Season preview: Sayre has challengers as best baseball team in Lexington

For the second year in a row, six of Lexington’s nine teams are ranked in the Prep Baseball Report preseason top 25. Sayre ranks the highest at No. 4.

The season got underway despite the chill last Monday. Thankfully, it should get warmer soon as teams prepare for a postseason that begins May 15, just 10 weeks away.

Here’s a look at the Lexington baseball landscape in order of teams’ preseason ranking (or order of finish last season for unranked teams), including top players and coaches’ comments.

Stats are from last season. Statewide rankings according to PrepBaseballReport.com in conjunction with the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association.

SAYRE

Last season: 20-10. 42nd District champion, 11th Region runner-up.

Preseason rank: No. 4.

This season’s start: 3-0.

Big hitters: Charlie Slabaugh, LHP/OF, So. (.413 AVG, 35 R, 12 RBI, 10 SB); Graham Johnson, C, Sr. (.385 AVG, 32 RBI, 14 R); Addison Stockham, 1B/LHP, Sr. (.390 AVG, 30 RBI, 2 HR, 13 R); Raymond Saatman, OF/RHP, Sr. (.348 AVG, 20 RBI, 1 RH, 27 R).

On the bump: Saatman (8-1, 1.43 ERA, 93 K, 1 SV); Stockham (5-2, 2.20 ERA, 42 K, 2 SV).

College commits: Saatman (Kentucky); Stockham (Eastern Kentucky); Grady Johnson (DePauw); Visser (Midway).

Notes: The Spartans won their second straight district title last season with a core of players who’ve been varsity starters since they were eighth-graders. Now seniors, they aim to return to the region finals where they lost 4-2 to Madison Central a year ago.

Coach Kevin Clary says: “We have a senior-dominated team who have lots of experience and know what it takes to compete at a high level. We were really close to winning the 11th Region last year and the guys are really hungry to make another run at it.”

FREDERICK DOUGLASS

Last season: 24-10.

Preseason rank: No. 13.

This season’s start: 2-2.

Big hitters: Jeremiah Lowe OF, Jr. (.387 AVG, 28 R, 19 RBI, 11 SB); RJ Parks C, Sr. (.293 AVG, 25 RBI, 7 R, 1 HR; Thomas Howard 1B/3B/RHP, Sr. (.299 AVG, 14 R, 8 RBI, 1 HR); Brady Robeson 3B/RHP, Sr. (.300 AVG, 11 R, 9 RBI).

On the bump: Howard (5-3, 1.48 ERA, 68 K, 1 SV); Braxton Burse RHP, Sr. (3-1, 2.26 ERA, 27 K, 3 SV).

College commits: Howard (Louisville).

Notes: The Broncos hit an untimely three-game skid at the end of last season that included a 2-0 loss to Henry Clay in the 42nd District semifinals. Lowe and Howard each started for Douglass’s Class 5A football state champions. Howard caught a TD pass in the title game. Lowe has at least 10 NCAA Division I football offers, including Kentucky.

Coach Eddie Brooks says: “We lost some key players that will be hard to replace, but have Thomas Howard, Jack Gross, RJ Parks, Hunter Smith, Braxton Burse and Brady Robeson all returning, which should help the younger players fit in nice.”

TATES CREEK

Last season: 14-17.

Preseason rank: No. 17.

This season’s start: 3-0.

Big hitters: Braxton Brinegar 1B/RHP (.380 AVG, 24 RBI, 13 R); Isaac Tencza, C/INF, Sr. (.385 AVG, 12 RBI, 13 R, 2 HR); Matthew Persinger C/INF Sr. (.321 AVG, 22 RBI, 15 R, 2 HR); Jamison Craig, OF/P, Jr. (.198 AVG, 13 RBI, 10 R).

On the bump: Carson Van Haaren, RHP/OF, Jr. (4-5, 3.72 ERA, 63 K); Gilliam (0.78 ERA, 11 K, 1 SV); Broedy Dunham (1-3, 6.10 ERA, 11 K).

