2022 All-5STAR PREPS Baseball Teams
OFFENSIVE PLAYER OF THE YEAR – Lukas Buckner, Farragut
PITCHER OF THE YEAR – Dylan Loy, Pigeon Forge
FIRST TEAM
INFIELDERS
Lukas Buckner, Farragut, sophomore
The 5Star Preps Offensive Player of the Year and Central Florida commit led Farragut to a state title by leading the Admirals in hitting (.451) against the area’s most demanding schedule. He struck out just 11 times in 156 plate appearances and got a hit in 37 of the 40 games he played.
Wesley Alig, CAK, sophomore
This middle infielder and Division I prospect hit .462 in the spring with 11 home runs, 55 runs scored and 33 RBIs for head coach Tommy Pharr.
Riley Franklin, Pigeon Forge, senior
The Class 2A Mr. Baseball winner and ETSU signee helped the Tigers once again reach the 2A championship game. He went 11-1 on the mound with 102 strikeouts against 35 walks, posting a 1.27 ERA. He also hit .460 with 11 home runs, 54 RBIs, 48 runs and 38 walks.
Jett Johnston, Farragut, junior
Johnston, a Texas A&M commitment, found form over the latter half of the season and was an absolute menace to the opposition in the postseason. He hit .464 in 10 postseason games with four home runs, nine runs, nine walks and eight RBIs.
Daniel Parris, Catholic, junior
A Tennessee baseball commitment, Parris helped Catholic make a run to the Division II-AA state semifinals. He was a Mr. Baseball finalist, hitting .388 with nine home runs, 14 doubles and 44 RBIs. He also went 5-1 with three saves and a 2.03 ERA.
Luke Johnson, Heritage, senior
An MTSU signee, Johnson was not only named the District 4-4A Defensive Player of the Year but he also proved he was handy with the bat. He hit .471 with four home runs, 31 runs scored and 23 RBIs — also drawing 35 walks.
CATCHERS
Logan Poteet, Powell, senior
A Vanderbilt commitment and one of the key cogs in Powell’s run to the 4A state tournament, Poteet hit .412 as a senior with 11 doubles, six home runs, 25 RBIs and 37 walks.
Garrett Brewer, Farragut, senior
Brewer was hitting well over .400 this past season until he tore a hamstring midway through the playoffs. Still, he played and caught in every Admirals’ postseason game. The Walters State signee wound up with a .397 batting average.
Brooks Wright, Bearden, sophomore
The District 4-4A Offensive Player of the Year and a Tennessee commitment, Wright hit .430 with 18 doubles, 11 home runs, one triple, 37 RBIs and 33 walks, as the Bulldogs made a postseason run to the region semifinals.
OUTFIELDERS
Mark Underwood, Farragut, junior
A relentless competitor and high-energy player, Underwood hit .391 for Farragut in 2022 as the team’s No. 9 hitter. In the postseason, though, Underwood hit .500 in 10 games with six RBIs and five runs scored.
Brennon Seigler, Farragut, sophomore
This Tennessee commit hit .344 with six doubles and three triples for Class 4A state champion Farragut, driving in 20 runs while scoring 30 times. He collected six hits in four state-tournament games.
Kevin Fernandez, Pigeon Forge, senior
Fernandez transferred to East Tennessee from South Florida and made a big impact for Pigeon Forge. The Lincoln Memorial signee hit .393 with nine triples, 32 RBIs, 53 runs, 37 walks and 38 stolen bases for the Tigers.
Bryce Burkhart, Powell, junior
Burkhart will be one of the key returning pieces for Powell in 2023. Why? During Powell’s run to a state appearance, Burkhart hit .386 with 10 doubles, two triples, four homers, 40 RBIs and 27 walks.
Ian Hubbard, Catholic, junior
The Fighting Irish made it all the way to the Division II-AA semifinals and Hubbard helped power that march with eight home runs, 38 runs scored and 29 RBIs. He hit .369 and also was 5-2 on the mound with a 2.26 ERA.
