Arizona Republic's Top 10 high school baseball players of the week; vote in poll
There were clutch performances during the week and in the first weekend of the Arizona high school state baseball playoffs. Here are The Republic's top 10 players of the week. Coaches nominated the players, you can vote for top overall performer in our poll below.
Top 10 high school baseball players of the week
1. Cade Shumard, Scottsdale Saguaro, LHP, Sr.
In a 4-0 4A first-round win over Tucson Sahuaro, he pitched a no-hitter, striking out 15. He also went 1-for-2 at the plate with a double.
2. Smith Bailey, Glendale Mountain Ridge, RHP, Sr.
He pitched a complete-game, 2-1 win over Tempe Corona del Sol in the first round of the 6A tournament, getting out of tough situations, leaving 11 runners stranded.
3. Jackson Forbes, Mountain Ridge, OF, Sr.
His two-run homer in the first inning proved to be enough in the 2-1 win over Corona del Sol in the 6A playoffs.
(If having difficulty voting, click here).
4. Brett Crossland, Phoenix Mountain Pointe, RHP, Jr.
In an 11-2 win over Gilbert Williams Field in the first round of the 5A playoffs, the Texas commit gave up two earned runs and struck out 13 in six innings.
5. Aaron Kniffin, Scottsdale Notre Dame, OF/RHP, Sr.
The San Diego State commit went 4-for-6 on the week with four RBIs and four runs scored. He knocked in the winning run in the 5A playoff win over Cactus Shadows. He also picked up the save in the 4-1 win.
6. Cole Berge, Chandler Hamilton, INF, Jr.
In a 9-1 first-round 6A tournament win over Gilbert Highland, he went 3-for-3 with three RBIs.
7. Tommy Pascanu, Phoenix Sandra Day O'Connor, DH, Jr.
In a 5-2 win over Mesa Red Mountain in the first round of the 6A tournament, he went 2-for-3 with a three-run home run.
8. Shane Hooper, Bagdad, LHP, Sr.
In an 8-0 win over Williams, he pitched a no-hitter, striking out 11 and walking four in seven innings. He also went 3-for-4 with two doubles and drove in three runs.
9. Tanner Leyba, Gilbert, P, Sr.
In a 6A play-in win over Tucson, he went the distance, giving up no runs, two hits and striking out six. He also got three hits and an RBI.
10. Grant Young, Oro Valley Canyon del Oro, P, Sr.
He pitched a complete-game, seven-inning, 9-0 shutout of Douglas in the first round of the 4A tournament, striking out nine to improve to 8-0 and lower his ERA to 0.78. He needed just 74 pitches. He also had two hits and an RBI.
Honorable mention
Tanner Milner, Peoria Sunrise Mountain, RHP, Sr.
He combined with Bryce Madison to no-hit Deer Valley in a 5-0 first-round 5A playoff win.
Bryce Madison, Sunrise Mountain, LHP, Jr.
He combined on the no-hitter against Deer Valley.
Johnny Casale, Phoenix Brophy Prep, LHP, Sr.
In a 7-0 win over Sunnyslope in the first round the 6A playoffs, he went the distance, striking out seven and giving up two hits.
Matt Niezgodzki, Brophy Prep, OF, Sr.
He went 2-for-4 with a double and five RBIs in the win over Sunnyslope.
To suggest human-interest story ideas and other news, reach Obert atrichard.obert@arizonarepublic.com or 602-316-8827. Follow him on X, formerly Twitter:@azc_obert
This article originally appeared on Arizona Republic: The Arizona Republic's Top 10 high school baseball players of the week
