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TN HS Team Preview: James Lawson Lightning

January 31, 2024
Hunter Martin
TN Scouting Director

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: James Lawson High School
Head Coach: Coby Ginsberg
Classification: AA
District + Region Number: District 10, Region 5
2023 Record (Finish): 14-21-1
No. of Returning Positional Starters: 7
No. of Returning Pitchers: 6
Team Strengths: Returning 7 starters from last year's regional team.

 

TOP RETURNING PLAYERS

MORE UPPERCLASS FOLLOWS

TEAM OUTLOOK

James Lawson comes into the season as a new school with a new mascot as the former Hillwood Comp high school. The Lightning return 7 starters from last year’s regional team. They should no doubt be the best metro high school in the area with multiple pieces on the mound set to make their return as well as with a few college prospects in the field. ‘26 LHP Braxton Loucks led the team in innings pitched as a freshman with 43.1. He once again looks to lead the club and should be in line for an All-District award in 2024. Senior RHP/UTL Louis Whitehead is a 3 year starter and was second on the team in innings pitched a season ago with 39, while being a secure glove at 1st base.. Offensively, two senior position players should lead the lineup with senior Grady Shaw is another 3 year starter at catcher and can also platoon in all infield positions. He should line up in a relief type of role and can even spot start when needed. The other is RHP/IF Logan Craig who batted .370 with 1.049 OPS and 32 RBI’s in 2023. He will also offer a relief type of role, while making his fair share of starts on the bump, while primarily meaning 3rd base. The Lightning will also look to a trio of juniors to perform with LHP/OF Joe Featherstone, a 2 year starter and will man CF. MIF Luke Adams is a pesky out and offers decently soft hands at shortstop. RHP/OF C.J. Thorton is a new player on this year’s squad as he transfers in from Pope John Paul II and offers physicality in the lineup and will start in right-field. ‘26 Maddox Fisher will add a spark in the back half of the lineup and will play good defense at 2nd base. ‘24 Xavier Dangerfield is back after having a significant role a year ago and will man left-field. This year’s club should lead their district yet again with Hume-Fogg being their biggest rival. On paper, the club’s biggest weakness seems to be their bench depth, however, their starting lineup offers plenty of experience and talent. Expect the newly formed James Lawson High School to make noise in their region with an opportunity to make a deeper postseason run than 2023.

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