Each Tuesday during the spring, our staff will name a 'Player of the Week' from the previous week. We rely heavily on coaches' submissions for this award, so it is imperative that coaches respond to our submission email each week in order to give our staff the ability to give recognition to players that are deserving. Each week, coaches can submit their candidates to [email protected].

Our Week #1 winner was SR OF Ian Taylor of Guerin Catholic. Find his stats from last week, along with several honorable mentions, below...

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Player of the Week

Ian Taylor OF / St Theodore Guerin High School, IN / 2026 + Taylor wasted little time to get going in the opening week of the season, taking a share of the early home run lead in the state with three in his first four games. A George Mason recruit, Taylor went 9-for-12 (.750) last week with (1) 2B, (1) 3B, (3) HR, (11) RBI, and (9) runs scored. He also reached base at a .786 clip while helping 3A #1 Guerin Catholic to a 4-0 start to the spring.

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Honorable Mentions

+ Nate Southwell, OF/1B, 2026, Munster - IU-Kokomo recruit
Southwell paced the Mustangs offense as they opened the season 4-1. Southwell went 6-for-13 with (3) HR's, including (2) grand slams and one in inside-the-park fashion, as he collected (12) RBI's during week one of the spring. 

+ Jaylen Wells-Henderson, RHP/OF, 2027, New Albany
One of the top uncommitted juniors in the state, Wells-Henderson had a loud opening week on both sides of the ball. On the mound, he went 1-0 with (12) strikeouts in 9 2/3 innings of work. He was also 8-for-14 at the dish, adding a double, (2) HR, (8) RBI's, and (3) stolen bases. 

+ Jack Whaley, SS, 2028, Columbus North
The sophomore slugger started the spring hot - going 8-for-14 with (2) doubles and (2) home runs. He scored seven times and added three RBI. 

+ Collin Ash, OF/LHP, 2026, Roncalli - Valparaiso recruit
Ash, a Preseason 3A All-State selection, found immediate success to start his senior season. The Valpo recruit had (10) hits, including (3) 2B and (3) 3B, and scored (6) runs with (11) RBI. He also struck out five in 5.1 innings of work on the bump. 

+ Jaden Norris, RHP, 2026, Sullivan
The top-ranked unsigned senior in Indiana - Norris was excellent on the mound in two appearances. He worked 8 scoreless innings, striking out (18) batters, and allowed just (1) hit, (0) walks, and (2) HBP's. 

+ Beck Jordan, 3B, 2026, Westfield - Wabash recruit
Jordan was a run-producing machine for #6 Westfield in the opening week, going 7-for-10 with (11) RBI's - with six RBI coming on opening night vs. #1 Center Grove. 

+ Andrew Noble, OF, 2028, Westfield
Noble made in immediate impact for the Rocks to begin his sophomore season going 8-for-11 with (1) 2B, (1) 3B, (7) RBI's, and (3) SB. 

+ Connor Burns, 1B, 2027, Silver Creek
Burns was one of a few Silver Creek standouts during Week #1 as the #18 Dragons started 2-1. Burns went 6-for-12 with (3) 2B, (1) HR, and he drove in a team-high (5) RBI's. 

+ Haiden McWhirt, C/P, 2027, Wabash
McWhirt helped Wabash to a 4-0 start on their spring break trip with his efforts on both sides of the ball. At the plate, he went 6-for-9 with (3) 2B, (8) RBI's, and he reached base at a .786 clip. He also added four innings of 2-run baseball in his stint on the mound. 

+ Christian Wessel, IF/RHP, 2029, Avon
The freshman made an instant impact for Avon during their spring break trip as he went 6-for-11 with a double and 5 runs batted in. He also collected a win in his outing on the bump, throwing four scoreless innings with six strikeouts. 

+ Xavier Hemingway, RHP, 2026, Bloomington South - Marian recruit
Hemingway earned the win versus a solid New Prairie squad, throwing four innings where he allowed just a pair of hits and struck out ten. 

+ Kaleb Hacker, RHP, 2026, Portage - Purdue-Northwest recruit
The senior righty started his spring working four shutout innings with (11) strikeouts, (1) hit, and (2) walks. 

+ Mark Haynes, RHP, 2028, Warsaw
The sophomore righty had a strong start to the spring in two appearances during Week #1. Haynes threw eight innings, gave up just two earned runs and three hits, and struck out 16. 

+ Spencer Mohr, RHP, 2027, Hamilton Southeastern
Mohr tossed a no-hitter against Henry County on 4/4, and in total logged (11) innings of work on the bump for the Royals during Week #1. He struck out (13), collected two wins, and left the week with a 1.27 ERA. 

+ Robert Ludlow, OF, 2026, Southport - Olney Central CC recruit
Ludlow went 5-for-10 during the opening week of the spring with (3) RBI and (5) runs scored. His most impressive stat, however, was (12) stolen bases during week #1 of the spring. 

+ Connor Gaines, C/UTL, 2027, Crown Point
The uncommitted junior paced the #2 Crown Point offense in a 3-0 opening week. Gaines went 7-for-10 with a triple, a homer, and (9) RBI. 

+ Reid Zittel, OF, 2026, Zionsville
Zittle led the #3 Eagles during the opening week with 8 hits in 11 hits at-bats (0.727 avg). He also added three doubles, five runs scored, and a pair of walks and stolen bases.