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2016 Team Preview: Holcomb Longhorns

January 13, 2016

Shon Plack
Kansas Scouting Director

As we prepare for the upcoming 2016 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Holcomb HS
Nickname: Longhorns
Class: 4A-DII
Conference: GWAC
Head Coach: Todd VanCleave
Years as head coach at school: 5
2015 Overall Record: 14-5
2015 Conference Record: 8-2 (1st Place)
2015 Post-Season Finish: Lost in finals of district play

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 3
Number of Returning Starters/Position Players: 7

Players with 2015 Post Season Honors
Conner VanCleave, LHP/1B, 2017, 1st Team All-State, 4AII Player of the Year, All-GWAC, Hutch News Player of the Year

Players to Watch
Braden Goddard, RHP/INF, 2018
Kordel Herrington, INF/OF, 2016
Christian Merz, SS/OF/RHP, 2016
Tanner Mongeau, C/OF, 2016
Chance Rodriguez, C/OF/RHP, 2018
Braden Rupp, INF/OF/RHP, 2017
Brandon Stegman, INF/OF, 2017
Kaden Tichenor, RHP/1B/OF, 2018

Season Outlook
The Holcomb Longhorns have many returning players that have helped build the program to where it is now. Holcomb will rely heavily on thier 6-foot-6 210-pound left-handed pitcher, Conner VanCleave. VanCleave is arguably the top LHP in Kansas in the 2017 class.  He was named 1st Team All State and 4A-DII Player of the Year in 2015 and looks to continue his stellar high school career in 2016.  Last season, VanCleave fanned 106 batters in 62.1 innings with only 17 walks.  Christian Merz will be another arm for the Longhorns, working 27 innings with 29 strikeouts a season ago. Merz also posted a .292 batting average, hitting four doubles and driving in ten runs. The Longhorns have a young crop of talent with experience that will help build on their 14-5 record and conference title from a season ago.  The continuing determination of the Longhorn baseball team to make the Longhorn program one that is respected is something that this team has taken pride in. Expect Holcomb to make some noise this spring. 

CLICK HERE, for a complete list of 2016 Team Previews

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