Prep Baseball Report

Preseason Power 25: A Look at No.1-5



By Chris Fuller
PBR Kentucky

It’s that time of year again. The 2017 high school baseball season is upon us, and of course that means it’s time for us to release our Preseason Power 25. We’re going to shake it up a little this year with a preview of all 25 teams broken down into increments of five over a series of articles.

After combing through last year’s stats and factoring in returning players, here is a look at the teams ranked No. 1-5 in our Preseason Power 25.

1. St. Xavier
Last year’s State Champs (and two out of the last three) will have to replace a pair of Louisville recruits on the mound (Adam Elliott and Daniel Fischer), but the Tigers return plenty to occupy the No. 1 spot in the preseason. When we last saw senior RHP Connor Holden (Murray State) he was firing a three-hit shutout in the 2016 State title game. He returns to anchor a staff that has good depth with solid arms in seniors Sam Wilson, Sammy Mudd (Southern Indiana Univ), Matthew Logsdon, and junior Evan Burnett. St. Xavier returns plenty of offense with a trio of seniors in OF Sam Hedges (Northern Kentucky Univ), OF Tanner Brown, and OF Steven Mitchell. Sophomore Cameron Scheler and junior Chase Patton are two very talented catchers who will provide firepower to the lineup as well.

2. Highlands
With back to back ninth region titles and a 2015 State Runner-Up finish under their belts, Highlands will be the ninth region favorite with a roster that features some of the top young talent in the state. Senior RHP Ethan Doty (Otterbein College) returns to anchor a staff that includes two of the top arms in the 2018 class in lefty Drew Rom and righty Hunter Dreves. Both Rom and Dreves have Division I offers but remain uncommitted. Look for sophomore RHP Grady Cramer to provide quality innings on the mound as well. Senior OF Trey Bowden (Northern Kentucky Univ) is the leading returning hitter in a lineup that should be full of young talent in freshman Ethan Kavanagh, and sophomores Kramer, Cooper Schwalbach, and Bryce Ziegler.

3. Trinity
Trinity posted an impressive 29-7 record before a disappointing loss in the first round of the seventh region tournament ended their season. Returning talent is all over the roster starting with a deep pitching staff that includes a trio of seniors in lefty Brody Heil (Univ of Louisville), right-hander Brandon Pfaadt (Bellarmine), and right-hander Price Adams (Wabash Valley JC). Look for junior righty Nick Carroll to log plenty of innings on the mound for the Shamrocks as well. Offensively, senior OF Matthew Higgins (Bellarmine) returns his big left-handed bat in the middle of a lineup that will see plenty of help from junior C Ben Metzinger (Louisville commit), junior 1B/C Andrew Arnold, and senior IF Clayton Mehlbauer (Bellarmine). Also, watch for juniors Noah Baugher, Dylan Byerly, and Doug Stough to play key roles in the Trinity lineup.

4. McCracken County
Coming off a 37-6 record last spring, the Mustangs have their top two arms back in senior RHP Caleb Reinhardt (Rend Lake JC) and junior lefty Luke Seed. The two combined to go 18-2 last season in helping lead McCracken to a State semifinal appearance. Though the offense lost some key performers, there is still plenty of talent returning led by junior OF Rook Ellington (Univ of Kentucky commit), senior 3B/OF Trent Shelby (Kentucky Wesleyan), junior SS Cameron Langston, junior 2B Will Sykes, and junior C James Dodd. Sophomores Jacob Ehling, Noah Windhorst and Garrett Crabtree are young players to keep an eye on.

5. Lexington Catholic
After a 25-13 season and eleventh regional semifinal appearance last spring, Lexington Catholic returns two top arms in senior RHP Trip Lockhart (Univ of Kentucky) and junior RHP Eric Sottile. Look for senior right-handers Steven Bender and Sam Hodges to contribute heavily on the mound as well in forming a talented staff. The Knights have a lot to replace on offense last year, but senior C Landon Moberly (Kentucky Wesleyan) returns his pop to a lineup that should see big contributions from junior C Tyler Grigalis, and senior infielders Bo Bennington and Ben Wilcoxson (Kentucky Wesleyan).

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