#2 Hamilton Huskies: Preseason Preview
February 21, 2024
High School: Hamilton Huskies
Coach: Mike Woods
AIA Classification: 6A
Conference: Premier
Hamilton High School's baseball team, led by Head Coach Mike Woods, enters the 2024 season with high expectations following a stellar performance in 2023. The Huskies dominated the competition, securing the 6A Championship with an impressive 26-5 record and claiming the top spot in the 6A Premier conference with a 7-1 standing.
?ＰＢＲ ＮＵＫＥ ＣＡＭ ?
— Shea Sbranti (@SheaSbranti) March 22, 2023
‘23 SS Roch Cholowsky
(Hamilton)@UCLABaseball lands on one over the left field wall for a HR.
#1 prospect in the state of AZ. Hamilton on top 3-0 after 3.#MLBDraft ll @CholowskyRoch pic.twitter.com/rGiIgJPQnk
Despite bidding farewell to key players such as Roch Cholowsky, now excelling at UCLA, and other notable talents like Josh Tiedemann, Ryan Kucherak, Carson Johnson, and Cooper Brass, the team remains a force to be reckoned with. The departing players left a legacy, and now the Huskies are focused on the upcoming season, ready to build on their success.
?SS ‘23 Ryan Kucherak?
— Prep Baseball Arizona (@PBRArizona) September 11, 2022
(Hamilton)
?? @LSUBaseball Commit. Had a big weekend at the Rockies Invitational with a Triple and a HR to close out the Mets tournament in fashion. @ryankucherak@shooterhunt@prepbaseball pic.twitter.com/vQDeJM0obc
Returning to the lineup is the dynamic 2025 Utah commit and standout center fielder Jaylen Payne. In the 2023 season, Payne showcased his prowess with a remarkable .420 batting average, solidifying his reputation as one of the top center fielders in the state. Complementing the team's returning talent is senior catcher Liam Wilson, committed to Harvard, and sophomore Ben Ball, an emerging talent committed to the University of Arizona.
25’ OF Jaylen Payne
— Prep Baseball Arizona (@PBRArizona) May 17, 2023
(Hamilton)@PBR_Uncommitted picks up the second hit of the night with a shot to right. Payne is one of the top defenders in the state of AZ. @JaylenBPayne28 pic.twitter.com/npAJFlrwNn
While the Huskies faced significant losses, they gained two impactful out-of-state transfers to bolster their roster. Drew Rogers, a 2024 graduate and Georgia Tech commit, arrives with a reputation as a power hitter and previously held the #1 player spot in Minnesota. Rogers' skills were on full display at the 2023 Area Code Games, representing the Reds. Another key addition is junior middle infielder Boston Kellner, a Louisville commit and former #1 player in Colorado.
24’ C Drew Rogers
— Prep Baseball Arizona (@PBRArizona) September 2, 2023
(Hamilton)@GTBaseball commit showed high levels tools at the plate. Long in the zone with quality power tool. Will be a force for Hamiltons offense this spring. @drew_rogers15 ll @ShooterHunt pic.twitter.com/F3U5xjv9sp
The 2024 season promises excitement as the Hamilton Huskies, armed with a mix of returning stars and promising new talents, set their sights on regaining the championship title and making waves in Arizona high school baseball.
UPCOMING EVENTS
| SHOWCASE | STATE | DATE | LOCATION |
| Arizona Rising Stars ID | AZ | 04/13 | Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ |
| Arizona Rising Stars ID - Session 2 | AZ | 04/27 | Grand Canyon University - Phoenix, AZ |