Who are the top players to watch in Northern Kentucky high school baseball?
While March Madness is the focus of many in the Bluegrass State, high school baseball is right around the corner. Northern Kentucky teams can play their first regular-season games as early as Monday.
Beechwood enters the 2024 high school baseball season as four-time defending champion of the Ninth Region dating back to the 2019 season (The 2020 season was canceled by the pandemic). That streak may end this season based on a preseason poll by the Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association.
Ryle was picked as the top team in Northern Kentucky by local coaches Tuesday, making the Raiders the Ninth Region favorite.
Campbell County from the 10th Region was in fourth place and Simon Kenton from the Eighth was in sixth.
Ryle earned 214 poll points in the coaches’ voting. Beechwood had 158 in second place, and Covington Catholic was one behind in third place with 157. Campbell had 145 and fifth-place Highlands had 140.
Rounding out the top 10 are Simon Kenton, Dixie Heights, Conner, St. Henry and Cooper.
Weather permitting, there will be a lot of early games this season matching up top teams.
Beechwood and Ryle play their season openers against each other March 15 in Union. Ryle plays at Campbell County March 21. Beechwood hosts Conner March 16 and plays at Highlands March 19.
CovCath opens at home against Walton-Verona March 14 and plays at Highlands March 21.
Campbell opens at home against Dixie March 16. Highlands, the last team other than Beechwood to win the Ninth Region (2018), opens at home against Walton-Verona March 15.
The Doc Morris Invitational is April 18-20 at various sites, followed by the Bryan Stevenson Memorial April 26-27. The Skyline Chili Reds Futures Showcase also returns this year, with some games at Great American Ball Park, though the full schedule has not been released.
Here are some of the top players to watch in Northern Kentucky this season. The list is based on returning Enquirer All-Stars and other research. Undoubtedly, others will emerge as the season goes on. Let us know who we missed.
Northern Kentucky baseball players to watch
Luke Abeling, Dixie Heights: The senior is the Colonels’ top returning hitter, batting .342 last year with a team-high 36 RBI plus 21 runs scored, eight doubles and six steals. He was an honorable mention Enquirer All-Star.
Chad Atchley, Simon Kenton: The senior catcher for the Pioneers has committed to Thomas More. He hit .216 last year with 12 RBI.
Drew Barth, Highlands: The senior has committed to Thomas More. He was second on the team in hitting last year, batting .317 with 11 RBI and 15 runs scored. He helped the Bluebirds to a 21-15 record, 36th District championship and the Ninth Region finals.
Logan Cones, Simon Kenton: The senior went 5-5 with a 3.40 ERA to lead the Pioneers in wins, and hit .250 with 27 RBI. He has committed to Thomas More.
Tate Cordrey, Ryle: The senior was Ryle’s top hitter last year, batting .376 with 14 steals and 41 runs scored. He has committed to Ohio Northern.
Michael Detzel, Beechwood: The senior is the top returning hitter for the four-time defending Ninth Region champion Tigers, hitting .333 last year with 40 runs scored, 37 RBI and 12 doubles. He was honorable mention Enquirer All-Star last year.
Charlie Dieruf, Covington Catholic: The senior hit .437 with 45 runs scored, 24 RBI, 12 doubles, two triples, two homers and 16 stolen bases. He also had three wins on the mound and a 3.13 ERA. He has committed to Miami (Ohio).
Sam Eppley, Ryle: The senior pitcher has committed to Xavier. Last year, he was 1-1 with two saves, a 3.35 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 23 innings.
Chase Flaherty, Beechwood: The junior went 5-2 with a 3.40 ERA for the Tigers last year, striking out 50 and allowing 50 hits in 58 innings. He was an honorable mention Enquirer All-Star.
Zach Franzen, Campbell County: The junior is one of the Camels’ top returning players, hitting .342 with 27 runs scored and 11 steals, and going 5-0 on the mound with a 3.39 ERA.
Chris Henson, Boone County: The senior was the Rebels’ top hitter last season, hitting .398 with 36 RBI, eight doubles and nine home runs. He was a second-team Enquirer All-Star.
Mason Howard, Walton-Verona: The senior was a first-team Enquirer All-Star last season for the Bearcats, who were 26-8 and Eighth Region semifinalists. He led the Bearcats on the mound with a 7-2 record, 2.71 ERA and only 53 hits and nine talks in 62 innings, plus 70 strikeouts.
Hayden Hungler, Lloyd Memorial: The junior was the Juggernauts’ top pitcher last year with a 4-2 record and 2.78 ERA in 40 innings.
Caleb Mann, Ryle: He was 3-1 with a 2.38 ERA in 35 innings for the Raiders.
Ian Mann, Newport Central Catholic: The junior was NCC’s top hitter last year with a .488 average, six doubles, five triples, one homer and 10 steals, plus 13 RBI. He also had a 0.86 ERA in 24 innings pitched, picking up two wins and two saves. He was a second-team Enquirer All-Star.
Dylan McIntyre, Ryle: The junior helped Ryle to a 25-11 record and the 33rd District championship. He was Ryle’s top pitcher with a 7-2 record and 2.06 ERA, striking out 56 and allowing only 32 hits in 48 innings. He was a second-team Enquirer All-Star.
Mark Nowak, Cooper: The senior outfielder has committed to NKU. He was the Jaguars’ leading hitter last season, batting .409 with 23 runs scored, six doubles, three triples and 24 stolen bases.
Maverick Rabe, Ryle: The senior was 4-2 with four saves and a 3.85 ERA for the Raiders. He has committed to Otterbein.
Jackson Reardon, Covington Catholic: He is one of the top returning Colonels, batting .389 last year with 40 runs scored, 22 RBI and eight doubles, plus nine steals.
Brach Rice, Dixie Heights: The senior was 5-4 with a 3.13 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 44 innings for the Colonels, and hit .321. He was honorable mention Enquirer All-Star.
Tyler Schumacher, Campbell County: He was 5-1 with a 2.26 ERA in 40 innings pitched.
Parker Schweitzer, Campbell County: The Camels’ senior catcher helped them to a 29-10 record, 37th District championship and 10th Region finals. He hit .250 with 16 RBI and has committed to Kentucky Wesleyan.
Carson Shea, St. Henry: The senior is one of the region’s most versatile returning players. He hit .314 with 30 stolen bases, one of the Northern Kentucky leaders, and 24 runs scored. He was also 5-2 on the mound with a 2.79 ERA and 44 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched. He was an honorable mention Enquirer All-Star.
Daniel Uhl, Simon Kenton: The senior helped SK to a 26-11 record and the 32nd District championship. He hit .306 with 16 doubles, 12 steals and 26 RBI. He also had a 1.50 ERA in 14 innings pitched. The Otterbein commit was a second-team Enquirer All-Star.
Bradley Zekl, Covington Catholic: He is the Colonels’ top returning pitcher with a 5-1 record and 3.44 ERA.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Here are players to watch in Northern Kentucky prep baseball
