The Alabama Diamond Notes will focus on highlighting some top performances across the state based on nominations from high school coaches. We will highlight positions players, pitchers and two-way players every Tuesday of the high school season that had impressive weeks during their team's games. Special thank you to the many high school coaches that sent in nominations this week.

Check out our scout blog HERE for games our staff was able to get out and see last week.

 

Russel Wiggs SS / 2B / Sardis, AL / 2024 Wiggs was named the MVP of the Etowah County tournament as he twirled a complete game shutout with 10 strikeouts. The uncommitted junior also hit .500 (5-10) with two stolen bases.

Peryn Bland SS / 2B / Thompson, AL / 2024 The Troy commit has helped the Warriors get off to a blistering 12-0 start and a No. 3 ranking in 7A. This week, Bland was 10-for-16 (.625 BA) with two walks while also scoring nine runs.

Jake Thornton RHP / 3B / Madison County , AL / 2024 Thornton had another stellar week for the 4A No. 10 Tigers as he collected six hits in 15 at-bats (.400 BA) with four doubles and one triple. The uncommitted junior also drove in three runs while throwing six innings where he did not allow an earned run while striking out six hitters.

Memphis Scott 2B / C / Madison County , AL / 2025 The sophomore hit .400 (6-for-15) for the week which included a double and a homerun. He drove in five runs and scored eight more runs while also stealing four bases and walking four times as well.

Trenton Shirley SS / OF / Tuscaloosa County, AL / 2023 The Shelton State CC signee has helped the Wildcats get off to a 10-1 ranking and a No. 4 ranking in 7A. This week, Shirley was 5-for-10 (.500 BA) with a triple and a home run. He also drove in five runs and scored six runs to go along with two stolen bases.

Brodie Jones SS / 2B / Opelika, AL / 2025 Jones had an impressive week with the bat as he was 10-for-16 (.625 BA) with a double and five runs driven in. On top of coming up with some clutch hits, he also stole three bases.

Corbin Driskell C / RHP / Southside, AL / 2025 Driskell finds his name on the "Diamond Notes" again this week as he continues to swing a hot bat this spring. The sophomore hit .583 (7-for-12) for the week, which included two home runs. He also drew four walks and drove in seven runs.

Nicholas McCord SS / RHP / Oak Mountain , AL / 2024 McCord, an uncommitted junior, delivered in a two-way for Oak Mountain this week as he was 5-for-13 (.384 BA) with two triples and a double. He also drove in four runs and scored five more runs. On the mound, McCord worked 6.2 innings as he struck out 11 hitters and only walked two. He was 1-0 with a save for the week.

Cole Dean OF / 1B / Bayshore Christian , AL / 2025 The uncommitted sophomore had a week to remember as he was 8-for-10 (.800 BA) with two home runs, one triple and four doubles while driving in 11 runs. On the mound, Dean worked 3.1 innings, allowing two hits and one earned run while earning a save.

Evan Nelson SS / 2B / Sparkman, AL / 2023 The Sparkman Senators had an impressive week and the uncommitted senior was a big piece of that success. Nelson hit .389 (7-for-18) for the week with ten runs driven in while drawing three walks. He also stole three bases.

Nick Causey 2B / SS / Sparkman , AL / 2023 Causey, an uncommitted senior, ht .400 (8-for-20) for the week with a double and two triples. He also drove in six runs and also scored six runs while drawing three walks as well.

Carter Wells RHP / 1B / Sparkman, AL / 2023 The Northeast Mississippi CC signee had a big week in a two-way role for the Senators. On the mound, Wells was 1-0 after tossing 6.1 innings. He only allowed five hits and struck out nine hitters. Offensively, he was 6-for-15 (.400 BA) with a triple and five runs driven in. He scored three runs and walked three times as well.

Sammy Vander Hill OF / RHP / Bob Jones High School , AL / 2023 Vander Hill, a VMI signee, was 5-for-13 (.385 BA) during the week. Of those five hits, two were home runs as he also drove in six runs. The senior stole four bases and also walked three times.

Braden Booth RHP / 3B / Bob Jones , AL / 2024 A week after winning "Mizuno Player of the Week", Booth finds his name listed again this week as the Mississippi State signee produced with the bat yet again. The junior was 5-for-12 (.417 BA) which included a double and a home run to go along with two runs driven in. Booth scored three runs, walked six times and stole three bases.

Dakota NeSmith 3B / 1B / Arab , AL / 2023 Smith, a Gadsden State CC signee, hit .455 (5-for-11) during the week that included a game-winning hit versus Grissom in a 1-0 win. The senior infielder had three doubles and drove in five runs while also getting a win and a save on the mound in two relief appearances.

Jack Elliott SS / 2B / Athens , AL / 2024 Elliott had a fantastic week with the bat as he hit .636 (7-for-11) and had an OBP of .692. The uncommitted junior drove in two runs, scored four runs and was hit by pitch once and also walked one time.

Caiden Dumas OF / LHP / Athens, AL / 2024 Dumas was 8-for-13 (.615 BA) that included a home run and a triple. He also drove in seven runs and scored eight runs as well. He walked twice and stole three bases while getting on base at a .667 clip.

