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2024 High School Team Previews : 2A Preseason No. 1 - No. 10

March 20, 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 2A Top 10.

#1 Illiana Christian Vikings

Head Coach: Jeff VanderWoude

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 25-9

Conference (2023 Record): 10-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/7

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Returning Bats

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Vikings are the back-to-back 2A State Champs and SR SS Isaac VanderWoude will look to lead them to a third straight title. VanderWoude is the leader of this club, an All-State performer from 2023 signed to play college baseball at Virginia. SR Tyler Balkema is a returner that hit .424 as a junior, and SR Aaron Gouwens is a familiar face behind the dish, set to take on his fourth season as the varsity starting backstop. JR Gavin Meyer and SO Tanner Post will be middle of the order bats, along with the leaders of the pitching staff. Meyer should take over for 2023 Kevin Corcoran as the new ace off the staff, with Post as a quality #2. SO Spencer Bandstra will impact the team on both sides of the ball, too. Illiana has plenty of offensive firepower and two frontline starting pitchers that will make them the team to beat in 2A once again. 

#2 Forest Park Rangers

Head Coach: Jarred Howard

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 22-4

Conference (2023 Record): 10-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching Staff & Senior Leadership

Impact Players:

Outlook : Forest Park has the frontline talent to compete with any team in 2A. It all starts with SR Reid Howard, a returning All-State shortstop, who will lead the offense and likely be asked to be a in a closer's role on the mound. SO Jaxon Lueken, a top-ranked uncommitted prospect, returns after posting a 5-0 record as a freshman, and will be a middle of the order bat. Lueken will combine with SR's Sage Stout and Joel Bueltel to create the starting pitching rotation, and these 3 combine to return a 14-2 pitching record from last season. Stout and Bueltel will also be impact bats. SO Jared Burger will need to step into a bigger role within the offense, and JR EJ Brosmer will add depth to the pitching staff. 

#3 Brownstown Central Braves

Head Coach: Duane Higgs

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 24-9

Conference (2023 Record): 3-5

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/4

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Defense

Impact Players:

Outlook : Brownstown Central made a big playoff run last year, making it all the way to the sem-state. They return much of that team and are primed for another run. SR Ethan Garland is the top returner on both sides of the ball, and will play a large role in the Braves' success. SR Trent Lowery and JR Dalton Reedy both threw significant innings last season and will bolster an experienced pitching staff. Both will factor into the offense, as well. JR Pierson Wheeler and SR Chick Tiermeyer will add versatility to the lineup and create a solid defensive infield when combined with Lowery and Garland. SO's Jaxson Johnson and Grayson Cassidy were varsity starters as freshman and return to add depth to the lineup.

#4 Park Tudor Panthers

Head Coach: Courtney Whitehead

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 22-8

Conference (2023 Record): 3-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Athletic Lineup

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Panthers return nearly all of the impact players from a team that won 22 games last season. SR Carter Hall will be the face of the team, the ace of the pitching staff that will also be the biggest bat in the heart of the order. JR MJ Gaines and SO Desmond Francis are division one recruits that will set the table at the top of the order. SR's Nolan Whitehead and Brady Redman are experienced hitters that will be counted on to be run-producers. SR's Ryan Sibbitt and Cole Burkman will add solid depth to a deep lineup. Redman and Burkman will add depth to the pitching staff behind Hall, and Gaines, Francis, and SO Oliver Eve should also see mound time. 

#5 Westview Warriors

Head Coach: Jason Rahn

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 19-9

Conference (2023 Record): 9-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Talented Lineup & Starting Pitching 

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Warriors return nearly all of their everyday starters from last season, along with returning 2A All-State LHP, JR Max Engle. Engle logged 78 IP last season, posting a 9-3 record with 111 strikeouts. SR Micah Miller returns to add more experience to the pitching rotation, and SR Mason Wire will be a third quality starter. JR Maverick Deveau and JR Gavin Engle will be expected to come out of the bullpen. SR SS Braden Kauffman is the top returning hitter, enjoying a breakout junior season, and will be joined by JR C Jaxon Engle in the middle of the lineup. Wire, Max Engle, and Gavin Engle are all returners that will create a deep lineup. JR Maverick Deveau will provide some added thump into the lineup, as well. 

#6 Providence Pioneers

Head Coach: Tre' Watson

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 25-4

Conference (2023 Record): N/A

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/3

2024 Team Strengths:

Hitting & Defense 

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Pioneers return a strong offensive group from a team that won 25 games in 2023. A three-headed monster at the top of the lineup will create on of the better batting lineups in 2A, with Virginia recruit and JR Cole Huett, power-hitting SO Gavin Jackson, and speedy D2 recruit SR Jack Beyl. These three will put pressure on the defense, and expect SR Lucas Kruer to impact the middle of the order, as well. SO C Lincoln Kruer is a returning for his second season behind the dish and will help to extend the lineup. On the mound, the Pioneers will be led by Jackson and SO Blake Straub, along with Lucas Kruer. This team has some pitching question marks that need to be answered early in the year, but a deep, athletic lineup should create a tough match-up for opposing squads. 

