Prep Baseball Nebraska 2024 High School Preview: Bellevue West Thunderbirds
February 26, 2024
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As we prepare for the upcoming 2024 High School season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.
BELLEVUE WEST THUNDERBIRDS PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Team: Bellevue West
Nickname: Thunderbirds
Preseason Rank: 3
X: @T_BIRDSBASEBALL
Class: A
Conference: Metro
Head Coach: Jason Shockey
Years as Head Coach at School (Overall Record): 10 (467-201)
2023 Overall Record: 19-12
2023 Post-Season Finish: Class A 5th in State
# of Returning Starters: 7
# of Pitchers With 15+ Innings Returning:6
# of Starters Lost: 2
# of Pitchers with 15+ Innings Lost: 2
PLAYERS TO WATCH
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Nicholas Riggs LHP / Bellevue West , NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 10 / POS: 2
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Ty Smolinski SS / Bellevue West, NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 8 / POS: 2
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Tanner Hosick SS / Bellevue West, NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 15 / POS: 4
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Colin Flores RHP / Bellevue West , NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 36 / POS: 11
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Nick Glantz 3B / Bellevue West, NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 60 / POS: 4
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Johnny Barrientos 2B / Bellevue West, NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 132 / POS: 4
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Kaden Allred OF / Bellevue West, NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 86 / POS: 20
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Jake Smolinski 2B / Bellevue West, NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 113 / POS: 3
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Cade Zavala C / Bellevue West, NE / 2024
Rankings StateRank: 56 / POS: 8
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Drew Grego SS / Bellevue West, NE / 2025
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Cole Madden C / Bellevue West, NE / 2025
Rankings StateRank: 87 / POS: 15
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Brayden Woodard RHP / Bellevue West, NE / 2025
Rankings StateRank: 86 / POS: 18
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Will Sims C / Bellevue West , NE / 2025
Rankings StateRank: 52 / POS: 7
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Aiden Ensor OF / Bellevue West , NE / 2026
Rankings StateRank: 58 / POS: 11
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Brady Lester C / Bellevue West, NE / 2026
Rankings StateRank: 52 / POS: 8
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Jayden Kephart 3B / Bellevue West , NE / 2026
Rankings StateRank: 59 / POS: 7
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Dawson Steele RHP / Bellevue West, NE / 2026
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CJ Shockey C / Bellevue West, NE / 2027
Rankings StateRank: 10 / POS: 1
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ALUMNI IN COLLEGE
Jaxon Jelkin - University of Houston
Dane Toman - South Dakota State University
Connor Schneider - McNeese State University
Jackson Allred - Alabama State University
Bryce Woodard - York College
Tyler Jeffus - Iowa Western CC
Daniel Lester - Iowa Western CC
Gage Allen - Rockhurst University
Jackson Steele - Oklahoma Christian University
Treyce Machacek - Doane University
Colin Pitzer - Hesston CC
Cam Madsen - Wayne State College
Jack Bland - Allen County CC
Ryan Sullivan - Colby CC
Carson Wright - Northwestern Oklahoma State University
2024 OUTLOOK
"We've got a lot of returners from last summer's legion team that finished 2nd at the state tournament. Lots of these players have seen time at the varsity level since their sophomore year. We will look to that experience to lead us this spring to hopefully achieve our goals in 2024." - Jason Shockey, Head Coach