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: KOKOMO WILDKATS

Head Coach: Sean Swan

Class: 4A
2017 Record: 21-4
Conference (2017 Record):  NCC (9-2)
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/7

 

Outlook: The Class 4A Wildkats finished last season at 21-4 and return one of the deepest pitching staffs of any high school team in the country. They’re led by senior RHPs Jack Perkins (Louisville), Bayden Root (Ohio State), Kyle Wade (Purdue) and Nate Hemmerich (Earlham) as well as sophomore RHP Charez Butcher (Mississippi State). Perkins is a 6-foot-1, 200-pounder with a fastball up to 95 and a late breaking 78-81 mph curveball. He finished last season 3-2 with a 1.46 ERA and 63 strikeouts. Perkins is ranked No. 2 in Indiana’s 2018 class. Root, ranked No. 9 in Indiana, is a 6-foot-3, 195-pounder with a fastball into the low 90s and a potential plus breaking ball at 77-78. Root was 5-1 last year with 46 strikeouts. Wade is a physical 6-foot-3, 225-pound with a fastball up to 88 and a sharp slider into the mid-70s. Wade went 5-1 in 2017. Hemmerich saw just over 23 innings as a junior, posting a 2.44 ERA with 22 strikeouts. Butcher, Indiana’s No. 1 prospect in the 2020 class, should see more innings on the mound this season. He’s an athletic 6-foot-3, 195-pounder that consistently runs his fastball into the low 90s. With the pitching seemingly in place, Kokomo will look to improve on the offensive end this season. They’ll rely heavily on Perkins, Wade, Root and 2B Noah Hurlock to produce runs. Perkins was a .375 hitter as a junior with five home runs and 31 RBIs. Root hit .328 with 20 RBIs, while Wade hit .306 with 20 RBIs. Hurlock was second on the team in doubles with seven.