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4A Bubble Teams : 5 Teams Just Outside the Top 25

March 14, 2023
Indiana Staff
PBR Indiana

With our preseason rankings releasing today, we wanted to take the time to acknowledge five 4A teams that were just outside the Top 25. To view the full Top 25 list click HERE

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: NEW PALESTINE DRAGONS

Head Coach: Shawn Lyons

Class: 4A

2022 Record: 26-7

Conference (2022 Record):  11-3

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/4

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Pitching 

  • Defense

  • Senior Leadership

Top Players: 


Outlook: New Palestine returns 4 starters and 4 pitchers from a squad that won 26 games and made a deep playoff run a season ago. Coach Shawn Lyons will rely on a group of four seniors with starting experience to lead the 2023 squad. Senior Blaine Nunnally returns at shortstop after hitting .260 and scoring 22 runs, and Nunnally will also be counted on to be one of the top arms on the pitching staff after pitching 22 innings with a 2.80 ERA in 2022. Seniors Wes Stiller and Ben Morwick were key cogs in the offense a season ago and will be expected to provide the same impact this season. Senior Nolan Cox returns with experience both on the mound and at the plate. The Dragons will count on Juniors Henry Thorpe and Michael Thorpe to jump into the starting rotation and provide depth to the pitching staff. Sophomore Jackson Kamp will take over behind the dish and will be expected to hit in the middle of the lineup. The Dragons will have some new faces in the starting lineup, but with strong senior leadership expect New Palestine to have another strong group this spring.

 

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Harrison (Lafayette) Raiders

Head Coach: Pat Lowrey

Class: 4A

2022 Record: 20-10

Conference (2022 Record):  4-4

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/5

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Varsity Experience

  • Hitting

  • Frontline Pitching 

Top Players: 


Outlook: Harrison will return a core group of players that have helped them to back-to-back regional appearances. Senior Corbin Payne will hit near the top of the lineup after batting .325 with 18 SB as a junior. Sophomore Drew McTagertt (.391 / 12 XBH) is the top returning bat amongst the group after a big freshman season. Junior Jack Dowell (.321 / 9 XBH) will hit in the middle of the lineup with the task of being a run producer for Harrison. Seniors Sammy Hallada, Brendan Gothrup, and Wes McNeff all gained varsity experience last year and will be called upon to be impact bats. Payne and Junior Aiden Schwartz will lead the Raiders’ pitching staff this season. Senior Gavin Owsley ( 15 appearances / 3.23 ERA) returns plenty of bullpen experience and Senior Hayden Slate should be another impact arm out of the bullpen for Harrison.

 

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Franklin Community Grizzly Cubs

Head Coach: Ryan Feyerabend

Class: 4A

2022 Record: 16-10

Conference (2022 Record):  10-4

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/5

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Hitting

  • Defense

  • Team Speed

Top Players: 


Outlook: Franklin returns six starters from a 16-win team from a year ago and will be led by Senior Vanderbilt recruit Max Clark. Clark, the top ranked high school senior in the country, will bring a plethora of MLB scouts to each game he plays this spring after he posted video game numbers in his junior season. Clark batted .577 with 8 2B, 9 HR, and 22 SB last season, earning PBR Indiana Player of the Year honors. Senior Jackson Henry returns the most experience on the mound, going 5-1 with a 2.90 ERA in 48.1 IP as a junior. Henry will also be an impact bat in the middle of the Grizzly Cubs’ lineup after he hit .357 last season. Sophomore SS Landen Basey (.360 avg) returns and will hit near the top of the lineup as well as being expected to be an impact bullpen arm. Seniors Beau Baker and Pryce Rucker are also returning starters that will need to be impactful in the middle of the lineup. Senior Noah DeArmitt (18 IP / 2.50 ERA) and Sophomore Braeden Burton (14.1 IP / 2-0 record) are expected to join Henry in the Grizzly Cubs’ starting rotation.

 

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Lawrence North Wildcats

Head Coach: Richard Winzenread

Class: 4A

2022 Record: 24-7

Conference (2022 Record):  9-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/1

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Hitting

  • Team Speed

  • Defense

Top Players: 


Outlook: Lawrence North will have a strong offensive unit in 2023 with some experience back from a team that went 24-7 a season ago. Junior Logan Crock will be the everyday SS after hitting .356 with 20 SB as a sophomore. Senior Andrew Hargrove (.357 / 11 XBH) and Junior Brock Taulman (.308 / 12 XBH) will be impactful bats in the middle of the order. Juniors Elijah Radcliff and Austin Linton are returning with varsity experience and will be asked to take on larger roles this season. Junior OF Devon Reynolds should step in and add another solid bat to the lineup. On the mound, the Wildcats return Sophomore Brenden Boynton who went 6-1 with a 3.14 ERA as a freshman and will be looked upon to be the ace of the pitching staff. Expect Crock and Senior Nathan Olsen to provide depth to the Wildcats’ pitching staff.

 

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: North Central Panthers

Head Coach: Andy McClain

Class: 4A

2022 Record: 14-9-1

Conference (2022 Record):  8-2

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/5

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Pitching Depth

  • Hitting

  • Athleticism 

Top Players: 


Outlook: The Panthers will look to a strong core of returning arms to lead their team in 2023. Senior Charlie Baker brings the most experience to the 2023 squad after pitching 29.2 innings as a junior and posting a 4.01 ERA. Junior Michael Fliss and Sophomore Tristan Wilson are two very talented arms that will be counted on to step into starting roles this season. Junior Alva Erskine and Senior Will Kaiser also gained varsity experience on the bump in 2022 and will provide depth to the Panthers’ pitching staff. Offensively, Senior C Jack Ferguson returns behind the dish after hitting .412 with 5 HR in 2022. Junior OF Micah Reinstra-Kiracofe hit .405 as a sophomore and is expected to be a catalyst atop the Panthers’ lineup. Baker, and Seniors Eli Buddenbaum and Ethan Campbell all contributed at the varsity level last season and will be factors in the lineup again in 2023. Junior Stryker Swenson will take over as a starting outfielder and should provide quality depth to the lineup.

MORE 2023 HS PREVIEWS