Tennessee Diamond Notes: Week 5

The Tennessee Diamond Notes is a 2024 content piece that will focus on highlighting some top performances across the state based on nominations from high school coaches. We will highlight those positions players, pitchers and two-way players every Wednesday of the high school season that are deserving to be highlighted based on their performance. 

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

For now, let's take a look at those players from across the state highlighted in this week's Tennessee Diamond Notes. 

TENNESSEE DIAMOND NOTES: WEEK 5

Tomas Valincius LHP / 1B / Baylor, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 3 / POS: 1 OverallRank: 91 / POS: 13 The Prep Baseball All-American had another strong perfromance yet again for his 2nd nomination for player of the week this season. He would go 4-7 at the plate with 3 HR's, 1 2B, 11 RBI's. On the mound, the number 1 ranked LHP would go 5 innings, giving up 1 hit, while going unassisted striking out 10 in route to a opening series win.

Ben Kauffman 1B / 3B / Cannon County, TN / 2025 Rankings  StateRank: 96 / POS: 6 Kauffman has a very productive week hitting .333 with a .400 OBP that included 4 hits, 2 singles and 2 homeruns to go alongside 5 RBIs on the week. Kauffman also had a go ahead 2-run homerun against Forrest that ended up being the game winner in a 2-0 win. On the season, Kauffman is hitting .321 with a .441 OBP that includes 7 singles, 5 2B's, 6 HRs, 24 RBI's.

Matthew Shorey LHP / Father Ryan, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 10 / POS: 2 OverallRank: 277 / POS: 31 The Vanderbilt University recruit has been lights out this season and last week was no different in a 9 1/3 innings effort striking out 21 hitters with 0 walks and only 2 hits given up in an extra inning conference game.

Tyler Casserly OF / LHP / Middle Tennessee Christian , TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 200 / POS: 36 Casserly had a strong week for MTCS where he went 4-10 (.400), 2B, 6 RBI, 7 Runs, 6 SB, .647 OBP. On the season Casserly is 21-67 (.313) with 4 2B's, 14 RBI's, 24 runs, 19 BB's, 9 K's, 18 SB's and a .466 OBP.

Cayden King RHP / 1B / Middle TN Christian , TN / 2026 Rankings  StateRank: 22 / POS: 4 A top 25 player in the 2026 class, King had a strong start on the mound for MTCS where he would go 1-0 with 6 innings pitched, giving up 5 H's, 2 ER's, 1 BB and rack up 12 K's. On the season he has a perfect record (5-0), 25 IP, 16 H, 5 ER (1.40 ERA), 8 BB, 42 K, .960 WHIP, .190 BAA.

A.J. Armstrong SS / OF / Cannon County, TN / 2024 Rankings  StateRank: 73 / POS: 11 The uncommitted senior would have a strong offensive showing at the plate where he had a .500 average with a .600 OBP that included 5 hits, 4 singles, 1 double, 2 RBIs, 2 runs and 1 SB. He was also 1-0 on the mound this week with a 0.00 ERA, with 7Ks in 9 innings pitched. For the season, Armstrong is 5-0 on the hill with 1.15 era, 29 K's and 1BB, while hitting .474 with a .672 OBP, including 4 doubles, 1 triple, and 2 HRs.

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