The top returning Vermont high school baseball players? Here's our 2024 watchlist.
After conversations, texts and email messages with coaches and media colleagues throughout Vermont, here is our annual list of some of the state's top returning high school baseball players.
The baseball regular season concludes by June 1. Playoffs open June 4 and 5 with first-round contests, with the title games tentatively slated for June 14 and 15 at Castleton (weather, graduation dates play factor in determining final dates/times).
Already published: Watch lists for boys lacrosse, girls lacrosse and softball.
Upcoming: Watch lists for tennis, track and field and Ultimate.
Enjoy!
2024 BFP baseball watchlist
(Note: Players listed in alphabetical order. And no team has more than four players named to watchlist)
CARTER ABELL
► School: Milton
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: Picked up five wins, tossed eight complete games, compiled a 2.33 ERA and fanned 54 over 54 innings to land on first team in the Lake Division.
TOBEY APPENZELLER
► School: Essex
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: The Essex ace was selected to the Metro Division first team.
ANDREW BAILEY
► School: West Rutland
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: Earned a spot on first team for the SVL 'D' Division.
ELISE BERGER
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: This winter's BFP Miss Basketball landed on second team for the Division I champions. Berger is set to play college baseball next year for Bard College.
CARTER BLANEY
► School: Richford
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: Named to the first team in the Mountain Division.
KASON BLOOD
► School: Blue Mountain
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/infield/catcher
► 2023 season: A Mountain Division first-team pick, Blood batted .574 with nine doubles, 16 RBIs, 40 runs, .716 OBP and 1.589 OPS.
SAM BOGART
► School: Brattleboro
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Second base
► 2023 season: Landed on second team in the SVL 'A' Division.
ANDRE BOUFFARD
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Infield
► 2023 season: The D-I Fairleigh Dickenson commit landed on second team in the Metro Division for the semifinalist Wolves.
AARON BROCK
► School: Proctor
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: As a freshman, Brock made the first team for the SVL 'D' Division.
CAM BURKE
► School: Spaulding
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Catcher/second base
► 2023 season: Batted .375 with 11 doubles and a 1.016 OPS to make Capital Division second team.
TANNER BUSHEE
► School: Mount Anthony
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/shortstop
► 2023 season: A first-team pick in the SVL 'A' Division for the D-I runner-up Patriots.
JOE BUXTON
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: The multisport standout was a key starter on D-II semifinalist club.
WYATT CADWELL
► School: White River Valley
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: Selected to the first team in the SVL 'C' Division.
GARRET CARTER
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Catcher/infield
► 2023 season: A first-team selection as a freshman in the Metro Division.
ZACH DAVIS
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: The Metro Division first-team selection who's bound for D-I Bryant in the fall went 3-3 with a 2.44 ERA and 58 strikeouts over 37⅓ innings.
CHASE DE CASTRO
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: The D-II Mercy University commit was one of Rutland's key pitchers.
SEB DOSTAL
► School: Burr and Burton
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: A first-team selection for the SVL 'A' Division, Dostal went 5-0 with a pair of saves and a 0.85 ERA. Also batted .411.
WILL EATON
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Outfield
► 2023 season: The Metro Division first-team selection hit .315 with a .758 OPS.
JACKSON EMERY
► School: Brattleboro
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/third base
► 2023 season: Earned spot on the second team in the SVL 'A' Division.
DAVID FRANZONI
► School: Mount St. Joseph
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: MSJ's ace made the second team in the SVL 'D' Division.
AUSTIN GRZYCH
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Infield
► 2023 season: A first-team honoree in the Metro Division.
PARKER HAKEY
► School: Missisquoi
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: Selected to first team in the Lake Division.
REX HAUSER
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/shortstop
► 2023 season: A Metro Division first-team selection hit a team-best .382 with 17 RBIs and a 1.008 OPS.
LANGDON HAZEN
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: The D-I Xavier commit was a first-team selection in the Metro Division.
ZACH JOHNSON
► School: Hartford
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/infield/outfield
► 2023 season: Landed on first team in the SVL 'B' Division.
KADEN JONES
► School: North Country
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/infield/outfield
► 2023 season: A second-team choice out of the Capital Division, Jones batted .320 with a pair of home runs and 15 runs.
NICK KELLY
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: The lefty who's headed to D-I Fairfield made first team in the Metro Division.
OLIVER LAWRENCE
► School: Essex
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Catcher
► 2023 season: Named to the second team in the Metro Division as a freshman.
JOE LEBLANC
► School: North Country
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/catcher/infield/outfield
► 2023 season: Hit .329 with 17 RBIs and 23 stolen bases. Also sported 0.64 ERA in 22 innings pitched and landed on the Capital Division first team.
TREY LEE
► School: Fair Haven
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Shortstop
► 2023 season: The wrestling and football standout landed on second team for the SVL 'B' Division.
AARON LEFRANCOIS
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Outfield
► 2023 season: Landed on first team in the SVL 'A' Division.
ADAM LITTLEFIELD
► School: Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: First base/pitcher
► 2023 season: An honorable-mention selection in the Metro Division.