#7 North Posey Vikings

Head Coach: Mark Kirkman

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 18-12

Conference (2023 Record): 9-3

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

2024 Team Strengths:

Offensive Depth & Experience 

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Vikings return an interesting squad, a team full of athleticism that may have one of the deepest lineups in 2A. SR SS Easton Luigs was an All-State performer in 2023 and returns to lead the offense. JR Ethan Mansfield, SR Logan Simmons, and JR Colby Angel are also returning hitters that posted solid numbers last season, and all should hit near the top of this lineup. Look for JR's Jed Galvin and Kade Buecher to be potential breakout hitters for the Vikings. On the mound, Mansfield will be the ace, returning a 6-1 record over the course of 41.1 IP. Luigs and SR Connor Epley will add depth to the pitching staff.

#8 University Trailblazers

Head Coach: Chris Estep

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 13-12-1

Conference (2023 Record): 5-0

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/8

2024 Team Strengths:

Hitting and Defense

Impact Players:

Outlook : This University team has a combination of senior leadership and talented underclassmen that should help them to success. SR's Jasper Owens, Owen Schellhase, Mark Hamby, and Jimmy Caldwell bring back experience from last season and they should have big impacts on the lineup. A strong sophomore class indicates a bright future, and SO's Beckett Suh, Ryan Castetter, Josh Newton, and Cooper Cammack should all be impactful bats in the lineup, as well. On the mound, the Trailblazers will be led by SO's Beckett Suh, Ryan Castetter, Cooper Cammack, and Caleb Stocker. There are some question marks around the young pitching staff, but a talented and athletic defense should help mitigate those concerns.

#9 Mitchell Blue Jackets 

Head Coach: Jerry Chaney

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 26-7

Conference (2023 Record): 5-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/All

2024 Team Strengths:

Experience

Impact Players:

  • Ben Seitzinger, 2024, Anderson
    .446 BA, 13 2B, 5 3B, 2 HR, 44 RBI / 8-0, 2.73 ERA, 86 K in 64 IP
  • Simon Gaines, 2024
    .421 BA, 15 2B, 3 3B, 5 HR, 54 R, 19 SB / 7-2, 3 Sv, 2.05 ERA, 48 K in 44 IP
  • Ethan Turner, 2024
    .322 BA, 6 2B, 4 3B, 26 RBI 
  • Ashton Luman, 2024
    6-2, 2.03 ERA, 41 K in 41.1 IP / .262 BA, 4 2B, 20 R
  • Bryson Zeeks, 2026
    .289 BA, 5 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 25 RBI / 1-0, 4.74 ERA in 10 IP
  • AJ Sarver, 2024
    .333 BA, 20 RBI, 36 R / 10 IP
  • Kody Earl, 2024
    .274 BA, 5 2B, 2 3B, 33 R / 2-2, 5.38 ERA, 26 K in 26 IP 

Outook : Mitchell returns all but one player from a team that won 26 games last season. SR Ben Seitzinger is the face of this Mitchell team, returning as an All-State award winner in 2023 with a perfect 8-0 record on the mound, and a .446 batting average to go along with 20 extra-base hits. SR Simon Gaines is another big name for the Blue Jackets, the #2 pitcher that also hit .421 with 23 extra-base hits and 54 runs scored last season. Gaines and Seitzinger are the biggest threats, with SR's Ethan Turner and AJ Sarver also returning to extend a solid lineup. SO Bryson Zeeks will look ot build upon a breakout freshman season. SR's Kody Earl and Ashton Luman will be called upon to contribute on both sides of the ball.

#10 Southwestern (Hanover) Rebels

Head Coach: Dan Thurston

Class: 2A

2023 Record: 17-12

Conference (2023 Record): 11-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Starting Pitching & Returning Bats

Impact Players:

Outlook : The strength of this Southwestern team will start with SR Jamison Lewis, the ace of the pitching staff that won 2A All-State honors last year. Lewis will be a big bat in the middle of the order, paired with SR C William Stockdale. JR's Adam Traylor and Austin Jenkins had successful junior season and will hit near the top of the order. Head Coach Dan Thurston will need JR Barron Welsh, along with SO's Braxton Lewis and Brady Cook, to step into larger roles this season for the offense to have success. Lewis will pace the pitching staff, with Traylor, Welsh, Lewis, and Cook adding depth behind him.