The high school spring sports season is upon us.
Our preseason coverage continued this week with the annual athletes to watch list in baseball. More is in the works for other sports this month. But sticking with baseball: who gets the nod for Courier & Press Preseason Player of the Year, presented by Orthopaedic Associates?
AJ Baggett of North earned the preseason honor with 22,898 votes from nearly 56,000 total cast. The junior infielder batted .330 last season with six extra-base hits and 16 RBIs. The Indiana University commit was also 4-0 on the mound with a 2.36 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 29 2/3 innings. Baggett started this season with one hit allowed and eight strikeouts in five scoreless innings, plus drove in two runs, against Memorial on Wednesday.
Northeast Dubois’ Brycen Mroz was the runner-up at 20,035 votes followed by Castle’s Jace Watson, Mater Dei’s Spencer Schiff and Vincennes Lincoln’s Brady Anderson.
Brady Anderson, Vincennes Lincoln: The senior pitcher was 5-2 with a 1.62 ERA and 51 strikeouts in 43 1/3 innings — batted .443 with three home runs, 11 stolen bases and 25 RBIs.
Cole Breeden, Mater Dei: The sophomore pitcher was 3-3 with 2.23 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings.
Luke Brown, Memorial: The junior catcher batted .259 with five extra-base hits and 14 RBIs.
Brooks Carroll, North: The senior infielder batted .266 with four extra-base hits and 10 RBIs for the state runners-up.
Jaron Clutter, Princeton: The senior infielder batted .309 with six extra-base hits and 24 RBIs — also went 4-1 with 45 strikeouts in 32 1/3 innings.
Cooper Collins, Vincennes Lincoln: The junior catcher batted .451 with nine extra-base hits and 18 RBIs.
Grant Davis, Boonville: The senior batted .342 with eight extra-base hits and 11 RBIs.
Peyton Gray, Heritage Hills: The senior infielder batted .427 with six home runs, six doubles, 11 stolen bases and 28 RBIs — went 4-2 with a 2.25 ERA and 35 strikeouts.
Wes Kelley, Memorial: The senior outfielder batted .384 with four doubles, two triples, seven RBIs and 17 stolen bases.
Levi Lester, Barr-Reeve: The senior infielder batted .414 with eight home runs and 10 doubles.
Jack Levin, Jasper: The senior pitcher was 5-2 with a 1.67 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 56 innings — batted .435 with 10 extra-base hits and 20 RBIs.
Jaxon Lueken, Forest Park: The senior pitcher was 4-3 with a 2.31 ERA and 61 strikeouts in 45 innings — batted .373 with 28 hits.
Max Miller, Mater Dei: The senior pitcher was 7-0 with a 1.22 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 57 innings — batted .333 with 16 RBIs.
Brycen Mroz, Northeast Dubois: The junior batted .442 with 46 hits, six doubles, 17 stolen bases and 25 RBIs — also went 3-2 with a 3.20 ERA and 36 strikeouts.
Alton Ostby, Washington: The senior pither was 3-2 with a 2.56 ERA and 62 strikeouts in 52 innings — also batted .368 with 10 doubles and 23 RBIs.
Spencer Schiff, Mater Dei: The sophomore catcher batted .329 with 10 doubles and 23 RBIs for the state runners-up.
Preston Seidl, Castle: The junior pitcher was 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 29 1/3 innings.
Bo Shots, Vincennes Rivet: The junior infielder was 6-1 with a 1.74 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 52 1/3 innings — also batted .407 with 12 extra-base hits and 32 RBIs.
Micah Toler, Heritage Hills: The junior outfielder batted .417 with 10 extra-base hits and 19 RBIs — also 3-0 with a 3.57 ERA and 18 strikeouts.
Cam Truxal, Gibson Southern: The senior pitcher was 5-3 with a 1.90 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 51 2/3 innings.
Jace Watson, Castle: The senior outfielder batted .295 with 10 extra-base hits, 18 walks and 26 RBIs.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Vote for Courier & Press preseason baseball Player of the Year, presented by Orthopaedic Associates
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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