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2024 High School Team Previews : 4A Preseason No. 21 - No. 25

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. 21 - No. 25 in our preseason 4A Top 25.

Find the full 4A Top 25, HERE. 

#21 Roncalli Royals

Head Coach: Tony Vittorio

Class: 4A

2023 Record: 20-9

Conference (2023 Record): 

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Experience

Impact Players:


Outlook : Roncalli returns 7 starters from a 20-win team and first year Head Coach, Tony Vittorio, will look to lead the experienced group to a playoff run. Vittorio will lean on SR ace, JJ Prendergast, who returns after a strong junior season. SR Charlie Baker, JR Luke Greene, and SO's Collin Ash and Jaiden Kuria will also be impactful arms that help to create a deeper pitching staff. The offense will be led by a group of returning starters that include : Prendergast, Ash, JR C Nico Amodeo, SR OF Parker Dougherty, JR SS Sam Roeder, and JR 2B Maddux Haworth. A deep pitching staff, plus experienced depth in the lineup, creates an interesting team that should have plenty of success this spring.

#22 Columbus North Bulldogs

Head Coach: Mike Bodart

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 17-11

Conference (2023 Record):  3-2

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/5

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Defense

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Bulldogs return a core group of players that led them to a Regional Championship appearance in 2023. Pitching will be the strength of this Columbus North team - with SR's Blake Osbourne, Connor Hensley, Ryan Rayburn, Zach McLean, and JR Joey Fry all returning with varsity innings under their belt. SO Javier Uscanga is a talented arm that should work his way into the mix, as well. McLean and Hensley will be two-way performers from this team, returning to pace the offensive unit. SR Dillon James returns in the middle of the infield to bolster the defense and hit near the top of the order. SO Brock Kintner is a breakout player who will look to provide a power bat to the Bulldogs' offense. 

#23 New Palestine Dragons

Head Coach: Shawn Lyons

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 23-10

Conference (2023 Record):  9-5

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/3

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Defense

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Dragons return 6 starters from a team that won a Regional Championship in 2023 - led by SO INF Jacob Morris. Morris returns the best offensive numbers last year and will be joined by JR C Jackson Kamp, SR INF Adam Rickey, SR 1B Ben Hirshey, SR UTL Nic Deering, and SO UTL Gavin Neal as returners to the lineup. SR's Mike and Henry Thorpe should be large factors for the pitching staff, along with JR Rigg Mahurin, Hirshey, and Morris to give the staff plenty of experience heading into 2024. Despite losing '23 grad Blaine Nunnally, a key figure in the playoff run from a season ago, the Dragons have plenty of pieces to suggest they will have another strong season in 2024. 

#24 Jeffersonville Red Devils

Head Coach: Shayne Stock

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 18-12

Conference (2023 Record):  3-4

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/4

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching

Impact Players:

Outlook : Head Coach, Shayne Stock, will have the luxury of turning the ball over to a pair of Division I recruits that will lead the pitching staff in SR's Caiden White and Logan Bingham. These two arms will give the Red Devils a chance against just about any team in the state, and Stock will look for  SO Cole Singleton to take a step up after gaining varsity experience as a freshman. White and SR Jaret Phillips will pace the offense, both returning after strong junior seasons at the dish. SR OF Kyle Campbell, SR C Abe Van Campen, and JR MIF Ryan Crawford are all impact bats that will provide depth to the lineup. Jeffersonville will look to replicate the success they had in 2023 - a team that made a Regional Championship appearance.

#25 McCutcheon Mavericks

Head Coach: Tristan McIntyre

Class: 4A 

2023 Record: 19-11

Conference (2023 Record):  8-3

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/7

2024 Team Strengths:

Pitching & Athleticism

Impact Players:

Outlook : The Mavericks return a large chunk of the team that won 19 games last season and SO RHP Sammy Swank will lead an experienced pitching staff. The Kentucky recruit is one of the state's top prospects in the sophomore class - and SR's Riley Sands and Owen Smith, along with JR's Aiden Riser, Wyatt Vaughn, and SO Jake Winger will help to create a deep pitching unit behind Swank. SR's Logan Marsell and Sage Adams will pace the offensive unit - two high-energy college recruits that enjoyed breakout junior season. SO Jake Winger has a chance to breakout in a similiar fashion after he had success as a freshman. Sands and JR INF/C Blake Morrison should be quality depth pieces to the Mavericks' lineup.