2025 High School Team Previews: #6 Ballard

March 12, 2025
Carter Floyd | Jamie Tessoff
KY Social Media Director | KY Scouting Director

We are less than ONE WEEK from opening day for the 2025 KHSAA season! The Prep Baseball KY staff has been hard at work ranking the top 25 teams in the Bluegrass State. We are now individually previewing our top ranked teams as part of our Power 25 countdown. Our next preview belongs to #6 ranked Ballard High School!

BALLARD: BRUINS

2024 Recap:

Record: 28-6 (home: 16-3, away: 5-2, neutral: 7-1)

2nd overall in Region 7
1st overall in District 28

Postseason finish: Region 7 semifinalists

Offensive stats: 245 H, 210 R, 61 XBH, .293 AVG

Pitching stats: 222.0 IP, 167 H, 62 ER, 274 K, 1.95 ERA

Head Coach Remarks:

"After going 28-6 in 2024, we return our entire starting lineup for the 2025 season. Lead by our seniors, Kaine Samuels, Kevin Moore, Lucas Niemeyer, and Zeke House, our pitching staff will be the strength of our team." - HC David Trager

State Director's Input:

"The first of our 7th region entrants is Head Coach David Trager’s Ballard Bruins, who are coming off an impressive 28 win campaign. The Bruins return 218 of the 222 innings pitched last season and have arguably the best staff in the Commonwealth. 9 game winner LHP Lucas Niemeyer (Lindenwood) returns his upper 80s smoke and devastating secondary offerings. 6’7” 240 pound 7 game winner and last season's Region 7 Player of the Year RHP Kaine Samuels (Western Kentucky) has turned the corner and been up to 93 while gaining some draft momentum. LHP Zeke House (IU Southeast) brings back his 5 wins and works a bowling ball mid 80s heater, a knee buckling slurvy breaker, and a developing change up that has a chance to develop into a legitimate 3rd offering. RHP Kevin Moore (Uncommitted) returns his 6 wins as well, and rumor has it there has been a velo jump into the upper 80s. Look for Eli Frith and junior Xzavier Bowen to see action on the bump as well. Offensively, look for Samuels to lead the charge with fellow seniors Mason Newland (.317 AVG) and Brendan McKinley (.284) chipping in as well. Look for 2027 Braylen Tillman and super talented freshman Kyle Novak to make their mark in this senior laden lineup. It won’t take many runs for this Ballard squad to win a lot of games this Spring, and do not be surprised if these seniors are holding up the State Championship trophy if they can escape a ridiculous 7th Region." - Jamie Tessoff

Top Newcomers:

2027 Braylen Tillman - MIF
2028 Kyle Novak - MIF/RHP

Top Returning Players:

2025 Kaine Samuels - RHP/1B (Western Kentucky University)
- .439 AVG, 43 H, 30 R, 36 RBI, 18 XBH, 5 HR, 11 BB
- 7-1, 50.2 IP, 14 ER, 25 BB, 71 K, 3 SV, 1.93 ERA
2025 Zeke House - LHP (Indiana University Southeast)
- 5-2, 40.2 IP, 14 ER, 18 BB, 63 K, 2 SV, 2.41 ERA
2025 Lucas Niemeyer - LHP (Lindenwood University)
- 9-1, 68.0 IP, 17 ER, 12 BB, 78 K, 1.75 ERA
2025 Kevin Moore - RHP/MIF
- .292 AVG, 26 H, 19 R, 26 RBI, 9 XBH, 19 BB
- 6-0, 40.1 IP, 10 ER, 16 BB, 44 K, 1.74 ERA
2025 Mason Newland - OF
- .317 AVG, 32 H, 33 R, 12 RBI, 14 BB, 13 SB
2025 Brendan McKinley - OF (Rend Lake JC)
- .284 AVG, 29 H, 26 R, 10 RBI, 15 SB
2026 Xzavier Bowen - C
- .345 AVG, 19 H, 14 RBI, 17 BB