ANDERS LOWKES
► School: Rutland
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/first base
► 2023 season: The Bridgton Academy commit was one of Rutland's top hurlers.
ETHAN LUSSIER
► School: Lyndon
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/shortstop
► 2023 season: Batted .416 with six doubles and 16 RBIs to make the Capital Division first team. Also fanned 46 batters and compiled a 2.21 ERA in 25 innings.
JOHN LUTER
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: Landed on second team in the Metro Division as a freshman after batting .333.
WYATT MASON
► School: Lyndon
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/infield/catcher
► 2023 season: Named to the Capital Division second team, Mason batted .402 with eight doubles and 11 RBIs. Also sported 2.04 ERA and 68 strikeouts over 37⅔ innings.
SAM MAZZA-BERGERON
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Outfield
► 2023 season: The starting center fielder was an honorable-mention pick in the Metro Division.
COLTON MERCHANT
► School: Rice
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Third base
► 2023 season: Landed on second team in the Metro Division.
JACK MCCOY
► School: Burr and Burton
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: The BFP football player of the year batted .377 as BBA's starting shortstop.
KIEFER MCGRATH
► School: South Burlington
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Catcher
► 2023 season: Named to first team in the Metro Division.
JASON MITCHELL JR.
► School: St. Johnsbury
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: Landed on the Metro Division second team after batting .320 with six doubles, 11 RBIs. He also pitched 25 innings, fanning 22 and earning 3.92 ERA.
COLE MOORE
► School: Bellows Falls
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Infield
► 2023 season: Earned a spot on second team in the SVL 'B' Division.
CARSON NEVEAU
► School: BFA-St. Albans
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: A second-team selection in the Metro Division.
GAVIN NICHOLS
► School: Missisquoi
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/catcher
► 2023 season: The clean-up hitter landed on first team in the Lake Division.
XANDER OSHONIYI
► School: Thetford
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Infield/pitcher
► 2023 season: A second-team selection in the Capital Division who led Thetford to the D-III title.
CARTER PAQUETTE
► School: Middlebury
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/catcher
► 2023 season: Landed on first team in the Lake Division.
AVERILL PARKER
► School: Spaulding
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/third base
► 2023 season: Named to first team in the Capital Division after batting .349 and driving in 32 runs. Also earned 2-0 record with a 2.05 ERA and 49 strikeouts over 30⅔ innings.
JACKSON PECOR
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Second base
► 2023 season: Landed on second team in the Metro Division as a freshman after batting .333.
EASTON RANDALL
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/outfield
► 2023 season: A first-team selection in the Metro Division.
HAZEN RANDALL
► School: Essex
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Outfield/Catcher
► 2023 season: Selected to the first team in the Metro Division.
STEPHEN RICKERT
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: The Metro Division pitcher of the year totaled seven wins, a 0.74 ERA and 40 strikeouts over 37⅔ innings to help the Redhawks to their D-I crown.
JAMES RIPLEY
► School: Mount Mansfield
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/outfield
► 2023 season: A second-team selection in the Metro Division.
DYLAN SICARD
► School: BFA-Fairfax
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: A second-team selection in the Mountain Division.
KEEGAN SMITH
► School: Montpelier
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: Selected to the second team in the Capital Division.
WILL STEINHOUR
► School: Richford
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: Named to the first team in the Mountain Division.
PETER STIEBRIS
► School: Enosburg
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: Selected to first team in the Mountain Division.
TRAVIS STROH
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Outfield/pitcher
► 2023 season: The D-I Fairleigh Dickinson commit landed on honorable mention in the Metro Division after driving in 18 runs for the state-champion Redhawks.
AUSTIN STUART
► School: BFA-St. Albans
► Class year: Junior
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: A first-team selection in the Metro Division.
EYON TEMBREULL
► School: Vergennes
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/shortstop
► 2023 season: Named to first team in the Lake Division.
CARTER THOMPSON
► School: Mount Anthony
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/utility
► 2023 season: A first-team selection in the SVL 'A' Division for the D-I finalists.
VINNY WAGONER
► School: Colchester
► Class year: Sophomore
► Position: Pitcher/infield
► 2023 season: Made second team in the Metro Division as a freshman after batting .324 while earning a 2.58 ERA in seven appearances.
OZZIE WEBER
► School: Burr and Burton
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher/infield/outfield
► 2023 season: Earned a 2-2 record with one save and a 1.74 ERA over 44⅓ innings to make first team in the SVL 'A' Division.
DEREK WENNER
► School: Rice
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Shortstop/pitcher
► 2023 season: Selected to the second team in the Metro Division.
RUSSELL WILLOUGHBY
► School: Champlain Valley
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Shortstop
► 2023 season: Key player who's on-base percentage was .409 for CVU's D-I championship club.
WYATT WOLPERT
► School: Rice
► Class year: Senior
► Position: Pitcher
► 2023 season: The Villanova-bound Wolpert earned spot on first team in the Metro Division.
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This article originally appeared on Burlington Free Press: Vermont high school baseball players to watch during 2024 season