College commits: Gilliam (Lincoln Trail); Brinegar (Xavier); Tencza (Earlham); Van Haaren (Eastern Kentucky); Daniel Brumagen (Campbellsville for baseball and football).

Notes: Jeff Chapuran, a 2013 Tates Creek graduate who went on to play at Spalding University takes over as head coach, succeeding Larry Poynter. Poynter, now Tates Creek’s athletic director, led the Commodores for eight seasons, which included their 2019 state baseball championship.

Coach Chapuran says: “Having a lot of returners with multiple years of varsity experience gives us a lot of optimism for the season. You like to see guys make jumps from their sophomore to junior year, and we have multiple that we expect to see that out of. … Having three legit top-end arms will take us a long way, we are just going to have to play defense behind them and hit if we want to be the team we are capable of being.”

PAUL LAURENCE DUNBAR

Last season: 19-13.

Preseason rank: No. 18.

This season’s start: 3-0.

Big hitters: Nick Griffith, SS Sr. (.311 AVG, 24 R, 16 RBI); Scott Kendrick, 1B/3B/OF So. (.340 AVG, 23 R, 30 RBI, 7 HR); Harrison Simpson, OF/RHP, Jr. (.358 AVG, 20 R, 11 RBI, 1 HR); Logan Pittmon, OF, Jr. (.299 AVG, 15 R, 21 RBI).

On the bump: Jared Eisiminger, 1B/RHP, Sr. (1-1, 2.33 ERA, 15 K), Trey Todd, RHP, Jr., (0-2, 2.15 ERA, 18 K).

College commits: Kendrick (Midway); Eisiminger (Wabash Valley).

Notes: Eisiminger transferred from Lafayette. Dunbar has not reached the 11th Region Tournament since 2012. Every team in the 43rd District has won a state baseball title. The Bulldogs did it in 2007.

Coach Steve Deaton says: “We return a majority of our players from last year with a strong leadership mentality. Our pitching staff has more depth and experience than ever before, defense is deep in all positions, hitting has become a priority and more consistent.”

HENRY CLAY

Last season: 18-16, 42nd District runner-up.

Preseason rank: No. 19.

This season’s start: 3-0.

Big hitters: Kasen Parks UTIL, Sr. (.327 AVG, 30 R, 22 RBI, 2 HR, 25 SB); Isaac Rone 3B/RHP (.294 AVG, 12 R, 14 RBI); Joey Howard 1B (.296 AVG, 18 R, 19 RBI, 1 HR); Ben Taylor 1B, Sr. (.354 AVG, 17 R, 30 RBI, 4 HR).

On the bump: Chardy Tierney RHP, Jr. (3-2, 1.68 ERA, 47 K, 2 SV); Giancarlo Gonzalez, LHP, Jr. (1-3, 4.07 ERA, 28 K, 1 SV); Blake VanHorn LHP, Sr. (3-2, 3.18 ERA, 34 K).

College commits: Parks (Wabash Valley); Kai Aoki (Colby College).

Notes: Henry Clay overcame a four-game skid in early May to reach the region semifinals last season. The Blue Devils lost only two seniors from that squad and returned 13 seniors and nine juniors with varsity experience.

Coach Jordan Tarrence says: “Our strength will be our depth and our pitching. We have experience at every position on the field as well as strong reserves. We need to stay healthy and avoid the injury bug that plagued us last season. If we can come together as a team and get everyone on the same page, we have the talent to compete with anyone.”

LEXINGTON CATHOLIC

Last season: 16-14.

Preseason rank: No. 20.

This season’s start: 3-0.

