Lake Central, Andrean and Illiana Christian begin the season in the top three spots and will try to finish it atop 4A, 3A and 2A, respectively.
TOP 10 TEAMS
1. Lake Central (27-5): The Indians lost a talented senior class, including Milwaukee Brewers minor leaguer Josh Adamczewski, but they’re elite as usual. Senior pitcher/DH Griffin Tobias (Indiana) is a bona fide ace for a team that reached the Class 4A semistate semifinals last year and went undefeated in the Duneland Athletic Conference. Senior pitcher Blake Sivak (Maryville) also returns. Senior first baseman/pitcher Brenden Smith (Hillsdale) and senior outfielder Nick Robinson are back, and junior outfielder Drew Kosteba and junior infielder/pitcher Ryder Fernandez are among the returning letter winners. Highly regarded freshman infielder Parker Robinson highlights the newcomers. Junior pitcher Josh Flores (Cincinnati), senior pitcher Collin Cirks (Parkland), senior pitcher Alex Cuevas (South Suburban), senior outfielder Michael Szatkowski (Indiana-South Bend), senior catcher Drew Arnold (DePauw) and senior infielder Quinn O’Bryan (Roosevelt) all are college recruits.
2. Andrean (28-7-1): The 59ers could have the inside track to the Class 3A state title, one year after finishing as the runner-up and two after winning it. Junior shortstop Mason Barth, a Notre Dame recruit, is a star. Junior pitcher Ivan Mastalski committed to Indiana last week. Senior Tyler Peller (Wabash Valley), also a pitcher, and senior Moises Vazquez (South Suburban) are premier outfielders. Coach Dave Pishkur said junior pitcher Trent Kulig is “potentially” the ace for the 59ers, who went undefeated in the Northwest Crossroads Conference last year. Senior pitcher Matt Habas (South Suburban), senior pitcher/third baseman Jack Vogt (Kankakee), senior pitcher/utility Nick Sullivan (Earlham) and junior outfielder/catcher Blake Kouder also are among their returnees.
3. Illiana Christian (25-9): The Vikings are squarely in the mix for a third straight Class 2A state title. Star senior shortstop Isaac VanderWoude (Virginia) leads the way. Junior pitcher Gavin Meyer (Ohio State), also a corner infielder, should capably take over for two-way Kevin Corcoran as their ace. Sophomore outfielder/pitcher Tanner Post made an impact as a freshman, and senior Aaron Gouwens (Roosevelt) is a rock-solid catcher. Senior infielder Tyler Balkema and sophomore outfielder/pitcher Spencer Bandstra also are back for coach Jeff VanderWoude, whose team shared the Greater South Shore Conference title with Hanover Central last year.
4. Valparaiso (18-11): Junior pitcher/first baseman Caden Crowell, a Notre Dame commit, is an unquestioned ace. Sophomore infielder/pitcher Trent Gill is an Indiana commit. Senior outfielder/catcher Nate Brumfield, junior catcher outfielder Max Reaume and sophomore infielder/pitcher DJ Malloy also return for a team that won its second sectional title in three seasons. Coach Todd Evans said the Vikings have “a mature, yet small, group of seniors” they will “look to blend with a talented group of underclassmen.”
5. Crown Point (16-12): After losing seven starters, coach Steve Strayer described this season as a “rebuilding year” for the Bulldogs, though they “do have some talent returning.” Among those players back are senior outfielder Austin Leeming; junior third baseman/catcher Linus Charlton; junior infielder Noah Ehrlich; junior pitcher Logan Cotton, who announced his commitment to Indiana on Sunday; and senior pitcher Aslyn Farinelli.
6. Hanover Central (20-8): The Wildcats debut in the NCC with an outstanding — and underclassman-heavy — group. Sophomore shortstop Dylan Bowen headlines, along with junior catcher/infielder Caiden Verrett and junior first baseman/pitcher Brad Rohde. Sophomore pitcher/first baseman Matt Cook, junior outfielder/pitcher Landon Sarkey, junior infielder/pitcher Anthony Rayski and senior outfielder/catcher Adam Young also are back. Junior outfielder Jaylen Rutherford, a Griffith transfer, adds to the deep talent pool for second-year coach Sal Aguilar.
