3A is a class that will be very interesting to watch in 2025. New Prairie is the defending champion, though perennial 3A powers like Hanover Central, Andrean, Evansville Memorial, and Jasper all have talented teams returning and have sights set on Victory Field. 

A handful of teams will be new to 3A this season, changing the overall landscape. Cathedral and New Palestine have dualed deep into the 4A playoffs during recent seasons, but they will now find themselves in a 3A playoff. Shelbyville and Roncalli are also notable Indy-area teams new to 3A. Also worth noting - Illiana Christian moves up to 3A after winning a state title in 2023 and finishing as the 2A state runner-up in 2024. 

This may be the deepest 3A group we've seen, but ultimately time will tell. 

Below, we’ve included breakdowns on each team in our Top-10, led by... 

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THE TOP-5:

 + No. 1 Hanover Central Wildcats

• 2024 Record & Accolades: 22-7 (Conference Champions, Sectional Champions)
• Returning Starters (Pos/P): 9/5
• Impact Players:
• JR SS Dylan Bowen (Oklahoma State), JR RHP Matthew Cook (Evansville), SR C Caiden Verrett (Indianapolis), SR RHP Brad Rohde (Polk State CC), SR OF Landon Sarkey (Marian), JR 3B Aidan Creasbaum (Valparaiso), SR OF Jaylen Rutherford (Purdue-Northwest), SR RHP Anthony Rayski, JR RHP Jacob Siska

This team had a ton of success in 2024 - evident by a 20-win season that included a conference and sectional title. They return essentially that entire team coming into the 2025 season, warranting the number one ranking in the class. The offense is dangerous and its' led by JR SS Dylan Bowen, an Oklahoma State recruit that will likely be one of the more productive offensive players in the state. SR C Caiden Verrett is a tough out & also a speed threat, while SR OF's Landon Sarkey and Jaylen Rutherford are impactful left-handed bats that provide experience and reliability to the middle of the order. JR 3B Aidan Creasbaum is coming off a big summer/fall on the circuit and if he is able to carry that into the spring, he adds a big run-producing bat to the mix. JR Brad Rohde returns at 1B and though he is a primary arm, he brings another impactful bat to this lineup with his physical-looking, 6-foot-5 presence. This offenses' explosiveness should wear out opposing pitching staffs' and is undoubtedly the strength of this team.

The staff has two arms capable of shutting down elite offenses in JR RHP Matthew Cook and JR RHP Brad Rohde. Cook is a 6-foot-4 Evansville commit that provides an ultra-deceptive look with feel for the zone and a three pitch mix up to 92, while Rohde reached into the low-90s during the 2024 summer and has bat-missing abilities. SR RHP/INF Anthony Rayski brings back a ton of experience, and JR RHP Jacob Siska provides quality depth to the team as an arm that Coach Sal Aguilar should look to give the ball to in leverage spots. 

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+ No. 2 Andrean 59ers

• 2024 Record & Accolades: 22-6
• Returning Starters (Pos/P): 6/6
• Top Position Players: '25 SS Mason Barth (Notre Dame), '25 RHP Ivan Mastalski (Indiana), '25 LHP Braden Branigin (Lindenwood), RHP Trent Kulig (John A. Logan), RHP Charlie Sollars (Lincoln Trail), '26 LHP Kaden Maxwell, '25 C Blake Kouder, '27 INF Chase Nelson

The 59ers have the deepest pitching staff in 3A with four seniors leading the way that are all committed to play college baseball. Ivan Mastalski, an Indiana recruit, is the apparent ace and provides tons of experience. Braden Branigin will provide a quality start with a strike-throwing nature from the left-side. Power-armed Trent Kulig likely rounds out the rotation, while Charlie Sollars is another righty with good stuff that can be used in several roles by Coach Pishkur. Junior Kaden Maxwell is a talented lefty with a chance to make a big impact on the staff. Mason Barth will serve as the teams' primary SS, though he is another arm that could hop on the bump armed with a 90-plus mph fastball. 

The frontline pitching staff is countered by an offense led by Barth, already a 2x 3A All-State SS entering his senior year. Barth will be the leader of the offense and infield, providing a reliable glove and lethal bat. The infield defense with Barth, JR Jet Dutton, and SO Chase Nelson should be a strength of this group. Nelson is a left-handed bat that likely works his way near the top of this lineup. SR C Blake Kouder is one of the better catchers in the region and will also provide a middle-of-the-order bat after hitting .348 with 7 extra-base hits in 2024. Maxwell likely mans first base and will bring a power left-handed bat to the order. JR OF Luke Goben is a breakout candidate for this club with a chance to add another impact, athletic left-handed bat to the mix, and SO OF Paxton Lukac fits the same mold but a year younger & right-handed. 

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+ No. 3 Evansville Memorial Tigers

• 2024 Record & Accolades: 20-10 (Regional Champions)
• Returning Starters (Pos/P): 7/5
• Impact Players: 
•  SR RHP Matthew Fisher (Indiana), SR SS Simon Schulz (Evansville), SO C Luke Brown, SR OF Alex Broshears, SR UTL Alec Schwartz, JR RHP/OF Quinn Jackson, SO RHP/INF Andrew Broshears

The reigning regional champions will be led by highly-touted draft prospect, and Indiana signee, RHP Matthew Fisher. Memorial can beat anyone in the state with Fisher on the mound, while he has several pieces around him that makes it easy to bet on another playoff run from the Tigers. 

