elmwood park, going 4-for-5 with a triple, double, three runs scored and two stolen bases
NO. 2 EDWARDSVILLE
The Tigers went 3-0 last week with wins over No. 7 Normal Community (11-0), No. 12 Joliet Catholic (5-4), and Joliet West (9-5). Below were some of their top performers from last week
+ Tyler Powell, RHP / 1B (Edwardsville HS, 2025):
Southern Illinois-Edwardsville commit. Powell earned the start against Joliet West and tossed three innings, struck out seven, walked two, and allowed no hits or runs. At the plate, he added two hits, one being a double, with one RBI.
+ Max Waltenberger, C /1B (Edwardsville HS, 2025):
Uncommitted. Waltenberger went 5-for-8 last week, tallying one triple, two doubles, six RBIs, two runs scored and a walk. Against No. 7 Normal Community, he went 2-for-3 with a double, three RBIs, and one run scored. He added two more hits against Joliet West, a double and a triple, with three RBIs.
+ Joe Chiarodo, RHP / CF (Edwardsville HS, 2025):
Alabama commit. Chiarodo had an impactful week on both sides of the ball. He started on the mound against No. 7 Normal Community, struck out six, walked none, allowed two hits and no runs. At the plate, he finished the week 6-for-9 with a home run, three RBIs, five runs scored, a walk and three stolen bases. Against Community, Chiarodo went 3-for-3 at the plate with a home run, two RBIs and three runs scored.
O’Fallon
The Panthers started off the year 2-1 with wins over No. 18 Morris (7-4) and No. 12 Joliet Catholic (12-3).
+ Connor Blue, 1B / RHP (2025):
Cincinnati commit. In his start against No. 12 Joliet Catholic, Blue tossed three innings, struck out seven, walked two, allowed two runs and one hit. At the plate, he went 3-for-12 with two home runs, nine RBIs, and three runs scored. He hit a game-winning grand slam in the bottom of the sixth to give the Panthers the 7-4 lead over Morris, and ultimately the win.
+ Dane Hrasky, ss (O'Fallon, 2025):
Central Missouri commit. Hrasky finished the week going 3-for-9 with two triples, three walks, three RBIs, four runs scored and a stolen base. He broke O’Fallon’s school record with his tenth career triple.
ROUTT CATHOLIC
The Rockets went 3-0 last week with a win over Quincy (10-6), Collinsville (9-4), and Centennial (10-4). Below were some of their top performers:
+ Brady Turner, LHP, 1B (Routt Catholic High School, 2026):
Uncommitted. Turner had a quality week at the plate and on the mound, helping lead the Rockets to a 3-0 start. He finished the week at the plate 6-for-9 with two doubles, five RBIs, three runs scored, three walks and a stolen base. In their 10-6 win over Quincy, Turner collected two doubles, two RBIs, one walk and a stolen base. He added two more hits and two RBIs in their 9-4 win over Collinsville, and another two hits, one RBI, two runs scored, one walk and a stolen base in their 10-4 win over Centennial. He earned the start on the mound against Quincy and tossed two innings, struck out four, walked one, one run and one hit.
+ Jace Lautemann, OF (Routt Catholic High School, 2025):
Uncommitted. Lautemann had a strong week for the Rockets, going 7-for-12 with a triple, double, two RBIs, eight runs scored, one walk and five stolen bases. In their 9-4 win over Collinsville, Lautemann went 3-for-4 with an RBI, three runs scored and three stolen bases. He added three more hits in their 10-4 win over Centennial, added a double with one RBI and three runs scored.
+ Talon Thompson, C (Routt Catholic High School, 2026):
Uncommitted. Thompson went 5-for-10 throughout the week, allowing three doubles, six RBIs, two walks and one run scored. His best game came against Centennial, going 3-for-4 with a double and three RBIs.
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