Player of the Year Update (5/13/2026)
HCC POY WATCHLIST UPDATE
Reynolds Strengthens Hold as the Race Begins to Clarify
With five HCC series now complete and offensive workloads continuing to grow across the conference, the HCC Player of the Year race is beginning to develop more clearly defined tiers. While the margins behind the leader remain competitive, several players used another strong week to solidify their place among the conference’s top offensive performers.
Using a weighted offensive production model emphasizing on-base ability, slugging impact, extra-base production, offensive efficiency, and sustained production across the season, this week’s leaderboard saw several notable shifts near the top.
As always, the score itself is intended to serve as an indicator within the broader POY conversation — not as the sole determining factor.
1. Aiden Reynolds (Noblesville) — 87.9
Reynolds not only maintained the top spot this week — he expanded the gap.
The Noblesville senior continues to produce one of the most complete offensive profiles in the conference:
· .511 OBP
· .739 SLG
· 1.250 OPS
· 13 XBH
· 24 RBI
· 5 HR
His combination of production, efficiency, and sustained impact continues to separate him from the field. Reynolds has maintained elite run production and power output against one of the toughest stretches of conference play.
At this point, he remains the clear standard in the HCC POY race.
2. Reid Zittel (Zionsville) — 82.1
Zittel climbed into sole possession of the No. 2 spot this week behind one of the cleanest offensive profiles in the conference.
The senior continues to pair elite contact ability with impact production:
· .448 AVG
· .507 OBP
· .627 SLG
· Just a 4.0% strikeout rate
Very few hitters in the HCC combine consistency and offensive efficiency the way Zittel has this season. His ability to avoid empty at-bats while continuing to produce extra-base impact keeps him firmly in the top tier of contenders.
3. Clayton Lenz (Avon) — 74.4
Lenz remains one of the most dangerous extra-base threats in the conference.
Despite a slight dip in average this week, the Avon senior still owns:
· 12 XBH
· 15.0% XBH/PA rate
· .563 SLG
One of the stronger overall offensive efficiency profiles in the HCC
Lenz continues to consistently create damage while avoiding excessive swing-and-miss, keeping him firmly within the top group of the race.
4. Andrew Noble (Westfield) — 73.4
Noble remains one of the conference’s premier table-setting offensive players.
The sophomore continues to pressure opposing pitching staffs with elite on-base ability and plate discipline:
· .563 OBP
· 17 walks
· 24 runs scored
Even as the field tightens around him, Noble’s ability to consistently create offensive opportunities keeps him near the top of the leaderboard.
T-5. Jackson Bixler (HSE) — 72.0
Bixler made one of the biggest jumps of the week and now enters the top tier of the race.
The HSE senior currently leads the conference with 101 plate appearances while continuing to produce at a high level:
· .373 AVG
· 31 hits
· 27 runs scored
· .999 OPS
The combination of workload, consistency, and offensive production continues to strengthen his overall profile each week.
T-5. Parker O’Steen (HSE) — 72.0
O’Steen also surged this week as HSE’s offensive depth continues to show throughout the standings.
The senior owns:
· 20 RBI
· 11 XBH
· .547 SLG
· 19 walks
O’Steen’s blend of patience, power, and run production has made him one of the more balanced offensive players in the conference this season.
7. Clark Bucher (HSE) — 71.1
Bucher continues to quietly put together one of the larger offensive production totals in the HCC.
The junior now owns:
· 100 PA
· 20 RBI
· 12 XBH
· 54 total bases
His continued production within one of the conference’s deepest lineups keeps him firmly in the upper tier of the race.
Still Very Much in the Race
Several additional hitters remain firmly within striking distance entering the final stretch of conference play.
Lane Armstrong (Franklin Central) — 70.8
Armstrong continues to possess one of the highest offensive ceilings in the conference with a 1.120 OPS and seven extra-base hits.
Blake Cope (Zionsville) — 70.8
Cope remains one of the more efficient offensive profiles in the HCC, pairing power production with strong strikeout control.
Carter Strole (Fishers) — 70.3
Still one of the conference’s top extra-base threats with 11 XBH and strong overall run production.
Jaden Mitchell (Avon) — 69.6
Mitchell continues to quietly post elite production numbers:
· .407 AVG
· .500 OBP
· 1.059 OPS
Beck Jordan (Westfield) — 68.2
Jordan made a major move this week and now owns:
· .444 AVG
· 24 RBI
· 1.074 OPS
His offensive production over the last several series has rapidly elevated his standing in the race.
Slade Hodges (Noblesville) — 67.5
Hodges continues to provide one of the more balanced offensive profiles in the conference with seven extra-base hits and a 1.034 OPS.
Canyon Koonce (Brownsburg) — 67.1
Koonce remains one of the conference’s most efficient hitters:
· .429 AVG
· .484 OBP
· Just a 7.7% strikeout rate
The sophomore continues to maximize nearly every offensive opportunity.
What the Model Values
The Crossroads Report POY model emphasizes:
On-base ability
Slugging impact
Extra-base production per plate appearance
Offensive efficiency
Sustained production across the season
As conference play enters the stretch run, the separation between contenders is beginning to form — but with several major series still remaining, the race remains far from decided.