EVANSVILLE — Are you ready for postseason baseball?
The Indiana High School Athletic Association state tournament begins this week with the sectional round. Will any teams from Southwestern Indiana make it to Victory Field on June 19-20? Three did so last season. Anybody lucky enough to advance that far must win this week first.
Who from the Evansville area has the best chance? Players to keep an eye on? Here is a breakdown of each local sectional with the favorites to win each field based on the teams’ body of work and the blind draw.
Class 4A at Bosse Field
Favorite: No. 2 North
The Southern Indiana Athletic Conference co-champion has the deepest pitching staff with three starters all sitting at 1.53 earned run average or better. The lineup is vastly improved year-to-year with eight contributors north of .300 averages. The Huskies don’t generally beat themselves on defense. Not impervious if the bats go cold, though. North wasn’t blessed with a favorable draw starting with Castle.
Contender: Castle
It wouldn’t surprise me to see the Knights make a run. They have the pitcher to win a one-game scenario: Cincinnati commit Preston Seidl already proved so in April against North. The lineup has a mix of youth and veterans but also talent. Castle is also pointing upwards with five wins over the final eight regular season games.
Don’t overlook: Reitz
The Panthers quietly had a solid season. They’ve clinched their first winning record since 2023 with five batting over .300 this spring. Junior shortstop Landon McCutchan deserves his due with a .508 average and 15 extra-base hits through 21 games. Reitz needs two great outings from its pitching staff. The draw did avoid North and Castle to start the week — a third win over a plucky Harrison team is required first.
Players to watch: AJ Baggett, North; Crue Begle, Reitz; Brooks Carroll, North; Carson Frome, North; Aaron Humphrey, North; Darien Matos Romero, Harrison; Landon McCutchan, Reitz; Donovan Merriweather, Harrison; Preston Seidl, Castle; Dean Underwood, Harrison; Wyatt Vaughan, Castle; Carter Vincent, Reitz; Jace Watson, Castle.
Class 3A at Jasper
Favorite: No. 5 Gibson Southern
The Pocket Athletic Conference champion has what it needs to win. A pitching staff with a collective 1.93 ERA – Western Kentucky commit Jake Mazzier sits at 1.57 and 75 strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings. An improving lineup led by several upperclassmen with junior shortstop Crewe Hasenour sporting a .450 average and 35 RBIs. There’s potential roadblocks in each round and will be interesting to see how the Titans use their pitching.
Contender: No. 9 Jasper, Southridge
This is the deepest field in the area and tough to parse out. Jasper was pointing down (lost six of seven, including the paused game against Mater Dei) until beating North on May 21. That result could be the turning point it needed. It wouldn’t be a shock for the Wildcats to flip a switch and burn through the sectional, despite a rough draw. Southridge gets the slight edge on the other side of the bracket. The Raiders have cooled since a hot start but are generally solid in all phases.
Don’t overlook: Vincennes Lincoln, Washington
Vincennes beat Jasper to end the SIAC slate. Can the Alices do it again behind Brady Anderson and Texas A&M commit Cooper Collins? Washington finished fourth in the PAC behind a strong May (six straight wins until meeting Gibson Southern). The Hatchets get a rematch with Southridge in the semifinal with ace Alton Ostby.
Players to watch: Brady Anderson, Vincennes; Brody Clark, Washington; Jaron Clutter, Princeton; Cooper Collins, Vincennes; Zach Frady, Washington; Sam Gasser, Southridge; Crewe Hasenour, Gibson Southern; Kiptyn Kluesner, Jasper; Jack Levin, Jasper; Conor Marsh, Princeton; Jake Mazzier, Gibson Southern; Brogan McClellan, Gibson Southern; Alton Ostby, Washington; Noah Ring, Southridge; Jett Springer, Jasper; Kase Whitehead, Southridge; Colton Wonning, Vincennes.
Class 3A at Braun Stadium
Favorite: Heritage Hills
Few opponents have slowed this offense down. The lineup is averaging 10.2 runs per game and five hitters over .400 averages. Western Kentucky signee Peyton Gray (.484 average and 33 RBIs) and Micah Toler (.480 average and 25 extra-base hits) have been a step above the rest. It all comes down to pitching with Tyce Winchell emerging as the No. 1 starter. Do the Patriots throw him in the semifinal?
Contender: Memorial
Memorial emerged as the clear top contender with a seven-game winning streak in the middle of the SIAC schedule. The lineup has been solid, especially with the return of centerfielder Wes Kelley from an early season injury. But the win streak timed with improved pitching. That form is firmly at the top of the list should the Tigers emerge as sectional champions.
Don’t overlook: Central, Boonville
Central gets the first shot at Memorial in a rematch of last year’s final. Devon DeJarnette has been a solid leadoff hitter with a .405 average and 10 stolen bases. Boonville has a favorable draw and gets the Memorial-Central winner in the semifinals.
Players to watch: Jeremy Bracho, Bosse; Hunter Broshears, Central; Luke Brown, Memorial; Luke Curtis, Bosse; Grant Davis, Boonville; Devon DeJarnette, Central; Levi Embrey, Mount Vernon; Peyton Gray, Heritage Hills; Caden Jamison, Boonville; Wes Kelley, Memorial; Jaxon McKain, Boonville; Ryan Obenchain, Memorial; Wesley Reed, Central; Micah Toler, Heritage Hills; Trey Tyree, Heritage Hills; Luke Weintraut, Mount Vernon; Tyce Winchell, Heritage Hills.
