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2024 High School Team Previews : 4A Preseason No. 16 - No. 20

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. 16 - No. 20 in our preseason 4A Top 25.

Find the full 4A Top 25, HERE. 

#16 Valparaiso Vikings

Head Coach: Todd Evans

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 18-11

Conference (2023 Record):  11-3

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

2024 Team Strengths:

Frontline Pitching & Deep Lineup

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Vikings return their ace, JR Caden Crowell, who will look to be the leader of this team once again. The Notre Dame recruit posted a 1.96 ERA with 82 strikeouts in 50 innings as a sophomore, and the Vikings will look to SO Dennis Malloy, JR Trevor Fenters, and JR Adler Holtz to add depth behind Crowell. Crowell will be a middle of the order bat for Valpo, with SO Trent Gill, JR Max Reaume, and SR's Kaden Matthews and Nate Brumfield also returning with experience. The Vikings will have a good mix of pitching and hitting depth that will make them one of the top teams in the Region in 2024. 

#17 Castle Knights

Head Coach: Curt Welch

Class: 4A

2023 Record: 25-7

Conference (2023 Record): 8-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/3

2024 Team Strengths:

Experience 

Impact Players:

Outlook : Castle returns a key nucleus of players that helped lead them to a Final Four appearance in 2023. Despite the departure of '23 ace, Cameron Tilly, the pitching staff appears to be a strength of this group with Missouri commit, Will Coleman, taking over as the new ace of the staff. Coleman, SR Ryan Lambert, and JR Isaac Mitsdarffer combine to give this staff quality options. Coleman and transfer OF, JR Noah Drake, will be key cogs of the Knights' offense along with SO Jace Watson, Lambert, SR SS Garrett Fultz, JR C Landon Lis, amongst others. A strong pitching staff, returning defenders in the middle of the diamond, and experience within the lineup should allow Castle to be one of the top teams in Evansville during the 2024 spring.

#18 Harrison Raiders

Head Coach: Pat Lowrey

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 23-9

Conference (2023 Record):  7-1 

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching Depth & Middle of the Order

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Raiders return an interesting unit with a good mix of young talent and experience. The strength of this team starts with JR Drew McTagertt and SR Jack Dowell, two middle of the order bats that had strong seasons in '23. SR Aiden Schwartz missed most of 2023 due to injury, but is projected to be the ace of the staff in 2024. SO's Lannon Nicoloff and Jeremy Lowrey will be counted on to be key arms for the Raiders this season. SR hitters Aidan Lowry and Jackson Gwin, along with Nicoloff, return with varsity experience to add versatility to the lineup.

#19 North Central Panthers

Head Coach: Andy McClain

Class: 4A

2023 Record: 18-7

Conference (2023 Record): 9-1 

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Hitting & Pitching 

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Panthers return a large group of impact players that led them to a MIC Championship in 2023. SR OF Micah Rienstra-Kiracofe was a 4A 1st Team All State performer last year and returns after a 10 HR junior season. SR Stryker Swenson, JR Garrit Ullom, and SR Heath Kizer also return after successful 2023 seasons. Look for SO OF Rykin Matthias to be breakout player amongst the position player group. On the mound - North Central has two very talented arms at the top of the rotation in SR Michael Fliss and JR Tristan Wilson. These two will give North Central a chance to repeat as conference champs and could be a dangerous duo come playoff time. 

#20 John Adams Eagles

Head Coach: Mike Cass

Class: 4A

2023 Record: 17-7

Conference (2023 Record): 8-3

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching 

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Eagles' pitching staff will make them a dangerous team come playoff time, with three arms at the top of the rotation that are Division I recruits. SR Jake Mulvehill and SR Aidan Pearson are two top-ranked LHP in Indiana's 2024 class, returning to lead the staff with all-kinds of varsity experience. JR Aidan Micinski is another highly ranked prospect that should solidify the starting rotation. JR Ethan Trimberger adds quality depth to the staff, as well. Mulvehill and Micinski should be two of the top bats on this John Adams team, with JR Brock Stultz adding another middle of the order bat to the group.