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 Wednesday 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. These stats are for games played between February 15th-24th.

Let's check out some of the top performances from Week 1 of the 2024 high school season.

Hunter Wippert 3B / RHP / Central-Phenix City, AL / 2024 The Chattahoochee Valley CC recruit was 8-for-21 (.381) with three doubles and nine runs driven in. He also scored three runs and had a stolen base. On the mound, he went 9.1 innings and only allowed one hit and one earned run while striking out nine.

Sam Brown SS / RHP / Central High School, AL / 2025 The uncommitted junior was 7-for-19 (.368) with two homeruns, a double and five runs driven in. He also scored six runs for the Class 7A No. 1 Red Devils.

Landon Beaver 1B / Central Phenix City, AL / 2024 Beaver was 11-for-19 (.579) for the week which included two doubles and a triple. The Alabama-Birmingham signee also drove in six runs, scored six runs and stole three bases.

Tyde Borden 3B / RHP / Priceville, AL / 2025 Borden was 5-for-12 (.417) during the week with two doubles. He also drove in four runs, scored four runs and had three stolen bases. On the mound, he got a win by going 1.2 innings allowing a hit while striking out four.

Shelby Houston 3B / Southside, AL / 2027 The freshman went 9-for-20 (.450) for the week with an on base percentage of .542. He had three doubles, six runs batted in and stole seven bases. He also went 1-0 on the mound, tossing 6 IP, and only allowed two earned runs.

Major Kelley DH / Boaz, AL / 2025 The uncommitted junior helped the Pirates get off to a hot start to the 2024 season, as he went 9-for-15 (.600) with three doubles and ten runs driven in.

Brooks Gentry 1B / LHP / Boaz, AL / 2024 The senior has shown the power early in the 2024 season as he collected five hits last with three of those hits being homeruns, including a grand slam. Gentry drove in six runs as well.

Kingston Peeler OF / RHP / Jacksonville, AL / 2025 Peeler collected nine hits in 21 at-bats for a .429 BA. He had a triple and drove in seven runs while scoring five runs and stealing six bases.

Memphis Scott INF / Madison County , AL / 2025 Scott, an uncommitted junior, was 5-for-9 (.545) with two doubles, two triples and a homerun. He also scored four runs and walked four times for an on-base percentage of .714.

Mason Holloway OF / Hamilton, AL / 2027 Holloway has helped Hamilton get off to a good start in 2024 going 10-for-17 (.588). He scored ten runs, stole seven bases and drove in four runs. On the mound, he was 1-0 and recorded a win with five strikeouts and only allowed one earned run.

Coley Gilstrap OF / Hamilton High School, AL / 2027 Another freshman producing at a high-level for the Class 4A No. 9 Aggies as he was 7-for-17 (.412) with three doubles and six runs driven in during the week. He also scored five runs and got a win on the mound by throwing five innings with nine strikeouts.

Braxton Griffin 3B / West Limestone, AL / 2024 The Alabama-Huntsville signee hit an even .500 (7-for-14) during the week with two doubles and four stolen bases. He also scored eight runs and had an on-base percentage of .632.

Jack Ross 3B / RHP / Homewood , AL / 2025 An uncommitted junior, Ross was 4-for-11 (.364) with a double and three homeruns, including a game-winner. One of those long balls was a grand slam which helped him drive in 11 runs for the week. On the bump, the right-handed pitcher went 2-0, throwing 9.1 innings while only allowing six hits and strinking out 11. He allowed only two runs in wins over Cullman and Opelika.

Mikey Vanderheyden C / Enterprise , AL / 2025 The junior Houston commit was 7-for-11 (.636) on the week with three doubles while also playing outstanding defense. He also walked five times and had an on-base percentage of .765.

Trent Wilson C / Scottsboro, AL / 2025 Wilson went 6-for-11 (.545) with a homerun and drove in five runs for the Wildcats. He also scored a run, walked four times and was hit-by-pitch three times for an on-base-percentage of .722. He also hit 1.000 with runners in scoring position.

Eli Woody C / Baldwin County, AL / 2024 It's hard to upstage the power numbers the Coastal Alabama South CC signee has put up early in the year. He was 11-for-23 (.478) with four homeruns and four doubles over the week. Woody also drove in 11 runs.

