The Ivy Tech Journal & Courier has opened fan voting for its annual Player of the Year award, spotlighting the most impressive high school baseball talents in the Lafayette region. Voting closes at noon EST on Sunday, with the winner to be announced on Monday.
This year’s competition centers on the 3A and 4A classifications, where a handful of pitchers and hitters have posted numbers that stand out across the Monon Athletic Conference.
Rising Stars Across the Board
Leading the pitching charts, Henry Bannon of Crawfordsville topped the conference with 83 strikeouts while maintaining a 1.35 earned run average, a performance that has drawn early praise from coaches and analysts.
At Frankfort, Matthew Berry has been a offensive catalyst, batting .441 and scoring 34 runs, underscoring his dual threat at the plate.
Mason Brummett from Twin Lakes combined a 1.44 ERA with a 7‑1 record and 64 strikeouts, illustrating durability on the mound.
Chase Gothrup of Harrison, despite a 2‑3 record, posted a 1.20 ERA, showing that his team’s success often hinges on timely run support.
Tate Goyer, also from Twin Lakes, batted .413 with 32 runs batted in and went 2‑2 on the mound, highlighting his versatility.
Alex Lopez of Frankfort turned heads with a 1.11 ERA and 67 strikeouts, pairing that with a .476 batting average that ranks among the league’s best.
Lyrik Neal from Harrison earned Indiana All‑Star honors, finishing the season 7‑1 with a 2.10 ERA, a testament to his consistency.
Ben Pickering of Lafayette Jeff hit .416 and was selected to the first‑team All‑North Central Conference, a nod to his all‑around impact.
Calvin Snyder led West Lafayette with a .462 average and 16 stolen bases, adding speed to his offensive arsenal.
Sammy Swank of McCutcheon went 5‑0 with a 56‑strikeout tally and a .384 average, finishing the season unbeaten.
Jake Winger from McCutcheon capped the season as a Class 4A first‑team all‑state selection, batting .413 and cementing his reputation as a clutch performer.