{"id":7651,"date":"2025-04-18T12:50:52","date_gmt":"2025-04-18T12:50:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/princetonillinois.com\/?p=7651"},"modified":"2025-04-18T12:50:52","modified_gmt":"2025-04-18T12:50:52","slug":"2025-newstribune-baseball-preview-capsules-princeton-fieldcrest-bv-have-veteran-teams-shaw-local","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/princetonillinois.com\/?p=7651","title":{"rendered":"2025 NewsTribune baseball preview capsules: Princeton, Fieldcrest, BV have veteran teams – Shaw Local"},"content":{"rendered":"


Putnam County’s Traxton Mattingly waits for the throw during a game last season. <\/span>(Scott Anderson)
With the season having starting Monday, here\u2019s a look at baseball teams around the NewsTribune area.
Coach: <\/b>Chris Newsome
Top returners: <\/b>Jaden Stoddard, sr., 1B\/P; AJ Furar, sr., 2B; Johnathon Stunkel, jr., SS\/OF\/P; Miles Main, sr., C\/P; Drew Carlson, sr., 2B\/OF\/P; Kade Zimmerlein, so., 3B\/P; Daric Wiesbrock, sr., OF\/P; Cameron Spradling, sr., OF; Traxton Mattingly, jr., C\/1B\/3B\/P; Brayden Zuniga, jr., OF\/P
Key newcomers:<\/b> Tayton Kays, jr., OF\/P; Maddox Poole, fr., IF\/P
Worth noting: <\/b>The Panthers return almost everyone from last year\u2019s team that went 7-19. \u201cExperience will be something we rely on this year,\u201d Newsome said. \u201cOur guys have shown a willingness and hunger to put in the work to get better so that we can put out a product that is competitive every time we take the field.\u201d Stunkel (.300 BA, 22 R, 16 RBIs in 2024) and Mattingly (.286, 12 RBIs, 11 R) are expected to lead the way offensively, while Poole \u201chas the capabilities to be an impact player for us.\u201d Returners Carlson, Main, Stoddard, Wiesbrock, Furar, Spradling, Kays, Zungia and Zimmerlein also will contribute offensively. \u201cI expect our offense to be constantly evolving throughout the season based on who we are facing on a daily basis,\u201d Newsome said. \u201cThere are some solid arms in our conference so we may have to play some small ball at times. I anticipate this group of guys to provide a more heady type of play both in the batter\u2019s box and on the base paths.\u201d Newsome expects to have pitching depth with Stoddard, Stunkel, Main, Carlson, Mattingly, Zimmerlein, Zungia, Kays and Wiesbrock logging innings.
Coach:<\/b> Cody Zinke
Top returners:<\/b> Braiden Freeman, sr., P\/SS; Evan McPheeters, sr., IF\/P\/OF; Brody Hartt, jr. C\/IF\/P; Dane Doyle, jr., P\/1B; Jack Gillespie, sr., C\/OF\/IF
Key newcomers:<\/b> Gavin Evans, jr.; IF\/OF; Payton Gagliardo, jr., IF\/OF; Rhett Watson sr., OF; Oscar Castaneda, fr., IF\/P; Esten Otero, fr., IF\/P
Worth noting:<\/b> The Trojans have only 16 players in the program, so they will have only a varsity team this fall. Zinke expects Freeman and Doyle to lead the pitching staff. McPheeters also will log a lot of innings, while Gillespie, Hartt, Castaneda and Otero also will pitch. \u201cGuys with limited experience are going to have to get more comfortable on the mound and step up for us,\u201d Zinke said. Freeman (.261 BA, 14 R in 2024) and Hartt (.328) will be counted on to lead a young lineup. \u201cFreeman and Hartt are going to set the table for us. I expect both of them to get on base quite a bit,\u201d Zinke said. \u201cThe top of our order will have to be big for us because of the inexperience we will have in the bottom of the order.\u201d Gillespie will be a big run producer, while Doyle, McPheeters and Watson also will be in the mix in the middle of the order. Castaneda and Otero also could work their way into the heart of the lineup. \u201cI expect to compete in every game we play, and in order to do that we will need our guys with varsity experience to lead our younger guys,\u201d Zinke said.
