By Phil Wade
Director, PBR Indiana

As we prepare for our 2014 high school preseason coverage, we are going to take a quick glance at teams from across the state.

Team: Lawrence North
Class: 4A
League: Metropolitan Interscholastic (MIC)

Head Coach: Richard Winzenread
2013 Overall Record: 11-14
2013 Conference Record: 5-9
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS

Nolan Watson, RHP/3B, 2015
Max Gray, RHP/OF, 2014
Drew Madden, 2B, 2014
John Scheil, CF, 2014 
Justin Reed P/SS - 10
Tyler Doerner, OF, 2014

OUTLOOK:

The Lawrence North Wildcats and Head Coach Richard Winzenread come into the 2014 season with six positional players and four pitchers returning from last year's 11-14 team. Lawrence North will put out one of the best 1-2 pitching combinations in the state in RHP's Nolan Watson and Max Gray.  Watson, a 6-foot-2 Junior committed to Vanderbilt, is ranked No. 4 in Indiana's class of 2015 rankings and No. 13 in the overall 2015 Prep Baseball Report rankings.  As a sophomore Watson finished the season 2-3 with a 2.86 ERA.  Watson was up to 91 mph with his fastball this winter at the Super 60 Showcase in Chicago. Gray, a 5-foot-10 senior committed to Heartland, saw limited innings in 2013 where he was 2-0 with a 1.27 ERA and compiled 22 K's in 11 IP.  Gray, who's fastball has been up to 90 mph, is ranked No. 23 in Indiana's class of 2014 rankings.  Senior Drew Madden will be expected to produce offensively for LN this spring. The 6-foot, 180 pound Madden hit .329 in 2013 with 6 2B, 2 3B and 2 HR. Seniors John Scheil and Tyler Doerner will return to the Wildcats outfield and are expected to play key roles offensively. Scheil hit .310 with 7 2B, 1 3B and 2 HR last year while Doerner finished the season hitting .342 with 5 2B. Sophomore Justin Reed will be a key impact player at the SS position and on the mound. Reed, ranked No. 12 in Indiana's class of 2016 rankings, was up to 83 mph on the mound as a freshman. Winzenread's group has the talent to make some noise in 2014, but must play quality defense unlike they have the last couple of years.  

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Click here for the 4A Preseason Team Rankings

click here for more 2014 Team Previews