PITCHERS
Dylan Loy, Pigeon Forge, junior
The left-handed Loy is the 2022 5Star Preps Pitcher of the Year and Gatorade State Player of the Year, going 12-1 with 126 strikeouts in 59.2 innings pitched. The Vols commit allowed just four earned runs and 20 walks while posting a 0.58 ERA.
Jaxson Pease, Farragut, senior
A Tennessee Tech signee and Farragut’s ace for the 2022 season, Pease finished the spring with a 10-0 mark and 1.53 ERA, fanning 72 batters and walking 30 in 66.1 innings pitched. He had five postseason wins, including the state championship game.
Tanner Franklin, Jefferson County, senior
The Class 4A Mr. Baseball and Kennesaw State signee finished 9-1 in the spring with 134 strikeouts and 25 walks in 65.1 innings. He had a 0.92 ERA and tossed two no-hitters.
Brady Smith, Grainger, junior
A 6-2 right-hander and Virginia Tech verbal commit, Smith went 8-2 for the Grizzlies with a 0.68 ERA, striking out 131 batters in 62 innings and walking just 22. He allowed just 22 hits all season.
Simon Tesh, CAK, senior
A Belmont signee and one of the state’s more unheralded hurlers, the 6-4 Tesh went 6-2 in 2022 with a 0.77 ERA in 45.2 innings pitched. He allowed just five earned runs all season and struck out 52 hitters against eight walks.
Charlie Smith, Powell, senior
The Lincoln Memorial signee helped Powell reach state and went 12-1 for the Panthers, posting a 1.56 ERA in 79.2 innings pitched. He struck out 98 batters and walked 25, as opponents batted just .151 against him.
Reilly Byers, Gibbs, junior
One of the state’s top left-handers, the 6-2 Byers went 6-1 for the Eagles, striking out 128 hitters in 61.1 innings pitched. He walked just 23 hitters.
COACH OF THE YEAR
Matt Buckner, Farragut
Buckner led the Admirals to 30 wins and the program’s 11th state championship, taking a lineup that featured just one senior day-in, day-out starter and winning the TSSAA’s first-ever 4A title.
All-5STAR PREPS SECOND TEAM
INFIELDERS
Eli Evans, Farragut, sophomore
Led Farragut in doubles (13) while also hitting .305 with six home runs and 30 RBIs. Hit .371 in the postseason with 11 RBIs in 10 games.
Conner Bryson, Powell, senior
Hit .390 with 11 doubles, two home runs, 17 walks and 41 RBIs during Powell’s run to the state tournament. Also went 6-1 pitching.
Cole Hines, Coalfield, junior
Hines helped Coalfield reach the Class A state tournament with a .444 average, eight doubles and 25 RBIs. He also struck out 89 batters as a pitcher.
Jake Duncan, Halls, senior
Duncan batted .458 with 14 doubles, 10 home runs and 48 RBIs, scoring 35 runs for the Red Devils.
Braden Graves, Gibbs, junior
A year after helping Gibbs win state, Graves batted .440 as a junior with 23 RBIs, seven triples and 26 stolen bases.
Tripp Spencer, Bearden, senior
The 6-2 Spencer helped Bearden catch fire in the postseason and wound up with a .388 average, nine homers and 26 RBIs.
CATCHERS
Ty Denton, Hardin Valley, junior
A college baseball commit (Troy), Denton hit .366 this past season with eight home runs and 30 RBIs.
Luke Lawson, Halls, junior
Lawson posted a whopping .506 batting average with 10 doubles, 26 RBIs, 48 runs and 26 walks.
Grayson Vincil, Lenoir City, junior
The 6-3, 215-pound Vincil hit .404 for the state-sectionalist Panthers with nine doubles, three homers and 40 RBIs.
OUTFIELDERS
Kain Collins, Kingston, senior
The ETSU signee hit .447 with 51 runs, 13 doubles, six triples, four homers, 32 RBI, 19 walks and 30 stolen bases.
Landis Davila, Farragut, sophomore
The Virginia Tech baseball commit caught fire offensively midway through the season and helped Farragut win a 4A state title.
Jaxon Walker, Loudon, sophomore
The Georgia baseball commit helped Loudon reach the state tournament field with a .372 average, 30 walks, 25 RBIs and 12 doubles.