Big hitters: Max DeGraff, SS, Sr. (.405 AVG, 17 R, 17 RBI); Griffin Cameron OF, Sr. (.351 AVG, 27 R, 17 RBI, 3 HR); Owen Jenkins C, So. (.369 AVG, 20 R, 31 RBI, 6 HR); Harrison Tibe OF/RHP, Sr. (.292 AVG, 13 R, 10 RBI, 1 HR).

On the bump: Drew Bowles, RHP/UTIL, Sr. (4-3, 2.85 ERA, 41 K); Brody Rogers, LHP, Jr. (4-1, 1.54 ERA, 28 K).

College commits: Cameron (Kentucky); Bowles (Transylvania); Raleigh Craft (Washington and Lee); Tibe (Centre).

Notes: Jenkins comes over as a Lafayette transfer. Max DeGraff led the Knights in hitting last season and also served as LexCath’s football kicker and leading receiver. LexCath last made the 11th Region Tournament in 2018. The Knights last won the 43rd District in 2012.

Coach Scott Downs says: “Everyone on our team has a role that they play. If we all stay in our lanes and play our roles, this will be a season to remember. I am looking forward to seeing the growth of the younger players and the leadership from the older players.”

LEXINGTON CHRISTIAN

Last season: 16-13-1. 43rd District champion.

Preseason rank: Unranked.

This season’s start: 1-1.

Big hitters: Will Nichols OF, Sr. (.233, 12 R, 7 RBI, 1 HR); Kyle Livengood 1B, Sr (.286 AVG); Woods Frye 3B, So. (.154 AVG, 3 R, 3 RBI).

On the bump: Blake Campbell, RHP, So. (2-1, 2.76 ERA, 16 K, 1 SV); Andrew Dixon LHP, So. (2.1 IP, 2 K).

Notes: Former Western Hills and Paul Laurence Dunbar head coach Seth Knight takes over a young LCA team that lost most of its offensive production and experienced pitching from last season to graduation.

Coach Knight says: “Will be young, with only four seniors, but look to compete in the tough 43rd District.”

LAFAYETTE

Last season: 21-13. 43rd District runner-up.

Preseason rank: Unranked.

This season’s start: 1-2.

Big hitters: Conner Mahoney, C/INF, Sr. (.264 AVG, 10 R, 11 RBI); Brady Binder, OF/P, Jr. (.295 AVG, 5 R, 13 RBI); Burkley Bounds, INF/RHP, Jr. (.277 AVG, 8 R, 13 RBI); Cam Napier, INF, Jr. (.268 AVG, 11 R, 6 RBI).

On the bump: Bounds (2-3, 2.76 ERA, 39 K, 2 SV); Binder (1-1, 3.00 ERA, 11 K, 1 SV).

College commits: Conner Mahoney (Alice Lloyd).

Notes: Tre Wilson returns to the lineup after recovering from a serious knee injury two years ago. The Generals reached the 11th Region semis last year as a 43rd District fourth seed.

Coach Chris Langston says: “We are very young as a team, we will return five part-time starters from last year. We will have to develop our offensive approach throughout the season.”

BRYAN STATION

Last season: 8-13.

Preseason rank: Unranked.

This season’s start: 0-1.

Big hitters: Trenton Cutwright, OF, Jr. (.316 AVG, 10 R, 10 RBI, 1 HR, 15 SB); Quinten Webster C, Jr. (.347 AVG, 5 R, 9 RBI); Marshall Finney OF/P, Sr. (.255 AVG, 6 R, 12 RBI); Jordan Carter, SS, So. (.204 AVG, 16 R, 6 RBI).

On the bump: Wyatt Brooks, RHP/INF, Jr. (1-0, 4.67 ERA, 10 K); Ethan Hagan, RHP/INF, Jr. (3-1, 6.15 ERA, 16 K).

Notes: Erik Hagen, a former head coach at Transylvania University and Georgetown College takes over the Defenders’ program this season. Bryan Station last made it to the 11th Region Tournament as 42nd District runner-up in 2018. Bryan Station did not respond to the Herald-Leader’s preseason survey.