The top 12 high school baseball players to watch in the Peoria area for 2024

High school baseball has returned.

Games officially began across Illinois High School Association member schools on March 11. Postseason play starts for Class 1A and 2A on May 13 with regional finals set for May 18. Sectional finals are May 25. Supersectionals on May 27 lead into with the state finals on May 31-June 1 at Dozer Park in Peoria.

The Class 3A and 4A postseason starts the following week, concluding with the state finals on June 7-8 at Joliet's Duly Health & Care Field.

Here is a look at the top 12 baseball players to watch in the Peoria area for the 2024 season — listed alphabetically and separated by players from small and large schools.

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Peoria-area small-school players to watch

Lawson Alwan, Peoria Notre Dame

Alwan will get a shot against Class 2A pitching this season after batting .384 on 33 hits with six doubles, three triples, four homers, 22 RBIs and scored 30 runs. The junior catcher threw 22 potential base stealers, while earning three saves in six relief appearances. He was an all-Big 12 Conference first-team selection.

Landon Binder, Brimfield/Elmwood

Binder was named Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A all-stater, while also earning all-Prairieland and Inter-County Athletic Conference first-team honors. The senior infielder hit .426 on 43 hits with 14 doubles, one triple, two homers, 36 RBIs and scored 23 runs last season.

Cole Noreuil, Delavan

Noreuil was another IHSBCA 1A all-state pick, while picking up all-Tomahawk and ICAC conference first-team picks. He batted .414 on 36 hits with 13 doubles, three homers, 29 RBIs and 27 runs. His pitching — 6-2 with 96 strikeouts and a 1.36 ERA in 51.2 innings — helped the Panthers win a regional for a fifth successive season.

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Lance Kiesewetter, Henry

Kiesewetter was a big arm for last season's Class 1A state runner-up, throwing 69 innings with 129 strikeouts and a 1.93 ERA with a 10-2 record. The senior was an IHSBCA 1A all-state and all-Tri-County first-team honoree, while batting .400 on 30 hits with nine doubles, four homers, 29 RBIs and scored 22 runs last season.

Josh Vaughn, Illini Bluffs

The Bradley recruit was a great two-way player as an IHSBCA 1A all-stater. Vaughn, who was an all-Tomahawk and Inter-County Athletic Conference first-team selection, posted a 5-1 record with 87 strikeouts and 10 walks with a 1.38 ERA in 40.2 innings. He batted .408 on 31 hits with six doubles, 12 RBIs and scored 21 runs.

Blaine Williams, Tremont

The catcher has been on the statewide radar since committing to Illinois following his freshman season. He's slowly developing into a threat on the mound as a right-handed pitcher. Look for Williams to eat some innings for the Turks, who last season made a run to a Class 2A regional championship game.

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Peoria-area large-school players to watch

Owen Adams, Morton

In 2023, Adams was the lone freshman on the all-Mid-Illini Conference team, picking up second-team honors. He was the starting shortstop on Morton's Class 3A sectional semifinal team. His first-year numbers were a .367 batting average on 22 hits with two doubles, eight RBIs and 19 runs. Plus, Adams stole six bases.

Owen Hidden, East Peoria

Hidden came up big at the plate last season, batting .343 on 37 hits with six doubles, two triples, two homers and 35 RBIs. He added 29 runs with seven stolen bases. The junior, who was an all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team pick last season, helped the Raiders win 24 games and reach a Class 3A regional title game.

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Alex Kilgore, Richwoods

The all-Big 12 second-teamer was a catalyst for the Knights making a run to the 2023 Class 3A Sweet Sixteen. The junior first baseman hit .296 on 24 hits with seven doubles, a triple, a home run and 20 RBIs. He hit in the three hole for Patrick Hogan's team, coming up big in a victory over Limestone in a regional title game.

Gavin Lawrence, Washington

Last season, the junior utility player was great on the mound with a 7-2 record across 53 innings, striking out 75 and a 1.72 ERA. He also hit .260 on 27 hits with five doubles, six homers, 27 RBIs and scored 26 runs. Lawrence was an all-Mid-Illini first-teamer for the Panthers, who won the Mid-Illini champs.

Curt Sosnowski, East Peoria

As two-way player, the senior was huge at the plate last season, hitting .404 on 46 hits with 11 doubles, three triples, one homer, 37 RBIs and scored 19 runs. He was an all-Mid-Illini first-team pick, stealing eight bases and drawing six walks. Sosnowski went 8-2 with 52 strikeouts, 20 walks and a 1.46 ERA in 62.1 innings.

Braden Vanderheydt, Washington

The senior was dynamite on the mound last season, pitching 59.1 innings with a 7-1 record, 60 strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA for Mid-Illini winning Panthers. He was an all-Mid-Illini Conference first-team selection. Vanderheydt also hit .281 on 16 hits with two doubles, 12 RBIs, nine runs and a pair of stolen bases.

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: IHSA baseball preview: Top high school players in Peoria area for 2024