Here is the 2024 Journal & Courier Big Schools All-Area Baseball Team (2024)

LAFAYETTE — The Journal & Courier continues its longstanding tradition of honoring the best baseball players in the Lafayette area.

In order for those standouts to be chosen objectively, coaches are asked to vote on the top 16 players in the area. This list featured a tie in the voting system and will include an additional athlete.

Meet the Journal & Courier 2024 Big Schools All-Area Baseball Team comprising of Class 4A and 3A players. The Big Schools Player of the Year will be revealed next week.

Jarrod Kirsch, North Montgomery, pitcher and first baseman

Kirsch returned to the J&C All-Area team after another consistent year of pitching and hitting while guiding the Chargin' Chargers to the 3A Sectional Championship game. Kirsch threw 50 1/3 innings with 74 strikeouts and a 1.67 ERA. As a hitter, Kirsch batted .326 with a home run, four doubles, 22 runs scored, .446 on-base percentage and stole 11 bases. Kirsch is signed to Wabash College.

Sammy Swank, McCutcheon, pitcher

Swank's lift off into becoming one of the elite pitchers in Indiana became cemented after pitching his team to a 1-0 complete-game shutout over Harrison to claim the IHSAA Class 4A sectional championship at Loeb Stadium. Swank, who is committed to Kentucky, threw 41 1/3 innings with 62 strikeouts and carried a 4-1 record and 2.03 ERA. As a first baseman, Swank batted .271 with 10 RBIs.

More: Harrison pitcher Aiden Schwartz returns to baseball after injuries. 'It was a long road.'

Aiden Schwartz, Harrison, pitcher

Comeback season complete for Schwartz who missed the previous two seasons due to reoccurring arm injuries. Schwartz broke past any questions of durability by throwing 41 1/3 innings while maintaining a 0.84 ERA with 48 strikeouts. Schwartz signed a scholarship to the University of Alabama at Birmingham this past fall and was named to the Indiana All-Star game.

Kale Wemer, Crawfordsville, pitcher and infielder

The Purdue signee guided Crawfordsville through a rough opening stretch to the spring, losing its first five games before capturing the Class 3A sectional and regional championships. Wemer threw 71 innings and finished with a 1.09 ERA with 109 strikeouts. He batted .284 with a home run, five doubles and 21 RBIs. Werner is a member of the Indiana All-Star South team,

Jake Winger, McCutcheon, infielder and pitcher

Winger produced in key moments for the Mavericks as both an infielder and closer to help McCutcheon capture its first sectional championship since 2014. Winger batted .438 with 13 doubles, a triple, two home runs, a .540 on-base percentage and 23 runs scored. Winger's production as a sophom*ore reliever saw him make two saves with a 2.51 ERA and struck out 27 batters in 22 1/3 innings.

Tanner Coble, Twin Lakes, pitcher and third baseman

A historic year for Twin Lakes baseball was guided by the strike-pounding right-hander. Coble threw 61 innings with 39 strikeouts, a 1.72 ERA and led Twin Lakes to its first regional championship title since 1991. Coble's effectiveness at the plate also was tantamount to Twin Lake's success. He batted .400 and clubbed three home runs, seven doubles, 38 RBIs and drew 11 walks. Coble is signed to Marian University's Ancilla College in Plymouth and was named to the Indiana All-Star North team.

Jack Shaeffer, West Lafayette, shortstop

Shaeffer showcased his abilities as one of the top all-around hitters in the Lafayette area. Shaeffer batted .439 with five home runs, five doubles, 17 RBIs, 23 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Shaeffer is signed to Wabash College and was named to the Indiana All-Star North team.

Sage Adams, McCutcheon, catcher

Adams was the clubhouse leader during McCutcheon's sectional championship-winning season. He drew 26 walks and held a .509 on-base percentage while hitting .250 with 21 runs scored and 10 stolen bases. Adams was named to the Indiana All-Star North team.

