NC Diamond Notes: Week 6-7
April 15, 2026
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Comprehensive Coverage of the 2026 North Carolina High School Baseball Season
Throughout the 2026 North Carolina high school baseball season, Prep Baseball NC and its dedicated staff will provide extensive coverage of all aspects of the sport across the state. Our coverage will feature Inside the Box, a daily scoreboard, live scouting at high school games, a maintained Heat Sheet, and ongoing tracking of standout player performances.
Each week, our scouting staff will analyze box scores, consult with high school coaches, college recruiters, and professional scouts to select the Player and Pitcher of the Week. Coaches will have the opportunity to nominate players from their teams for consideration. The recipients of these awards will be announced every Tuesday throughout the spring season. Each player submitted and considered for the Player of the Week Award will be recognized in the weekly Diamond Notes release. This list of players will allow fans, coaches, and scouts a place each week to follow some of the best performances weekly in North Carolina.
2026 Prep Baseball NC High School Coverage
Pitchers
Easton Warren, RHP, Martin County, 2027
- Win: 2 H, 0 ER, 1 BB, 6 K
- Season: 1.88 ERA
Dylan Benedict, RHP, Union Pines, 2027
- Win: 7 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 0 BB, 15 K
- Week Record: 3-0
Lincoln Coble, RHP, Trinity High School, 2026
- 2-0 on the week, 9 IP, 11 K
- Notable: 6 IP, 7 K vs. Uwharrie Charter
- Season: 7-0, 40.1 IP, 54 K, 1.38 ERA, .176 BAA
- Week Record: 3-0
Russ Berger, LHP, Charlotte Christian, 2026
- Columbia recruit
- 8.1 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 4 K across two outings
- Earned win vs. Metrolina Christian
- Week Record: 3-1
CJ Nixon, LHP, Grace Christian, 2029
- Win: 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 5 BB, 11 K
Jared Zientek, LHP, Alexander Central, 2027
- Combined no-hitter
- Win: 4 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 6 K
Stone Massey, RHP, Wilson Hunt, 2027
- NC State recruit
- Win: 6.1 IP, 4 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 13 K
Owen Johnson, RHP, North Davidson, 2026
- Pitcher of the Week
- Wingate recruit
- Complete Game No-Hitter
- 5 IP, 0 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K
Rhett Britt, RHP, Topsail, 2026
- North Carolina commit
- Win: 4 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K
Bryson Josey, Metrolina Christian Academy
- Win: 5 IP, 3 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 9 K
Jesse Covington, RHP, Wesleyan Christian Academy, 2028
- Win: 6 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 10 K
Greyson Jones, RHP, West Forsyth, 2026
- UNC Greensboro commit
- Win: 6 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K
Levi Kerr, RHP, Marvin Ridge, 2028
- Win: 4 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 1 BB, 9 K
Cooper Summerlin, LHP, Gaston Christian, 2026
- Belmont Abbey commit
- Complete Game Win
- 7 IP, 3 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 1 BB, 10 K
Lathan Peeler, RHP, Burns
- Complete Game Win
- 7 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 8 K
Caleb Renn, LHP, Holly Springs, 2027
- Win: 6.2 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
- Complete Game Win
- 7 IP, 1 H, 0 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Finn Sullivan, RHP, Northwood, 2027
- Complete Game
- 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 11 K
