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KHSAA baseball state tournament 2024 schedule and ranking of field from No. 16 to No. 1

jason frakes, louisville courier journal
·9 min read

With a No. 1 state ranking and a 22-game winning streak, Trinity High School enters the Clark’s Pump-N-Shop/KHSAA State Tournament as the overwhelming favorite.

The Shamrocks (36-4) have led the Prep Baseball Report Kentucky Top 25 all season and are 27-1 against Kentucky competition, their only loss coming to Frederick Douglass, 13-2, on March 19.

Trinity won its first and only state title in 2021.

The Shamrocks are among seven teams in the PBR Kentucky Top 25 to reach the state tournament, joining No. 3 McCracken County, No. 5 Pleasure Ridge Park, No. 11 Owensboro Catholic, No. 15 Lexington Catholic, No. 16 West Jessamine and No. 17 Ryle.

Trinity's Nolan Hosking slides into third base against Manual during the Seventh Region baseball semifinals. The Shamrocks advanced to the state tournament after winning the region.
Trinity's Nolan Hosking slides into third base against Manual during the Seventh Region baseball semifinals. The Shamrocks advanced to the state tournament after winning the region.

First-round games are set for Thursday and Friday and quarterfinals on Saturday at Legends Field in Lexington. The games were moved from the University of Kentucky’s Kentucky Proud Park because the Wildcats are hosting an NCAA Tournament super regional there this weekend.

The state tournament semifinals and final will be played at Kentucky Proud Park on June 14-15.

As we approach Thursday’s first round, here’s one writer’s ranking of the field:

16. LaRue County (19-17)

The Hawks, who lost 10 straight games late in the regular season, beat Washington County 4-3 in 15 innings to repeat as Fifth Region champions. Freshman Brayden Singleton leads LaRue County at the plate (.407 batting average, 34 RBIs, 10 doubles) and on the mound (7-3, 1.93 ERA, 76 strikeouts, 54 ⅓ innings).

15. Estill County (16-17)

The Engineers beat Hazard 2-0 to win their first 14th Region title since 2009. Seniors Kenny Rose (.397, 23 runs, 10 doubles) and Peyton Riddell (.321, 23 RBIs, seven doubles) lead the offense. Junior Jax Niece (6-2, 2.47 ERA, 67 strikeouts, 56 ⅔ innings) is the ace of the pitching staff.

14. Mason County (20-15)

The Royals are in the state tournament for the first time since 1994 after an 8-0 rout of Bourbon County in the 10th Region final. Junior Roscoe Fite is the team leader in batting average (.404), home runs (seven) and RBIs (39). Liberty commit Landon Scilley is solid at the plate (.387, six home runs, 32 RBIs) and on the mound (5-5, 2.15 ERA, 89 strikeouts, 52 innings). The Royals rank sixth in the state with 22 home runs.

13. Hopkinsville (22-9)

After falling to University Heights 7-4 in the Eighth District final, the Tigers avenged that loss with a 6-5 victory over the Blazers in the Second Region championship. Two seniors headed to NCAA Division I schools lead the way. J.J. Thompson (Wright State) is batting .356 with five home runs and 24 RBIs and is 7-1 on the mound with a 0.78 ERA and 128 strikeouts (No. 3 in the state) in 72 innings. UK commit Zach Moss is hitting .369 with 21 RBIs and 23 stolen bases.

12. Simon Kenton (27-13)

The Pioneers beat Woodford County 5-2 to capture their first Eighth Region title since 2017, when they lost to Pleasure Ridge Park in the state final. Junior Tyler Ruete has all nine of the team’s home runs and also leads the squad with 37 RBIs. Senior Daniel Uhl (.304, 28 RBIs, 10 doubles) is another tough out at the plate. Senior Logan Cones (Thomas More commit, 10-1, 1.25 ERA, 79 strikeouts, 72 ⅔ innings) anchors the pitching staff.

11. Pikeville (25-9)

The Panthers have blitzed through their four postseason games, winning 59th District and 15th Region titles by a combined score of 43-2 to reach the state tournament for the second straight season. A Wabash Valley commit, Dylan Thompson leads Pikeville at the plate (.410, four home runs, 32 RBIs) and on the mound (6-1, 1.18 ERA, 76 strikeouts, 41 ⅔ innings).