More: Meet the top 72 baseball players in Greater Lafayette for the 2024 season

Corbin Meadows, North Montgomery, outfielder and pitcher

Meadows, a senior, batted .379 with one triple, two doubles and 10 RBIs with a .451 on-base percentage while completing key plate appearances for the Chargin' Chargers, who finished 19-8.

Matthew Berry, Frankfort, catcher and pitcher

Berry took the leadership role over for the Hot Dogs, who starred a roster mostly of underclassmen after its Class 3A regional championship run last spring. Barry batted .299 with a home run, triple, seven doubles and 30 RBIs. As a pitcher, Berry made nine appearances in relief with 10 strikeouts and a 1.24 ERA in 11 innings.

Riley Sands, McCutcheon, outfielder

There was hardly an off night for Sands, who thrived as the lead-off hitter for McCutcheon this season. Sands batted .412 with seven doubles, one home run, one triple, 18 RBIs, a .520 on-base percentage and 29 runs, plus 19 stolen bases. Sands is signed to Illinois Wesleyan University.

Garrett Rainey, Lafayette Jeff, shortstop and outfielder

Rainey thrived no matter his positioning in the hitting order or outfield. Rainey batted .319 with two triples, five doubles, 11 RBIs and 15 runs scored. Rainey is signed to Indiana Tech.

Owen Smith, McCutcheon, pitcher

Smith dotted the strike zone repeatedly as one of his team's primary starters alongside Swank. Smith finished the season 7-0 with a 2.24 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 40 2/3 innings. Smith is a preferred walk-on for football and will compete to play quarterback at Purdue.

Clayton Burton, outfielder and pitcher

Burton affected games with both his speed and defense for Twin Lakes. Burton batted .441 with 14 stolen bases, 26 walks, 11 RBIs and 17 runs scored. Burton threw 25 innings as a pitcher with 35 strikeouts and 2.50 ERA. Burton is signed to play baseball at Marian University's Ancilla College in Plymouth.

Wyatt Motz, Crawfordsville, third baseman

Motz not only played stellar defense and hit well, but his leadership as a junior provided Crawfordsville the focus it needed to win a regional championship this spring. Motz batted .427 with 13 RBIs, seven doubles, five triples, one home run and 14 stolen bases.

CJ Brummett, Twin Lakes, second baseman

Brummett's hitting played a factor in helping Twin Lakes capture 3A regional and sectional titles in addition to the Hoosier Conference championship this season. Brummett batted .429 with six doubles, nine stolen bases, 18 RBIs and 31 runs scored.

Drew McTagertt, Harrison, catcher

McTagertt's skills as a defensive catcher were put into repeated use while providing depth at the plate for Harrison. McTagertt batted .373 with six doubles, 19 RBIs, 21 runs scored, 22 stolen bases and a .520 on-base percentage for the Raiders.

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Quick hits

• McCutcheon had the highest amount of first team members with five
• Twin Lakes held the longest playoff run by a big school by reaching the 3A semi-state championship against eventual state champion New Prairie. It had been 33 years since its last regional championship. And it's the only program that had brothers (CJ and Mason Brummett) voted to the J&C All-Area teams and honorable mention.

Honorable mention

Mason Brummett, pitcher and outfielder, freshman (Twin Lakes); Bryce Dowell, second baseman, senior (Crawfordsville); Carson Wagner, shortstop, sophom*ore (Twin Lakes); Tristan Robertson, outfielder, senior (Twin Lakes); Alex Alanis-Lopez, infielder and pitcher, sophom*ore (Frankfort); Jude Coursey, shortstop, junior (Crawfordsville); Colin Kastens, outfielder, freshman (West Lafayette); Lannon Nicoloff, infielder, sophom*ore (Harrison); Jack Dowell, first baseman, senior (Harrison); Aiden Riser, outfielder and pitcher, junior (McCutcheon); Cade Cole, pitcher and infielder, junior (North Montgomery); Jeremy Lowrey, pitcher, sophom*ore (Harrison); Roman Utterback, shortstop, senior (North Montgomery); Aidan Lowry, outfielder, senior (Harrison).

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