Paxton Piccini, Southeast Alamance
- Complete Game Win
- 7 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 7 K
Rylan Stephens, Southern Lee
- Complete Game Win
- 6 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 2 BB, 14 K
Alex Hoffman, RHP, Charlotte Catholic, 2026
- Virginia Tech commit
- Win: 5.1 IP, 2 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 9 K
Brian Buttrick, RHP, Burns, 2029
- Complete Game Win
- 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 3 BB, 10 K
Hudson Land, RHP, Crest
- Win: 5 IP, 4 H, 4 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 7 K
Cooper Friedholm, RHP, TC Roberson, 2027
- Complete Game Win
- 7 IP, 11 H, 4 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 5 K
Peyton Kozink, RHP, Durham Jordan, 2026
- Win (Relief)
- 5.2 IP, 1 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 0 BB, 7 K
Drake Covington, LHP, Piedmont, 2027
- Complete Game Win
- 7 IP, 3 H, 1 R, 0 ER, 1 BB, 12 K
Griffin McKain, LHP, Charlotte Catholic, 2027
- Clemson Commit
- Combined No-Hitter
- Win: 5 IP, 0 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 4 BB, 9 K
- Complete Game Win: 5 IP, 2 H, 0 R, 0 BB, 9 K
Position Players
Brody Whitaker, C, Martin County, 2026
- 3-7, 2B, 3 RBI, 1 R
- Key performance: 3-3, 2B, 3 RBI in series-clinching win vs. First Flight
- Season: .444 AVG, 16 H, 11 RBI (12 games)
- Week Record: 2-0
Kamarion Larry, OF, Martin County, 2026
- 3-7, 3 R, 4 RBI, 5 SB (5-for-5)
Kwamaine Isaiah Battle, 2B, Southern Nash, 2027
- 4-4, 3 2B, 3B, 4 BB
- Highlight: 3 doubles in one game
- Season: .524 AVG, .583 OBP, 1.583 OPS, 22 H, 17 RBI
- Week Record: 2-0
Brayden Parker, SS, Southern Nash, 2026
- 5-8, 2B
- Season: .478 AVG, .538 OBP, 1.212 OPS, 22 H, 23 RBI
Eli Wells, 1B, Forbush, 2026
- 4-7, 3 HR, 2B, 6 R, 8 RBI, 4 BB, 2 HBP
- Homered in three consecutive games during Myrtle Beach trip
- Week Record: 2-2
Jaaron Frye, OF, AC Reynolds, 2028
- 8-15, 2 3B, 2B, HR, 6 R, 5 RBI
- Highlight: Hit for the cycle (5-5) at South Atlantic Bank Invitational
- Week Record: 4-0
Oliver Van Tiem, OF, Orange, 2027
- North Carolina recruit
- 3-6, HR
- Key hit: Go-ahead 2-run HR vs. South Granville
- Last 8 games: .556 AVG, 4 2B, 3 HR, 11 RBI
- Week Record: 1-1
Jacob Reynolds, 2B, Charlotte Christian, 2028
- .357 AVG, 2B, HR, 7 RBI, 5 R
- Drove in 4 and scored 4 vs. Metrolina Christian and Myers Park
Hudson Simmons, OF, Charlotte Christian, 2028
- .500 AVG, 2 HR, 3 RBI, 4 R
- HR vs. Myers Park and Metrolina Christian
Gavin Templeman, OF, South Brunswick, 2026
- 3-5, .600 AVG, 2B, 3B, 3 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB
- Week Record: 2-1
Harrison Mears, C, South Brunswick, 2027
- 6-10, .600 AVG, 4 RBI, 4 R, 3 SB, BB
Wyatt Clewis, OF, South Brunswick, 2028
- 5-9, .556 AVG, 2B, 3B, 3 R, 2 SB, BB
Grady Sotriffer, SS, South Brunswick, 2026
- Catawba recruit
- 3-7, .429 AVG, HR, 2B, 5 RBI, 3 R, 2 BB, HBP
- Week Record: 2-1
Dual Performers
Peyton Williams, RHP/INF, Trinity High School, 2026
- On the mound: 1-0, 5 K across 3 appearances
- At the plate: .833 AVG, 3 HR, 5 RBI, 9 R, 5 BB, 3 SB
- Highlight: 2 HR vs. Uwharrie Charter
- Season: .412 AVG, 21 H, 3 HR, 11 RBI, 15 R
- Week Record: 3-0
Cason McGinnis, SS/RHP, North Lincoln, 2026
- Player of the Week
- UNC Wilmington commit
- At the plate: .692 (9-13), 3 2B, 6 RBI, 4 R, BB, HBP, 2 SB
- On the mound: Win, 5 IP, 4 H, 2 ER, 7 K
- Season:
- Hitting: .423 AVG, 22 H, 19 RBI
- Pitching: 11.2 IP, 2 W, 2 SV, 15 K, 1.20 ERA
- Week Record: 4-0