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2024 High School Team Previews : 4A Preseason No. 11 - No. 15

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 the teams ranked No. 11 - No. 15 in our preseason 4A Top 25.

Find the full 4A Top 25, HERE. 

# 11 Zionsville Eagles

Head Coach: Jered Moore

Class: 4A

2023 Record: 18-11

Conference (2023 Record): 6-8

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/8

2024 Team Strengths:

 Pitching

Impact Players:

Outlook : Head Coach, Jered Moore, will have the luxury of handing the ball to a stable of Divison I arms this spring - one of the state's top pitching groups. Four seniors will pace this group, with Nash Wagner, Simon Wilkinson, and Mateo Wells slated to make up the starting rotation and Chase Wagner coming out of the bullpen, one of the top closers in the state. SO Jackson Gilley, JR Brady Shaw, and SR Wrigley Bumgardner add even more depth to this talented pitching staff. SR SS Josh Girvan will look to lead the offense, an athlete that will set the pace near the top of the order. JR OF Riley Agbonhese hit .414 as a sophomore and should be one of the faces of this position player group. Bumgardner, Nash Wagner, and JR 1B/OF Jackson Tielker are also expected to contribute to the offense. 

#12 Mt. Vernon Marauders

Head Coach: Brad King

Class: 4A

2023 Record: 22-8

Conference (2023 Record): 13-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/5

2024 Team Strengths:

 Frontline Pitching & Defense

Impact Players:

Outlook : Mt. Vernon has two of the top senior pitchers in the state of Indiana at their disposal in Cameron Sullivan and Nick Heitman. The Marauders will compete with any team in the state with these two on the hill, and will look to SR's Jack Peine and Nathan Criss, along with JR's Andrew Boldt and Tristan Sitton, to add depth to the pitching staff. The offense will be led by SR C DJ Scheumann and SR CF Joshua James, along with Heitman and Sullivan. SR Grant Payson, Criss, and JR Gavin Joy will combine to add quality depth to an intriguing lineup. 

#13 Floyd Central Highlanders

Head Coach: Casey LaDuke

Class: 4A

2023 Record: 19-9

Conference (2023 Record): 

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/2

2024 Team Strengths:

 Frontline Pitching & Senior Leadership

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Highlanders return two arms that will be the strength of this team in JR Blane Metz (Indiana) and SR Coen Evrard (Louisville). This two-headed monster will create a tough sectional matchup, with an experienced group of hitters making up the position player group. SR SS Kayden Linares should lead this group, with SR INF Masen Moravec, SR 1B Seth Newkirk, and SR C Justin Early returning with experience, as well. JR's Travis Combs and Ross Jackson are athletic bats that add another layer to the lineup. 

#14 Fort Wayne Carroll Chargers

Head Coach: Dave Ginder

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 20-7

Conference (2023 Record): 9-5 

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/2

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Defense

Impact Players:

Outlook : Carroll returns some key players from a group that won 20 games a season ago. JR Jaxon Sparks should be one of the leaders of this group, a middle of the order bat that will also pitch near the top of the rotation. SR Brady Long returns after strong junior year and will also be one of the faces of this pitching staff. JR Jaxon Craker and SR Grant Peters should also be key contributors on the mound. Offensively, Sparks will be helped by Craker, SR Connor Barkel, JR Zavier Edgar, and FR Asher Wagoner to create an athletic position player group that should be very solid defensively. 

#15 Westfield Rocks

Head Coach: Ryan Bunnell

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 17-11

Conference (2023 Record): 9-5 

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Team Speed, Defense, Overall Depth

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Rocks return a strong group of experienced upperclassmen that will lead them in 2024. SR SS Brayden Hibler has seen plenty of varsity action over the course of his four year career and will lead the offensive unit after hitting .338 in his junior season. SR RHP Ty Anderson will be the ace on the pitching side after posting a 5-1 record with a 1.12 ERA last season. JR's Matt Drozlek, Ian Wilson, Caden Lindsey, and Drew Law all return with starting experience and will look to build upon their sophomore seasons. SR's Alex Rudolph and Tyler Gentry also bring back experience and should add depth to a lineup that is full of speed, and expect newcomer SO OF Gabe Garcia to make an impact, as well. There are some question marks on the pitching side of things for the Rocks, but expect SR's Preston Tamm and Nathan Bodenberg, along with Wilson, Hibler, and JR Owen Swinford, to contribute on the mound.