The way Ryan Scarpetta’s been playing this season, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound RHP/1B could be the Porsche Exchange Player of the Week every week. That’s the type of season Scarpetta has enjoyed. The Valparaiso recruit did it again in the Rockton Hononegah’s biggest games last week.

In the final game of the regular season, Scarpetta hit two three-run homers, which included a walk-off bomb in the bottom of the seventh to beat Guilford and clinch the NIC-10 championship for the Indians. Then, in the regional semifinals against Machesney Park Harlem, Scarpetta threw a four-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts and two walks. He also went 2-for-4 with a double in the 6-0 win. Finally, on Saturday in the regional championship against rival Rockford Boylan, Scarpetta went 2-for-4 with a home run and two runs scored in a 6-1 victory.

For the season, Scarpetta’s 8-2 record includes three no-hitters and six shutouts. He has a 0.46 ERA with 108 strikeouts and 14 walks in 61.1 innings. At the plate he’s been equally impressive: 15 doubles, 10 doubles, .485 BA, 46 RBI, 42 runs, 47 hits, and only 7 strikeouts.

 Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Ryan Scarpetta for his hard work and success.
Week of May 24, 2010

On the mound and at the plate, Jon Surber produced in a big way for Lisle to help the Lions advance in the Class 2A state tournament. In the week, the 6-foot-3, 185-pound Clemson recruit won three games on the mound, allowing one earned run while striking out 23. Surber was just as impressive at the plate, going 5-for-11 with a home run, three doubles and five RBI. His final victory of the week clinched a regional championship on Saturday, as he allowed no runs while striking out eight to beat Aurora Christian. In that game Surber also hit a bases-clearing double, his 16^th of the year, to set a school record.

Surber also threw a two-hit complete game, allowing one earned run and striking out 12 to beat Herscher, which clinched Lisle’s first conference championship since becoming a member of the Interstate 8 Conference in 1977. In the game, he also went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI. On Wednesday, Surber came in relief in the sixth inning to shut out Westmont, as the Lions won the regional semifinal game in extra innings. His two-out double in the sixth inning tied the game to send the contest into extra innings.

For the season, Surber is 8-1 with a 1.09 ERA. In 46 innings he has recorded 66 strikeouts. At the plate, Surber has broken numerous single-season offensive records at Lisle, including 10 home runs, 16 doubles and 46 RBI. He’s batting .457 with a slugging percentage of .957.

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Jon Surber for his hard work and success.
Week of May 17, 2010

After missing close to two weeks with an injury, Kevin Koziol has been on fire as of late. In a five-game stretch against the likes of powerhouses St. Rita, Providence, Mount Carmel, Loyola and Stagg, the 6-foot-2, 195-pound Koziol put together an impressive week. His week started innocently enough, going 1-for-2 with a walk and a sacrifice fly in a win over Loyola.

Then Koziol helped Brother Rice upend No. 5 Providence by going 2-for-4 with a double, RBI and two runs scored. The following game against Mount Carmel, Koziol hit a three-run homer to tie the game in the sixth and finished with five RBI. On Thursday in a 7-2 win over then-No. 7 St. Rita, Koziol went 3-for-3 with two home runs, a walk, and finished with five RBI.  Koziol capped his week by going 2-for-3 against Stagg. On the mound, he pitched five innings and allowed one hit.

For the season, the LSU recruit is hitting .444 with seven homers and 37 RBI. He has been walked 24 times and has an .819 slugging percentage to go along with a .592 on-base percentage.

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Kevin Koziol for his hard work and success.
Week of May 10, 2010

Tim Barry is at it again. In his last six games, the 6-foot, 205-pound junior outfielder from Oak Forest hit eight home runs – yes, eight – to go along with 13 RBI and 11 runs scored. The two-time all-state selection went 12-for-22 during that stretch of games.

