INDIANAPOLIS – The anchor of Bulldog infield is junior shortstop Carter Dorighi. He and Evan Parks have all but solidified their spots in the starting lineup with Parks set to receive a larger role with the team in 2024 at first base. The remaining two spots have some good competition brewing with AJ Solomon coming in as the lead candidate at second base and Billy Wurch taking reps at third.
 
"Carter Dorighi is the heartbeat of this team and we are really fortunate to have him at shortstop," Head Coach Blake Beemer said. "The way he plays the game is infectious and very fun to watch."
 
Dorighi will serve as a team captain for the Bulldogs in 2024 after starting in all 55 games in 2023. He hit .293 as a sophomore and finished second on the team in both hits (65) and RBI's (29). Dorighi was also the team leader in stolen bases with 12.
 
Dorighi gives the 'Dawgs a veteran presence in an infield that is still taking form. Evan Parks will head into his sophomore season projected as the team's starting first baseman. Parks played in 24 games a year ago, making nine starts. He hit .233 on the year and made his Bulldog debut at #1 LSU. He came on strong late in the year to hit his first collegiate home run against St. John's.
 
"Parks has some pop in his bat and might be our best infielder which makes the guys around him better," Beemer added.
 
AJ Solomon has made a push to play beside Parks on the right side of the infield. A transfer from Gardner-Webb, Solomon is a junior originally from South Bend that attended Chaminade Julienne H.S. He was a two-time Second Team All-State honoree before playing 19 games at Gardner-Webb over the last two seasons.
 
"AJ Solomon has been a breath of fresh air for us at second base," Beemer explained. "He does all the little things right. When you watch him at practice, he backs up bases, he runs every ball out, he can bunt, he can hit behind runners and he is the prototypical lead-off hitter or nine-hole guy to keep things moving. He has elevated our offense and our defense and I'm excited to see him play."
 
Third base is the final piece of the puzzle for Butler. Senior Billy Wurch has taken a majority of his reps at the hot corner over the off-season but he will be pushed for playing time by Kade Lewis. Wurch saw action in 35 games last year, making 20 starts. Lewis posted monster numbers at Sartell High School out of Minnesota.
 
"Kade takes very mature at-bats for a freshman," Beemer explained. "We will have to get him in the lineup in some way, shape or form this year because his future is so bright."
 
The Bulldogs have options at multiple positions with Ian Choi, Brett Sherrard, and Jace Eslinger also in the mix.
 
"Choi is our primary backup at shortstop and we have no doubt that he can move over to second and play at a high level," Beemer said. "Both Choi and Eslinger can play all over the field and I think Eslinger can help us as a right-handed batter to shake up our lineup. We also think Sherrard is a jack of all trades type of player so we are trying to find out where to use him in order to maximize his talent."