Coach: <\/b>Wick Warren
Top returners:<\/b> Jordan Reinhardt, sr., P\/IF; Noah LaPorte, sr., OF\/P; Luke Smith, sr., P; Will Lott, sr., IF\/P; Ace Christiansen, sr., C; Jace Stuckey, sr., IF\/OF\/P; Nolan Kloepping, sr., IF\/OF; Tyler Forristall, jr., P
Key newcomers:<\/b> Ryan Jagers, jr., IF\/P; Braden Shaw, so., P; Stihl Brokaw, jr., IF; Jack Oester, fr., IF
Worth noting:<\/b> The Tigers have a senior-heavy team that\u2019s looking to improve on last year\u2019s 9-13 record and contend for a regional championship. Reinhardt (.508 average in 2024), Christiansen (.412) and Lott (.338) will be among the team\u2019s top offensive weapons along with LaPorte. \u201cJordan, Ace, William and Nolan were our leading hitters last season, and I expect big things at the plate from all four this season,\u201d Warren said. \u201cI expect Noah to be the leading defensive center fielder in the area and to contribute in a big way offensively. Jace has looked very good in preseason hitting work.\u201d Princeton will have plenty of options on the mound, led by Reinhardt (2-2, 3.54 ERA), Lott (3-0, 3.88 ERA) and Forristall (3.88 ERA). \u201cWe face a good, tough schedule, but we have a very experienced team and we expect to be competitive with all our opponents,\u201d Warren said.
Coach:<\/b> Ryan Schisler
Top returners: <\/b>Elijah Endress., sr., IF\/P; Bryce Helms, sr., P\/OF; Logan Philhower, jr., IF\/P; Brock Rediger, sr., IF\/P; Landon Smith, sr., IF; Landen Birdsley,, sr., IF\/OF; Drake Taylor, so., IF; Blake Foster, so., IF\/P.
Worth noting: <\/b>As they enter the Lincoln Trail Conference, the Storm have an experienced roster, led by three-year players Endress, Helms and Philhower, who were all-conference picks last spring. \u201cIt\u2019s a nice group of guys that were motivated to put in the work in the offseason and I think we learned a lot as a group last year from the highs and lows, so if we can learn from our mistakes and play a more aggressive brand of baseball this season this will be a pretty dangerous team,\u201d Schisler said. Helms and Endress will lead the pitching staff. Helms was 4-2 with a 1.90 ERA last season, and Endress was 3-3 with a 2.39 ERA. Offensively, Endress is the team\u2019s top returning weapon after hitting .438 with 21 RBIs, 17 runs and 21 steals. Birdsley (.304) and Philhower (.286, 19 RBIs, 12 SB) also will be key hitters in the lineup. Schisler is looking forward to the new challenge of the LTC. \u201cWe have played most of the eastern half of the conference for years, but we are coming into Mercer County\u2019s schedule this year on the western half, so we aren\u2019t too familiar with the teams there. I think that\u2019s exciting as that allows us to set any history aside and just focus on playing our best baseball each day.\u201d
Coach:<\/b> Dillon Reel
Top returners: <\/b>Easton Fruit, sr., P\/OF; Grady Harp, sr., OF; Aaden Browder, so., P\/1B; James Henne, sr., P\/1B; Joe Clifford, sr., C\/Ut.; Declan Brennan, so., P\/Ut.; Hayden Spoonmore, so., SS\/P
Key newcomers:<\/b> Austin Todd, sr., IF\/P; Lane Rohrer, fr., OF\/P;, Adam Waite, sr., Ut.\/P
Worth noting: <\/b>The Red Raiders had solid wins near the end of last season they hope mean good things entering the 2025 season. \u201cWe want to finish at the top of the conference,\u201d Reel said. \u201cThis team has a great group of seniors who are leaders on and off the field. Add in the amount of sophomores returning from their first season of varsity play and it looks promising. Coming off last year with big wins over Somonauk and Newark, we\u2019re hoping to build on that.\u201d Pitching depth and experience are expected to be the team\u2019s strengths with Henne, Fruit, Brennan, Browder and Spoonmore logging time on the mound. Offensively, the Red Raiders look to put the ball in play and move runners. \u201cWe want to be aggressive on the base paths and put pressure on the opponent.\u201d