Against Sandburg last Wednesday, Barry went 4-for-5 with three home runs, four RBI and four runs scored. The previous day against Shepard, Barry hit a home run with three RBI, two runs and a walk.  The powerful right-handed hitter also went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a triple, four RBI and three runs scored against Richards, and two homers against Brother Rice.

Barry, a junior, has hit 14 home runs this season, giving him 38 in his varsity career. The state career record is 49 home runs, held by Chris Parrish from Odin HS, between 200-2003. As a freshman two years ago, Barry hit 13 homers and tallied 73 RBI. Barry entered his junior season with 128 RBI.

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Tim Barry for his hard work and success.
Week of May 3, 2010

Kyle Ruchim is the biggest reason why Stevenson is ranked No. 2 in the state with a 22-1 record at week’s end. The 5-foot-11, 170-pound shortstop and right-handed pitcher enjoyed a monster week in helping the Patriots go 4-0. In a win over Fremd, Ruchim went 3-for-3 with two home runs, seven RBI and three runs scored. The following game against Buffalo Grove, Ruchim almost has an identical performance, going 3-for-3 with two more home runs, six RBI and two runs scored. Ruchim also earned a complete-game victory on the mound against conference rival Mundelein. In the game, he allowed six hits, one earned run and struck out nine. The Patriots swept then-No. 13 Mundelein in a two-game series. He also went 1-for-3 with a RBI and a walk in the other win.

For the season, the Northwestern recruit is batting .446 with six homers, nine doubles, two triples, 38 RBI and 32 runs scored. He has struck out only twice. As one of the best defensive middle infielders in the state, Ruchim has committed two errors at shortstop. On the mound, he holds a 0.89 ERA, and in 22.2 innings, he has 40 strikeouts.

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Kyle Ruchim for his hard work and success.
Week of April 26, 2010

Wood has propelled No. 3 St. Laurence to an incredible 19-1 start as of Monday, April 26. The 6-foot, 200-pound junior has established himself as one of the premier two-way talents in the state, and is overall performance last week was a microcosm of his entire season.

A left-handed pitcher and outfielder, the Purdue recruit opened the week by throwing a one-hit shutout against Fenwick. His no-hit bid was broken up with a single in the seventh inning. Wood struck out nine, walked one and hit one batter. At the plate, he went 2-for-4 with a triple, two RBI and a stolen base. On Wednesday, Wood went 2-for-3 at the plate with a home run, two RBI and two runs scored against St. Francis De Sales. On Saturday in a showdown against Mount Carmel, Wood went 2-for-2 with a pair of two-run homers to lead the St. Laurence to a 7-6 victory and keep the Vikings unbeaten in the Chicago Catholic League. He also tallied four RBI, three runs scored and a stolen base.

For the season, Wood is hitting an astounding .580 with nine home runs, eight doubles, three triples and 35 RBI. He has a slugging percentage of 1.400, an on-base percentage of .646, in addition to 28 runs and only two strikeouts. On the mound, Wood is 4-0 with a 2.59 ERA. In 27 innings, he has 30 strikeouts.

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Kyle Wood for his hard work and success.
Week of April 19, 2010

Matt Pisani enjoyed a perfect week. The left-handed pitcher from York HS threw a perfect game against West Suburban Silver rival Hinsdale Central on Tuesday. Even more impressive than the rare feat was how the 5-foot-10, 170-pound Pisani achieved it. He needed only 66 pitches to retire 21 hitters; the most pitches he threw in single inning were 12, and only one batter reached a full count during the 6-0 victory. Behind a sweeping curveball, fading changeup and upper-70s fastball, Pisani struck out seven.

What’s more, in his previous start against Wheaton North, Pisani tossed a three-hit, complete-game shutout to earn the victory. Pisani, who also got a save against Oak Park, has not allowed a run all season.

