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2023 Spring Previews - 3A: No. 6-10

March 15, 2023
Indiana Staff
PBR Indiana

#6

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Guerin Catholic Golden Eagles

Head Coach: Keith Nunley 

Class: 3A

2022 Record: 20-10

Conference (2022 Record):  7-3

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/7

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Deep, Experienced Lineup

  • Pitching 

  • Defense

Top Players: 

Outlook: Guerin Catholic returns tons of experience from a team that won 20 games a season ago. Senior Will Fremion will likely hit near the top of the lineup after hitting .330 with 20 SB as a junior. Sophomore AJ Nunley was the every day SS a season ago and hit .419 in his freshman campaign. Junior C Bryson Dorsey (.301) returns behind the dish. Senior Sam Tabor (.292) and Junior Caden Ratcliff will provide depth to the Golden Eagles’ lineup. Junior Davis Wagner will be an impact bat in the middle of the lineup after hitting .350 with 10 2B, 3 HR, and 37 RBI as a sophomore. Wagner will also be looked upon to pitch near the top of the Golden Eagles’ starting rotation after posting a 5-1 record with a 2.91 ERA in 45.2 IP last season. Junior righty Ryan Zimmerman will join Wagner in the starting rotation after he threw 34 innings in 2022 with a 3-1 record. Expect Cuinn Morrow to take on a bigger role this season after he threw 22.1 innings in 2022. Freshman Tate Troxell, Indiana’s top ranked 2026 prospect and Alabama recruit, will also be in the mix both offensive and on the mound. 

#7

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Silver Creek Dragons

Head Coach: Joe Decker

Class: 3A

2022 Record: 29-7

Conference (2022 Record):  8-0

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/3

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Deep Lineup

  • Defense

  • Team Speed

Top Players: 

Outlook: Silver Creek returns a dangerous combo of hitters at the top of the lineup in Dane Dewees and Jace Burton. Burton hit .445 with 16 2B as a junior and will look to repeat that success in his senior campaign. Dewees hit .372 with 8 2B and his plus speed allowed him to steal 33 bags and score 47 runs. The Dragons lineup will have plenty of depth with Junior Tyler Bach, Senior Greyson Durick, and Sophomore Preston Burton all returning with starting experience. Bach will look to take on a bigger role this season after he hit .364 with 7 2B and 27 RBI as a sophomore. Sophomore C Mikey Williamson will make an immediate impact behind the dish after transferring to Silver Creek this year and Junior Nate Davidson returns after missing much of last year with an injury. The Dragons will be inexperienced on the mound, but will expect Preston Burton, Nate Davidson, and Dane Dewees to carry most of the load. 

#8

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Hanover Central Wildcats

Head Coach: Sal Aguilar

Class: 3A

2022 Record: 20-10

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Hitting

  • Athleticism

  • Frontline Arms

Top Players: 

Outlook: Hanover Central returns seven starters from a 20 win team a season ago, and they will be led by Senior SS Zach Zychowski. Zychowski hit .485 with 13 XBHs and 21 SB in 2022, and was also a key contributor on the bump where he posted a 2-1 record with a 2.47 ERA in 28.1 IP. Senior Luka Zakman is another key returning arm who threw 22.2 innings in 2022 with a 1.85 ERA and 31 strikeouts. A trio of talented sophomores in Landon Sarkey, Brad Rohde, and Caiden Verrett return after seeing tons of playing time as freshman, and they will all be expected to contribute offensively as well as on the mound in 2023. Senior OF Gannon Howes hit .366 with 4 3B and 15 SB last season and will be another impact bat for Hanover Central. Expect Freshmen INF/RHP Dylan Bowen to make an immediate impact both offensively and on the mound. 

#9 

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: South Bend Saint Joseph Indians

Head Coach: John Smolinski

Class: 3A

2022 Record: 16-7

Conference (2022 Record):  8-3

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/3

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Deep Lineup

  • Defense

  • Team Speed

Top Players: 

Outlook: South Bend St. Joseph returns a majority of the offensive unit that helped win a sectional title a season ago. Junior Jayce Lee, a Notre Dame recruit, will lead the offense after a breakout sophomore season where he hit .433 with 12 XBHs and 27 RBIs. Lee will be joined in the middle of the lineup by Senior Zac Stawski, who hit .414 with 12 XBHs and 23 RBIs in 2022. A pair of sophomores in Joe Washburn (.381 avg / 13 SB)  and Owen Balint (.344 avg / 15 RBI) both return after they both enjoyed solid freshman seasons. Except Juniors Ben Van Fleit and Holden Hardisty to provide quality depth to the Indians’ lineup. Sophomore Brody Zielinski will also contribute offensively, as well as being atop the Indians’ starting rotation after throwing 15 innings with a 2.33 ERA as a freshman. Junior Tommy Eck and Sophomore Owen King return with varsity experience on the mound.

#10

2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Batesville Bulldogs

Head Coach: Tyler Burcham

Class: 4A

2022 Record: 20-6

Conference (2022 Record):  13-1

Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4

2023 Team Strengths:

  • Frontline Pitching

  • Hitting

  • Defense

Top Players: 

Outlook: Batesville returns a very talented group of players from their 2022 squad that won 20 games. Senior Akron recruit Charlie Schebler will lead the Bulldogs’ after hitting .376 with 17 2B in 2022. Schebler will also be a big factor on the mound, tossing 32.2 IP with a 1.71 ERA last season. Junior Jack Grunkemeyer will be expected to be the ace of the pitching staff after pitching 37.2 innings with a 5-0 record and 60 K’s as a sophomore. Grunkemeyer will be a force in the middle of the lineup, batting .408 with 8 2B in 2022. Senior Max Baumer will be another big bat in the middle of the order after he hit .398 as a junior. Expect Sophomore Will Jaisle, who gained valuable starting experience as a freshman, to join Grunkemeyer atop the starting rotation, as well as hit somewhere in the middle of the Bulldogs lineup. Senior Willy Sherwood returns in the outfield and will be relied upon to use his speed defensively and on the base paths. Junior Chris Lewis will start at 3B after missing last season due to an injury. Batesville will start Freshman Dane Dudley and Coach Tyler Burcham expects Dudley to be a major contributor this season.

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