2023 Spring Previews - 3A: No. 1-5

Mon March 20, 2023
Indiana Staff
PBR Indiana

#1

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Andrean 59ers

Head Coach: ​Dave Pishkur

Class: 4A

2022 Record: 31-4

Conference (2022 Record):  9-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/6

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Pitching Staff

  • Hitting

  • Athleticism

Top Players: 


Outlook: The defending 3A State Champions return a solid core of players from last year’s squad and will undoubtedly aim for another state title in 2023. Sophomore shortstop Mason Barth, a Notre Dame recruit, had a massive freshman season (.406 / 10 XBH / 43 RBI) and will be counted on to be a leader for this year’s group. Expect Andrean to have another quality pitching staff this season, led by Senior Garrett Benko (3-0 / 3.54 ERA), Juniors Tyler Peller and Matt Habas, and Sophomores Trent Kulig and Mason Barth. Look for Andrean to have a deep lineup aside from Barth, with Peller, Junior Moises Vasquez, Senior Noah Chase, Senior Bryce Harder and Junior Jack Vogt all returning with some varsity experience. Seniors James Kirk and Caleb Smith will be guys who are expected to contribute both at the plate and out of the bullpen.

#2 

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Western Panthers

Head Coach: Ryan Berryman

Class: 3A

2022 Record: 27-3

Conference (2022 Record):  8-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/5

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Frontline Starting Pitching

  • Varsity Experience

  • Top Hitters

Top Players: 


Outlook: Western will be led by southpaw Mitchell Dean, a Louisville recruit, who put up eye-popping numbers in his junior season - posting a 0.73 ERA, an 8-2 record, while striking out 106. Ohio State recruit Christian Pownall will join Dean atop the rotation after he went 3-0 as a junior, striking out 51 and posting a 3-0 record, giving the Panthers quite possibly the best 1-2 punch in 3A baseball. Senior Evan Stout also had a perfect 4-0 record as a junior and will add quality depth to the starting rotation. Junior Deaglan Pleak and Seniors Mitchell Knepley and Cade Epp will be expected to provide innings out of the bullpen. Offensively, Western returns 8 starters and will rely on Dean, who hit .382 with 13 XBHs a season ago, to lead the charge once again. Senior Zach GIlbert will hit in the heart of the lineup after batting .342 with 6 HR’s as a junior. Stout, Pownall, Knepley, and Pleak will all be guys that will be counted on to hit when they’re not pitching. Sophomore Kyler Norman will be expected to take on a larger role after hitting .350 as a freshman. Senior Brett Echelbarger returns behind the dish after hitting .365 as a junior. The combination of elite starting pitching and experience throughout the lineup will make Western one of the most dangerous teams in 3A.

#3

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Evansville Memorial Tigers

Head Coach: Rip Collins

Class: 3A

2022 Record: 18-9

Conference (2022 Record):  4-5 

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/4

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Varsity Experience from Playoff Run

  • Pitching

  • Hitting

Top Players: 



Outlook: Evansville Memorial returns eight starters in the field as well as virtually every arm that helped them to a sectional title a season ago. Purdue recruit Thomas Lynch returns after batting .333 as a junior with 12 XBHs. Sophomore Simon Schulz will be the everyday shortstop after he hit .340 as a freshman. Junior INF Charlie Gries (.324 avg) should hit near the top of the Tigers’ order. Caleb Ellspermann hit .286 with 6 2B and 15 SB in 2022 and will be an impact bat again this season. Expect Senior Nick Wangler and Sophomore Matthew Fisher to make impacts in the lineup, as well as being the top two arms on the pitching staff. Wangler tossed 48.2 IP with a 1.87 ERA a season ago, while Fisher went 4-2 with 44 K’s in 33 IP. Lynch and Junior Clark Gries (3-2 record, 3.50 ERA) will also be in the starting rotation. Sophomore Alex Broshears and Junior Bailey Collins will both be in the mix to compete for at-bats and innings on the mound. Senior Jackson Draper will man an outfield position after hitting .250 with 3 2B as a junior. A mix of talented pitching and an experienced lineup will give Evansville Memorial a dangerous unit in 2023.

#4

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: West Vigo Vikings

Head Coach: Culley DeGroote

Class: 3A

2022 Record: 27-2

Conference (2022 Record):  10-0

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3/3

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Pitching 

  • Defense

  • Top of the Lineup 

Top Players: 


Outlook: West Vigo returns some key pieces from their 2022 squad that went 27-2. Senior Indiana State recruit Carter Murphy will be a force in the Vikings lineup after he hit .480 with 48 RBI a season ago. Junior Gabe Skelton returns at 1B after having a breakout sophomore year, where he hit .440 with 8 HR and 37 RBI. Senior Ben Kearns will be called upon to contribute on both sides of the ball. Expect Kearns to hit at the top of the Vikings’ lineup after he hit .400 with 7 HR and 38 RBI as a junior. Kearns will join Senior Kaleb Marrs and Junior Jacob Likens to create a talented pitching staff. Marrs was a workhorse for West Vigo a season ago, logging 52.2 IP with a 6-1 record, 1.38 ERA, and racking up 93 strikeouts. Likens had a perfect 6-0 record while posting a 1.89 ERA as a sophomore.

#5

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Jasper Wildcats

Head Coach: Terry Gobert

Class: 3A

2022 Record: 25-5

Conference (2022 Record):  7-2

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Hitting

  • Defense

Top Players: 


Outlook: A perennial contender to make a deep playoff run, Jasper, returns 4 key starters from last year’s group that won 25 games and made a regional appearance in 4A. The Wildcats will expect Junior RHP Andrew Noblitt to lead the pitching staff after he gained valuable experience as a sophomore. Senior Catcher Drew Bradley returns behind the dish and will likely hit in the middle part of the Wildcats' lineup. Ryan Leuck returns and will man an outfield spot. Junior Will Wallace was the DH a season ago and will likely step into an every day corner infield role this spring. Lucas Timm, Tyler Atkins, Braydon Giesler, Maverick Merkel, Kai Kunz, Cole Trevino, and Andrew Steenberg all gained some varsity experience last season and will all be in the mix to compete for starting roles in 2023.