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Matt Pisani for his hard work and success.
Week of April 12, 2010

Mark Uhles enjoyed a record-breaking week - literally. The powerfully built 5-foot-10, 215-pound catcher from Benton HS opened the week with a bang. On Monday, Uhles went 4-for-4 with four home runs – that’s right, four – which included a grand slam and a two-run shot off the scoreboard to tie the game in the bottom of the seventh. Uhles finished the 12-11 victory over Murphysboro with 10 RBI. His four home runs tied a state record. Then on Tuesday, Uhles came back with a 3-for-3 performance that included another home run, two doubles, a walk and two RBI in a Benton victory. On Friday, his 2-for-4 day included another double during Benton’s first loss of the season, 6-5, to Massoc County. Uhles added two more doubles and three RBI on Saturday to conclude his whirlwind weak.

Committed to Rend Lake Junior College, Uhles finished the week with five home runs, five doubles and 15 RBI in 20 at-bats. For the season, Uhles has nine home runs, eight doubles, 32 RBI and is batting .643 for Benton, which was 10-2 at the end of the week. Uhles has a ridiculous 1.476 slugging percentage. As a junior, Uhles opened eyes by delivering 49 RBI, eight home runs while batting .444 with only six strikeouts.

“Brett has always been very consistent,” said Benton coach Brett Blondi. “He doesn’t miss many pitches. When he starts his swing, he usually makes solid contact every time.

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Mark Uhles for his hard work and success.
Week of April 5, 2010.

In a week that had several impressive candidates, Harrisburg senior Reid Roper earned The Porsche Exchange POW honors by delivering a statistically staggering week. During a string of seven games last week, the University of Illinois recruit went 13-for-16 with five home runs, four doubles, one triple, 15 RBI and 13 runs scored. On the mound, the 6-foot, 180-pound right-hander earned two victories and a save, allowing one earned run in nine innings.

Roper’s performance helped No. 2 Harrisburg to a 7-0 week, including victories over Edwardsville, Cary-Grove and Simeon. The left-handed hitting shortstop’s binge began last Saturday when he went 1-for-1 with a home run and a few walks. Then in a doubleheader sweep of No. 30 Edwardsville and Simeon on Monday, Roper went 7-for-7 with three home runs, two doubles and a triple. He then followed it up on Tuesday with a 3-for-3 showing with another home run. Roper finally made an out on Wednesday, but not before blasting another home run and a triple.

For the season, Roper is hitting .724 (21-for-29) with six homers, six doubles, two triples, 21 runs and 20 RBI. On the mound, he’s 3-0 with one save and has allowed one earned run in 14 innings.

“I’ve never seen anything like this out of anyone before,” said venerable Harrisburg coach Jay Thompson, who has won two state championships at the school. “He’s seeing the ball so well and his timing is tremendous. ... He’s really a man among boys right now.”

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Reid Roper for his hard work and success.
Week of March 29, 2010.

Jarvis opened the season with a bang, as the 5-foot-11, 180-pound catcher went 7-for-12 with three home runs, two doubles, four walks, 15 RBI and eight runs scored during four Burlington Central victories. Jarvis, who’s one of the best unsigned catchers in the state, also threw out 2 of 2 runners and back-picked three runners at first base.

Jarvis opened his phenomenal week by going 1-for-3 with four RBI. His two-run homer off of Oklahoma-bound Connor Sadzeck gave Burlington Central a 5-4 lead. He delivered the game-winning sacrifice fly in the seventh to secure a 6-5 win over Crystal Lake Central.

During a 9-0 win over Sycamore, Jarvis went 2-for-2 with a double, walk and a hit by pitch. Against Kaneland, Jarvis hit a grand slam en route to a 2-for-3 day with five RBI. Finally, against Batavia, Jarvis went 2-for-4 with a three-run double in the second inning and a two-run homer in the fourth to lead Burlington Central to a 7-1 victory. Along with his hitting prowess, Jarvis also possesses a strong throwing arm behind the plate. At a Prep Baseball Report event, he registered consistent 1.9 pop times. 

Please send all player nominations for Porsche Exchange Player of the Week to Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations should be emailed by Sunday night at the end of the previous week of games.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Austin Jarvis for his hard work and success.
Week of March 22, 2010