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2024 Nebraska Class A State Tournament Preview

May 8, 2024
Pascal Paul
Prep Baseball Nebraska

Starting on Opening Day, our scouts will be out covering the 2024 season, publishing notes on our Scout Blog and additional in-season content along the way, like Power Rankings updates, Player of the Week awards, and weekly top performers included inside Diamond Notes.

LINCOLN EAST SPARTANS  

The defending champs and the number one ranked team in the state all year in our Power Rankings. The Spartans finished the season 29-1, and the lone loss came to Millard South, 3-4. The lineup is the state's best and deepest, with Division 1 commits all over the field led by K-State commit and the state home run leader, AJ Evasco.


On the mound, they are coming at you in the zone with multiple pitches headlined by Nebraska commit Carter Mick.

This team knows how to win; they force the opponent to play every inch of the field mentally and physically, they don't beat themselves often with errors or walks, and their lineup isn't out of any game, no matter the score. If another team wants the title, they must take it from this Spartan team.

MILLARD WEST WILDCATS 

The Wildcats finished the season at 29-5 with an at-large bid to the tournament after dropping the district finals to Elkhorn South.  I don't anticipate that game to affect the Wildcats at all as the program, coaches, and players have been to the championship the last four years running with two titles.  

Offensively they are led by potential 1st round MLB draft pick shortstop Tyson Lewis and Creighton commit, third baseman Nick Venticher, both have carried the Millard West offense this season. Dylan Swiercek, Brady Ferguson, and JD Moffett have dominated as starters on the mound while Venteicher headlines the bullpen as the closer, more depth than most teams with 9 arms getting to 10 or more innings.


Experience and motivation are dangerous combinations with the talent of the Wildcats, especially with the outstanding performances of Lewis and Venticher.

BELLEVUE WEST THUNDERBIRDS 

The Thunderbirds lost one of their top bats and arms for the year midseason, but balance offensively and on the mound has been vital.  

Three college commits headline the lineup: Ty Smolinski (K-State), Drew Grego (Nebraska), and Nick Glantz (Allen CC), all hitting above .420 with 40 combined extra-base hits. Power arms lead the way on the hill; Grego, Colin Flores (Allen CC), and Tanner Hosick have all been 90+ mph in games with high strikeout-to-walk ratios.


The loss of Nick Riggs midseason huts the Thunderbirds but they have learned how to win without him down the stretch and have the talent on both sides of the ball to push for the title. Despite the setback, the Thunderbirds have a strong track record and have shown resilience in the face of challenges.

MILLARD SOUTH PATRIOTS

Upset in the first round of district, the Patriots were the second at-large team to get a bid.  

It is a very young, very talented team that is headlined by #1 ranked 2026 SS/RHP Brody Jindra. Nine pitchers have logged more than ten innings, uncommitted junior Tyler Albert, Brandt Smith, and Brycen Botos and sophomores Jindra and Noah Carroll have led the way on the hill. One regular senior in the lineup is uncommitted OF Harrison Hart, who pairs with Jindra in the middle of the order surrounded by talented, highly-ranked underclassmen.

The Patriots coaching staff have been to four of the last five state championships and will have this young team ready to prove themselves on the big stage.

LINCOLN SOUTHWEST SILVERHAWKS 

The Silverhawks are somewhat flying under the radar, coming into the state tournament after finishing the year 18-9.

They are led by upperclassmen at the plate and on the mound. Seniors Karter Chamberlain (Hutch CC) and Mason Humphrey (uncommitted) lead the way statistically for the pitching staff; both bring big-game experience. Top hitters include seniors Trent Buda (Iowa Western football), Hudson Shaffer (Uncommitted), Caden Ransom (University of Sioux Falls), and junior Landon Sandy (Uncommitted).

Consistency over seven innings will be essential for Lincoln Southwest. When they play a clean game, they have shown the ability to play with anyone in the state.

CREIGHTON PREP BLUEJAYS 

Another very young and highly talented team that battled some injuries early in the season; they are playing some of their best baseball at the end of the year.  

Michael Sall (UNO), John Lisec (San Diego), and Braden Caito (uncommitted) combined for a three-headed monster on the mound, with all three logging 29+ innings pitched. Offensively, they have done it with a number of different contributors throughout the season, with senior Michael Wheelock leading the balanced Bluejay offense.

Pat Mooney and the Creighton Prep program are no strangers to the big stage, so don't expect the bright lights to affect them much.

ELKHORN SOUTH STORM 

Coming off the biggest district championship upset in Class A, the Storm are riding high heading to the State tournament.  

Three high-end college arms make this team very dangerous as an underdog: Tanner Foertsch (Doane), Cal Cooper (Nebraska), and Michael Meckna (Oregon) have the stuff and ability to beat any team in the state on any day by themselves. Augustana commit SS Kobe Eikmeier leads the way offensively, hitting .340 with a team-leading eight extra-base hits; Eamon O'Gorman (Creighton) is a power bat from the left side that can make a difference for Elkhorn South.


On the mound, they can play with anyone in the state; it will come down to their production on offense for how long they are able to stay round.

MILLARD NORTH MUSTANGS

The Mustangs are a Cinderella story with Coach Bob Hlavac's first season at the helm.

They upset their way through the district from outstanding pitching performances by Wayne State committee Carson Obrecht and uncommitted Major Mosser. Obrecht leads the way on the mound (31.1 IP, 42ks); the senior has pitched many big games for the Mustangs over his career and will most likely be toeing the rubber on game one.  Offensively, they have only hit three home runs on the year, so making pitchers work and putting pressure on the base paths will be key. Uncommitted SS Ripken Fleck excels in both of those things and sparks the offense at the top.

In order to keep the Cindrella dream alive, it will take a total team buy-in against the rest of the more talented field (on paper).  

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