Keep an eye out for these Hillsdale County impact baseball and softball pitchers in 2024
HILLSDALE COUNTY — Baseball and softball season is kicking off for the MHSAA and Hillsdale County athletic programs. Several standout pitchers will return to the field in the spring hoping to continue their success from last season.
More: 2024 spring softball welcomes back these four impact players for the upcoming season
This is a look at some of those impact players from last season, the seasons they had and what we expect this spring.
More: These four county baseball fielders will be key playmakers this spring
Baseball
Drew Bradley - Jonesville - Junior
Junior Comet Drew Bradley may have been one of the biggest keys to success for the Jonesville district playoff title run last season. Not only was he one of the more consistent players on the team with a .429 average, but he was also their leading ace pitcher. Earning six wins on the mound, Bradley had a 0.70 ERA and a total of 45 strikeouts. A first team Big 8 honoree and first team dream team pitcher, Bradley should be in contention for ace pitcher of the year this spring.
We will also be keeping an eye on his teammate: Devan Herendeen. Herendeen was a freshman starter on varsity last season, earning four wins, 36 strikeouts a 1.35 ERA and a 70 percent strike rate.
Junior Alvarez - Litchfield - Senior
Returning first team dream team pitcher and first team SCAA honoree Junior Alvarez has helped lead the Terriers to back-to-back winning seasons these past two springs. In his senior year, Alvarez looks to add one more winning season to his resume. Last year, the ace pitcher for the Terriers had six wins, a 2.47 ERA and a total of 88 strikeouts.
We will also be keeping an eye on Tyler Bills, who we mentioned in our list of fielders to watch. Last year, Bills had a 2.87 ERA, four wins and 60 strikeouts.
Others to Watch
Two senior Hillsdale pitchers will be on our radar this spring. Aaron Webb and Lane Pearson both had 39 and 33 strikeouts for the Hornets last season, respectively. We will also be watching out for senior Gavyn Carden of Pittsford, who posted a 2.77 ERA last spring. Teammate Setzer Burnett will also be on our radar. Camden-Frontier senior Brayden Miller was on our list of fielders to watch from last season, but he will look to step into a larger pitching role this season and will be a top candidate for a breakout season on the mound.
Flashback: 2023 All-Area Baseball Dream Team and Coach of the Year
Connor McKay - North Adams-Jerome - Junior
North Adams-Jerome junior Connor McKay may have one of the best two-seam fastballs in the SCAA this season. McKay returns to headline a deep Rams bullpen, a first for the program in a while. He totaled 34 strikeouts last season for the Rams, and coach Dan Shadik says that several collegiate programs have been attracted to his talent as McKay looks to have a breakout season.
More: Academy senior Ridley Fast is a 2024 MHSAA Scholar Athlete Award honoree
Softball
Lyra Nichols - Jonesville - Senior
Returning senior Comet Lyra Nichols has the best resume of a returning pitcher in either baseball or softball from last season. The senior ace led the team to another winning season in the spring of 2023 after the team won a district championship in 2022. Nichols looks to make a big impact in the circle in the team's first season of Cascades softball.
Last year as a junior, Nichols had 190 strikeouts and an ERA of 1.861. Nichols threw a perfect game and had several no-hitters. Nichols is a multiple all-conference honoree and multiple dream team honoree. She was also featured in our fielders to watch story. Nichols should have a potential all-state pitching season for the Comets.
Flashback: 2023 Softball All-Area Dream Team
Ariana McDowell - Reading - Junior
Reading Ranger junior Ariana McDowell joins Nichols as our two returning first team dream team honoree pitchers from last year's list. A multiple all-conference and dream team honoree, McDowell is the lead ace for coach Melissa Warfield and the Ranger softball team. McDowell had an impressive 14 wins in the circle this season, with an ERA of 4.52. With over 117 innings pitched, McDowell often pitched both games in doubleheader situations. The junior had a total of 100 strikeouts with a winning percentage of .636.
We will also be keeping watch for junior teammate Aubree Ervans, who had 30 strikeouts and two wins in the second pitching role for the Rangers.
Others to Watch
2023 was a senior heavy group for the top pitchers in Hillsdale County prep softball. The departures of several dream team pitchers has left holes open for several teams. A couple pitchers we will be watching includes Waldron junior Kailee Kurtz, who had 20 strikeouts last season supporting former Spartan and dream team honoree Jena Fellabaum. Pittsford sophomore Laura LeMar should be next in line for the Wildcats after the departure of dream team honoree Liz Gerig.
This article originally appeared on Hillsdale Daily News: Keep an eye out for these Hillsdale County impact baseball and softball pitchers this season
