Prep Baseball Report

KSHSAA Team Preview: Blue Valley West


Andy Urban
KS/OK/MO/AR/CO/Creekside Scouting Supervisor

The Kansas high school season is nearing quickly, and we're here to cover it. Over the next several weeks, leading up to opening day, we’ll be publishing our team previews ahead of the 2023 spring season, touching on programs spanning all state classifications, leading into a countdown through the official PBR Kansas Preseason Power 20 Rankings.

We’ve submitted a Preseason Questionnaire to high school head coaches across the entire state. Their responses have been flooding in and we’re using the detailed insight they’ve provided in our team-by-team preseason analysis.

 

Team: Blue Valley West Jaguars
League: Eastern Kansas League

2022 Record: 23-2
Classification: 6A
Head Coach: Joe Allison
Years at the Helm: 13

OUTLOOK

The strength of the defending 6A state champs will be their starting pitching and the middle of the lineup. The Jaguars return two of their top three pitchers from last year including their ace, Austin Young. Offensively BVW returns their three and four hole hitters from last year in Darche and Donaldson and add Notre Dame commit Eli Lovich. In order to make another run at a title they will need to reload in the middle infield. They graduated one of the best SS (Jackson Lovich) and 2B (Justin Dooley) combos in the state. The Jags will fill their roles with two underclassmen this year and they may go through some growing pains, but if they settle in, could allow the Jags to repeat.

 

IMPACT PLAYERS

Barrett Donaldson, C, Sr., BA .281, 16 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 12 RBI, 7 R, 1 SB
Zach Darche, DH/3B/1B, Sr., BA .364, 32 H, 12 2B, 1 3B, 18 RBI, 18 R, 4 SB (Penn Football commit)
Jack Schneider, 3B, Sr., BA .286, 12 H, 2 2B, 6 RBI, 16 R, 8 SB
Joseph Lock, OF, Sr., BA .344, 22 H, 2 2B, 1 3B, 12 RBI, 15 R, 8 SB
Austin Young, RHP, Sr. 8 - 1, 52.0 IP, 58 K's, 2.02 ERA (Baylor commit)
Ari Shafton, RHP, Sr, 2-1, 41.1 IP, 31 K's, 2.03 ERA

 

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Sam Dew Jr. MIF
Eli Lovich Jr. OF/1B/LHP- Notre Dame commit

 

Make sure to follow @PBRKansas on Twitter for the most up-to-date coverage throughout the 2023 season.

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