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: Columbus East
Class: 4A
League: Hoosier Hills

Head Coach: Jon Gratz
2013 Overall Record: 18-11
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 5

TOP PLAYERS

Peyton Gray, RHP/SS, 2014
Christian Wichman, C/OF, 2014
William Anderson, RHP/OF, 2015
Cam Curry, OF/RHP, 2015
Sam Claycamp, MIF, 2015
Takahiro Yamada, MIF, 2016

OUTLOOK:

The No. 8 ranked Columbus East Olympians and Head Coach Jon Gratz enter the 2014 season with high expectations. They return six positional starters along with five arms from last year's 18-11 campaign. Western Michigan commit RHP Peyton Gray returns as the No.1.  The 6-foot-4 senior posted a 1.31 ERA with 54 K's in 42.2 IP.  Gray is currently ranked No. 34 in Indiana's class of 2014 rankings. Once again leading the Olympians behind the plate is senior Christian Wichman.  The 5-foot-8, 170 pound catcher hit .371 in 2013 with 13 2B, 4 HR, 22 RBI and swiped 6 bags.  On the mound Coach Gratz will rely on 6-foot-8 righty, William Anderson, for quality innings.  As a sophomore Anderson, ranked No. 48 in Indiana's class of 2015 rankings, finished with a 2.30 ERA and compiled 19 K's in 24.1 IP. Junior Cam Curry, ranked No. 64 in the 2015 class, will be a contributor both offensively and on the mound.  Curry hit .371 in 2013 and posted a 3.18 ERA. The Olympians will rely on Junior Sam Claycamp and sophomore Takahiro Yamada up the middle defensively.  Claycamp, ranked No. 47 in the 2015 class, hit .289 as a sophomore with 8 2B and 2 HR. Yamada, ranked No. 18 in Indiana's class of 2016 rankings, is a plus defender and also has the ability to pitch.  

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Click here for the 4A Preseason Team Rankings

click here for more 2014 Team Previews