The team should be strong defensively, with SR SS Simon Schulz providing one of the more reliable gloves at short in 3A. SO Andrew Broshears adds another athletic glove up the middle, while classmate Luke Brown holds down the catcher position, bringing arm strength to keep the run game at bay. SR OF Alex Broshears brings all-kinds of strength and athleticism to this team, committed to play division one football as a linebacker at Southern Illinois.  This group will be productive offensively, as well, with Schulz likely to be one of the better bats in the city of Evansville, Brown adding a power threat, and the Broshears' both adding tons of athleticism. JR RHP/OF/3B Quinn Jackson will likely be a go-to pitcher, into the mid-80s at the end of 2024, and adds depth to the offense. Andrew Broshears is a big breakout candidate for the pitching staff, while a host of other position players also have varsity bullpen experience. 

This is a bit of a throwback group - athletic and very versatile. The offense should be disciplined and have the ability to move the baseball, with the aforementioned defensive strengths up-the-middle, and the weapon they have in one of the states' top frontline aces, Fisher.  

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+ No. 4 Cathedral Irish

• 2024 Record & Accolades: 20-10 (4A Sectional Champions)
• Returning Starters (Pos/P): 5/4
• Impact Players: 
• SR 1B Eli Bennett (Indiana), SR RHP Ethan Dorsey (John A. Logan), JR SS Eli Sinsabaugh (Army), SR C Bo Cooper (St. Charles CC), JR 3B Chase Nickols, JR OF Landon Hughes, SO RHP/INF Connor Christiansen

A storied program with an expectation level set for success, Cathedral cracks our initial top-10 in the four spot coming off a 4A sectional title, and with the target on their back as the highest-ranked 3A team in the Indy-area.

The team is led by a core group of returners from last season. RHP Ethan Dorsey returns as the ace and brings stability to the top of the rotation as a frontline piece. SR 1B/LHP Eli Bennett and JR SS Eli Sinsabaugh are two division one recruits set to lead the position players, but may be limited in early season action coming off injury. 3B Chase Nickols led the team in hitting as a sophomore and will likely fit in the middle of the order, along with SR C Bo Cooper. Cooper brings a defensive presence as well, helping out the Irish in a multitude of ways. SO RHP/UTL Connor Christiansen and JR OF/RHP Landon Hughes also return with experience and will likely be contributors to this bunch, Christiansen as a likely key pitcher, and Hughes providing a 'pen arm and middle-of-the-order type bat. This core is a talented bunch that will be expected to pull the rope as the new faces get up to speed. 

There are a few question marks with this bunch that will likely roll out two new faces in the outfield and at second base. Christiansen likely fills one of those roles after gaining a bit of varsity experience at the plate as a freshman on top of his bullpen duties in 2024. SO RHP/INF Bo Blondi likely factors in on the mound, and should compete for ABs, too. SO RHP Henry Haley is another inexperienced-but-talented arm that could blossom. JR OF Royce Ward, JR CIF Michael Gallagher, JR OF Cameron Koers are likely to compete for the open at-bats. JR RHP/3B Braden Mann and JR LHP/OF Charlie Finn could likely contribute, as well. 

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+ No. 5 Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles

• 2024 Record & Accolades: 21-6
• Impact Players: 
• JR RHP/INF Tate Troxell (Alabama), JR OF Ian Taylor, JR SS Karson Smith, JR INF Nolan Ratcliff, JR C/OF Grant Beard, JR RHP/INF Luke Gremelspacher, SR RHP Max Meyer (Huntington)

Dave Schrage inherits a talented squad in his first season at the helm, led by JR RHP/INF Tate Troxell, an Alabama recruit. Troxell offers big power for the middle of this order, along with serving as the teams' ace and workhorse on the mound. He should have run-producing opportunities at the plate with JR's OF Ian Taylor, SS Karson Smith, and INF Nolan Ratcliff hitting in front of him. Though uncommitted for now, all are division one caliber recruits that combine with Troxell to create a dangerous top. JR C Grant Beard and SO C Carson Kail will likely split, in some form or fashion, the catching duties and a corner outfield spot, extending depth to the lineup. SO INF Ben Canada should be a newcomer with a chance to blossom.

JR RHP Luke Gremelspacher and SR RHP Max Meyer will join Troxell as relied-upon arms, though the loss of All-State P Davis Wagner to graduation means valuable innings are up for grabs on this team. One of 3A's best lineups should give Coach Schrage time to find which arms fit best in each role, but when Troxell takes the hill this team can play with anyone in the state - regardless of class. 

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THE REST OF THE TOP-10

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Honorable Mention (alphabetical order): Bishop Dwenger (Fort Wayne), Brebeuf Jesuit, Gibson Southern, Indian Creek, Illiana Christian, Princeton, Roncalli, Shelbyville, Twin Lakes, Western