IHSA Diamond Notes: Week 3
April 8, 2026
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 3 Player of the Week honor to SS Jackson Ahrens (East Peoria, 2026; Kirkwood CC) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to LHP JD Farkas (Hersey, 2028). Ahrens went 17-for-21 on the week with four home runs, four triples, four doubles, 13 RBI, 13 runs scored, also hitting for two cycles. Farkas fired a complete game (five innings), no-hit shutout with seven strikeouts and one walk.
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
+ Will Vanderheyden, (O’Fallon, 2028):
Vanderheyden earned a win against Parkway South, throwing six innings and allowing zero earned runs. He surrendered only two hits and one walk while striking out eight batters.
+ Keegan Schwarting, (Joliet West, 2027; Uncommitted):
Schwarting pitched an eight-inning complete game victory against Lincoln-Way Central. He allowed only one earned run on two hits and four walks, finishing the performance with seven strikeouts.
+ Darren Klein, RHP (Mascoutah, 2027; Uncommitted):
Klein pitched a complete game shutout in a 5-0 win over No. 14 Edwardsville. He allowed just two hits and no walks while striking out seven.
+ RJ Duncheon, RHP (East Peoria, 2026; Illinois State):
Duncheon earned a win over Marysville (OH), pitching six innings and striking out 13 batters. He allowed two earned runs on four hits and two walks.
+ Graydon Leonard, (Gibson City-Melvin-Sibley, 2027; Uncommitted):
Leonard tossed five innings of no-hit baseball in a victory over Hoopeston. He tallied 11 strikeouts and issued only one walk during his outing.
+ Mason Netcel, SS (St Charles North, 2026; Indiana State):
Netcel finished 8-for-12 with three home runs, two of which came in a single game during a spring trip to Nashville. He also tallied 12 runs, seven RBI, two doubles, and three stolen bases.
+ Chase Boykin , SS (Marian Catholic HS, 2029):
Boykin finished the week 9-for-15 with seven runs, five RBI, and five stolen bases during a spring break trip to Memphis.
+ Ryan St. Louis , RHP/SS (Harvest-Westminster, 2027; Uncommitted):
St. Louis threw 4.2 innings of no-hit baseball with 12 strikeouts and zero earned runs. Offensively, he went 2-for-4 with a home run and three RBI.
+ Jeremy Thompson, 3B/RHP (Romeoville, 2026; Quincy):
Thompson went 8-for-9 with a home run and two doubles, one of which broke the school's single-season home run record (5) and career home run record (9). On the mound, he threw five strong innings to earn a win, allowing four hits and one earned run while striking out eight.
+ JJ Cates, RHP (Belleville East, 2027; Uncommitted):
Cates earned two saves in relief appearances totaling four innings pitched. He maintained a 1.00 ERA and struck out three batters without allowing a walk.
+ Colton Carson, DH (Herscher, 2029):
Carson went 6-for-10 at the plate with four doubles and four walks. He also drove in six runs, helping the Tigers to a 4-0 record on the week.
+ James Feigleson, SS (St. Charles East, 2026; Illinois-Chicago):
Feigleson went 4-for-15 with three home runs and eight RBI. He added six runs scored and one stolen base to his weekly totals.
+ Cory Les, SS (St. Laurence, 2026; Louisville):
Les hit three home runs in a single game, including two in one inning, and finished with five RBI. He totaled four hits and two stolen bases on the week.
+ Michael Pettit, 1B (Lincoln-Way West, 2026; Notre Dame):
Pettit delivered a two-out, walk-off hit in the 8th inning to secure a win over Marysville (OH). He finished the week 10-for-15 with seven runs scored and three stolen bases.
ALLEMAN
+ Adam VanMeighem, LHP/CF (Alleman, 2026; Uncommitted):
VanMeighem tossed a seven-inning complete game no-hitter against back-to-back Western Big 6 Champions, United Township. He struck out four batters and allowed four walks in the outing.
+ Truman Marner, RHP/UTL (Alleman, 2027; Uncommitted):
Marner pitched a seven-inning complete game against United Township. He finished the performance with five strikeouts, allowing four hits and one earned run.
ALTON
+ Logan Hickman, SS/RHP (Alton (Sr.), 2026; John A. Logan JC):
Hickman went 4-for-9 with a double and a home run. He also earned a save on the mound by striking out the side in one inning of work.
+ Fletcher Groppel, LHP/OF (Alton (Sr.), 2028):
Groppel earned his first varsity win and finished the week with 4.1 innings of relief, allowing only one hit and one earned run. He recorded six strikeouts over his two appearances.
BROTHER RICE
+ Brady Cunningham, INF/RHP (Brother Rice, 2027; Texas A&M):
Cunningham went 7-for-11 with two home runs, both of which came during a game against Libertyville. He also recorded six RBI and two stolen bases.
+ Luca Agne, INF/C (Brother Rice, 2027; Uncommitted):
Agne reached base in all five plate appearances against Libertyville and finished the week 4-for-7. He totaled five runs, three RBI, two doubles, and one triple.
LOCKPORT
+ Adam Kozak, (Lockport, 2026, Lewis commit):
Kozak hit .643 (9-for-14) on the week with two home runs and two doubles. He totaled 10 runs scored, three RBI, and six stolen bases, moving closer to the program's all-time career stolen base record.
+ Drew Satunas, (Lockport, 2026, GVSU commit):
Satunas batted .500 (6-for-12) while serving as the primary run producer in the three-hole. He finished the week with eight RBI, two doubles, and two stolen bases.
+ Kaden O’Leary, (Lockport, 2027):
O’Leary hit .600 (6-for-10) with a double, a triple, two RBI, and three runs scored. On the mound, he made two scoreless appearances totaling 3.2 innings of work, including two strong innings of relief against Brother Rice.
NEUQUA VALLEY
+ Andy Barkley, CF (Neuqua Valley , 2026; Uncommitted):
Barkley went 5-for-8 with a triple, two RBI, and seven runs scored during their trip to USA Stadium. He also provided stellar defensive play throughout the three-game stretch.
+ Josh Repmann, RHP/DH (Neuqua Valley, 2027; Uncommitted):
Repmann earned a win by throwing a five-inning complete game shutout against Life Prep Academy (KS), striking out five. At the plate, he went 3-for-5 with two RBI.
NORMAL WEST
+ Sam McCully, C (Normal West , 2027; Uncommitted):
McCully hit a home run and a triple during the RBI Classic at Kerry Wood Field. He finished the week with six total hits and five RBI.
+ Ty Bachman, RHP (Normal West, 2028):
Bachman made two appearances on the mound, totaling 10 innings pitched with a 2.00 ERA. He allowed nine hits and one walk while striking out 11 batters.
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