IHSA Diamond Notes: Week 5
April 23, 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 5 Player of the Week honor to 1B/LHP Davis Collie (Sycamore, 2025; Bradley) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to LHP Zane Caves (Minooka, 2026; Michigan State). Collie has been a key piece for the Spartans as they now sit at 11-4 on the year after going a perfect 5-0 last week. The left-handed hitter went an eye-opening 15-for-20 with three home runs, three doubles, 21 RBIs, 14 runs scored, seven walks and two stolen bases. In Minooka’s 7-0 win over No. 1 at the time Lincoln-Way West, Caves fired a complete game gem. The southpaw tamed one of the more talented lineups in the entire state, firing a complete game (seven innings) shutout with just one hit allowed, walking only one and striking out nine.
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 5 DIAMOND NOTES
+ Enzo Infelise C (Providence Catholic, 2025; Cincinnati):
The Cincinnati commit and No. 11 overall prospect in Illinois’ 2025 class had a nice week offensively going 7-for-16 with a double, two home runs, six RBIs, and two runs.
+ Will Graba RHP (Fremd, 2026):
Uncommitted, the right-handed pitcher had an efficient start in Fremd’s 10-0 win against Hoffman Estates. Graba threw a five inning perfect game striking out nine on only 56 pitches.
+ Eric Rainbolt 1B (Bradley-Bourbonnais, 2026):
Uncommitted, the left-handed hitter had an impressive one game performance going 5-for-6 with eight RBIs, three runs, four doubles, and a home run in Bradley-Bourbonnais 22-7 win against Peotone.
+ Zach Ohlund C (Wilmington, 2026):
Uncommitted, the backstop helped Wilmington to a 3-1 record last week, going 7-for-15 with six RBIs, three runs, two doubles, and two homers, an impressive week for the junior.
+ Martin Ledbetter C (Hinckley-Big Rock, 2025):
Uncommitted, senior catcher showed well last week out of the two hole for Hinckley-Big Rock, with seven hits in nine at bats, 12 RBIs, scoring eight times, three homers, two doubles, two triples, and walking twice.
+ Ethan Bass SS (Glenbrook North, 2026; Wake Forest):
The number one recruit in the Illinois’ 2026 class and Wake Forest commit continues to crush baseballs for North, last week Bass went 7-for-12 with two home runs, and nine RBIs.
+ Patrick Connors OF (Hinsdale Central, 2026):
Uncommitted, in a three game stretch last week, Connors went 7-for-11 with a double, five runs, and six stolen bases. Also pitched three innings on the week, recording a one inning save against Willowbrook, allowing no hits and no runs and threw two innings in relief against York, allowing no runs, one hit, and striking out one.
+ Joey Arend, OF/RHP (St. Charles East, 2025; Xavier):
A Xavier recruit, Arend went 7-for-13 on the week, had an on base percentage of .611, scored eight runs and walked four times in four games last week. He also stole 12 bases and recorded a win on the mound, pitching 4.1 innings, striking out eight. Arend’s performance propelled St. Charles East to a 4-0 record on the week.
+ Ethan Kieser, RHP/2B (Normal University, 2025):
Uncommitted, Kieser went 6.1 innings for the 3-2 win against Sacred Heart Griffin in a big CS8 conference matchup. He struck out 10 and walked two, while allowing five hits. He is 2-0 on the season with a .808 era with 27 Ks and seven BBs., has a WHIP of .865. And recorded one save.
+ Easton Ruby, C (Oswego, 2025):
Uncommitted, the backstop had a quality week at the plate going 11-for-19 with three doubles, a homer, four RBIs, eight runs, and was crucial in helping guide the pitchers in Oswego’s 4-0 week.
+ Caiden Carpenter, SS (New Trier, 2025):
Uncommitted, Carpenter was seeing the ball well last week for New Trier finishing 6-for-12 with a walk, double, homer, seven RBIs, six runs, and two stolen bases out of the five hole.
+ JT Augustyniak, SS, RHP (Plainfield Central, 2025; Kaskaskia JC):
The Kaskaskia commit had one of the most impressive statlines of the week, with a 4th inning walk off grand slam vs Westmont, Augustyniak led the team in all hitting categories in a week where Plainfield Central went 5-0. The MIF had 13 hits, a walk, nine doubles, a triple, homer, 11 RBIs, 11 runs, and a stolen base.
+ Quinn Durkin, LF (Sandburg, 2027):
Uncommitted, Durkin was clutch all week with three multiple hit games including two three hit games to help Sandburg go 3-2 on the week, beating Lockport, TF South and Joliet West. Durkin went 12-for-18 with three triples, seven RBIs, seven runs, and two stolen bases.
+ Cash Kaczmarek, LF (Lake Zurich, 2025):
Uncommitted, the outfielder was big all week for LZ, in their 17-9 win against Normal West, Kaczmarek went 4-for-4 with a homer and five RBIs. Finished the week 10-for-16 with three walks, two doubles, three homers, 11 RBIs, and ten runs.
+ Robert Herrera, RHP (Plainfield South, 2025):
Uncommitted, Herrera struck out every out that was recorded while he was on the mound during the Cougars 7-0 win over Bolingbrook. The right-hander tossed five innings, allowing three hits, two walks, no runs, and struck out 15.
NEUQUA VALLEY
Neuqua Valley went 1-3 on the week, defeating Naperville Central (10-7). Losing to Naperville Central (10-7) twice and Oswego (16-2). Below were some of their top performers.
+ Andy Barkley, OF, LHP (Neuqua Valley, 2026):
Uncommitted, Barkley had a quality week at the plate with seven hits in 16 ABs, recording two walks, a double, homer, five RBIs, six runs, and a stolen base. Also pitched 0.1 innings on the week with a strikeout against Naperville Central.
+ Joe Barkley, OF (Neuqua Valley, 2025; Lake Land JC):
Lake Land commit, Barkley hit a two-run homer in the top of the 7th against Naperville Central to extend the Wildcat lead to six.. Joe also had a 2-run single in a 9-run 4th inning against Central that helped the Wildcats win their first DVC game of '25. Had five hits on the week with a double, five RBIs, six runs, and a stolen base.
+ Sam Widloe, 3B (Neuqua Valley, 2028):
Uncommitted, the freshman third baseman had five hits in 11 ABs with one walk, three RBIs, and three runs out of the five hole for the Wildcats.
+ Mike Langan, SS/RHP (Neuqua Valley, 2025):
Uncommitted, Langan threw six innings in the Wildcats' 11-6 win over Naperville Central. He allowed six hits, and struck out three. He has two of the Wildcats three wins. Also, went 5-for-14 at the plate on the week with three walks, a double, two RBIs, and five runs.
+ Kiet Truong, 2B, RHP (Neuqua Valley, 2025):
Uncommitted, the WIldcats cleanup hitter was 5-for-17 throughout the week with a walk, triple, five RBIs, and a run while also throwing an inning on the mound allowing two hits, one walk, and striking out one.
ALTON
Alton went 1-1 on the week, splitting the series with No. 11 O’Fallon (13-3). Below were some of their top performers.
+ Ayden Calvert, C/UTIL (Alton (Sr.), 2025):
Uncommitted, Calvert had a big three run blast against O’Fallon after allowing three in the first inning. Calvert finished the week 3-for-6 with a double, a homer, three RBIs, and three runs.
+ Anderson Kaufmann, RHP / UT (Alton (Sr.), 2028):
The uncommitted freshman settled in after allowing three runs in the first-inning, Kaufmann settled in with four shutout innings in the big Southwestern Conference win for the Redbirds against O'Fallon. The right hander tossed five innings and struck out five.
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