Power ranking Lafayette-area high school baseball teams entering home stretch

High school baseball across the Journal & Courier has seen its fair share of impressive defensive plays and home runs throughout the 2024 season.

With the IHSAA postseason tournament just two weeks away with the start of the sectional, it's time to break down which teams are hitting and pitching at their best down the stretch.

Here are the top five baseball teams in the Greater Lafayette Area.

1. McCutcheon (18-2)

• With a perfect record in the North Central Conference, the Mavericks carry a lineup that's hit well and minimized errors to complement a pitching staff that has thrown strikes repeatedly. Reigning J&C Player of the Year Logan Marsell and senior Sage Adams have ignited the offense at the top of the order.
• Sophomore Sammy Swank has improved command after taking his winter with Mavs coaches to improve movement on his slider and change. Sophomore Jake Winger has played a key role as both a closer and first base. Right-handed junior Aiden Riser has established himself as a top-five area pitcher while junior Riley Sands gives the Mavericks speed and a reliable glove at second base.
• Sophomore Mekyel Almond and junior Broderick Arnold shortstop have played solid at the middle of the lineup while senior Owen Smith tops out a McCutcheon staff that's developed into one of the best in the state. Wins over Carmel, Crown Point, Huntingdon North, Avon and Hamilton Heights are impressive heading into playoffs.

• McCutcheon is the No. 5 ranked Class 4A team by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.

2. Harrison (14-8-1)

• Harrison senior pitcher and University of Alabama Birmingham signee Aiden Schwartz is having a stellar bounce-back year after being limited the last two seasons with arm injuries. Schwartz carries a 0.97 ERA with 35 strikeouts and has thrown five innings or more in four of his last five outings.
• Senior first baseman Jack Dowell (.407 batting average, two home runs, 14 RBIs), sophomore infielder Lannon Nicoloff (.371 batting average, 16 RBIs, six doubles), senior outfielder Aidan Lowry (.360 batting average, three home runs, 15 RBIs) and Drew McTagertt (.400 batting average, .534 OBP, 16 stolen bases, 16 RBIs) have led the three-time defending sectional champions on offense.
• The Raiders are looking to make a push in the last week of the regular season before facing McCutcheon in the Class 4A sectional semifinals on May 25.

3. Twin Lakes (18-4)

• Indiana Hall of Fame high school baseball coach Jake Burton is leading a young and hungry Twin Lakes team executing on all levels. Aside from a hiccup against 5-17 Lafayette Jeff, Twin Lakes have been in rhythm. Freshman left-handed pitcher Mason Brummett has been a breakout star with a 1.75 ERA. He has thrown five or more innings in six of seven starts with command over his fastball, changeup and slider.
• Twin Lakes is the No. 10 ranked Class 3A team by the Indiana High School Baseball Coaches Association.
• Sophomore Carson Wagner has bolstered the middle of the order with a .343 batting average, four home runs, seven doubles and 29 RBIs. Twin Lakes' offense carries eight players who are batting over .300 with a minimum of 57 at-bats and owns sweeps over West Lafayette, Rensselaer Central, Benton Central and a Hoosier Conference semifinal victory over Central Catholic.

4. Central Catholic (17-6)

• The reigning Class 1A state champions continue to hold the state's top 1A spot. The Knights own impressive wins over No. 6-ranked Class 3A South Bend St. Joseph and No. 7 Class 1A Rossville. While seniors Brinn Robbins, Kayden Minnich and Gavin Boutelle have facilitated much of the offensive scoring, coach Tim Bordenet has relied heavily upon sophomore Gus Sandberg as a pitcher. Sophomore Mikey Stapleton also is an aggressive baserunner and has commanded the strike zone when pitching as a reliever.
• Defensively, the Knights are as complete and consistent as ever. Junior catcher Jackson Cain provides a boost as a power hitter in Central Catholic's lineup.

5. Seeger (16-2)

• Seeger started the year red hot winning 14 straight games and is the No. 6 Class 2A program. Senior outfielder Lonnie Walker leads the Patriots with five home runs, 30 RBIs and a .471 average.
• Tag teaming the offensive power is senior Noah Stephen, who is hitting .473 with six doubles and 31 RBIs. Seeger has used 10 different pitchers efficiently, led by Luke Pluimer, who hasn't allowed an earned run in 34 innings pitched with 64 strikeouts.

Ethan Hanson is the sports reporter for the Journal & Courier in Lafayette. He can be reached atehanson@gannett.com, on Twitter at EthanAHansonand Instagram at ethan_a_hanson.