2024 High School Team Previews : Volume VII
February 8, 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 poll.
All information has been provided to us through our preseason coaches poll, please email [email protected] if you have not received this poll.
Kankakee Valley Kougars
Head Coach: Jordon VanWienen
Class: 4A
2023 Record: 16-12
Conference (2023 Record): 3-7
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/3
2024 Team Strengths:
Starting Pitching & Team Speed
Impact Players:
-
Alex Barr, LHP/1B, 2025, Indiana
.402 AVG, 1.137 OPS / 51 K, 35.1 IP -
Spencer Childers, LHP/OF, 2024
1.95 ERA, 42 K, 32.1 IP / .321 AVG - Donny Stam, C, 2025
- Tyler Smolek, 2B/SS, 2025
- Dylan Wireman, P, 2026
Adams Central Jets
Head Coach: Josh Foster
Class: 2A
2023 Record: 18-9
Conference (2023 Record): 3-3
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/5
2024 Team Strengths:
Starting Pitching, Team Speed, & Hitting
Impact Players:
- Trevor Currie, 1B, 2024
.526 AVG, .586 OBP, 50 hits, 22 RBI, 26 runs, 10 SB -
Dakota Perry, SS/P, 2024, Goshen
.329 AVG, .381 OBP, 21 RBI, 22 runs / 4-2, 2.31 ERA - Ryan Tester, OF/P, 2024
.484 AVG, .545 OBP, 23 XBH, 28 RBI, 26 Runs / 3-0, 1.64 ERA - Jack Hamilton, CF/P, 2024
.412 AVG, .472 OBP, 15 XBH, 28 RBI, 27 Runs - Keegan Bluhm, C, 2024
.378 AVG, .472 OBP, 19 RBI -
Cade Van de Weg, OF/P, 2025
.273 avg, .442 OBP, 20 runs / 2-2, 1.77 era, .184 BAA, 71 K, 43 IP
Frankfort Hot Dogs
Head Coach: Andy Dudley
Class: 3A
2023 Record: 20-13
Conference (2023 Record): 8-6
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/4
2024 Team Strengths:
Pitching & Defense
Impact Players:
-
Matthew Berry, C, 2026
.390 BA, 3 HR, 22 RBI -
Alex Lopez, INF/P, 2026
.385 BA, 7 2B, 13 RBI, 26 R -
Carlos Lopez, SS/P, 2024
.344 BA - Oscar Lopez, P/1B, 2024
32 IP, 2.43 ERA
Batesville Bulldogs
Head Coach: Tyler Burcham
Class: 3A
2023 Record: 18-8
Conference (2023 Record): 11-3
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/3
2024 Team Strengths:
Pitching
Impact Players:
-
Will Jaisle, RHP/OF, 2025, Notre Dame
30.1IP, 2-2, 47 K, 2.76 ERA -
Jack Grunkemeyer, RHP/1B, 2024, Northwestern
.342 AVG, 9 2B, 2 HR, 27 RBI / 38 IP, 4-2, 61 K, 2.02 ERA -
Eli Loichinger, RHP/OF, 2024
13 IP, 1-0, 17K, 2.69 ERA -
Chris Lewis, INF, 2024
.278 AVG, 5 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 20 R - Dane Dudley, OF/1B, 2026
Brebeuf Jesuit Braves
Head Coach: Wes Neese
Class: 3A
2023 Record: 15-13
Conference (2023 Record): 3-7
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/5
2024 Team Strengths:
Experience on both sides of the ball, deep lineup, starting pitching
Impact Players:
-
Christian Forniss, LHP, 2024, Northwestern
3.07 ERA, 41 K, 27.1 IP -
Will Loftus, C, 2024, Marietta
.416 BA, 6 HR, 10 2B, 22 RBI -
Andrew O'Brien, 1B/3B, 2025
.364 BA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 21 RBI -
Aiden Holtzapple, 1B/DH, 2024, Marian
.373, 6 HR, 27 RBI - Josh Bingman, INF, 2025
- Ethan Norris, INF, 2025
- Nick Sobek, INF, 2025
- Dylan Wells, OF, 2024, Denison
- Charlie Cotter, RHP, 2026
- Maverick Geske, RHP, 2025
South Bend Saint Joseph
Head Coach: John Smolinski
Class: 3A
2023 Record: 16-10-1
Conference (2023 Record): 8-3
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/9
2024 Team Strengths:
Experience, Offense, & Pitching Depth
Impact Players:
-
Jayce Lee, OF, 2024, Notre Dame
.398 AVG, 12 2B, 9 HR, 39 RBI, 21 SB -
Joe Washburn, SS, 2025
.462 AVG, 5 2B, 3 3B, 16 RBI, 32 SB -
Owen Balint, C, 2025
.405 AVG, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 26 RBI -
Brody Zielinski, RHP/INF, 2025
.330 BA, 21 RBI / 52.2 IP, 7-1, 40 K, 2.5 ERA - Brady Langager, INF, 2025
.351 AVG, 4 2B, 13 RBI, 9 SB - Ben Van Fleit, OF, 2024
.338 AVG, 5 2B, 17 RBI, 8 SB -
Tommy Eck, P, 2024
35 IP, 3-0, 21 K, 2.4 ERA
New Prairie Cougars
Head Coach: Mark Schellinger
Class: 3A
2023 Record: 22-8-1
Conference (2023 Record): 7-4
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4
2024 Team Strengths:
Starting Pitching
Impact Players:
-
Reed Robinson, C, 2026
.412 BA, 5 HRs, 26 RBI, 23 R, 12 SB -
Tyson Greenwood, LHP/1B, 2024, Purdue-Fort Wayne
7-3, 2.45 ERA, 74 K, 57 IP -
Joe Kinney, RHP, 2024
5-2, 3.40 ERA, 47.1 IP, 30 K -
Jordan Davis, C/1B/OF, 2025
.313 BA, 19 RBI -
Zak Henrich, RHP, 2025
9.2 IP, 16 Ks, 2.89 ERA
West Vigo Vikings
Head Coach: Culley DeGroote
Class: 3A
2023 Record: 27-4
Conference (2023 Record): 10-0
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/1
2024 Team Strengths:
Defense
Impact Players:
-
Gabe Skelton, 1B, 2024, Lincoln Trail
.385 avg, 8 HR, 30 RBI -
Garrett Pugh, 3B, 2026
.370 avg, 5 HR, 32 RBI -
Grayson Porter, OF, 2024
.368 avg -
Jacob Likens, RHP, 2024, Olney Central
6-0, 1.83 ERA - Brandon Dailey, C, 2025
- Jayce Noblitt, INF/RHP, 2025
Covenant Christian Warriors
Head Coach: Chris Stevenson
Class: 2A
2023 Record: 16-16
Conference (2023 Record): 4-6
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/2
2024 Team Strengths:
Offense & Defense
Impact Players:
-
Nolan Jones, C, 2024
.459 avg, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR -
Nolan Moore, OF, 2024, Charleston
.299, 7 2B, 7 3B, 1 HR - Henry Boyce, UTIL, 2026
- Bryce Eagan, OF/P, 2027
- Ty Gillespie, INF/RHP, 2024