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: Science Hill High School
Head Coach: Ryan Edwards
Classification: AAAA
District + Region Number: District 1 + Region 1
2023 Record (Finish): 31-6

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• OF Landon Smelser (2024, Tennessee Tech)
• IF Jackson Berry (2024, ETSU)
• 1B/RHP Major Osbolt (2024)
• OF Josh Marmo (2024)
• MIF Cole Resue (2026)
• IF Nate Stoots (2026)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Hilltoppers are coming off an extremely impressive season where they finished 31-6 and lost to eventual 4A state tournament runner-up Hardin Valley in sub-state. They were powered by a really deep lineup that would score 10+ runs 14 times and a deep starting rotation with 22 games played that saw the pitching staff surrender 3 runs or less. They have since lost 2 arms that are currently on college ball clubs but do return a big portion of their entire lineup with two notable and talented underclassmen set to start this upcoming season. It all starts with senior CF leadoff man and Tennessee Tech signee Landon Smelser. He was the spark plug a year ago getting things going and does a multitude of things to get on base. The left-handed bat hits a lot of low screaming singles, while also showing ability to turn on the baseball for doubles in the gaps. He will also be in line to have a larger role on the mound where he comes in low 80’s on the fastball with ability to spin a secondary offering. Senior 3B and ETSU signee Jackson Berry is also set to mark his return in the two hole where he projects for some power ability. He also shows a sure glove with some present arm strength. There are high expectations for him to improve on last season’s success and be a major leader for this year’s unit. In the cleanup spot, it looks like senior uncommitted 1B/RHP Major Osbolt will be back in the fold for that spot where he had a couple of HR’s last year and is looking to expand on that this season. He also projects to be this Hilltoppers ace on the mound where the FB runs into the mid 80’s. You then have another projectable left-handed bat in Lincoln Memorial signee Josh Marmo. He was a standout at our PBR Senior Games this past fall where he showed line-drive ability in the gaps and speed on the bases. He has continued to get better and better and should command left-field on a daily basis. You then have uber talented sophomores MIF Cole Resue and IF Nate Stoots. The glove is advanced with Resue and offers projection on both ends of the ball field. He is back this season after an injury derailed the latter parts of his summer. Nate Stoots is a physically gifted right-handed hitting prospect that was a standout this fall at one of our PBR Tennessee events. The club is looking for both these young prospects to take a large leap in opportunities. The Hilltoppers look to be strong on the offensive side where their lineup returns the majority of their experience. There pitching may have taken a step back but look for them to have guys step up and settle in as the season progresses. The hopes are high and expectations are them again back in sub-state competing again to get back to Murfreesboro in late May.

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Find more information on the 2024 Science Hill program below:

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

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FOLLOW PREP BASEBALL TENNESSEE THROUGHOUT THE SPRING

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

 

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