A new class and a new era of high school baseball made its debut in the Peoria area for 2024.

Peoria Notre Dame won the program's first sectional championship in 13 years on its way to a Class 2A Elite Eight appearance. Mid-Illini Conference co-champ Dunlap and Washington both made runs to the Class 3A sectional.

In total, nine teams from the Peoria area won regional championships.

Peoria baseball: These 16 Peoria-area high school baseball players have emerged as sluggers in 2024

Here is the 2024 Journal Star all-area baseball team, led by the player of the year. The rest are listed in alphabetical order.

Jack Piper, Dunlap

The 2024 Journal Star Player of the Year pitched for the Eagles, who went 28-7, were a Class 3A sectional semifinalist and the Mid-Illini Conference co-champions. He went 7-2 with 74 strikeouts and a 0.63 ERA in 67 innings. Piper hit .308 on 20 hits with seven doubles and 17 RBIs. The senior scored nine runs, drew seven walks and posted a .871 fielding percentage. His individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team and Peoria McDonald's all-star selection.

Lawson Alwan, Peoria Notre Dame

The junior played catcher for the Irish, who went 22-11 and made a Class 2A Elite Eight appearance. He hit .396 on 36 hits with 11 doubles, one triple, five home runs and 29 RBIs. Alwan scored 38 runs, drew 28 walks, stole 16 bases and posted a .985 fielding percentage, while catching 11 potential base stealers. His individual accolades include all-Big 12 Conference first team and Peoria McDonald’s all-star selection.

R.J. Duncheon, East Peoria

The sophomore — voted fan's choice for top baseball player in the Peoria area — played infield for the Raiders, who went 27-8, were a Class 3A regional finalist and the Mid-Illini Conference co-champions. He hit .458 on 49 hits with 18 doubles, one triple, one home run and 48 RBIs. Duncheon scored 17 runs, drew 11 walks and posted a .923 fielding percentage. He also made 13 pitching appearances, going 8-2 with two saves, 67 strikeouts and a 1.23 ERA in 57 innings. His individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team and Peoria McDonald's all-star selection.

David Hartwell, East Peoria

The senior played outfield for the Raiders, who finished 27-8, were the Mid-Illini Conference co-champs and a Class 3A regional finalist. He hit .325 on 26 hits with eight doubles and 11 RBIs. Hartwell scored 47 runs, drew 11 walks, stole 40 bases and posted a .979 fielding percentage. His individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team and Peoria McDonald's all-star.

Owen Hidden, East Peoria

The junior played infield for the Raiders, who went 27-8, were the Mid-Illini Conference co-champs and a Class 3A regional finalist. He hit .425 on 31 hits with two doubles, one home run and 25 RBIs. Hidden scored 20 runs, drew 10 walks and posted a .816 fielding percentage. His individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference first team and Peoria McDonald's all-star.

2024 IHSA baseball brackets: Peoria-area postseason schedules, scores and pairings

Jackson Newton, Dunlap

The junior played outfield for the Eagles, who finished 28-7, shared the Mid-Illini Conference title and were a Class 3A sectional semifinalist. He hit .343 on 35 hits with five doubles, one triple, one home run and 25 RBIs. Newton scored 29 runs, drew 24 walks, stole 12 bases and posted a 1.000 fielding percentage. His individual accolades include all-Mid-Illini Conference second team and Peoria McDonald's all-star.

Cole Noreuil, Delavan

The senior played infield for the Panthers, who went 18-8-1 and made a Class 1A Sweet Sixteen appearance. He hit .478 on 32 hits with four doubles, three triples, a home run and 20 RBIs. Noreuil scored 26 runs, drew 21 walks, stole nine bases and posted a .914 fielding percentage. He also made nine pitching appearances, going 4-2 with 85 strikeouts and a 1.27 ERA in 38.2 innings. His individual accolades include Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association first-team all-state, unanimous all-Inter-County Athletic Conference first team, unanimous all-Tomahawk Conference first team and Peoria McDonald's all-star.

