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2024 High School Team Previews : 4A Preseason Bubble Teams

March 18, 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 five teams that were just left off the initial 4A Top 25.

Find the full 4A Top 25, HERE. 

Fort Wayne Snider Panthers

Head Coach: Josh Clinkenbeard

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 19-9

Conference (2023 Record):  12-2

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching Depth & Division 1 Talent

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Panthers return their top two arms from a season ago in JR's Landen Fry and Noah Hess, and they will add FR Brady Keck to the mix to add depth to a pitching staff that Head Coach, Josh Clinkenbeard, should have confidence in. However, the strength of this Snider team comes at the top of the order, with two of the top bats in the 2025 class pacing the offense. JR's Brandon Logan (Vanderbilt) and Fry (Indiana) both posted huge sophomore seasons and will be expected to do much of the same in 2024. FR Isaiah Snavely and JR Trevor Jarvis should also contribute heavily to the Panthers' offense. 

Avon Orioles

Head Coach: Troy Drosche

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 18-12

Conference (2023 Record):  6-8

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/3

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching Depth & Team Speed

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Orioles return a few key pieces from a team that won 18 games in 2023 and should bring a strong pitching staff into the 2024 season. JR Carter Beck and SR Kade Tislow are slated to be conference starters, with names like JR Wyatt Pennington, JR Keegan Grubbs, JR Nolan Hataway, and SO Jackson Mitchell providing quality depth out of the bullpen. The pitching staff will keep Avon in any game amongst a schedule full of top ranked conference foes. The offense will be paced by Pennington, SR Miguel Correa Jr., and SR Cannon Vandever - all bringing back experience. SO MIF Clayton Lenz and SR C Carson Foxen are solid depth pieces with a chance to breakout in 2024. 

Seymour Owls

Head Coach: Jeremy Richey

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 23-5

Conference (2023 Record): N/A

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching 

Impact Players:

Outlook : Seymour returns 15 of their 23 wins from a season ago on the mound, suggesting the staff will be the biggest strength of this Owls team. JR Braden Richey appears to be the ace of the staff, returning a 6-0 record and 1.45 ERA from a season ago. SR Gavin Leavy, JR Brady Harpe, and SR Bret Perry also provide experience to a strong pitching staff. Perry, a University of Indianapolis signee, has been an All-Conference player throughout his career at Seymour and will pace the offense during his senior season. SR CF Jack Pennington returns after hitting .423 as a junior, as well. JR Mike Wright is a breakout name to watch on both sides of the ball.  

Bloomington North Cougars

Head Coach: Richard Hurt

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 20-7

Conference (2023 Record):  4-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Defense

Impact Players:

Outlook : Bloomington North will lean on SR Caden McCoy to be the leader of this unit in the 2024 season. McCoy returns with plenty of experience on the mound as one of the state's best left handed pitchers. The Texas A&M recruit is also the best hitter returning to the lineup after posting a .432 average in his junior season. SR Jack Leonard, SR Cole Grupenhoff, and SO Brogan Hanna are expected to bolster the staff behind McCoy. SR's Will Eads, Grupenhoff, Graham Freund, and JR Chris Barnett return with experience to pace add depth to the offense. SO Liam Smith is a newcomer that is expected to make an impact, as well. 

Bloomington South Panthers

Head Coach: Phil Kluesner

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 18-11

Conference (2023 Record):  5-0

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/2

2024 Team Strengths:

Offense

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Panthers return a strong offense unit that will be the strength of their team in 2024. JR Connor Osborne is the top returning hitter, posting a .373 batting average as a sophomore. Lucas Waldron, Ben Ridner, Jake Arnett, Jacob Rinehart, and Luke Thompson are all seniors that will be counted on to hit at the top or middle of the Bloomington South order. SO CF Sam Giles should be a speed threat and SO Luke Arnett is young bat that could provide some power in the middle of the Panthers' lineup, as well. South has some question marks on the mound heading into the spring, however a solidified offensive unit should mitigate those concerns early in the season.