Prep Baseball Report

2015 Team Preview: Ashland



By Dylan Hefflinger and PBR Staff
Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

From now until the start of the 2015 season, Prep Baseball Report Ohio will bring you in-depth team previews throughout the entire state. If your coach has not filled out the survey please have him do so through this link.

Along with the team previews, the 2015 Team Rankings will be releasing sometime late February and we hope to bring a Q&A session to discuss the rankings. To view the final regular season rankings of 2014 please click here. To view the preseason rankings from 2014 please click here.

Also, we will be releasing the preseason All-State Teams sometime in early March. To view the 2014 preseason All-State Teams please click here.

Please head over to JJHuddle to discuss the team previews.

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2015 Team Preview: Ashland

School Name: Ashland
Coaches Name/Record: Rob Lavengood, 60-43
2014 Record: 8-16
Conference: Ohio Cardinal Conference
Conference Record: 5-9
Division Level: I

Postseason Accomplishments:

  • Regional runner-up in 2012 to Westlake
  • Regional semifinalist in 2007
  • Regional runner-up in 1956
  • State tournament in 1933 and 1936

Key Players Lost From 2014:

  • Jacob Allton outfield - playing football at Findlay
  • Nick Zurcher p/ss - attending Kent State

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/3

Strengths of Team:

  • Experience
  • Speed
  • Defense
  • Team chemistry

Weaknesses of Team:

  • Past success – knowing how to win
  • Offensive depth in line up

Top Prospects in Class of 2015:

  • David Van Hove, c, sr., 6-0, 185, right, right, committed to Ohio Wesleyan, good defensive catcher that will hit in the middle of our order. He will be a key to our success.
  • Collin Lefelhoc, rhp, sr., 6-0, 175, left, right, He is our #1 pitcher coming off a successful year last season. He's getting looks from several division 3 schools.
  • Carter Brown, of/2b, sr., 6-0, 175, right, right, Carter hit .310 for us last year as our leftfielder. He could move to 2b or stay in the outfield. He's got good speed
  • Jacob Purtell, cf, sr., 5-11, 170, right, right, Jacob solidifies our outfield. He has great speed and will bat at the top of our lineup.
  • Trey Smith, ss, sr., 5-11, 170, right, right, Trey is our best athlete. He is a 3 sport star that will probably play college football. He will also hit at the top of our order.

Top Prospects in Class of 2016:

  • Logan Brewer, p/3b/1b, jr., 6-4, 200, right, right, Logan will be our #2 pitcher. He was clocked at 82-83 this summer at Kent State. He can also play the corner infield positions, but his future is pitching.

Top Prospects in Class of 2017:

  • Hunter Krebs, p/1b, so., 5-11, 175, right, left, Hunter has a chance to be a weekend starter for us this year. He gives us a solid left-handed starter and has a bright future.
  • Ricky Maffett, 2b/ss/p, so., 5-10, 150, right, right, Ricky could compete for our 2b job. He has a bright future as a middle infielder.

Top Prospects in Class of 2018: 

  • Tyler Croskey, 3b/1b/p, fr., 6-1, 210, left, right, Tyler has a chance to be a very good player. He will probably start on our junior varsity team, but has a chance to compete for varsity time at some point. The ball jumps off his bat, but he has a lot of work to do as a defensive player.

Notable College/MLB Alumni:

  • Adam Schaly - Stetson University
  • Aric Harris - Northern Kentucky
  • Johnny Roseboro – Dodgers
  • Eddie Wells - Yankees

Top Headlines for the Buckeye State