Rock Gearhart OF / Fairhope, AL / 2025 The uncommitted senior was 9-for-18 (.500) on the week for the Pirates. He had two doubles and a homerun while driving in ten runs.

Carson Joyner RHP / 3B / Bayside Academy, AL / 2024 Joyner is headed to Loisiana-Monroe as a pitcher, but he has swung it very well so far for the Class 4A No. 1 Admirals. For the week he was 14-for-19 (.737) with four doubles and a homerun. He drove in seven runs and had eight stolen bases to go along with four walks.

Braden Booth 3B / RHP / Bob Jones , AL / 2024 The Mississippi State signee was 6-for-14 (.429) on the week with two homeruns and six runs driven in. He also scored seven runs, walked eight times and and had five stolen bases. On the mound he was 2-0 with 9.2 innings pitched, including a five-inning no-hitter. For the week he allowed one hit, one earned run and struck out 21 hitters.

Jacob Pearl UTL / Bob Jones, AL / 2024 Pearl continues to produce for the Class 7A No. 3 Patriots. The Montevallos signee was 10-for-21 (.476) during the opening week of the season with three doubles and six runs driven in. He also scored nine times, walked twice and had two stolen bases.

Zackary Johnson C / OF / Bob Jones , AL / 2025 The junior Alabama commit collected five hits during the week, three of those hits were homeruns as he also drove in 10 runs. Johnson scored three runs and walked twice.

Camden Cobb C / Vincent , AL / 2024 Cobb, a senior, was 10-for-17 (.588) and also had an on-base percentage of .625. He had a homerun and three doubles for Class 2A No. 1 Vencent while also walking five times and driving in ten runs.

Trey Scott OF / RHP / Headland, AL / 2024 Scott is .600 (6-for-10) for the week which included a double and a homerun, helping Headland to a 3-0 record and Class 5A No. 2 ranking. The Coastal Alabama North CC signee also drove in eight runs while going five innings on the mound getting a win and a save during the week. He struck out six hitters and did not allow a run.

Ethan Santos SS / Baker, AL / 2024 Santos, a Bishop State CC signee, was productive out of the leadoff spot for the Hornets. He was 8-for-18 (.444) and drove in six runs for the week. He also scored six runs and walked six times as well.

Drew Layfield / Ashville High School, AL / 2024 The uncommitted senior was 6-for-11 (.545) during the first week of the season helping Ashville get off to a 3-1 record. He drove in eight runs, walked once and scored six runs. On the mound, he was 3-0 with nine innings pitched while only allowing seven hits. He did not allow an earned run while striking out 16 hitters and only walking two.

Caiden Combs 1B / Gardendale, AL / 2025 The Gardendale Rockets are currently ranked No. 3 in Class 6A and Combs has been an integral part in their successful start to the season. The Auburn commit was 11-for-16 (.688) with two doubles and and two homeruns. He also walked seven times and drove in 15 runs. On the mound, he logged nine innings and did not allow an earned run while only only four hits and striking out seven. This include a complete-game win.

Carson Loosier OF / James Clemens, AL / 2024 Loosier, a senior, has helped the Jets to a 5-2 record and No. 7 ranking in Class 7A. For the week, he hit .429 (9-for-21) and had an on-base percentage of .556. He had three doubles, drove in nine runs and scored nine runs as well. He also walked twice and had eight stolen bases.

Cole Payne INF / Hueytown , AL / 2024 The uncommitted senior infielder produced at a high-level out of the top of the order for the Golden Gophers. He was 8-for-19 (.421) with a double and two triples. He also drove in seven runs, walked six times and had a stolen base.

Spencer Nicholas LHP / Tuscaloosa County, AL / 2024 The Coastal Alabama South CC signee went 2-0 on the mound this week, tossing 12 innings in the process. He allowed only two hits and did not allow a run. He struck out 24 hitters and only walked four. He tossed a complete game no-hitter against Sipsey Valley.

Tripp Carter 1B / RHP / Orange Beach, AL / 2024 The uncommitted senior tossed a complete-game no-hitter in a big rivalry game with Gulf Shores on Friday night. He did not allow a run and struck out five and only walked three. This was the Makos first win against Gulf Shores.

Colman Gann RHP / Priceville, AL / 2025 In two starts against Austin and Arab, Gann went 1-0 while tossing 9.1 innings on the mound. The uncommitted junior scattered nine hits and allowed only one earned run. He struck out 18 hitters and only walked four.