Blaine Williams, Tremont

The junior was a utility player for the Turks, who went 11-12 and were a Class 2A regional semifinalist. He hit .417 on 25 hits with nine doubles, two triples, one home run and 12 RBIs. The Illinois commit scored 15 runs, drew 14 walks, stole seven bases and posted a 1.000 fielding percentage, while catching five potential base stealers. He made one pitching appearance, striking out seven with one walk. His individual accolades include unanimous all-Heart of Illinois Conference first-team catcher.

Davis Weeks, Dunlap

The junior played infield for the Eagles, who went 28-7, were the Mid-Illini co-champs and a Class 3A sectional semifinalist. He hit .330 on 37 hits with eight doubles, three home runs and 34 RBIs. Weeks scored 27 runs, drew 10 walks, stole 10 bases and posted a .935 fielding percentage. He also made nine pitching appearances, striking out 25 in 20.2 innings.

Josh Vaughn, Illini Bluffs

The senior was a pitcher/designated hitter for the Tigers, who were 15-7 and finished as a Class 1A sectional semifinalist. In 39 innings, the right-hander struck out 95, walked seven and had a 0.18 ERA in allowing one earned run. Among his accomplishments is a complete game with all strikeouts. He hit .333 on 19 hits with three doubles and 11 RBIs. The Bradley recruit scored eight runs, drew eight walks and posted a .824 fielding percentage. His individual accolades include Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association first-team all-state, unanimous all-Inter-County Athletic Conference first team, unanimous all-Tomahawk Conference first team and Peoria McDonald's all-star.

2024 Journal Star all-area baseball honorable mention

• Jackson Campbell | Peoria Notre Dame | Jr. | INF

• Christian Ferrari | Dunlap | Jr. | INF

• Jordan Heider | Fieldcrest | Jr. | Infield

• Drew Kieser | Brimfield/Elmwood | Sr. | P

• Ben Lapp | Eureka | Jr. | OF

• Auggie Lohnes | East Peoria | So. | P

• Tyler Pippin | Morton | Sr. | INF

• Carter Prina | Washington | Jr. | INF

• Tanner Spangler | Morton | Sr. | INF

• Ben Waller | Richwoods | Jr. | OF

Adam Duvall is a Journal Star sports reporter. Email him at aduvall@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter @AdamDuvall.

Journal Star baseball players of the year

• 2024: Jack Piper, Dunlap

• 2023: Tate Roley, Morton

• 2022: Easton Harris, Washington

• 2021: Easton Harris, Washington

• 2020: Season canceled by COVID-19 pandemic

• 2019: Nick Guerra, Morton

• 2018: Logan Peterson, Morton

• ​​2017: Blake Begner, Peoria Heights

• ​2016: Bryce Meyer, Limestone

• ​2015: Ethan Skender, Metamora

• 2014: Jarrod Watkins, Peoria Notre Dame

• 2013: Trent Johnson, Metamora

• 2012: Will Headean, Morton

• 2011: Jon Kupfert, PND

• 2010: Derek Sprout, IVC

• 2009: Chris Razo, IVC; Seth Schwindenhammer, Limestone

• 2008: Josh Parr, IVC

• 2007: Allen Sepich, Washington

• 2006: Zach McAllister, IVC

• 2005: Brandon Wikoff, Limestone

• 2004: Ryan Eigsti, Eureka

• 2003: Drew Gierich, Tremont

• 2002: Ryan Schmidgall, Limestone

• 2001: Jacob Dixon, ROWVA

• 2000: Brian Meischner, East Peoria

• 1999: Brock Till, Lewistown

• 1998: Brian O’Neill, PND

• 1997: Ryan Alexander, PND

• 1996: Andy Reeb, Metamora

• 1995: Cory McLeod, Morton

• 1994: Courtland Tubbs, Manual

• 1993: Brian Quinn, East Peoria

• 1992: Sean Watkins, PND

This article originally appeared on Journal Star: 2024 Journal Star all-area baseball team, player of the year in Peoria, Illinois