2024 High School Team Previews : Volume I
January 16, 2024
With the spring fast approaching, our staff has turned the focus to preparing for the 2024 spring season. Read along to find previews on a handful of programs that have already submitted their preseason questionnaire.
All information has been provided to us through our preseason questionnaire, please email [email protected] if you have not received this poll.
Winamac Warriors
Head Coach: Mark Hendryx
Class: 2A
2023 Record: 8-16
Conference (2023 Record): 7-7
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 9/5
2024 Team Strengths:
Pitching
Impact Players:
- Addison Allen, OF/P, 2025
.344 ba, .500 Slg, 9 SB
- Cash Roth, C/3B, 2025
.397ba, .500 slg
- Brayden Mathias, P/SS, 2025
.294 R/R, .382 SLG, 10 SB
- Wyatt Wheeler, P/3B, 2024
.311 BA, .475 SLG, 8 SB
Bluffton Tigers
Head Coach: Jason Pierce
Class: 2A
2023 Record: 18-7
Conference (2023 Record): 4-2
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/7
2024 Team Strengths:
Pitching, Defense, Team Speed
Impact Players:
- Braxton Betancourt, P/1B, 2024
- A.J Streveler, P/INF, 2026
- Griffin Morgan, LHP, 2026
- Eli Garrett, P/MIF, 2024
- Brody Lewis, P/C/OF, 2024
Hammond Central Wolves
Head Coach: Michael Caston
Class: 4A
2023 Record: 14-10-1
Conference (2023 Record): 5-0
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/4
2024 Team Strengths:
Strong group of underclassmen
Impact Players:
- Aaron Lewis, CF, 2024
.327, 16 h, 6 doubles, 14 SB
- Brett Wienke, INF/RHP, 2025
- Jordan Hennen, C, 2024
- Adrian Tiscareno, SS, 2026
- William McCoy, UTL, 2026
- Elijah Lewis, UTL, 2026
- Brandon Hilliard, INF/RHP, 2026
- Juan Magallanes, INF/RHP, 2026
- Jensel Soivinon, INF/RHP, 2026
Decatur Central Hawks
Head Coach: Sean Winkelseth
Class: 4A
2023 Record: 10-14-1
Conference (2023 Record): 7-7
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/3
2024 Team Strengths:
Defense & Team Speed
Impact Players:
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Jaylen Yates, RHP/1B, 2025
.263 / .363 / .665 / 19 RBI / 12 BB --- 1-1 / 2.88 ERA / 23 K / 24 IP
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Zach Losito, SS/RHP, 2025
.286 / .457 / .885 / 20 runs scored / 11 rbi / 19BB / 18 SB --- 1-2 / 2.88 ERA / 34 K / 38 IP
Wheeler Bearcats
Head Coach: Sean Cunningham
Class: 2A
2023 Record: 13-17
Conference (2023 Record): 7-5
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/2
2024 Team Strengths:
Hitting
Impact Players:
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Jackson Smith, C, 2024
.294, 15 RBIs
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Brayden Prskalo, 1B, 2024, Prairie State JC
.388, 2 HRs, 23 RBIs
- Nick Bravo, SS, 2025
- David Lindlow, IF/P, 2026
.214, 6 RBIs, 8.84 ERA in 9 appearances
- Braden Olson, IF/P, 2026
.385, 7 RBIs, 1.75 ERA in 4 appearances
- Nick Micciche, IF/P, 2026
.320, 5 RBIs, 7 SBs
- Caleb McLaughlin, UTIL/P, 2026
.256, 7 RBIs
Columbus East Olympians
Head Coach: Jon Gratz
Class: 4A
2023 Record: 4-24
Conference (2023 Record): N/A
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/3
2024 Team Strengths:
Hitting & Team Speed
Impact Players:
- Blake Borkhardt, 1B/DH, 2024
- Eli Tindell, SS/RHP, 2025
- Logan Warren, C, 2025
- Evan Balzer, OF, 2024
- Jace Jones, OF, 2024
- Jackson Watkins, MIF, 2025
- J.D. Rotert, P/OF, 2027
- Stone Myers, RHP, 2026
- Ethan Harris, RHP, 2026
Northwood Panthers
Head Coach: AJ Risedorph
Class: 3A
2023 Record: 11-15
Conference (2023 Record): 6-8
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 9/6
2024 Team Strengths:
Experience, all 9 starters have multiple years of varsity experience
Impact Players:
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Beau Patterson, 1B/DH, 2024
.390 BA, 19RBI, 2 HR
- Carson Mashack, C, 2024
.151 BA, 3 2B
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Mason Bogan, OF/LHP, 2025
.273 BA, 11 RBI, 16 R / 5-3, 3.34 ERA, 35.2 IP
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Connor Reed, OF/LHP, 2025
.303 BA, 4 XBH, 16 RBI, 17 R, 15 SB / 0-4, 4.60 ERA, 34 K, 24 IP
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Nate Dutkowski, SS/RHP, 2025
.292 BA, 4 XBH, 18 R
Connersville Spartans
Head Coach: Jason Cloyd
Class: 3A
2023 Record: 22-7
Conference (2023 Record): 9-5
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 2/3
2024 Team Strengths:
Experience returning on the mound
Impact Players:
- Brady Cloyd, INF/RHP, 2024
.345 BA, 25 RBIs, 19 BB, .476 OBP / 2-0 1.84 ERA, 31ks-10BB
- Kolton Deboard, UTL/P, 2025
.212 10 RBIs / 7-1, 1.18 ERA, 26 Ks to 19BB
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Aaron Kidd, RHP/UTL, 2025
3-0, 2.27 ERA
- Gavin Brannon, RHP/MIF, 2026
- Brody Shearer, UTL/C/RHP, 2026
Greencastle Tigers
Head Coach: Ben Wells
Class: 2A
2023 Record: 13-12
Conference (2023 Record): 4-6
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/6
2024 Team Strengths:
Pitching Depth, Speed, Defense
Impact Players:
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Nathan Sutherlin SS/RHP, 2026
AVG:.430, RBI: 31, H:37, 2B: 8, HR:2, SB:8
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Sam Gooch, RHP/3B, 2026
AVG:.318, RBI: 31, H:14, 3B:3, SB:9 / ERA:4.62, IP:33, H:32, K:38
- Trevin Long, 3B/2B, 2026
AVG:.460, RBI: 10, H:29, SB:16
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Treyten Clark, LHP/OF, 2025
AVG:.329, RBI: 21, H:21, 2B: 7, SB:8 / ERA:3.32, IP:50.2, H:58, K:60, BB: 7
- Owen Huff, OF, 2024
AVG:.403, RBI:14, H:29, SB:14