Coach:<\/b> Mark Brown
Top returners:<\/b> Zach Johnson, sr., IF; Eli Gerdes, jr., OF; Lucas Anson, jr., IF\/OF\/C; Layten Gerdes, jr., IF\/P; Drew Overocker, so., IF; Lucas May, jr., OF; Jordan Heider, sr., IF; Tyler Serna, sr., C\/P; Cooper Haugens, sr., OF\/IF
Worth noting: <\/b>The Knights return eight starters from last year\u2019s team that went 11-13 overall and 7-4 in the Heart of Illinois Conference, including All-HOIC players in Heider, Anson, Layten Gerdes and Serna. \u201cMany of the juniors and seniors have started the previous two seasons,\u201d Brown said. \u201cThere should be very little they haven\u2019t seen. Not that this guarantees more wins by any means, but they will be prepared for what the season brings.\u201d Heider and Eli and Layten Gerdes will hit toward the top of the lineup, while Serna, May and Johnson will be in the middle of the order. Serna and Layten Gerdes are the team\u2019s top two pitchers, but Brown said \u201call of the guys can throw.\u201d \u201cWe have been talking this entire offseason about an all-in approach to the game,\u201d Brown said. \u201cSince the first night of practice, our focus has been on establishing routines and goals, which focus more on the mental side of the game.\u201d
Coach:<\/b> Ted Rowe
Top returners: <\/b>Carson Rowe, jr.; Jacob Miller, jr.; Austin Keith, so.; Jayden DeWeerth, jr.
Key newcomers:<\/b> Caleb Wiesbrock, fr.; Ben Meachum, jr.
Worth noting:<\/b> Carson Rowe returns after earning Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A All-State honors last season. He hit .422 and recorded a 2.11 ERA. He\u2019ll start the season as the team\u2019s leadoff hitter. \u201cWe have a lot of new hitters, so the order is yet to be determined,\u201d Ted Rowe said. \u201cOur offense will score by moving runners over and hitting them in. There\u2019s potential pop with a few hitters, but no major power hitters.\u201d Rowe also will be the team\u2019s ace, while Miller will be the Mallard\u2019s No. 2 pitcher after recording a 2.91 ERA last year. Meachum will step in as the team\u2019s No. 3 pitcher. \u201cIf Jacob can dial his control in, he can potentially rival Carson as our ace,\u201d Ted Rowe said. When not pitching, Rowe will play shortstop and Miller will be in left field. Keith will play center field and Wiesbrock will catch. Other possible starters are Landon Harbison at second base, DeWeerth at third base and Ashton Sprague at fiest base. \u201cDefense will be the team\u2019s strength,\u201d Ted Rowe said.
Copyright \u00a9 2023 Shaw Local News Network
Copyright \u00a9 2023 Shaw Local News Network<\/p>\n

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Putnam County’s Traxton Mattingly waits for the throw during a game last season. (Scott Anderson)With the season having starting Monday, here\u2019s a look at baseball teams around the NewsTribune area.Coach: Chris NewsomeTop returners: Jaden Stoddard, sr., 1B\/P; AJ Furar, sr., 2B; Johnathon Stunkel, jr., SS\/OF\/P; Miles Main, sr., C\/P; Drew Carlson, sr., 2B\/OF\/P; Kade Zimmerlein, so., 3B\/P; Daric Wiesbrock, sr.,<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"nf_dc_page":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-7651","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t