By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director    

Follow @PBRIndiana

The 2015 high school season is just around the corner.  Leading up to the start of the season we are going to take a quick glance at many teams from across the state.  

Team: Alexandria
Class: 2A
Conference: CIC

Head Coach: Jeff Closser
2014 Record: 20-11
2014 Conference Record: 5-2
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 5

Top Overall Players

Owen Young, 1B/OF, 2015
Jessie Gossett, 2B/RHP, 2015
Blaize Kelly, RHP/3B, 2015
Braden Warren, C, 2015
Jonah Jerrils, OF/RHP, 2015
Braxton Moore, LHP/OF, 2016

Top 2015's

Owen Young, 1B/OF (Ohio State)
Jessie Gossett, 2B/RHP
Blaize Kelly, RHP/3B
Braden Warren, C
Jonah Jerrils, OF/RHP

Top 2016's

Braxton Moore, LHP/OF
Chet Maynard, LHP/OF
Bryce Brown, RHP

Top 2017's

Matthew Hensley, MIF/OF
Isaac Granger, UTL 

OUTLOOK

The Alexandria Tigers and Head Coach Jeff Closser head into the 2015 season with lofty expectations. The Tigers return eight of their top players from last year's team that hit .372 with 102 stolen bases.  They also return over 112 innings on the mound.  Leading the way for Alexandria is Ohio State recruit Owen Young.  Young, who is expected to hit third in the lineup this spring, hit .437 with 31 RBI and 20 SB last season a Junior.  Senior Jessie Gossett, the Tigers leading hitter in 2014, returns for his final season after hitting .461 with 33 Runs and an OBP of .580.  Returning from injury is senior right-hander Blaize Kelly. Prior to injury, Kelly was 2-1 on the mound, pitching in 20 1/3 innings and was also hitting .364 with 22 RBI. During his sophomore campaign, Kelly went 9-1 with a .091 ERA.  If Kelly is able to get back to form, he will be a huge asset to the Tigers lineup and pitching rotation.  Two more seniors expected to contribute this year are Braden Warren and Jonah Jerrils.  Warren, a catcher, hit .329 last year with 20 RBI and led the team in doubles with 11.  Warren also threw out 11 of 23 base runners.  Jerrils, an OF/RHP, hit .421 last spring and led the team in stolen bases with 22.  On the mound the righty went 1-1 in just over 16 IP.  Closser will rely on Junior Braxton Moore, a LHP/OF, this spring.  As a sophomore Moore hit .293 and went 6-2 on the bump in 54 IP.  The Tigers return depth and experience, making them front-runners for the CIC championship as well as a legit threat when it comes to the 2A state tournament.

CLICK HERE to read more 2015 Team Previews