IHSA Diamond Notes: Week 7
May 6, 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 7 Player of the Week honor to 3B Brady Cunningham (Brother Rice, 2027; Texas A&M) and the Pitcher of the Week honor to LHP Cannon Madej (Lane Tech, 2028). Cunningham finished the week 7-for-11 with a double, triple, two home runs, four walks, ten RBIs and nine runs scored. Madej fired a complete-game shutout against Hanover Central (IN), allowing two hits, no walks, while striking out 11.
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 7 DIAMOND NOTES
+ Nate Brezak, LHP (Lake Forest, 2026):
Polk State commit. Brezak made one appearance against Stevenson, pitching seven innings and allowing no runs. He surrendered only two hits and two walks while striking out nine batters.
+ Jory Crocker, SS/RHP (Willowbrook, 2026):
Arizona commit. Crocker had a strong week, hitting 6-for-16 with a triple, a double, and three walks, while driving in the winning run in an extra-inning game. He has not allowed an earned run yet this season, and across three mound appearances against Hinsdale Central and Addison Trail totaling four innings, he allowed no runs, only one hit, and no walks while striking out eight.
+ George Donze, RHP (Jacobs, 2026):
Wisconsin-Stevens Point commit. Donze earned a win over No. 4 Huntley, throwing a seven-inning complete game. He allowed only one earned run on two hits and one walk while recording five strikeouts.
+ Donavon Ducey, RHP/UTL (Alton (Sr.), 2027):
Uncommitted. Ducey threw a 75-pitch, seven-inning complete game against Highland, allowing one earned run on four hits and one walk. At the plate, he went 4-for-9 with a double and two RBIs.
+ Will Haley, C/OF (St. Joseph-Ogden, 2026):
Kankakee CC commit. Haley hit 7-for-12 with three doubles and two triples while drawing three walks. He finished the week with seven RBIs, nine runs scored, and two stolen bases.
+ Josh Jones, RHP (Normal Community, 2026):
Indiana State commit. Jones pitched six innings and allowed only one earned run on two hits. He finished the performance with 15 strikeouts and two walks.
+ Adam Swanson, C/RHP (Ottawa, 2026):
Bradley commit. Swanson hit 9-for-14 with three doubles and two walks, while recording eight stolen bases and scoring six runs. On the mound against LaSalle-Peru, he made two appearances totaling 8.2 innings and allowed no runs on only three hits while striking out 11.
BROTHER RICE
+ Brady Cunningham, 3B/P (Brother Rice, 2027):
Texas A&M commit. Cunningham hit 7-for-11 with two home runs, a triple, a double, and four walks. He recorded 10 RBIs and nine runs scored, and on the mound against St. Rita, he pitched three innings, allowing one earned run and striking out seven.
+ Colin Campbell, SS/P (Brother Rice, 2027):
Louisville commit. Campbell hit 8-for-14 with four doubles, totaling two RBIs, six runs scored, and three stolen bases. He also pitched two scoreless and hitless innings against Loyola, striking out one batter.
LOCKPORT
+ Jack Schiek, RHP (Lockport, 2026):
Purdue Northwest commit. Schiek hit 4-for-9 with four RBIs, one run scored, and a stolen base. On the mound against Joliet West, he threw two scoreless innings, allowing two hits and striking out three.
+ Anthony Farina, LHP (Lockport, 2027):
Uncommitted. Farina threw a seven-inning complete game win against Lincoln-Way Central, allowing no runs on three hits. He finished the outing with eight strikeouts and no walks.
+ Austin Winge, RHP (Lockport, 2027):
Uncommitted. Winge earned a quality start and a win against Lincoln-Way Central, throwing five innings. He allowed no runs and only one hit while striking out eight batters.
+ Adam Kozak, OF (Lockport, 2026):
Lewis commit. Kozak hit 4-for-10 with a double, four RBIs, and four runs scored. He also drew two walks and recorded two stolen bases, leaving him two shy of the program's career record.
NEUQUA VALLEY
+ Emmitt Briner, RHP/OF (Neuqua Valley, 2027):
Uncommitted. Briner led the team offensively with five hits, including a run-producing double in a win over Crete-Monee. He finished the week 5-for-12 with two RBIs, two runs scored, and one stolen base.
+ Andy Barkley, CF (Neuqua Valley, 2026):
Uncommitted. Barkley hit 3-for-11 with a double and two walks. He led the team with four RBIs for the week, including a bases-clearing three-run double in the win over Crete-Monee.
+ Malachi Sherman, C (Neuqua Valley, 2027):
Uncommitted. Sherman hit 3-for-8 with a double and two walks, totaling two RBIs in the win over Crete-Monee.
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