Pitcher of the Year Update (5/13/2026)

HCC PITCHER OF THE YEAR WATCHLIST UPDATE

The Race at the Top Just Changed

For the first time this season, the HCC Pitcher of the Year race has a new leader.

After weeks of a tightly packed upper tier, another full week of conference play dramatically reshaped the top of the leaderboard. As innings totals continue to climb and staffs settle more firmly into defined roles, the separation between dominant outings and sustained ace-level production is beginning to emerge.

Using a weighted pitching model emphasizing run prevention, workload, strikeout ability, baserunner suppression, and overall efficiency, this week’s update produced some of the largest movement the pitching leaderboard has seen all season.

And perhaps most notably, the race suddenly feels far more open than it did even a week ago.

1. Austin Conley (Fishers) — 70.3

Conley surged into the top spot this week after building one of the cleanest pitching profiles in the conference.

The Fishers junior now owns:

·         0.30 ERA

·         0.83 WHIP

·         4-0 record

·         23 IP

·         23 strikeouts

·         A complete game

The model has increasingly rewarded pitchers capable of pairing strike-throwing with elite run prevention, and few pitchers in the HCC have matched Conley’s ability to consistently avoid damage.

Even more impressive is how little offensive traffic opponents have generated against him. Through 88 batters faced, Conley has allowed just one earned run all season.

Right now, he sits atop the conference.

2. Beckett Doane (Noblesville) — 64.1

While Doane surrendered the top spot this week, he remains one of the most overpowering arms in the HCC.

No pitcher in the conference has matched his pure ability to miss bats:

·         57 strikeouts

·         42.2% strikeout rate

·         Just a .117 opponent batting average

The senior continues to produce swing-and-miss at an elite level while carrying one of the larger workloads among conference contenders.

Few pitchers in the state can dominate an inning the way Doane can when he is ahead in counts.

3. Spencer Mohr (HSE) — 63.0

Mohr’s rise over the last several weeks has been one of the most important developments in the conference race.

The HSE junior now owns:

·         41.1 innings pitched

·         1.69 ERA

·         0.97 WHIP

·         41 strikeouts

·         5 wins

As the innings totals across the conference continue to grow, Mohr’s ability to maintain both efficiency and workload has become increasingly valuable within the model.

At this point, his profile resembles a true frontline conference ace.

4. Corey Wilhelm (Westfield) — 62.5

Wilhelm continues to quietly build one of the most complete resumes in the HCC.

The Westfield senior has now logged:

·         28.2 innings

·         39 strikeouts

·         1.71 ERA

·         1.13 WHIP

Unlike several high-variance strikeout-heavy profiles around the conference, Wilhelm continues to limit free baserunners while working deep into games consistently.

The production may not always generate headlines, but the overall profile remains extremely strong.

5. Clayton Walther (Westfield) — 55.7

One of the biggest risers this week was Walther, whose profile continues to strengthen with every appearance.

·         2.14 ERA

·         26.9% strikeout rate

·         Opponents hitting just .158 against him

Walther’s combination of strikeout ability and limiting hits has quickly elevated him into the upper tier of the conference race out of the bullpen.

6. Christian Wessel (Avon) — 55.2

The freshman continues to emerge as one of the most intriguing young arms in the conference.

Wessel has now reached:

·         30 innings pitched

·         31 strikeouts

·         2.33 ERA

·         5.3% walk rate

Very few underclassmen in the HCC have demonstrated this level of poise, efficiency, and command over a meaningful workload.

7. Davis Moore (Zionsville) — 54.8

Moore continues to compile one of the largest starter workloads in the conference.

The Zionsville junior now sits at:

·         39 innings pitched

·         37 strikeouts

·         1.10 WHIP

·         4 wins

The overall consistency of his workload and production keeps him firmly within striking distance entering the final stretch of conference play.

Still Very Much in the Race

Several additional pitchers remain firmly within the broader POY discussion entering the final weeks of the season.

Carter Strole (Fishers) — 52.3

One of the better strikeout profiles among high-leverage arms in the conference with a 25.0% strikeout rate and 1.67 ERA.

Griffin Snider (Noblesville) — 51.6

Snider’s swing-and-miss profile continues to stand out: 35.6% strikeout rate with 36 strikeouts in just 20.1 innings

Few relievers in the conference can match his pure bat-missing ability.

Dylan Cope (HSE) — 46.7

Cope continues to provide major innings for HSE while maintaining a strong strikeout profile and one of the larger workloads in the conference.

Ayden Keith (Zionsville) — 43.3

The Zionsville junior continues to generate strikeouts at a high rate while serving in multiple pitching roles throughout the season.

What the Model Values

The Crossroads Report Pitcher of the Year model emphasizes:

• Run prevention

• WHIP and baserunner suppression

• Strikeout ability

• Workload and innings accumulation

• Overall pitching efficiency

As conference play enters the stretch run, the race is beginning to shift from flashes of dominance toward sustained ace-level production.

And after this week’s shakeup at the top, the battle for HCC Pitcher of the Year may just be getting started.