Catch this story and more in the new addition of The Catch, available now! 

The Pike Liberal Arts Patriots head into 2025 in a new, tough area this season in year three under head coach Will Austin. 

Pike Lib enters into Class 2A, Area 3 this season alongside Goshen, Luverne and Zion Chapel. 

“It’s been a good preseason,” Austin said of preseason camp. “We’ve been hitting it hard in the weight room and doing as much as we can with the weather we’ve had. I’m excited for us to get started.” 

Pike Lib finished 2024 with a 29-7 record and a second straight area championship before seeing their season come to an end in the Class 2A Quarterfinals against Bayshore Christian. It was the second season in a row that Pike’s season came to an end in the quarterfinals. 

Despite that, Austin and his Patriots aren’t talking – at least publicly – about any other teams in the surrounding area or even championships. They’re focused on the Patriots.

“We talk about goals here all the time but our main goal is to glorify God and to compete and do the little things right,” Austin emphasized. “If we do those things then the winning will take care of itself.” 

Winning starts with players and Pike boasts plenty of talented returners. While PLAS loses All-State and All-Messenger Player of the Year John Lott to graduation, the Patriots still return All-Messenger utility Luke Barron. Barron also earned All-State honors last season as one of Pike’s most versatile athletes. 

As a pitcher, Barron held a 2.154 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 39 innings of work. He also held an .878 fielding percentage with 48 putouts in the infield. As a batter, he held a .474 batting average with six doubles, one triple, one homer, 30 RBIs and 22 runs. 

PLAS also returns veteran seniors like pitcher Kade Brookins, pitcher Dawson Bradford, infielder Pruitt Vaughan, utility Wilson Cotton and catcher/infielder Jacob Bowen. PLAS also returns junior catcher Jack Baggett and sophomore infielder Cole Garrott. 

In 2024, Bradford pitched 38 and 1/3 innings and struck out 33 batters with a 2.39 ERA and a 3-4 record on the mound. Brookins also held a 3.687 ERA on the mound with 50 strikeouts in 43 and 2/3 innings pitched and a 4-1 record as a starter. Brookins also boasted a .778 fielding percentage with 30 putouts. 

“I think we have a good senior class and we have a good group of players that has been here and been in the battles,” Austin said. “Those are guys that will look to finish the year strong and compete until the last pitch.” 

Austin said that his coaching staff has focused on fine tuning the small things heading into the season.

“We’ve really stressed the details and the little things, making the routine plays,” he said. “I feel like at times last year some of the routine plays got away from us and that’s really what hurt us down the stretch.”