Rohde Kirkland, William Blount, senior
A King College signee and sneaky good lefty pitcher, Kirkland also hit .453 with 52 runs, 34 RBIs and 25 walks.
Luke Lowery, Anderson County, senior
The ETSU signee helped AC reach the state sectionals, hitting .364 with 15 doubles, 34 RBIs and 29 walks.
PITCHERS
Braxton Roberts, Loudon, senior
One of the area’s grittiest competitors on the mound, Roberts led Loudon to a state appearance with 106 strikeouts in 76 innings.
George Davis, Carter, senior
A Roane State signee, Davis went 10-1 with 103 strikeouts in 70.1 innings, earning district MVP honors.
Kaleb Townsend, Sevier County, senior
A Johnson University signee, Townsend led SC to the 4A sectionals with nine wins and 120 strikeouts.
Stratton Scott, Farragut, sophomore
Scott went 4-0 with two saves for the state-champion Admirals, finishing second in the rotation in strikeouts with 45.
Drake Randolph, Lenoir City, senior
The Panthers reached the 3A sectionals with Randolph’s help: 6-1 record, 1.25 ERA, 98 strikeouts and just nine walks.
Beau Revord, Jefferson County, sophomore
Revord was the District 2-4A Player of the Year in 2-4A, going 5-2 with two saves 61 strikeouts in 42 innings and a 1.23 ERA.
Braylon Hall, Farragut, sophomore
Hall went 4-1 in state title season for Farragut with 36 strikeouts and only six walks.
ALL-5STAR PREPS THIRD TEAM
INFIELDERS
Hudson Lutterman, Catholic, sophomore
Drove in 38 runs for the Fighting Irish.
Jake Merrick, Farragut, sophomore
Hit .393 in 10 postseason games.
Corbin Overbay, Sevier County, senior
Led team to sectionals with 30 RBIs and 48 runs.
Julian Mays, Webb, senior
Hit .386 for the Spartans; Dennison University signee
Brady Frederick, Bearden, junior
Hit .354 with 11 doubles for region semifinalist Bearden.
Payton Armour, Meigs County, junior
Hit .430 with 38 runs for the Tigers.
CATCHERS
Luke Treece, Coalfield, freshman
Coalfield reached state, and Treece hit .404 with 15 doubles and 39 RBIs.
Carson Quillen, Greeneville, freshman
Batted .377 with 15 doubles, 26 walks and 16 RBIs.
Joey Lamattina, Catholic, junior
Hit .309 and drove in 25 runs on a state semifinal team.
OUTFIELDERS
Kooper Williams, Greenback, sophomore
Hit .512 with 30 RBIs, 33 runs and 24 walks.
Eben Hansen, Union County, junior
Batted .382 with 33 RBIs and was 5-2-2 pitching with 56 strikeouts.
A.J. Berry, Seymour, senior
Roane State signee hit .358 as a senior with 14 doubles.
Jackson Steele, Carter, junior
Hit .358 with five homers, 32 RBI, 32 runs and 32 walks.
Alex Blackburn, Grace, senior
Columbia State signee hit .427 with 11 doubles, and 36 runs.
Nate Breeden, Catholic, junior
Hit .353 with five triples, 30 runs and 28 RBIs for state semifinalist team.
PITCHERS
Cade Batchelor, Maryville, sophomore
This budding talent won four games and struck out 44 hitters in 2022.
Daniel Hughes, Maryville, senior
Western Carolina signee; also led team in hitting (.400).
Andrew Henry, Alcoa, junior
Henry went 6-1 with a 0.27 ERA and 81 strikeouts in 55 innings.
Eli Edds, Union County, senior
Edds won seven games and struck out 92 hitters.
Drew Mattox, Sevier County, junior
The 6-5 Mattox went 7-1 with 77 strikeouts in 56 innings.
Cole Nathan, Webb, junior
Went 3-3 for Spartans with 37 strikeouts in 29 innings.
Gage Spano, Greeneville, senior
Went 5-1 with a 1.30 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 51.1 innings pitched.
Adam Baker, Hardin Valley, junior
The 6-4 Baker struck out 60 in 42 innings and posted a 2.12 ERA.