With Opening Day slated for Monday, March 14, the 2022 high school baseball season is upon us, and that means it’s time to release the PBR Kentucky/Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association Preseason Power 25.

After hours of combing through returning players and impactful newcomers, we will release the Preseason Power 25 with an in-depth look at five teams at a time. Today, we release the teams ranked No. 6-10.

CLICK HERE to view the teams ranked No. 11-15

CLICK HERE to view the teams ranked No. 16-20

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

The Power 25 will be updated weekly throughout the season.

6. Owensboro Catholic

Outlook: With the exception of one of their top five arms and one position player, the Aces return their entire roster from last season’s 32-6 squad and 3^rd region champion. 2022 SS Luke Scales (Bellarmine) returns to lead the offense after hitting .490 with 16 doubles, 2 triples, and 6 home runs in 2021, but the Aces have plenty more offensive firepower behind him with 2022  OF Sam McFarland (Kentucky Wesleyan, .395, 5doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs), 2022 IF Luke Evans (Wabash Valley, .371, 12 doubles, 1 triple, 4 home runs), and 2022 C Braden Mundy (Kentucky Wesleyan, .352, 9 doubles, 5 home runs) locked in the middle of the order.

On the mound, McFarland, Scales, and Hayden Ward return after they combined for 18 wins and 4 saves last spring. Watch for the possibility of Evans taking on a more prominent role on the mound to bolster the Aces staff.

7. Lexington Christian Academy

Outlook: Coming off a 20-8 season that culminated in a tough one-run loss in the 11^th region tournament, the Eagles return players all over the diamond and appear primed to be a mainstay in the top 10 this season.  LCA loses the big arm of Jaxson Davis (Louisville) but depth on the mound will be a strength led by a trio of seniors in RHP’s Elijah Hammond (North Central College), Hayden Collins (Southwest Tennessee), and Chance McGaughey who combined for 10 of LCA’s 20 wins last season. Look for two of the top sophomores in the state in RHP’s William Orberson and Parker Chaney to step up and log important innings for the Eagles.

Offensively, 2022 OF Cole Ginter returns to lead the offense as the catalyst from the lead-off spot after hitting .452 with 5 doubles and 4 triples in 2021. Collins, Matthew Maggard (Centre), and the aforementioned Orberson and Chaney should provide some additional offensive firepower in the Eagles lineup.

8. Male

Outlook: The Bulldogs posted a 22-11 record and advanced to the 7^th region semifinals before bowing out to eventual state champion Trinity in a close contest last spring. The strength for Male will lie in their pitching staff as they return all but 17 innings from last year’s squad, led by 2022 RHP Nic Schutte (Western Kentucky) who posted an 8-2 record with 87 strikeouts in 52 innings and a 2.15 ERA. RHP Nolan Hood, one of the top uncommitted arms in the 2023 class, will assume the No. 2 spot in the rotation, and Tristen Etheridge, Jordan Glasscock, and Cooper Knoop return after providing significant effective innings in 2021. 2023 RHP Gavyn Childers could be a big boost on the mound for the Bulldogs if he returns healthy from an injury last year.

Offensively, look for Schutte and 2022 C Andrew Daniel to lead the charge. Keep a close eye on DJ Grinter and Dash Egan, two sophomores who should provide some offense to the Male lineup.

9. Covington Catholic

Outlook: The Colonels come off an outstanding 34-3 season and 9^th region championship appearance, and return plenty to make a bigger postseason run this spring. It’s an experienced pitching staff with a trio of senior arms leading the way. 2022 lefty Luke Lenhof was virtually unhittable last year, posting a 4-0 record with 5 saves and a miniscule 0.66 ERA in 42.1 innings of work where he only walked 6 batters. RHP’s Trevor Wilson and Will Burke both feature power fastballs and will see plenty of mound time for the Colonels after posting 2.24 and 2.86 ERA’s last season respectively. Keep an eye on 2024 RHP Charlie Dieruf as well.

The Colonels have a lot of offense to replace from last season, but look for a big season out of 2023 C Jonathan Fitz after struggling with injuries last season.

10. Lafayette

Outlook: There’s a lot to replace on both sides of the ball for the ball from last season’s 34-8 squad that won the 11^th region championship and advanced to the Elite Eight, but there’s enough returning to expect another good season for the Generals. For starters, one of the top 2023 arms in the state, Jared Eisiminger, returns his 90 mph fastball after posting a 4-1 record with a 2.60 ERA as a sophomore and should be one of the top pitchers in the region. Sophomore Burkley Bounds returns after working an impressive 18.2 innings with a 2-0 record and 1.12 ERA, and look for 2022 RHP’s Eric Enerlich and Andrew Fultz to play a much bigger role this spring.

Offensively, 2022 3B Ben Prather returns to lead the charge after hitting .382 with 7 doubles, 3 triples, and 1 home run, and the Generals will receive big contributions from a pair of seniors in Mason Pittman (.300, 11 doubles, 1 triple, 2 home runs) and Carter Owens (Asbury, .337, 7 doubles, 4 triples, 3 home runs). Watch for freshman C Owen Jenkins (Louisville), the top-ranked player in the 2025 class, to post big offensive numbers as well.