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TN HS Team Preview: Ravenwood Raptors

January 18, 2024
Hunter Martin
TN Scouting Director

The 2024 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at The Spring Fling as they compete for a state championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Volunteer State.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Power 25 and much more.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Ravenwood
Head Coach: Nico Gregali
Classification: AAAA
District + Region Number: District 10 + Region 5
2023 Record (Finish): 14-18
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 5
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Speed and defense; chance to have a dynamic offense.

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

Jake Schmidt (2024)

Michael Holt (2026)

Luke Paciorek (2026)

Wyatt Severance (2026)

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

Class of 2024

Class of 2025

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

Jared Peterson (2026)

Cy Longley (2026)

Luke Denery (2027)

TEAM OUTLOOK

One of the best young teams in the state, The Ravenwood Raptors will heavily be relying on underclassmen for the bulk of their lineup, however very talented ones. The club will still have a trio of position players that have a strong chance to help lead them. Seniors Mason Oliver, Lucas Houston and Jake Schmidt will all be returning players with valuable starting experience, with Schmidt returning at shortstop where he started every inning last year and hit in the middle of the order. Carter Davis is another senior that looks to be one of their more valuable arms. He should slide into the 1 or 2 role on the pitching staff where he offers a fastball in the 82-86 mph range with multiple secondary offerings. ‘24 RHP Max Curvin will also get a look to get a lot of innings on the hill with a two pitch mix. ‘25 RHP Hiram Lewis is the most upside arm that looks to be in the mix for the 1 or 2 spot in the rotation. Lewis offers an ideal major league pitching frame that will offer many looks and comes in the upper 80’s mph with a slider that has real potential. In the top of the lineup will be two returning sophomores. All-District 10 as a freshman, ‘26 Michael Holt is the offensive catalyst of the club that led the team in hitting last season at .333., and will be a mainstay at the top of the lineup yet again. ‘26 Luke Paciorek should return to left field where he offers a physically advanced frame with plus bat speed and real power potential with mid 90’s mph exit velocities. New to the lineup will be talented ‘26 catcher Wyatt Severance who offers real athleticism and ability to control the run game. ‘26 Jared Peterson will push for a starting position in the outfield and offers speed in the sub 7’s. ‘26 Cy Longley will most likely platoon between outfield and infield and be another athletic player that will push for a starting position and doubles as WR on the football team. ‘26 RHP Gabe James should get a lot of innings this season and offers a high spin fastball (2200-2400) with a true breaking ball (2500-2600) as an effective secondary. ‘26 Sam Edwards will push for time at catcher and third base that offers a clean glove defensively. You also have a trio of talented freshman prospects in Luke Denery, Colton Karkau, and Jack Lauer that are promising freshmen and will push for opportunities early on the mound and in the field. This team is young but will challenge every single team in a talented district. The Raptors could have a really high ceiling, just depending on how mature the young bucks approach is going into and throughout the year. If they can ride the waves of some early ups and downs, while also understanding that they are already battle tested from last season, this year's team could have a special season. It can also be a building block for future teams in the coming seasons.

Find more information on the 2024 Ravenwood program below:

+ Follow them on X: @wcsRHSbaseball
+ Visit the Prep Baseball Tennessee Team Previews Page

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+ Prep Baseball Tennessee on X
+ Prep Baseball Tennessee on Instagram
+ Prep Baseball Tennessee on Facebook

 

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