Here are 55 Gastonia, Shelby area high school baseball players to keep an eye on in 2024
High school baseball is underway in Cleveland, Gaston and Lincoln counties.
After claiming the NCHSAA 2A state title last spring, Burns returns a host of talent in its bid for a repeat. Meanwhile, reigning league champions such as South Point and Lincoln Charter look to avenge early playoff exits from 2023.
With talent scattered through the tri-county area, here are 55 Gastonia, Shelby-area high school baseball players to watch in 2024.
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Colby Putnam, Jr., Burns
Putnam was voted to the NCBCA 2A all-state team after hitting .380 with six home runs and 34 RBIs. A Gardner-Webb recruit, he also went 12-1 on the mound last season, with a 1.42 ERA and 123 strikeouts.
He’s one of several Bulldogs back for another run at a state title, including fellow all-state performer Marshall McGowan, who hit .478 with four home runs and 51 RBIs. He was also 4-0 pitching with a 2.39 ERA and 44 strikeouts.
Burns also returns seniors Josh Taylor and Ethan Guy, as well as junior contributors Hagan Hoyle, Jackson Toney and Nick Williams.
Eli Newsome, Sr., Cherryville
Newsome went 8-2 with a 1.85 ERA last season, allowing 18 runs (16 earned) on 50 hits with 79 strikeouts. He’s part of a 1-2 punch on the mound for Cherryville, joined by fellow senior Brayden Reynolds (6-2, 2.41 ERA, 53 K).
Asher Smith, Sr., Crest
In 45 ⅓ innings last spring, Smith had a 1.85 ERA with 62 strikeouts and opposing batters hitting .170 against him. Part of a young Charger roster, coach Adam McFarland is asking him, fellow seniors Houston Cook and Brett Ledbetter, and two-year starter Zack Rayfield to assume leadership roles.
Dylan Howell, East Gaston
Hit .333 last season with 10 extra-base hits and 22 RBIs.
Trey Spees, Sr., East Lincoln
He finished with a .361 average last season along with three home runs and 15 RBIs. A Western Carolina signee, he leads a veteran-laden Mustang lineup, including East Tennessee State signee Carson Dahle, along with junior Evan Matile, Dylan Scott and Matthew Phuntek.
Frederick “Tripp” Dow, Sr., Forestview
Hit .400 last season with 17 RBIs.
David Nicks, Sr., Gaston Christian
Hit .466 last season with seven home runs and 24 RBIs. He isn’t the only Eagle with pop in his bat, University of Miami baseball recruit Meridian Leffew hitting .408 with three home runs and 23 RBIs last season.
Liam Fulbright, Sr. Highland Tech
Finished with a 4-2 pitching record with a 1.94 ERA, with 51 strikeouts in 36 innings of work, helping the Rams to the third round of the NCHSAA 1A state playoffs. A King University signee, he also hit .292 last season with two home runs, 13 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Fulbright is flanked by Pfeiffer signee Wyatt Hardin, as well as talented juniors Erwing Soza and Trey Costner.
Aidan Taylor, Jr., Kings Mountain
Hit .415 as a sophomore with five doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs. He also pitched 18 ⅔ innings, allowing 15 runs (11 earned) on 22 hits, with 28 strikeouts.
The Mountaineers named Will Sellers their head coach this offseason. He’ll be aided by seniors Brayden Patrick, Jason Melton, Colton Mayes and Kandan Zollo.
Karson Cloninger, Jr., Lincolnton
Also a quarterback for the Wolves’ football team, he’ll be a key contributor on the mound as well as the batter’s box.
Jacob Smith, Sr., Lincoln Charter
Last spring, he hit .494 with 12 home runs and 34 RBIs. He also finished with a 7-1 record, a 3.34 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 44 innings pitched.
Houston Rector, Sr., North Gaston
Rector batted .354 with two home runs, two doubles, a triple and 17 RBIs last season. He leads an experienced North Gaston roster featuring seniors Chase Ghantt and Caleb Bates, as well as juniors Caleb Cloninger and Preston Martin.
Kellen Karr, Jr., North Lincoln
Karr returns to bolster an experienced North Lincoln pitching staff. Last season, he finished with a 3.33 ERA with 64 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched. The Knights also feature shortstop Cason McGinnis, junior utility players Chad Matthews and Eli Sipe, as well as pitcher Jack Wuerdeman.
Hunter Dye, Jr., Stuart Cramer
Hit .346 last season, leading the team in runs scored (26), RBIs (20) and stolen bases (17). He’s one of several returning starters for the Storm, including Zach Camacho, Ty Detweiler, Dylan Jennings and Mason Price.
Patrick Blee, So., South Point
The Wake Forest recruit hit .372 with three home runs and 20 RBIs last season, helping the Red Raiders claim the Big South 3A title. South Point is favored to repeat as league champion, returning all-conference performers in Gavin Gibson, Landon King, Talan McConnell, Zeke Pruitt and Gavin Smith.
Evan Hartsoe, Sr., West Lincoln
An all-Catawba Valley 2A outfielder, he hit .276 with nine RBIs and seven stolen bases.
This article originally appeared on The Gaston Gazette: 55 Gastonia, Shelby area high school baseball players to watch in 2024
