The 2024 high school baseball season is quickly approaching and as usual, excitement abounds throughout the state. Players and coaches have been working in preparation for the upcoming season and, as is the case each year, there are some very talented players and teams across Tennessee.

Teams across the state have goals and aspirations to finish their seasons in Murfreesboro at The Spring Fling as they compete for a state championship, but there is plenty of work to be done before that becomes reality. We hope to familiarize our readers with many of the teams across the state as we preview individual teams across Tennessee. We will take you right up to first pitch this season with these team previews and by continuing other pieces of content covering the Volunteer State.

Please keep checking back throughout the season as we will be your one-stop shop for everything related to high school baseball across the state. Each week we will be releasing our players of the week, updating the Power 25 and much more.

*Please note the information has been gathered from head coaches across the state, based on their replies to the questionnaire we distributed over this offseason.

High School: Chester County High School
Head Coach: Mike Goff
Classification: AAA
District + Region Number: District 12 AAA + Region 6 AAA
2023 Record (Finish): 19-10
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 8
No. of Returning Pitchers: 8
Team Strengths: Pitching, Defense, Speed and Hitters

 

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TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

• 3B/P Hunter McLemore (2024, Freed-Hardeman University)
• CF Jayce Goff (2025)
• IF/P Dean Estes (2025) 
• 1B Evan Schippers (2024)
• RF Caleb Cole (2025) 
• C Brooks Johnson (2025)

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TOP UNDERCLASSMEN

• IF/P Lane Estes (2027)
• IF/P Jaden Weaver (2027)

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TEAM OUTLOOK

The Chester County Eagles are back with pitching, speed, defense and hitting in 2024 and look to take a step further this year with Murfreesboro coming late May on their mind. The Eagles are coming off a really strong season that saw them win the 2023 AAA-District 11 regular season and tournament with a manageable route to sectionals. Beating Hardin County 4 times during the regular season and the district tournament, the Eagles would finally lose to that same team to close out their season right after losing to eventual state runner-up South Gibson in Regionals. It was a tough draw with South Gibson who would go 3-0 against Chester County with a margin of 16-4. Nonetheless, the Eagles return multiple pieces off of last year's club with a total of 8 returning positional starters to go along with 8 returning pitchers that saw innings last season. To say Coach Goff has high expectations would be an understatement as this is a team that probably should have been in the state tournament a season ago. Looking on paper, this is a team that mostly outhit all their opponents in 2023 with 18 games scoring 5+ runs to go alongside 10 games with 10+ runs scored. However, their strong suit this season looks to be on the mound where they will be led by Freed-Hardman signee Hunter Mclemore who packs a mid to upper 80’s fastball. He is a guy that can rack up K’s at an absurd rate but must look to lower his base on balls total. Another reliable arm that was a major part of last year’s staff as a sophomore will be ‘25 Dean Estes. The right-hander is another mid 80’s arm that throws a lot of strikes and has pitchability with the breaking-ball and changeup. Maybe their most upside arm however will be younger brother and freshman RHP Lanes Estes, who already offers low to mid 80’s on the fastball with feel for his off-speed. This is a kid that already has a very mature demeanor on the hill and the moment doesn’t seem too big for the young ‘26 prospect. Look for him to compete early for innings and round-out their three man rotation come district play. At the plate, the Eagles return their entire 1-6 hitters in the lineup. Jayce Goff should be back in the lead off spot once again and offers speed on the bases with the ability to steal bags. Brooks Johnson will be back in the 2 hole and is a scrappy hitter that makes him a tough out. Mclemore and Dean Estes will stay at the top-half of the lineup batting 3-4 followed by senior 1B Evan Schippers, who should slide right back into the 5-hole with Caleb Cole back in the 6-hole. Filling out their bottom half order shouldn’t be that much of a problem, as they have a handful of underclassmen that look primed and ready to step up this varsity season. Look for the Eagles to lead their district yet again with their eyes set on the ultimate prize of playing meaningful baseball in Murfreesboro come late May. This team has all the pieces to make that dream a real reality with enough pitching to compete in any bracket.

3B/RHP Hunter Mclemore

Should be up the 90 this upcoming spring season. Gets a ton of sink on his FB and will be a participant at out 2024 PBR Tennessee PreSeason All-State event. Batted .393 with 1.196 OPS. Totaled 35 hits with 10 doubles, 5 HR’s and 30 RBI’s in 2023.

CF Jayce Goff

Batted .315 in the leadoff spot with 7 stolen bases and 39 runs scored in 2023.

INF/RHP Dean Estes

Most consistent arm from a year ago. Estes pounds the zone with mid 80’s and offers pitchability with his offspeed. Batted .337 with 32 RBI’s in 2023.

1B Evan Schippers

Batted .253 in 2023 with 22 hits and 18 RBI’s in 2023.

RF Caleb Cole

Batted .328 with a .897 OPS in 2023.

C Brooks Johnson

Batted .330 with 32 hits, 24 runs scored and a .440 OBP.

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