Class 2A at Linton-Stockton
Favorite: No. 7 Barr-Reeve
The Vikings remain the favorite because they keep winning. Their only two losses in May came during the Hall of Fame Classic at Jasper. The lineup remains deep with a lot of experience. Perhaps the lone question is pitching depth, plus a brutal draw starting with Sullivan. Barr-Reeve still remains the pick until proven otherwise.
Contender: Sullivan, West Vigo
Sullivan absolutely has the template to beat Barr-Reeve in the opener. The pitching staff has a collective 1.71 ERA. Indiana State recruit Jaden Norris, the Golden Arrows’ top batter and arm, also returned recently after missing a month. West Vigo is sitting on the other side of the bracket, awaiting Eastern Greene or South Knox.
Don’t overlook: North Knox
The Warriors swept the Knox County schools and on a current heater (six wins in eight games). Probably the biggest threat to either Sullivan or Barr-Reeve in the semifinal.
Players to watch: Korben Boyd, Barr-Reeve; Eli Elkins, North Knox; Ty Hamilton, Sullivan; Evan Hartwick, South Knox; Ben Lester, Barr-Reeve; Levi Lester, Barr-Reeve; Hunter Mason, Sullivan; Jackson Miller, Linton-Stockton; Cooper Neal, South Knox; Jaden Norris, Sullivan; Levi Pahmeier, North Knox; Saxton Pennycuff, Eastern Greene; Chaz Perry, Eastern Greene; Charlie Roach, West Vigo; Gage Sullivan, Linton-Stockton; Reese Wilbur, West Vigo.
Class 2A at South Spencer
Favorite: No. 2 Mater Dei
The SIAC co-champions have the same look as last season. A good pitching staff with four or five capable arms in a pinch. What has kept the Wildcats in a position to succeed again in June is an improving lineup. That’s been clear during an 11-game winning streak to conclude the regular season. If the sticks continue to produce, it will take an impressive outing to knock Mater Dei out this week.
Contender: Forest Park, North Posey
A roller coaster season for the Rangers has their arrow currently pointing up (four wins over final six). But when do they throw Indiana signee Jax Lueken — a rematch with Tell City or save for a possible semifinal against Mater Dei? North Posey sits on the other side with a semifinal bye. The lineup needs to get hot to aid a young pitching rotation.
Don’t overlook: Perry Central, South Spencer, Tell City
The Commordores have the best outlook in this group. The lineup averages over six runs and avoids Mater Dei until the final — needs two wins to make it there, though. Adding South Spencer and Tell City because of the one-game scenario. Case in point: the Rebels just beat Jasper on May 20, and the Marskmen were close to beating most of this field in the regular season.
Players to watch: Carter Ball, Perry Central; Cole Breeden, Mater Dei; Jared Burger, Forest Park; Nate Davis, Pike Central; Drew Greulich, Tell City; Beau Heck, South Spencer; Owen Hubert, Perry Central; Remington Johnson, North Posey; Conan Kellems, Tell City; Hudson King, Forest Park; Jax Lueken, Forest Park; Max Miller, Mater Dei; Dylan Murphy, Mater Dei; Brennan Reich, North Posey; Nolan Schickel, Mater Dei; Spencer Schiff, Mater Dei; Tate Schulte, South Spencer.
Class 1A at Loogootee
Favorite: Vincennes Rivet
The defending sectional champion has most of last year’s core back. Only two losses since May 1, including a rally to best Northeast Dubois. Bo Shots has produced another quality campaign (.427 average and 16 extra-base hits).
Contender: Orleans
The Bulldogs have the only other winning record. Also received a draw opposite Rivet and North Daviess.
Don’t overlook: North Daviess
The Cougars hovered around .500 all season and knocked off Rivet way back on April 8. Can it happen again in the semifinal?
Players to watch: Kaden Berning, Orleans; Mason Britton, Loogootee; Emmett Graber, Loogootee; Henry Hoffman, Shoals; Henry Holka, Vincennes Rivet; Zane Sample, North Daviess; Bo Shots, Vincennes Rivet; Grady Springer, Orleans; Koen Stoll, North Daviess; Jayden Thacker, Vincennes Rivet.
Class 1A at Tecumseh
Favorite: No. 9 Northeast Dubois
The defending regional champion has a few things in its favor. One is a lineup batting .358 and scoring 8.5 runs per game. Second is a solid pitching rotation with multiple arms (Brycen Mroz, the starting catcher, didn’t allow an earned run until his seventh apperance). The Jeeps also avoid the other top contenders in this field with a semifinal spot.
Contender: Tecumseh, Springs Valley
The winner of this first round game is the likely pick to challenge Northeast Dubois. The Braves had cooled off some since an impressive stretch around late April/early May (that included a win over Heritage Hills). If Tecumseh regains that form — it beat Forest Park and almost knocked off Barr-Reeve in recent outings — then a championship spot is obtainable.
Don’t overlook: Wood Memorial
The Trojans are the probable foe to the Tecumseh-Springs Valley winner after drawing Cannelton.
Players to watch: Sam Beck, Northeast Dubois; Landon Cason, Wood Memorial; Brody Deal, Tecumseh; Gage Garrett, Cannelton; Joe Jarboe, Wood Memorial; Mackey Lowe, Springs Valley; Blake Miley, Evansville Christian; Brycen Mroz, Northeast Dubois; Kai Radke, Evansville Christian; Waylon Riddle, Tecumseh; Eli Schroering, Northeast Dubois; Hunter Thomas, Springs Valley.
Kyle Sokeland is a sports reporter for the Courier & Press. Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @kylesokeland or email at kyle.sokeland@courierpress.com.
This article originally appeared on Evansville Courier & Press: Players, teams to watch across SW Indiana baseball sectionals
Reporting by Kyle Sokeland, Evansville Courier & Press / Evansville Courier & Press
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