10. Russell County (30-10)

Two years after falling to St. Xavier in the state final, the Lakers are back in the state tournament after whipping Warren East 12-3 in the Fourth Region final. Junior Mayes Gosser leads Russell County in batting average (.426), RBIs (50) and runs scored (46). Senior Trace Stringer is batting .394 with 39 RBIs and is the pitching ace (9-1, 2.62 ERA, 43 strikeouts, 58 ⅔ innings). The Lakers rank fifth in the state in runs per game (8.7).

9. East Carter (22-6)

The 1984 state champions are in the state tournament for the first time since 2009 after blanking Boyd County — ranked No. 2 in the state — 6-0 in the 16th Region final. Senior Andrew Tomolonis struck out six in the victory and sports a 9-2 record and 1.47 ERA. He’s struck out 79 in 57 ⅓ innings. Senior Blake Hall leads the offense in batting average (.475), home runs (11) and RBIs (55). Hall ranks No. 1 in the state in slugging percentage (1.062) and third in home runs.

8. Corbin (30-10)

The Redhounds knocked off 2023 state champion Whitley County 6-3 in the 13th Region final. Junior shortstop Kade Elam has committed to the University of Louisville and is batting .373 with five home runs and 35 RBIs. Senior Mikey Neal (Eastern Kentucky football commit) is batting .339 and leads the team in home runs (nine) and RBIs (48). The Redhounds lead the state with 29 home runs. Seniors Bradric Helton (Lincoln Memorial commit, 6-3, 2.23 ERA) and Jeremiah Gilbert (6-1, 1.97 ERA) lead the pitching staff.

7. West Jessamine (29-8)

The Colts beat Southwestern 14-2 to take the 12th Region title for the first time since 2016. Morehead State commit Aubrey Kearns leads the team in batting average (.417), home runs (three) and runs scored (40). Junior Hayden Peters (.396, 31 RBIs, 10 doubles) provides another big bat and a strong arm (6-0, 2.25 ERA, 38 strikeouts, 28 innings). Junior pitcher Landon Davis (3-2, 2.29 ERA, 53 strikeouts, 36 ⅔ innings) has committed to Western Kentucky.

6. Ryle (31-9)

Ryle sophomore AJ Curry watches the flight of his ball as Ryle defeated Covington Catholic, 5-4, in the KHSAA Ninth Region baseball semifinals.
Ryle sophomore AJ Curry watches the flight of his ball as Ryle defeated Covington Catholic, 5-4, in the KHSAA Ninth Region baseball semifinals.

The Raiders have an 11-game winning streak after beating Dixie Heights 2-1 in the Ninth Region final. Beechwood had won four straight Ninth Region crowns. Sophomore A.J. Curry leads the state with a .581 batting average and ranks third in the state with 20 doubles. He also has five home runs and 34 RBIs. Ryle features a trio of solid starting pitchers in junior Dylan McIntyre (5-0, 2.02 ERA) and seniors Sam Eppley (Xavier commit, 6-2, 2.10 ERA) and Caleb Mann (7-1, 2.37 ERA). McIntyre has a staff-high 77 strikeouts in 52 innings.

5. Lexington Catholic (26-11)

The three-time state champions won the 11th Region title for the second straight year, beating Franklin County 2-0 in the final. Junior Owen Jenkins (U of L commit) leads the offense in batting average (.467), home runs (four) and doubles (nine). Senior Zach Grigalis (Colorado Mesa commit) has a team-best 31 RBIs. Seniors Brody Rogers (Transylvania commit, 8-0, 1.07 ERA) and Burkley Bounds (6-2, 1.81 ERA) lead the pitching staff.

4. Owensboro Catholic (29-7)

The Aces won the All “A” Classic title earlier this season and now look to take the main championship after beating Muhlenberg County 3-2 in the Third Region final. Junior Brady Atwell, The Courier Journal’s first-team All-State quarterback last season, is batting .348 with three home runs, 11 doubles and 31 RBIs and has committed to Western Kentucky for baseball. The pitching staff features three aces — junior Luke Quinn (7-0, 1.24 ERA), sophomore Barrett Evans (7-2, 1.68 ERA) and senior Ben Hyland (Ave Maria commit, 6-0, 1.94 ERA)

3. Pleasure Ridge Park (36-3)

Pleasure Ridge Park's Hank Burns bunts during the Sixth Region baseball final against Bullitt Central.
Pleasure Ridge Park's Hank Burns bunts during the Sixth Region baseball final against Bullitt Central.

