Porsche Player of the Week

Jo Jo Maldanado - Oak Park-River Forest HS - SS- Junior

Jo Jo Maldanado had a weekend to remember at the Class 4A state championships. The 6-foot, 180-pound junior shortstop stood out like few others in helping the Huskies to a second-place state finish. In the semifinal game during Oak Park’s 11-0, five-inning victory over Wheaton North, he went 4-for-4 with two home runs, a double, six RBI and four runs scored. His two towering home runs to left field marked his fifth and sixth round-tripper over the last seven games. Then in the championship game Saturday, he delivered a run-scoring double off the center field wall at Silver Cross Field, and finished 2-for-4. In the field he was equally, if not more impressive. In the first he made a leaping grab to snag Nick Martini's line drive with a Prairie Ridge runner on third base. Then, in the second inning, he made a phenomenal diving catch to his left, popped up and fired a laser to first base to double the runner off. He also robbed another hit in the hole in the fourth inning.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Jo Jo Maldanado for his hard work and success.

Week of June 3

Matt Frahm - Olympia HS - RHP - Junior
	Matt Frahm carried Olympia to the Class 2A state championship by throwing consecutive complete games in the supersectional and state title game. Both his victories – 7-6 in eight innings against Carlyle and 6-1 against Illinois Valley Central in the title game – were against state-ranked top 20 teams. In the championship game, the 6-foot-5, 180-pound junior right-hander limited high-scoring IVC to six hits while recording seven strikeouts to one walk to land the Spartans their second state title since 2002. He also drove in a run. In the supersectional, Frahm went all eight innings, recording seven strikeouts to one walk while allowing nine hits. In the postseason, Frahm earned four of the team’s seven wins. For the season, he finished with an 11-1 record with 113 strikeouts to 28 walks and a 2.64 ERA. Congratulations to Frahm and Olympia for bringing home another state championship back to Stanford.
The Porsche Exchange salutes Matt Frahm for his hard work and success.
Week of May 26

Bryan Roberts - Benet Academy HS - RHP-C - Senior
	Bryan Roberts has been simply dominating this season, and last week was no exception. The 6-foot-3, 215-pound right-hander earned a complete-game victory and a save in both Benet’s playoff victories last week. In the regional championship game against Wheaton-Warrenville South on Saturday, the University of Illinois-bound Roberts struck out 14, walked none, and scattered five singles in Benet’s 4-1 victory. He also delivered a hit at the plate. Wheaton-Warrenville South had eliminated Benet from the playoffs the past two seasons. On Thursday, Roberts preserved an 8-7 victory over Plainfield North by earning the save in the seventh while driving in two runs at the plate. For the season, Roberts is 9-1 with three saves and a 0.76 ERA. In 64.2 innings, he has recorded a resounding 127 strikeouts to 15 walks while yielding 32 hits. At the plate, Roberts is hitting .406 with four home runs, 31 RBI and 35 runs scored.
The Porsche Exchange salutes Bryan Roberts for his hard work and success.
Week of May 19

Joey DeBernardis - Lake Zurich HS - 3B-RHP- Senior
	On the mound and at the plate, Joey DeBernardis had a week to remember. Although the Penn State-bound third baseman is more known for his hitting prowess, DeBernardis’ crowning moment came on the mound Thursday when he fired a no-hitter in the North Suburban League championship against Vernon Hills. DeBernardis struck out eight, walked three and only one batted ball left the infield. The 6-foot-2, 190-pound DeBernardis was equally impressive at the plate. In four games, he went 8-for-10 with a home run, three doubles and seven RBI. On Monday, he went 2-for-3 with a homer and earned the save against Wauconda. On Wednesday, he went 3-for-3 with two doubles and three RBI; and on Saturday DeBernardis went 2-for-2 with two intentional walks. Through Sunday, DeBernardis is hitting .528 with a school-record 12 homers, 13 doubles, one triple, 54 RBI and 39 runs scored. He has a slugging percentage of 1.101, an on-base percentage of .637 and has stolen a team-high 10 bases for the 26-7 Bears. On the mound he’s 7-2 with four saves and a 0.61 ERA.
The Porsche Exchange salutes Joey DeBernardis for his hard work and success.
Week of May 12

Jake Odorizzi - Highland HS - RHP-SS- Senior
	Despite having his every move watched by pro scouts, Jake Odorizzi has been nearly perfect this season. The 6-foot-2 right-hander extended his scoreless streak to 57 consecutive innings this past week after tossing two near-flawless complete games. On Monday, pitching in front of 28 pro scouts, the Prep Baseball Report’s No. 1-ranked player had his perfect-game bid broken up with two outs in the seventh. He finished the one-hit gem with 16 strikeouts and no walks, and touched 94 mph in the seventh against Waterloo. Then on Saturday he led No. 2 Highland to a 1-0 victory over Jacksonville by throwing a three-hitter with 14 strikeouts and one walk. At the plate for the week, the Louisville-signee also went 7-for-11 (.636 BA) with two homers and five RBI. For the season, through May 11, Odorizzi is 8-0 with a 0.00 ERA. In 57 innings he has 96 strikeouts to only five walks and has allowed 16 hits. At the plate, Odorizzi is batting .439 with 10 homers, seven doubles, two triples, 30 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Odorizzi, who is projected to be a top-round draft pick come June, earned PBR first-team All-State honors as a junior.
The Porsche Exchange salutes Jake Odorizzi for his hard work and success.
Week of May 5

