SEASON PREVIEW: Rivals chase Vikings for baseball supremacy

Mar. 27—The high school baseball teams that used to play in the Big Four Tournament are getting ready for their seasons to start, with three hoping the rivalry among them will be a little closer than it was in 2023.

West Vigo dominated the local scene last spring before falling to Tri-West in a Class 3A regional game, but with a senior-laden team that sent several of its players on to college baseball.

This year the heaviest senior participation might be at Terre Haute South, where Jason Fields — a former Viking, as a matter of fact — is the newcomer among the four coaches. Northview also has experience back, while Terre Haute North was the youngest team among the four last year and may be again — although some of the Patriot kids are pretty good.

Elsewhere in the Wabash Valley, the biggest battle may be in the SouthWestern Indiana Athletic Conference (and not for the first time). Shakamak came within a game of the Class A state championship game and has several key players back (although four-year starter Brady Yeryar has graduated) but the Lakers didn't win the SWIAC. Clay City did, and the Eels — ranked first in the state at one point — also have experience.

Here are a few names from the Big Four teams:

—Northview — The Knights took some lumps last year but have experience back from an 8-16 team.

Regulars returning include first baseman Peyton Lear; shortstop/pitcher Caden Schrader; outfielders Cam Green, Zac Buell and Brayden Krieger; second baseman Javier Higham; and pitchers Jackson Pierce, Jackson Farris and Trey Eldridge.

"It should be an exciting season, returning lots of starters and our pitching staff," coach Craig Trout predicted. "We need to make the step up to meet the level of our competition."

—Terre Haute North — Coach Scott Lawson's Patriots expect to be on an upward trend after an 11-11 season a year ago, and still are very young.

Key players for North are first baseman Kendall Gregg, shortstop Nate Millington and outfielder Briar Goda — all of whom are also pitchers, and all of whom are underclassmen.

"Looking forward to the season," said Lawson, whose team opened with a 13-0 win over Riverton Parke on Tuesday. "We have a young and talented team this year, with only one senior."

—Terre Haute South — Jason Fields steps in for Kyle Kraemer as coach of the Braves and inherits quite a bit of experience from a 15-11 team a year ago.

The infield should be South's strong point, with seniors Ty Stultz, Nathan Wright and twins Levi and Brady Weidenbenner and junior Brady Wilson all returning.

—West Vigo — Coach Culley DeGroote's Vikings were 27-4 last season, sweeping all 10 games in the Western Indiana Conference and winning a sectional championship.

And graduation losses were heavy.

Cleanup hitter Gabe Skelton is back at first base and Jacob Likens has No. 1-pitcher stuff even though he lacks No. 1-pitcher experience.

Senior outfielder Grayson Porter and sophomore third baseman Garrett Pugh are among the starters returning, while senior Hunter Cottrell is this year's shortstop and junior Jayce Noblitt takes over at second base.

The Vikings lost their opener 14-2 at Princeton on Wednesday. They'll have one game on each of the next three days.