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2024 High School Team Previews : 1A Preseason No. 1 - No. 10

March 21, 2024
Cooper Trinkle
Lead Scout

The IHSAA Baseball Season is quickly approaching and our preseason polls have been updated in preparation for the beginning of the season. Read along to find previews on the teams ranked No. 1 - No. 10 in our preseason 1A Top 10.

#1 Lafayette Central Catholic Knights

Head Coach: Tim Bordenet

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 25-11

Conference (2023 Record): 8-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4

2024 Team Strengths:

Team Speed & Defense

Impact Players:

  • Keaton Brooks, LHP, 2024
    6-2 record, 2.59 ERA, 62 IP, 50 K
  • Brinn Robbins, RHP/OF, 2024
    3-3 record / .264 BA, 23 R, 15 RBI
  • Kayden Minnich, LHP/OF, 2024
  • Jackson Cain, C, 2025
    .316 BA, 18 R, 18 RBI
  • Hudson Gutwein, MIF, 2025
    .298 BA, 23 R, 13 RBI

Outlook : The Knights are the back-to-back 1A State Champions looking to three-peat in 2024. They will be led by a trio of SR pitchers in Keaton Brooks, Brinn Robbins, and Kayden Minnich. Brooks and Robbins played big roles for the Knights last season and Minnich returns from injury to add depth to the starting rotation. Central Catholic will look to JR C Jackson Cain to lead from behind the dish, a strong defender that should hit near the middle of the order. JR MIF Hudson Gutwein and Robbins will add speed to the top of the lineup and return with starting experience. A solid pitching staff, combined with an athletic defense, will make LCC a dangerous opponent come June. 

#2 Barr-Reeve Vikings

Head Coach: Trevor McConnell 

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 29-4

Conference (2023 Record): 7-0

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Defense, Experience from State run

Impact Players:

  • Seth Wagler, LHP/1B/OF, 2025
    .409 BA, 9 2B, 2 HR, 29 RBI / 9-2, 0.73 ERA, 81 K
  • Jake Pauw, RHP/1B, 2025
    .370 BA, 6 2B, 3 HR, 29 RBI / 8-0, 2.34 ERA, 45K's 
  • Levi Lester, MIF, 2026
    .536 BA, 8 2B, 2 HR, 22 RBI
  • Ethan Graber, OF, 2024
    .446 BA, 6 2B, 2HR, 22 RBI, 16 SB, 32 R
  • Matthew Lashley, P, 2026
    4-0, 1.61 ERA, 31 K
  • Ethan Stoll, SS, 2024
    .328 BA, 10 2B, 36 R, 11 SB  
  • Donnie Miller, OF, 2024
    .358 BA, 5 2B, 1 HR, 33 RBI

Outlook : Barr-Reeve returns all-kinds of experience from a team that finished as the 1A State Runner-Up in 2023. JR's Seth Wagler and Jake Pauw are high-impact, two-way performers that return a combined 17-2 pitching record, along with being two of the top returning hitters. SO Matthew Lashley also had a perfect, 4-0 record last season and returns to build upon a breakout freshman year. SO Levi Lester hit .536 as a freshman and should set the table for a talented lineup. SR Ethan Graber is another athletic bat that should hit near the top of the order. SR SS Ethan Stoll is a reliable defender at shortstop that will impact the offense and SR Donnie Miller should be a run-producer for this lineup.

#3 Borden Braves

Head Coach: Eric Stotts

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 18-11

Conference (2023 Record): 5-0

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4

2024 Team Strengths:

Offense

Impact Players:

Outlook : Borden returns a couple very talented players that will lead a program that is strong year in and year out. All-State SS, SR Alex Schuler, returns after hitting .506 with 12 2B and 4 HR as a junior. JR Garrett Schmidt is another impact player that hit .460 with 11 2B as a junior. These two will make up the heart of the Braves' order, and will also be counted on to contribute on the mound. SO Michael McVoy and JR Zander Keith are returning starters that will contribute on both sides, as well. SR Mason Raes should be an everyday bat in the outfield, helping to extend the lineup.

#4 Wes-Del Warriors

Head Coach: Daniel Hanson

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 21-9

Conference (2023 Record): 5-3

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

2024 Team Strengths:

Offense

Impact Players:

  • Grayson Mealy, C/INF, 2025
    .430 BA, 11 2B, 3 3B, 2 HR, 30 RBI, 11 SB
  • Jared Ladd, INF/P, 2024
    4-2, 3.57 ERA, 54 K in 49 IP / .354 BA, 4 2B, 1 HR, 21 RBI
  • Kenny Drake, OF, 2024
    .287 BA, 9 2B, 1 3B, 35 R
  • Ty Freeman, INF/P, 2024
    .250 BA, 5 2B, 1 3B, 25 R / 5-3, 2.45 ERA, 31 K in 34.1 IP
  • Tyler Summers, OF/P, 2025
    .265 BA, 7 2B, 1 HR, 28 R
  • Carter Flynn, P/C/INF, 2026
    2-0, 3.82 ERA, 19 K in 15 IP

Outlook : Wes-Del returns a lot of offense from a team that won 21 games in 2023. JR C Grayson Mealy will be the face of the squad after hitting .430 as a sophomore. SR's Jared Ladd and Ty Freeman are impact bats that will also be taxed with leading the pitching staff. SR Kenny Drake had a solid season last year and will likely set the table for this offense. JR Tyler Summers and SO Carter Flynn saw varsity starting time last year and will jump into more impactful roles this season.