7. Chesterton (12-14): John Bogner goes from one team of Trojans to another, succeeding 53-year coach Jack Campbell after 10 seasons leading Highland. Bogner will rely upon senior shortstop/pitcher Brayden Barrett (Purdue Northwest) and sophomore outfielder/pitcher Rob Czarniecki, as well as senior infielder/pitcher Jason Bogner, his son who transferred from Highland. Senior pitcher Caysen Bontrager, senior second baseman Greg Guernsey, junior outfielder Nick Foust and junior pitcher/third baseman Kaden Hawksworth also return.
8. Boone Grove (23-8): First-year coach Sean Riley takes over a promising team — one with no seniors on the roster — after the Wolves shared the Porter County Conference regular-season title and won the tournament last year. Junior shortstop/pitcher Seth Pitcock is back. Junior twins Davian Carrera, an outfielder/first baseman, and Xavier Carrera, a pitcher/infielder, are Indiana commits. Junior catcher Ben Truby and sophomore utility Tristan Wilson also return.
9. Munster (15-14): The Mustangs suffered a blow with senior pitcher/infielder Tyler Blair (Findlay) expected to be sidelined by injury until at least May. But with 10 seniors and having played five sophomores consistently last year, coach Mike Mikolajczyk said he hopes they can bounce back from “a somewhat disappointing” season. Senior catcher/outfielder Bryce Gelarden, junior middle infielder Zach Wright, senior pitcher/shortstop Sam Hays (Triton), junior pitcher/first baseman/catcher Bishop Cappetto (SIU-Edwardsville), senior pitcher/outfielder/third baseman Joey Campagna and senior pitcher/first baseman/catcher Drew Wanicki (Trinity Christian) are among the returning players.
10. Hobart (18-11): The Brickies have an experienced team, with seven starting position players back, all but one pitcher back and seven other players who are in their third varsity season, according to coach Trent Howard. Junior pitcher Drew Burris is a front-line starter. Senior outfielders Jevan Andrews (Vincennes) and Nick Sobczynski are standouts. Senior pitcher/first baseman Gabe Nunez (Franklin), senior infielder Carlos Santana (Prairie State) and junior catcher Ben Sullivan also return.
25 PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Alex Barr, Kankakee Valley, junior, pitcher/first baseman
- Brayden Barrett, Chesterton, senior, shortstop/pitcher
- Mason Barth, Andrean, junior, shortstop
- Tyler Blair, Munster, senior, pitcher/infielder
- Dylan Bowen, Hanover Central, sophomore, shortstop
- Drew Burris, Hobart, junior, pitcher
- Davian Carrera, Boone Grove, junior, outfielder/first baseman
- Xavier Carrera, Boone Grove, junior, pitcher/infielder
- Caden Crowell, Valparaiso, junior, pitcher/first baseman
- Rob Czarniecki, Chesterton, sophomore, outfielder/pitcher
- Ben Dubbs, LaPorte, senior, infielder/outfielder
- Trent Gill, Valparaiso, sophomore, infielder/pitcher
- Ivan Mastalski, Andrean, junior, pitcher
- Gavin Meyer, Illiana Christian, junior, pitcher/infielder
- Tyler Peller, Andrean, senior, outfielder/pitcher
- Seth Pitcock, Boone Grove, junior, shortstop/pitcher
- Tanner Post, Illiana Christian, sophomore, outfielder/pitcher
- Brad Rohde, Hanover Central, junior, first baseman/pitcher
- Trever Roy, Hebron, senior, shortstop/pitcher
- Kaleb Short, River Forest, senior, shortstop/pitcher
- Blake Sivak, Lake Central, senior, pitcher
- Griffin Tobias, Lake Central, senior, pitcher
- Isaac VanderWoude, Illiana Christian, senior, shortstop
- Caiden Verrett, Hanover Central, junior, catcher/infielder
- Jack Wheeler, Morgan Township, senior, pitcher