The six-time state champions are back in the state tournament for the first time since 2019 after rallying to beat Bullitt Central 3-2 in the Sixth Region final. Junior Brayden Bruner was named Sixth Region Player of the Year and is batting .420 with three home runs, eight doubles, nine triples and 37 RBIs. Senior catcher Hank Burns (Asbury commit) is hitting .360 with 33 RBIs. Freshman Joey Dudeck (7-0, 1.08 ERA), junior Logan Strong (5-0, 3.64 ERA) and senior Tanor Fentress (6-1, 1.35 ERA) anchor the pitching staff.

2. McCracken County (31-9)

The Mustangs have reached the state tournament in 10 straight seasons, every year since the school opened in the fall of 2013. They’re still seeking their first state title after finishing as runners-up in 2019 and 2021. McCracken County’s team ERA of 1.31 ranks No. 1 in the state. The staff aces are seniors Caleb Ehling (Wright State commit, 7-1, 1.25 ERA, 66 strikeouts in 44 ⅔ innings), Ross Aldridge (U of L commit, 4-2, 2.65 ERA) and Alex Calhoun (3-2, 0.71 ERA). Western Kentucky commit Miller Green leads the offense in batting average (.459), home runs (three), doubles (nine), triples (four) and RBIs (32).

1. Trinity (36-4)

Trinity's Kyle Campbell and another runner smile after they were knocked in against Manual during the Seventh Region baseball semifinals.
Trinity's Kyle Campbell and another runner smile after they were knocked in against Manual during the Seventh Region baseball semifinals.

The Shamrocks are in the state tournament for the fourth time in the past seven seasons after beating rival St. Xavier 6-1 in the Seventh Region final. Trinity ranks first in the state in triples and sixth in runs per game (8.7). Tennessee commit Dane Morrow leads the squad in batting average (.374) and triples (six). Sophomore Nolan Hosking is the leader in home runs (three), RBIs (36) and doubles (11). U of L commit Kyle Campbell is batting .345 with team highs in runs (42) and stolen bases (15). Freshman Gray Davis (10-0, 1.63 ERA) and senior Jake Schweitzer (U of L commit, 9-1, 2.23 ERA) are the staff aces.

KHSAA state baseball tournament schedule

Thursday at Legends Field

10 a.m. – Simon Kenton (27-13) vs. Russell County (30-10)

1:30 p.m. – Pikeville (25-9) vs. Trinity (36-4)

5 p.m. – Pleasure Ridge Park (36-3) vs. LaRue County (19-17)

8:30 p.m. – Lexington Catholic (26-11) vs. Mason County (20-15)

Friday at Legends Field

10 a.m. – Ryle (31-9) vs. East Carter (22-6)

1:30 p.m. – West Jessamine (29-8) vs. McCracken County (31-9)

5 p.m. – Corbin (30-10) vs. Owensboro Catholic (29-7)

8:30 p.m. – Hopkinsville (22-9) vs. Estill County (16-17)

Saturday at Legends Field

10 a.m. - Simon Kenton-Russell County winner vs. Pikeville-Trinity winner

1:30 p.m. - West Jessamine-McCracken County winner vs. Ryle-East Carter winner

5 p.m. - Corbin-Owensboro Catholic winner vs. Hopkinsville-Estill County winner

8:30 p.m. - Lexington Catholic-Mason County winner vs. Pleasure Ridge Park-LaRue County winner

Friday, June 14 at UK’s Kentucky Proud Park

10 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. - Semifinals

Saturday, June 15 at UK’s Kentucky Proud Park

3:30 p.m. - Championship

More high school baseball: Meet Louisville-area Players of Year, all-region teams for 6th, 7th, 8th regions

Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Follow on X @kyhighs.

This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: KHSAA baseball state tournament 2024 schedule: Trinity tops rankings