#5 Tecumseh Braves

Head Coach: Eric Barnes

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 19-9

Conference (2023 Record): 8-4

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/3

2024 Team Strengths:

Defense and Team Speed

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Braves will have another fundamentally sound club built around team speed and taking care of the ball on defense. SR INF/P DJ Dupont is a mult-year starter that returns to lead both the pitching staff and offense. JR Wyatt Huddleston will be another key figure in the offense, a returning starter from last year. JR Landon Oxley saw time as a sophomore and will likely take on a larger role this spring. JR's Ty Holder and Mason Gogel will be expected to contribute to the offense, and the pitching staff. 

#6 Indianapolis Lutheran Saints

Head Coach: Josh Meaney

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 16-12

Conference (2023 Record): 6-8

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/7

2024 Team Strengths:

Experienced, Well-Rounded Team

Impact Players:

Outlook : Lutheran returns some interesting pieces, beginning with All-State standout JR Owen Lecher. Lecher is the top returning hitter, and JR Ryan Redding, SR Gehrig Whitlock, and SO Hudson Mills will also add stability to the middle of the lineup. JR Nate Hughes will be a factor offensively, and as one of the top pitchers on the staff. Whitlock, Mills, and Redding will also be two-way performers. SR Jackson Brandenburg and SO Gage Meaney should factor in to the teams' success, as well.

#7 Blackhawk Christian Braves

Head Coach: Kevin Kinnison

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 13-14

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Experience from Playoff Run, Starting Pitching

Impact Players:

  • Jacob Jackson, 2025
    3-4, 3.04 ERA, 65 K in 46 IP / .347 BA, 4 2B, 1 HR
  • Luke Metzler, 2025
    4-1, 3.09 ERA, 40 K in 43 IP / .244 BA, 4 2B, 21 R, 16 SB 
  • Brady Ellington, 2026
    .318 BA, 3 2B / 2-2, 2.71 ERA, 23 K in 20.2 IP
  • Aiden Muldoon, 2024
    .294 BA, 1 2B, 2 3B, 19 SB
  • Christian Webster, 2025
    14 K in 18.1 IP 

Outlook : Blackhawk Christian won a sectional title last season and they return plenty of impact players from that squad. JR Jacob Jackson is the face of this year's team, the returning ace of the pitching staff that also returns the best statistics offensively. He'll be joined by JR Luke Metzler at the top of the pitching rotation, and Metzler will also hit near the top of the order. SR Aiden Muldoon is another speedster that will likely set the table for the Braves. SO Brady Ellington will be another two-way performer for the Braves, and they will need JR Christian Webster to step into a larger role this spring.

#8 Shakamak Lakers

Head Coach: Dylan Collins

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 16-11

Conference (2023 Record): 5-2

Impact Players:

#9 Morgan Township Cherokees

Head Coach: John Smith

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 16-13

Conference (2023 Record): 3-4

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Defense

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Cherokees have an interesting club with an athletic group of position players and one of the top arms in 1A, SR Jack Wheeler. Wheeler will give Morgan Township a chance against when he's on the mound, and Coach John Smith expects SR Grant Cowger and JR Chase Rosenbaum to factor in on the mound, as well. Cowger is the top returning hitter, joined by JR C Bradley Farris. Rosenbaum should hit near the middle of the order, too, and SO Matt Symer and FR Cal Lemmons should make up the top part of the lineup. 

#10 Bethesda Christian Patriots

Head Coach: Tom Stevens

Class: 1A

2023 Record: 21-9

Conference (2023 Record): 6-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/All

2024 Team Strengths:

Offense

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Braves return all of the pitching and a majority of the starters from a team that won 21 game in 2023. JR Isaiah Giergerich leads the way, the top returning hitter and pitcher from last year's team. SR Wyatt Stevens will make an big impact after stealing 40 bases as a junior. SR Isaac Miagan, JR Noah Dininger, and SO Eli Giegerich all return to the lineup, all hitting over .360 last year. Coach Tom Stevens expects FR Brendan Mackie to make an impact early in his high school career. Isaiah Giergrich will lead the pitching staff, but all players listed above also have the ability to pitch, creating a deep rotation for the Braves.