With the 2018 spring season right around the corner, PBR Indiana is eagerly anticipating bringing the best high school baseball coverage throughout the entire state.

Leading up to the season we will be releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into our Preseason All-State Teams and Preseason Team Rankings.

CLICK HERE to view more Team Previews

2018 HS TEAM PREVIEW: COLUMBUS NORTH BULLDOGS

Head Coach: Ben McDaniel

Class: 4A
2017 Record: 17-13
Conference (2017 Record):  Conference Indiana (3-4)
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 2/4

2018 Team Strengths:

• Starting Pitching
• Speed

Top Returning Players: 

• Tyler Finke, SS, 2018, 5-11/160 pounds, R/R, 4 year starter, team captain, Snead State Commit. .400 BA, 6 2B, 3 RBIs, 34 R, 38 SB. 
• Grant Trinkle, OF/2B, 2020, 5-8/165 pounds, R/R, Evansville Commit, .304 BA, 4 2B, 1 HR, 11 RBIs, 13 R, 4 SB. 
• Parker Maddox, RHP, 2019, 6-0/190 pounds, 3 year starting pitcher, IU Commit. 3-4, 3.574 ERA, 56 K, 31 BB 
• Casper Clark, RHP, 2020, 6-5/245 pounds, 2 year starter, IU Commit. 5-1, .875 ERA, 29 K, 7 BB 
• Jakob Meyer, RHP, 2019, 6-3/205 pounds, 3 year starting pitcher, 3-2, 7.00 ERA, 36 K, 30 BB

2018's: 

• Jake Petrusky, RHP/MIF 5-10/155 pounds, 4 year starting pitcher. 2-2, 3.080 ERA, 23 K, 8 BB.

Underclassmen: 

• Adam Chapman, OF, 2020 
•  Austin Bode, C, 2021: Louisville Commit
• Hayden McDaniel, OF, 2021
• Kyler McIntosh, RHP/MIF
• Blake Huffman, OF

Outlook: The Bulldogs head into the 2018 season with a strong pitching staff, but only return two regular day starters in Finke and Trinkle.  Luckily for McDaniel, he has plenty of young talent to fill those vacant spots.  As the season progresses, look for the underclassmen to settle in and be able to produce both on the defensive and offensive ends.  Columbus North has the talent, especially on the bump, to make a deep postseason run this spring.