For Ahmaad Duff and Brayton Thomas, the baseball season and their careers have been nothing short of absolutely phenomenal.

Duff, who plays at Lawrence Central, and Thomas, who plays at Bishop Dwenger, have rewritten history at their respective schools and already nailed down their college plans. Indiana Preps takes a look at both of these standout baseball players.

Thomas thrives on mound for Bishop Dwenger

As one of the top pitchers in the state of Indiana, Thomas knows what it means to have pressure on him and knows how to deal with it.

“Being ranked number one in the state is not pressure. I see it more as an opportunity to go out and show what I have and play the game the right way. Everyone is coming for my spot, and I have to continue to work and get better to improve because everyone is coming for my spot,” Thomas told Indiana Preps.

Thomas was named to the 2024 Third Team Senior Preseason All-America list this year and notes all the attention drawn to him allows his teammates to showcase their skills.

“It draws attention to my teammates who are not yet committed to play baseball. It makes it fun for them to go out and show scouts what they have. At the end of the day, baseball is baseball, and I am going to go out there and play the game I love,” Thomas said.

With the baseball sectional around the corner, Thomas said his goal is a simple one — to bring a state championship home to Bishop Dwenger.

“This is my last year in high school and I feel like my team and I have a shot to win a state title. Secondly, as a personal goal I have, I want to win the Indiana Player of the Year. Like I said, as a team, we want to go win a state championship and become friends for life. Baseball is an amazing game. You make life lasting friends in the game of baseball, and that is incredible,” Thomas said.

Thomas has committed to play college baseball at Indiana University, admitting it is a “special feeling.”

“I get to play baseball at the next level, while getting a very great education. Playing baseball in the big leagues has always been a dream of mine, and Indiana is a step to the process. Indiana has been trending in the right direction recently, and I want to continue that success. I want to come in and have a chance to make a big impact my freshman year. The coaches made me feel like they were going to improve what I need improved. They are great men and great people who I look up to and strive to be like,” Thomas said.

Duff is headed to Alabama after season

For Ahmaad Duff, of Lawrence Central, the season has been a banner one for him.

Duff, who is a catcher and outfielder is hitting around .550 on the season, has been solid behind the dish and is using this season to prepare for the upcoming rigors of the Southeastern Conference.

“We have a lot of new faces on the team this year, including coaches having everybody try to come together and just put the pieces together to win some ball games,” said Duff, who endured a 1-22 season a year ago.

Duff admits he is not surprised by his success, pointing to the hard work he has put in.

“I know the work I put in and I know what I should get out of it. The results have been showing. These groups of players have been catching eyes and being good baseball players for most of our lives, so it just comes as a second nature now,” Duff said.

Is there any pressure being one of the top prospects in the Hoosier State?

“It’s just part of the game now. I love everything about the game — the offseason work, all the way to the bubble guts in your stomach right before the game. I truly love it, which makes everything 10 times easier,” Duff said.

Duff said he committed to Alabama for several reasons.

“The belief. A lot of other schools never really wanted anything to do with me and said I was too short or just lacked something they wanted and never gave me a shot. Alabama, from the get go, believed in me and my tool set as a player. Also, the culture. It’s just different down there. As soon as you step foot on campus, you feel the vibe and how everyone on campus wants you to win and how much they feed into the Alabama athletes. Everybody just wants you to succeed. It felt as one big community. Lastly, the program is on the rise, and I want to be a part of it. Also, the team is right there, and I feel with just a little more help, baseball could be special down there,” Duff said.