Tyler Pierce SS / RHP / Boaz, AL / 2025 The Class 5A No. 10 Boaz Pirates are off to a hot start in 2024, and Pierce has been a big reason why. The uncommitted junior went 2-0 with wins against Plainview and North Jackson while tossing nine innings on the week. He scattered nine hits and only walked one. He did not allow a run while striking out 14.

Jake Thornton RHP / 3B / Madison County , AL / 2024 The Calhoun CC signee was dominant in his first two outings of the year for the Tigers. He recorded a win and a save while tossing 7.2 innings. He allowed only one earned run and struck out 17 hitters.

Brady Cantrell RHP / 3B / Hamilton High School, AL / 2027 The freshman had a big week on the mound for the Class 4A No. 9 Aggies. He totaled 8.1 innings for the week while recording a save. He only allowed five hits and one earned run. He also struck out six opposing hitters.

Brady Richardson SS / RHP / Enterprise, AL / 2025 The Troy commit put up some impressive numbers on the mound for the Class 7A No. 10 Wildcats. He tossed 11.1 innings including a win to go along with a 0.62 ERA. He only allowed five hits and one earned run as opposing hitters only hit .139 against him. He walked only four and struck out 22 opposing hitters.

Austin Chappell RHP / 3B / Enterprise High School, AL / 2004 A big week for another Enterprise pitcher, Chappell tossed 12 innings and went 2-0 with a save. Opposing hitters only hit .163 against him as he only walked three. He allowed only seven hits and two earned runs. He struck out 15 and finished the week with a 1.17 ERA.

Aiden Poe RHP / Vincent, AL / 2025 Poe, an Air Force commit, was 3-0 on the week and finished with a 1.23 ERA. He tallied 17 innings on the mound and allowed only three runs. He scattered 12 hits, only walking two and striking out 26 opposing hitters.

Hudson Marks 1B / Athens, AL / 2026 Marks was part of a combined no-hitter this week as the Golden Eagles got off to a hot start and currently sit at No. 10 in the Class 6A Top-10. For the week, the sophomore went 1-0 with five innings pitched. He did not allow a hit and struck out 11 against Muscle Shoals.

Riley Miller RHP / OF / Athens, AL / 2024 Miller, an Alabama-Birmingham signee, was the other part of the combined no-hitter for the Golden Eagles. For the week, Miller was 1-0 with a save while only allowing one earned run. He tossed a total of seven innings and only allowed a single hit over that span. He walked three and struck out 17.

Grayson Hays RHP / 3B / Athens , AL / 2024 Hays, a senior, went 1-0 this week as he tossed seven innings for the Golden Eagles. He only allowed one run and one hit over that stretch. He walked just three hitters and struck out eight.

Bryson Sudduth RHP / OF / Baker, AL / 2024 The uncommitted senior was 1-0 on the week for the Baker Hornets. He tallied eight innings on the mound and scattered six hits over that span. He gave up only one earned run and struck out 11 opposing hitters.

Satchel Wheeler LHP / 1B / James Clemens, AL / 2024 The senior southpaw was instrumental in the Jets getting off to a hot start in 2024 and a Class 7A No. 7 ranking. For the week, the Snead State CC recruit was 1-0 and also suffered a tough luck no-decision as well. He tossed 13 innings and only allowed one earned run. Opposing hitters only hit .217 against him and he finished the week with a .538 ERA. He scattered ten hits, walked only three and struck out nine.

 

Upcoming Events

SHOWCASE	DATE	LOCATION
Mobile Summer ID	May 30th, 2024	Coastal Alabama-South CC (Bay Minette, AL)
Birmingham Summer ID	June 26th, 2024	Gardendale High School (Gardendale, AL)
Birmingham Rising Stars ID	June 26th, 2024	Gardendale High School (Gardendale, AL)
Huntsville Rising Stars ID	July 2nd, 2024	James Clemens High School (Madison, AL)
Huntsville Summer ID	July 2nd, 2024	James Clemens High School (Madison, AL)
Montgomery Summer ID	July 16th, 2024	Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL)
Montgomery Rising Stars ID	July 16th, 2024	Stanhope Elmore High School (Millbrook, AL)

 

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