Millington, TN – The Indian Hills Baseball team, fresh off its 18th region championship, return to the diamond to open up the 2024 campaign on Friday with the two-day, four-game Flag City Classic in Millington, TN.

DETAILS: Indian Hills at Flag City Classic

Millington, TN  |  USA Stadium

Flag City Classic Tournament Central

FIRST PITCH

The 63^rd edition of Indian Hills Baseball gets underway Friday morning with the annual Flag City Classic at the USA Baseball Stadium in Millington, TN. One of the premiere facilities across the nation will play host to more than 30 contests over the next four days, including a number of prominent junior college programs.

• Indian Hills is coming off a 34-win season that resulted in the team's second Region championship in the last three seasons.
• The Warriors will be taking part in the Flag City Classic for the second consecutive season after picking up a pair of wins at last year's event.
• Head coach Matthew Torrez is set for his sixth year at the helm of the program, having won 144 ballgames and three consecutive seasons of at least 34 wins.
• The Warriors have been picked second in the preseason Iowa Community College Athletic Conference (ICCAC) Coaches Poll behind No. 10 nationally ranked Iowa Western Community College.

VETERAN EXPERIENCE

The Warriors return 15 sophomores from last year's championship run, including a number of individuals who made significant contributions both at the plate and on the mound. Indian Hills welcomes 23 true freshmen to this year's roster along with four sophomores with a year of college experience at a previous institution.

• Seven pitchers are back that all saw action as true freshmen last season, combining for nearly 42.0 percent of the team's bulk of work on the mound.
• Nathan Smithburg and Carlos Valenzuela tied for the team lead last year with 20 appearances each out of the bullpen, playing a key role in postseason play for the Warriors down the stretch as the two garnered All-Region honors.
• Andrei Gordeev and Adam Golby combined for eight wins while making 14 total starts between the duo.
• Five individuals who ranked in the top-eight in total at bats last year return, including All-Region selections Logan Myers and Dylan Sayles.
• The infield trio of Ciro Benavides, Miguel Salazar, and Raul Torres all return from last year. The three each started more than 50 of the team's 55 games last year.
• Sophomore JJ Dutton, an All-Region selection from two seasons ago for the Warriors, returns to the lineup after missing all of last season due to injury.
• Miguel Padron, an All-Region performer last year at Marshalltown Community College, will suit up for the Warriors this year after posting a .363 batting average in 49 games for the Tigers.

TORREZ'S NOTES

"We have a pretty veteran team defensively that I am excited to see their growth as sophomores. Our entire starting infield returns along with JJ Dutton in the outfield from two years ago and Miquel Padron a transfer from Marshalltown that was an All-Region DH. 

On the mound we are a little younger inning wise, but I am excited to see the growth of the sophomores who had limited innings last year along with our freshmen that have a chance to play major roles for us. 

As a team we need to stick with what we do well. Traditionally we are a very fundamental team that can play a faster pace offensively."

SCOUTING THE BLAZERS

John Wood opened up the year with a pair of wins over Quincy University JV, winning 8-4 and 12-2 on February 8. The Blazers will open up the Flag City Classic against the Warriors.

• The Blazers posted a 37-19 overall record last year, a 20-win improvement from two seasons ago and its first winning season since 2016.
• Payton Mansfield returns after an All-American season last year for the Blazers, batting .433 with 24 home runs, second-most in the nation.
• Ben Kasparie ranked seocnd on the team as a true freshman with a .377 batting average and a team-high 26 stolen bases.
• The Blazers return six pitchers from last year, but none appeared in more than seven contests on the mound.
• Friday's contest will be the first meeting between Indian Hills and John Wood dating back to 2011.

SCOUTING THE LAKERS

Lake Land has opened up the year with a 2-1 record, sweeping NJCAA DII No. 20 Parkland COllege 5-1 and 6-3 on February 9.

• The Lakers are coming off a 23-34 record last year and are looking for their first winning season since 2015.
• Lake Land returns its top three hitters from last season in Ian Farrell, Owen Anderson, and Dicky Gonzalez Jr. who each posted batting averages above .340.
• Ben Benoit, the Lakers' top freshman from last year, picked up a win over Parkland with one earned run in 6.0 innings of work against the Cobras.
• Friday's contest will be the first meeting between Indian Hills and Lake Land dating back to 2011.

SCOUTING THE LOGGERS

Lincoln Land heads to Millington as the No. 17 ranked team in the NJCAA DII Preseason Poll after winning 37 contests last year.

• The Loggers advanced to the NJCAA Region 24 Championship game, falling to eventual DII national champion Heartland.
• A perennial power, Lincoln Land has won at least 37 games in each of the last four full seasons.
• Two of the top-three hitters return to the lineup from a year ago, including Grant Pohlman's team-high .326 batting average and 58 runs scored.
• Sophomore Mitch Dye is back after posting a 9-3 record on the mound with a team-high 72 innings last year.
• Saturday's contest will be the second meeting between Indian Hills and Lincoln Land dating back to 2011 - the Loggers dropped the Warriors 11-4 at last year's Flag City Classic.

SCOUTNG THE COUGARS

St. Charles has jumped out to a 2-2 start on the year, picking up a pair of wins over South Arkansas Community College and dropping a pair to East Central Community College (MS).

• The Cougars posted a 33-27 overall record last year, falling in the NJCAA Region 16 Tournament.
• St. Charles has won at least 30 games in each of the last two seasons and have not had a losing record over the last four full seasons.
• The Cougars led the nation in stolen bases last year with 241. Sophomore Grant Huebner ranked second on the team last year with 39.
• St. Charles ranked eighth in all of NJCAA DI Basbeall last year with 357 walks.

WHAT'S NEXT

The Warriors' trip to Millington, TN is the first of two consecutive trips to the USA Baseball Stadium. The Warriors return to action next weekend with the Babe Howard JUCO Classic for a four-game, two-day series.

As always, GoHillsTV provides free live broadcasts of all Indian Hills home baseball games. Fans can tune in a number of ways all season long:

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