We’re one month into the IHSAA baseball season, and several teams that were not on my initial Fab 15 are making waves.
Here are five under the radar Central Indiana teams to watch after one month of baseball.
Hamilton Southeastern (11-4)
A team can’t really be under the radar while playing in the toughest conference in the state, but the Royals are definitely opening eyes with their play. HSE has quality wins over Columbus North, Brownsburg (twice), Carmel and Zionsville (twice). Junior pitcher Spencer Mohr was dominant in HSE’s second win over Zionsville, striking out five and allowing just three hits in a seven-inning shutout. The Royals have a plus-42 run differential and average 8.2 runs per game. They have seven batters batting over .300 with senior Jackson Bixler leading the way with a .420 average. Junior Clark Bucher (3 home runs, 15 RBIs) is the Royals’ top run producer. This week’s two-game series against rival Fishers will be the biggest test to date for HSE.
Franklin (9-2)
Frankin is currently on a five-game winning streak, alternating one-run wins with blowouts before its 10-5 win over Columbus East. The Grizzly Cubs started the season strong with a win over Roncalli, as Grey Betts and Gunner Wade combined for seven strikeouts and one earned run over seven innings. The Grizzly Cubs have pop throughout their lineup, and Betts and Jack Nelson are forming a strong 1-2 punch on the mound. This week’s two-game series against Mooresville will be a barometer for the team’s future.
Lawrence North (7-5)
Lawrence North opened the season with a dominant win over Brownsburg and continues to perform well against tough competition. The Wildcats handed Bloomington North its only loss of the season so far. They swept rival Lawrence Central and rebounded from a three-game losing streak with an 11-1 win over North Central. LN is with North Central atop the MIC at 3-1. Carson Maskel, Jaxden Wims and Luke Tatum are LN’s top hitters. Maskel is batting .441 with 11 RBIs. Wims is batting .414 with 10 RBIs, and Tatum leads the team with four home runs. Carter Nahre is the staff ace, sporting a 2-0 record with a 2.39 ERA and 20 strikeouts over 14⅔ innings.
Avon (7-6-1)
Avon has a plus-26 run differential despite a murder’s row of an early season schedule. Tying with Guerin Catholic is a solid outcome, and the Orioles regrouped from a three-game skid to win five of their next six games. Freshman Christian Wessel is a name to remember. The switch hitter is batting .400 with a team-leading 16 RBIs, to go along with four doubles and he’s 2-1 with a 2.19 ERA on the mound. Avon’s two-game series against a talented but inconsistent Brownsburg squad will be a test for the Orioles.
Pendleton Heights (7-4)
Pendleton Heights has quality wins over Hamilton Southeastern, Covenant Christian and Shelbyville. The Arabians are 5-0 in games decided by two runs or less, but they have a few lopsided losses that are throwing off their run differential. Junior Colin Axel-Adams is a Purdue commit putting together a breakout junior season. The left-handed hitter is batting .387 with seven RBIs, three triples, two doubles, two home runs and three stolen bases. Brody Stevenson and Jackson Maifeld are forming a strong 1-2 punch on the mound. Stevenson is 2-0 with a 2.93 ERA in four appearances. Maifeld is 3-1 with a 2.07 ERA and a team-leading 22 strikeouts over 20⅓ innings.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Five Central Indiana baseball teams opening eyes so far this season
Reporting by Akeem Glaspie, Indianapolis Star / Indianapolis Star
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
