By Sean Duncan
Executive Director

The Indiana Outlaws will roll into second-annual Prep Baseball Report Labor Day Challenge this weekend with one of the best collection of 2016 arms in the Midwest. An impressive feat, considering the Outlaws are a relative newcomer on the high-level travel baseball scene.

While many of the Outlaws were highly ranked prospects in Indiana already, they exploded on the national scene at the Prep Baseball Report Future Games in August. In fact, in the Updated 2016 Overall Rankings, the Outlaws have four rising juniors among the top 100, including three in the top 50.

The Outlaws’ staff is headlined by RHP Michael McAvene (Roncalli HS, IN), a long and loose 6-foot-3 Purdue recruit who is ranked No. 29 overall. LHP Andrew Saalfrank (Heritage HS, IN) was arguably the biggest riser at the Future Games. The 6-foot-3 Saalfrank showcased the top breaking ball at the event to go along with an easy 85-87 mph fastball. Shortly after the Future Games, Saalfrank committed to Indiana. Saalfrank is currently ranked No. 30 overall.

RHP Dalton Leighty (Western HS, IN) is another 6-foot-3 right-hander who has been up to 90 this summer. Ranked No. 48 overall, Leighty is currently uncommitted. RHP Collin Lollar (Columbus North HS, IN) is a quick-armed 6-foot-1 right-hander who was 87-89 at the Future Games. The uncommitted Lollar is ranked No. 91 overall. The Outlaws staff also features several other arms ranked in Indiana’s 2016 class.

The Outlaws feature plenty of offensive firepower as well.

Left-handed hitting 1B Brice McDaniel (Columbus North HS, IN) and 3B/RHP Jacson McGowan (Brownsburg HS, IN) are both verbally committed to Purdue. OF Roy Thurman (North Central HS, IN) is one of the top offensive 2017 prospects in the Midwest, and left-handed hitting SS Jake Franklin (Roncalli HS, IN) also has pop at the plate.

The Outlaws will look to take back to Indiana the Labor Day Challenge championship. Last year, the St. Louis Gamers, powered by Notre Dame recruit Matt Vierling’s MVP performance, went 4-0 in the event.

The five-team Labor Day Challenge will take place on Saturday and Sunday, with each team playing two games a day. Saturday’s five-game schedule will be at the University of Illinois-Chicago’s new Curtis Granderson Stadium. Sunday’s five-game slate will be at Chicago State’s newly turfed stadium.

Indiana Outlaws’ Schedule:

Saturday, 4:30 p.m. vs. Rawlings Hitters at UIC
Saturday, 7 p.m. vs. Southern Illinois All-Stars at UIC
Sunday, 11:30 a.m. vs. GRB Rays at Chicago State
Sunday, 4:30 p.m. vs. Top Tier at Chicago State

Indiana Outlaws’ Roster:

	Michael McAvene	RHP		6-3	180lbs	View Profile
	Jacson McGowan	3B		6-1	175lbs	View Profile
	Ricky West	OF		5-10	193lbs	View Profile
	Brice McDaniel	1B		6-2	215lbs	View Profile
	Logan Ames	RHP		6-4	175lbs	View Profile
	Janzen Bloom	RHP		6-3	235lbs	View Profile
	Kyle Matter	2B/MIF		5-11	165lbs	View Profile
	Leo Watson	C		5-11	175lbs	View Profile
	Cedric (CJ) Vaughn	OF		5-10	160lbs	View Profile
	Jake Franklin	SS		6-0	175lbs	View Profile
	Collin Lollar	RHP		6-1	175lbs	View Profile
	Andrew Saalfrank	LHP		6-3	185lbs	View Profile
	Drew Summeier	RHP		5-11	175lbs	View Profile
	Nathanial Bye	RHP		6-0	160lbs	View Profile
	Roy Thurman	OF		6-0	190lbs	View Profile
	Dalton Leighty	RHP		6-2	180lbs	View Profile
	Andrew Deleon	RHP		5-7	140lbs	View Profile

CLICK HERE to view complete schedule and all teams’ rosters