Prep Baseball Report

2015 Team Preview: Concordia



By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Concordia
Nickname: Panthers
Class: 4A-II
League: North Central Kansas (NCKL)
Head Coach: Brandt Hutchinson
Years as Head Coach at School: 8
2014 Overall Record: 15-6
2014 League Record: 6-2
2014 Post-Season Finish: Lost in first round at 4A-II state tournament

Returning Starters: 7
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 1

TOP RETURNERS
Drake Hake, SS, 2015
Tanner Gilbert, OF, 2015
Trevor Tholstrup, OF, 2016
Ethan Bechard, 3B, 2016

X-FACTOR
Drake Hake. The Panthers senior shortstop has been named all-NCKL the past two seasons. Last spring he hit .410 with 36 runs scored, 33 stolen bases while posting a .530 on base percentage courtesy of a team leading 16 walks.

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Two sophomores look to make an impact this spring for Concordia in RHP/1B Ian Nordell and RHP/IF Cole Larsen.

KEY PLAYER LOST
Jordan Mehl, 2B, 2014. Mehl was named to the KABC 4A-II All-State team after hitting .582 with 26 runs scored and a team-leading RBI total of 41 last spring.

2015 OUTLOOK
The Panthers return seven everyday starters from their 15-6 team that reached the 4A-II state tournament last spring, including a pair of seniors that have earned all-NCKL honors the past two seasons in shortstop Drake Hake and centerfielder Tanner Gilbert. In addition juniors Trevor Tholstrup and Ethan Bechard return after earning all-league honors as sophomores. Concordia also returns experience in senior catcher Jaden Payeur, senior right-handed pitcher/infielder Braden Johnson and junior utility player Colby Trost.

For Kansas high school baseball news and updates follow us on Twitter @pbrkansas

COACHES PRESEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online by clicking here.

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