Loaded rosters, high hopes: What you need to know as baseball season gets underway
BATTLE CREEK - League champs, districts title winners and conference contenders all are among the roster of teams in the city and the area, making for what should be an exciting year in high school baseball in 2024.
Lakeview made another deep run in the state tournament after winning the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference last year. The St. Philip/Climax-Scotts co-op team won its league once again and a young Harper Creek team remains hungry after making a late run in the Interstate 8 Conference a year ago, coming up just short. While perennial powers Gull Lake and Marshall look loaded again, with each coming off 20-win seasons.
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Followers of the diamond will want to set their calendar with key dates coming up, including the All-City tourney on May 11 and districts finals on May 31-June 1. The MHSAA state finals are set for the weekend of June 13-15 at Michigan State University.
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Here’s a closer look at the city and area baseball teams for 2024:
Battle Creek Central
Coach: Jordan Lawson (3rd season)
2023 record: 5-22-1
Top returners: Quinn Smith, sr.; Caleb Jones, sr.; Jeremiah Gariepy, sr.; Jarod Olvera, jr.; James Shelton, jr.
Outlook: Jordan Lawson is in his third year as the coach of the Bearcats and has put in a lot of energy to try and get a young roster rolling in the right direction. With a little more experience this year, BCC is hoping to compete better in a challenging Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference, and there should be some improvement after a five-win season a year ago. A core junior group is the center of the rebuilding project with returning players Quinn Smith, Caleb Jones, Jeremiah Gariepy, Jarod Olvera and James Shelton.
"I have high expectations for this team. We have a strong group of returning seniors and juniors. Many of our guys have grown on and off the field in big ways and will help the Bearcats. The Bearcats have not hit double digits in wins in 10-plus seasons, and we are looking forward to breaking that cycle," Lawson said.
Harper Creek
Coach: Jason Miller (1st season)
2023 record: 20-10
Top returners: Brady Southfield, sr.; Tyler Wolfersberger, sr.; Brayden Bess, jr.; Kayden Stahlhood, sr.; Braxton Liss, jr.
Outlook: For the second year in a row, Harper Creek will be under new leadership as the Beavers will be led by first-year coach Jason Miller. Being an assistant on the staff a year ago, Miller knows he has a lot of talent to work with as the Beavers had a breakout season with 20 wins in 2023, finishing second in the Interstate 8 Conference. A strong senior class will be led by All-City pick Tyler Wolfersberger, a key leader on the mound, as well as senior catcher Brady Southfield, who will play at Olivet University next year. More senior leadership will come from outfielder Kayden Southfield. Two juniors, who broke out with All-City seasons a year ago, are back in shortstop Brayden Bess and infielder Braxton Liss.
"We have a special group of experienced players returning this year. We have the ability to make a strong run in our conference and beyond. With the majority of the teams’ starters returning this year, we expect to improve on the progress that we made last season," Miller said.
Lakeview
Coach: Kyle Kracht (7th season)
2023 record: 35-7
Top returners: Jake Kucharczyk, sr.; Zach Kucharczyk, sr.; Travis Neal, sr.; Keegan Hutchinson, sr.
Outlook: Lakeview has had three straight sensational seasons, coming up with 35 wins a year ago and advancing to the state quarterfinals, after going to the Final Four the year before. However, there have been a lot of key losses on the roster due to graduation from that tournament team that also won the Southwestern Michigan Athletic Conference. Senior twins, and four-year starters, Jake Kucharczyk and Zach Kurcharczyk come back after both hitting over .400 and being All-City picks a year ago as each also earned all-state recognition. Looking to take the next step with bigger roles this season will be seniors Travis Neal and Keegan Hutchinson.
"There is talent returning on this club and talent coming up to join this squad. If we can grow and learn quickly as a team, we think we can have another good season," Kracht said.
Pennfield
Coach: Rob Moran (20th season)
2023 record: 11-25
Top returners: Danny Wells, sr.; Ian McLure, sr.; Luke Hoffman, sr.; Caden Overby, jr.; Garrett Hill, so.; Calvin Paesens, so.; Mathew Martinez, so.
Outlook: Pennfield suffered heavy graduation losses from a year ago. Pennfield will look to compete in the challenging Interstate 8 Conference, led by a pitching staff that earned some experience last season, led by junior Caden Overby and sophomores Mathew Martinez and Calvin Paesens. Senior leadership will have to come from returners Danny Wells, Ian McLure and Luke Hoffman.
"Pennfield looks to kick off the new season with youth and energy. We are excited to see what this group can do together. While we may be young, our kids are ball players and have the drive to achieve," Moran said.
St. Philip/Climax-Scotts/Calhoun Christian (Co-Op)
Coach: Kevin Langs (10th year)
2023 record: 17-8
Top returners: Ben Crocker, sr.; Jacob Sheets, sr.; Chandler Latimer, sr.; Gavin Eyre, jr.; Logan Gilbert, jr.;
Outlook: The St. Philip/Climax-Scotts/Calhoun Christian co-op has won three straight conference championships. With a solid group of returners, this group is expected to contend for that title once again in 2024. There is a lot of experience on the roster with four-year varsity members leading the way. Chandler Latimer returns as one of the top catchers in the conference. Ben Crocker has been a big bat in the lineup for the program for four years and Jacob Sheets is one of the top defensive players on the team. Junior Gavin Eyre is one of the top pitchers for the team and junior Logan Gilbert brings all-around athletic ability to the leadoff spot.
"We are blessed with some four- and three-year varsity players who are looking forward to see where they measure up against some of the top teams at our level in the area," Langs said.
Area Teams to Watch
Gull Lake
Coach: Reggie Walters (7th season)
2023 record: 21-18-2
Top returners: Julian Harris, sr.; Landon Evans, sr.; Luke Anderson, jr.; Bryce Wartella, so.; Brendan Tanner, sr.
Outlook: Gull Lake has seven starters and five of its top seven pitchers returning from a team that won 20-plus games a year ago and grabbed a district title. Gull Lake features one of the top players in the state in senior infielder Julian Harris, who has already committed to play at Western Michigan University, and is also dominant on the mound with a 1.01 ERA a year ago. Junior Luke Anderson returns as a three-year starter and all-conference player as a key two-way player. The Blue Devils feature next-level talent elsewhere as well with senior Landon Evans committed to play at Calvin College and senior Brendan Tanner heading to Aquinas.
Marshall
Coach: Dave Greenwood (1st season)
2023 record: 20-15-1
Top returners: Nick Ryan, sr.; Cole Osterwalder, sr.; Aidan Alegria, sr.; Carson Kelly, sr.
Outlook: Marshall's longtime head coach Tom Sharpley stepped down after last season after winning five league titles in the last seven years and three district crowns in the last five. The Redhawks will be led by Dave Greenwood, who takes over a team that won 20 games a year ago. Marshall will be led by senior returner Nick Ryan, who provided punch at the plate a year ago and can also pitch. The young roster will depend on seniors Cole Osterwalder, Aidan Alegria and Carson Kelly. Marshall is hoping some key underclassmen take the next step, including Max Gillum, Jaden Spence, Lincoln Fuller, Landon Lewis, Aidan Miller, Landen Burger and Austin Miller.
"We are going to be a young team for 2024. We will definitely give great effort each and every game. We will continue to grow together as a team moving forward," Greenwood said.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek-area baseball teams to watch in 2024 season
