Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Power 25: No. 16-20


Chris Fuller
Kentucky Director of Scouting

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With the high school baseball season on hold until April 13, we took a Twitter poll on whether our followers wanted us to release our Preseason Power 25 now, or wait until a few days before the season. The decision was overwhelmingly in favor of releasing it now.

Over the course of the next few days, we will release five teams at a time and highlight some key players from each squad. This will lead up to revealing our Preseason No. 1.

Today we take a look at the teams ranked No. 16-20.

CLICK HERE to view the teams ranked No. 21-25

16 North Oldham

Key Losses: Justin Doyle, Nick Rose, Alex Atkins, Brendan McAfee, William Hare

Key Returners: Logan Beard, Davis Ray, Jay Smith, Hunter Hyden, Cooper Hellman, Nick Boyle

The Mustangs put up 32 wins and won the 8th Region Championship last season before losing to Trinity in the Sub-State round. They lost several key components of that team, both offensively and on the mound but return a strong nucleus led by Louisville recruit Logan Beard who hit .447 with 19 doubles, a triple, and 11 HR. Junior Davis Ray returns 42.2 innings on the mound from last year as he finished with a 3-0 record and 2.95 ERA. Junior Cooper Hellman, a WKU commit, should see plenty of mound action to go along with Ray. The wildcard is senior Nick Boyle who has potentially electric stuff as he has made a big velocity jump, but he has had command issues in the past. Boyle is committed to Xavier.

17 Male

Key Losses: Chyran Cruse, Matthew Kirkland, Jordan Levey, Todd Jackson

Key Returners: Grant Knipp, James Jett, Brennen Perry, Walter Munday, Crew Egan, Nic Schutte, Jake Bratcher

The Bulldogs posted a 24-13 record last season before bowing out to Trinity in the 7th Region Tournament but return a solid nucleus led by Alabama recruit Grant Knipp who hit .390 with 10 doubles, two triples, and five home runs. Wabash Valley JC recruit James Jett, Transylvania recruit Walter Munday, and Brennen Perry will also provide offensive punch for Male. On the mound, the Bulldogs return sophomore Nic Schutte who posted a 0.92 ERA in 30.1 IP, to go along with seniors Crew Egan, Brennen Perry, and St. Charles CC recruit Jake Bratcher.

18 Lawrence County

Key Losses: Austin Roe, Lucas Maynard

Key Returners: Bryce Blevins, Jackson Feltner, Corbin Fairchild, Tyler Maynard, Jacob Fletcher

Last year’s 15th Region Champs posted a 35-6 record before bowing out to Rowan County in the Sub-State round. The Bulldogs return plenty to make another run at a 15th Region Championship. Kentucky commit Bryce Blevins leads the way on the mound. The LHP, one of the top sophomores in the state will be joined by Pikeville recruit Corbin Fairchild to form a good 1-2 punch. Morehead State recruit Jackson Feltner was among the league leaders in home runs last year, and SS Tyler Maynard, another Pikeville recruit, returns to man the middle of the infield.

19 Beechwood

Key Losses: Logan Catleman, John Odom, Devin Johnson, Dylan Doverspike, Ayden Hutton, Clay Trusty

Key Returners: Carter Noah, Brett Holladay, Marcus Berger, Drew Fieger, Jax Noll, Preston Hamilton

Last year’s 9th Region Champs went into the State Tournament with a 38-1 record before losing in the 1st round to Breckinridge County. The Tigers lose a lot of offense from that squad including their top 5 hitters (4 of whom moved on to college baseball). They do, however, return their top two arms in senior Carter Noah and sophomore Brett Holladay who combined to throw more than 120 innings last spring. Look for junior Drew Fieger to join Noah and Holladay to form a formidable rotation for Beechwood.

20 PRP

Key LossesDlass Glass, Reed Blaszczyk, Dylan Carnes, Luke Creech, Matthew Creech, Wyatt Humphrey, Jarrett Trokulus, James Wilson, David Aguilar

Key Returners – Dawson Cooper, Raymond Blandford, Cooper Haycraft

Last year’s 6th Region champs advanced to the first round of the State Tournament before bowing out to eventual State Champion Tates Creek in a hard-fought 3-2 contest. The Panthers lost a lot from last year’s squad, including six starters and one of the top arms in the state in Dallas Glass, though he was injured mid-way through the season. Two things you can typically count on from PRP is that they will re-load and will be well-coached. Senior Dawson Cooper returns as the most experienced pitcher, logging 54.2 innings last season with a 4-3 record and 3.33 ERA. Keep an eye on junior Cooper Haycraft who hit .463 in 67 AB’s last spring.