C.J. Esposito - Lyons Township HS - LHP-1B - Senior
	At the plate and on the mound, Esposito enjoyed a monster week for the red-hot Lions. In five games – three of which were against ranked opponents – the 6-foot-3, 205-pound unsigned senior went 9-for-15 with three homers, three doubles and 13 RBI. He hit a grand slam and drove in six to help Lyons end Leyden’s winning streak on Thursday; and in the Lions’ doubleheader sweep against Oak Park-River Forest on Saturday, he went 4-for-5 with a home run and five RBI in the first game. In the second game of the doubleheader, the left-hander earned the victory when he pitched a complete-game gem, collecting nine strikeouts while scattering five hits. For the week, Esposito pitched nine innings and yielded two runs. Esposito is 6-0 for the season with a 1.70 ERA. He has yielded nine earned runs with 42 strikeouts in 37 innings against some of the state’s best competition. At the plate he’s hit six homers, five doubles and has driven in 35 runs while batting .355
The Porsche Exchange salutes C.J. Esposito for his hard work and success.
Week of April 28

Tim Barry - Oak Forest HS - OF-C - Freshman
	The 6-foot, 205-pound freshman phenom has been nothing short of remarkable this season. Last week Barry went 14-for-21 at the plate with 15 RBI, two home runs, three doubles and scored nine runs for the No. 12-ranked Bengals. Barry’s emergence has been one of the biggest reasons why Oak Forest won 17 straight games and was 18-2 through Sunday. For the season, the leftfielder has connected for nine home runs, 11 doubles and has driven in an eye-popping 48 RBI. Through Sunday, he was batting .552 with 30 runs scored, four stolen bases and has only struck out four times. Barry was also runner-up for the Player of the Week honors last week as well.
The Porsche Exchange salutes Tim Barry for his hard work and success.
Week of April 21

Justin Ringo - Stagg HS - 1B-OF - Junior
	Up until recently Justin Ringo wasn’t getting any pitches to hit. That is, until last week. Ringo slid up into the two-hole, and the results were eye-opening. The 6-foot-1 left-handed hitting junior went on a home run binge, blasting six dingers for the week. In total, Ringo went 10-for-15 with two doubles, 12 RBI and 11 runs to go along with his six homers. Against Hinsdale South, he hit three consecutive bombs; in Stagg’s upset of Brother Rice, he connected for a grand slam, and added dingers against Homewood-Flossmoor and Bradley as well. To start the season Ringo, who had hit 10 homers as a sophomore, was walked 18 times in 38 at-bats. Through Monday, April 21, he’s hitting .475 with seven homers, six doubles, 22 RBI, 19 runs, 20 walks and has amassed an amazing 1.150 slugging percentage.
The Porsche Exchange salutes Justin Ringofor his hard work and success.
Week of April 15

Kyle Williams - Cary-Grove HS - 2B - Senior
	The left-handed hitting second baseman enjoyed a week for the ages. At one point Williams had tallied 11 straight hits, which included three homers, five doubles, eight runs and eight RBI. Williams’ streak began with a bunt, then proceeded to go 5-for-5 with four doubles and a homer against Antioch. He followed up that performance with another 5-for-5 effort. Only this time it included a double, two singles, a grand slam, and a walk-off three-run homer to beat Fremd, 12-11. Williams’ streak came to an end in the Trojans’ only loss of the season to No. 1 Carmel on Friday, but he finished the stretch 11-for-14. For the season, the 5-foot-8, 155-pound Williams is batting .425 with six doubles, three homers, 15 RBI, 13 runs and is 6-for-6 in stolen bases. The leadoff man’s slugging percentage is .800. Williams is committed to play at Millikin University. To see Williams in action, Click Here.
The Porsche Exchange salutes Kyle Williams for his hard work and success.
Week of April 8

Kyle Hunter - Galesburg HS - LHP - Senior

Kyle Hunter, a senior from Galesburg HS, posted two dominant victories on the mound and delivered big at the plate. The 6-foot-3, 190-pound left-hander struck out 26 and allowed no earned runs in 11 innings pitched last week for Galesburg. Against Rock Island on Saturday, Hunter improved to 4-0 after he struck out 13, allowed three hits and no earned runs; at the plate he delivered a three-run homer and a two-run double. Against Streator earlier in the week, Hunter tossed a five-inning no-hitter with 13 strikeouts. For the season, the Kansas State-bound Hunter is 4-0 with 42 strikeouts and eight walks in 19 innings. He’s allowed two earned runs. At the plate he’s 13-for-27 with three doubles and a home run. To see Hunter in action, click Here.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Kyle Hunter for his hard work and success.

Week of April 1

Angelo Burrage - St. Rita HS - OF-1B - Junior

Angelo Burrage, a junior from St. Rita HS, has earned the inaugural Porsche Exchange Player of the Week. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound outfielder-first baseman has been remarkable so far in this rain-shortened season. Through Tuesday, April 1, in eight games, Burrage is 9-for-18 with an astounding five home runs and three doubles. He has driven in 14 runs and has scored nine times. He has an amazine 1.500 slugging percentage, to go along with a .654 on-base percentage and .500 batting average. Burrage has also walked five times, been hit by three pitches and has one stolen base.

Because of weather issues, the award dates back to the beginning of the season.

The Porsche Exchange salutes Angelo Burrage for his hard work and success.

Weeks of March 17-April 1

To nominate a player for Player of the Week honors, please email Sean Duncan at duncan@prepbaseballreport.com. Nominations need to be in by Sunday evening, which would cover the preceding week (games played Monday through Saturday).


Thursday, Jul. 03
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