Joseph Garrison RHP / 1B / Priceville, AL / 2023 Garrison, a Troy signee as a RHP, has helped Priceville to a 4A No. 8 ranking as a two-way player. On the mound, Garrison was 1-0 with six innings pitched while striking out ten hitters. He only allowed three hits and issued one walk. With the bat, Garrison was 3-for-9 (.333 BA) with two doubles and five runs driven in. He also walked three times, was hit-by-pitch once and had two stolen bases.

Hayes Harrison 1B / LHP / Oxford, AL / 2023 A Northwest-Shoals CC signee, Harrison continues to produce at a high level for the 6A No. 1 Yellow Jackets. For the week, the senior was 6-for-8 (.750 BA) with four runs driven in and a double and two stolen bases. On the mound he was part of back to back combined no-hitters with 5.2 innings pitched. He did not allow a hit, walked one and struck out 11 hitters while not allowing a run.

Trace Adams 1B / LHP / Oxford , AL / 2023 An uncommitted senior, Adams has been a key contributor for the Yellow Jackets. This week he was 5-for-7 (.714 BA) with two doubles while driving in four runs. Adams also had two stolen bases.

Andrew Hicks RHP / OF / Prattville, AL / 2024 The uncommitted junior turned in a fabulous performance on the mound for the Lions in a start versus a ranked Auburn team. Hicks worked six innings and did not allow a run in the 5-0 win. He scattered two while striking out four hitters.

Bryson Goff LHP / 1B / Saraland , AL / 2023 Goff turned in an outstanding performance this week for the 6A No. 4 Spartans who currently sit at 6-2. The East Mississippi CC signee worked six innings (CG) in an 11-1 victory, only allowing the one earned run. He scattered five hits and struck out nine in the win.

Connor Gehr SS / RHP / Gulf Shores , AL / 2024 The uncommitted junior continues to perform as well as anyone in the state on the mound. In a complete game win versus Corner, Gehr allowed one hit and issued only one walk. He did not allow a run and struck out nine hitters as opposing hitters only hit .059 against him.

Alex Rippy OF / Gulf Shores, AL / 2024 The uncommitted junior was the tough luck loser in a 2-1 loss to 7A No. 3 Thompson as he went 7.1 innings (CG) on the mound. He scattered six hits, walked only one hitter and struck out four Warrior hitters.

Ben Pearman 1B / RHP / Thompson, AL / 2023 A Snead State CC signee, Pearman got the 4-0 win over Pell City as he went six innings on the mound. The senior struck out six hitters, allowed two hits while not allowing a run.

Spencer Nicholas LHP / 1B / Tuscaloosa County, AL / 2024 The junior southpaw once again finds his name in the "Diamond Notes" as he continues to give the 7A No. 4 Wildcats quality start after quality start. This week he got a complete game win (7 IP) while scattering three hits and not walking anyone. Nicholas struck out six hitters and did not allow a run.

Tyler Pierce RHP / Boaz, AL / 2025 Pierce was magnificent for the Pirates on the mound this week, specifically Saturday. The uncommitted sophomore went seven innings on the mound, getting a win versus Arab and a save versus West Point on Saturday. He scattered six hits and struck out 13 hitters. He did not walk anyone and did not allow an earned run.

Ryan Strachan 3B / RHP / Sparkman, AL / 2023 The Northwest-Shoals CC signee finds his name on the list again this week after dominating on the mound in his start this week. Strachan went 1-0 with six innings on the mound while only allowing one earned run. He scattered five hits and struck out seven hitters.

Benjamin Arn LHP / 1B / Bob Jones, AL / 2023 Arn continues to deliver on the mound for the 7A No. 2 Patriots. This week he twirled a seven inning complete game win while not allowing an earned run. The uncommitted senior allowed only three hits and one walk to go with eight strikeouts. Opposing hitters hit only .130 against him.

Blake Moon 1B / LHP / Arab, AL / 2023 Another repeat performer on the list this week, the uncommitted senior gave the 5A No. 8 Knights another brilliant outing in a win versus Grissom. He went 6.2 innings on the mound and did not allow a run while only giving up two hits. He struck out 12 hitters in the 1-0 win.

Riley Miller RHP / OF / Athens, AL / 2024 The former Future Game member of Team Alabama was brilliant on the mound this week for the Golden Eagles. He worked five innings on the bump and struck out 12 hitters while only allowing two hits. The UAB commit did not allow an earned run in his start.

Thomas Kerby LHP / 1B / Priceville, AL / 2023 An uncommitted senior southpaw, Kerby gives the 4A No. 8 Bulldogs another quality arm, and this week was no exception. He worked a total of seven innings on the mound and went 1-0 with a save on the week. He allowed only four hits and did not allow a walk while striking out 13 hitters and only allowing two earned runs. In his only start of the week he struck out the first six batters of the game.

Keith Ceasor 3B / RHP / Faith Academy , AL / 2024 An uncommitted junior, Ceasor hit an even .500 (6-for-12) for the week. While also showing solid defense at first base, he drove in three runs while collecting a double as part of his six hits during the week.

Connor Robinson 3B / SS / Faith Academy , AL / 2023 An uncommitted senior, Robinson has always flashed solid glove work at the hot corner. This week he was 6-for-11 (.545 BA) with the bat while driving in two runs. One of his six hits was a triple.

 

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