2017 Spring Team Preview: Elyria Catholic Panthers
April 3, 2017
By Dylan Hefflinger and PBR Staff
Editor in Chief/NW Scout
With the 2017 spring season right around the corner, PBR Ohio is eagerly anticipating bringing the Buckeye state the best high school coverage throughout the entire state.
Starting in Mid-January, we began releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into the Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings.
To view the full list of 2017 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.
If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2017 Team Preview, click here.
Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.
2017 Spring Team Preview: Elyria Catholic Panthers
Team Name: Elyria Catholic
Head Coach: Bruce Lisicky
Division: III
2016 Record: 27-4
Conference Record: Great Lakes Conference, 12-0
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4
2017 Team Strengths:
- Starting Pitching
- Defense
2017 Team Weaknesses:
- Experience at the bottom of the batting order
- Replacing key players from last year
- Covering the outfield corner spots
Coach Outlook: "We have high expectations this season after a disappointing loss in the Regional Finals last year. We are returning our whole Starting Pitching staff lead by Nebraska commit Andrew Abrahamowicz. We have a nice mix of experienced underclassmen to go along with our 4 Seniors. Our #3 hitter Ryan Strittmather (.385) is a Junior and 3 Sophomores that started as Freshman will have another year of experience. Jack Laird P/1b (5-0), CF Leighton Banjoff (.429) and Catcher Grant McClure who caught 20 games last season."
Top Returning Players:
- Andrew Abrahamowicz, Team Captain, Sr., P, Nebraska commit, 6'3" 190, R/R, 1st team All Ohio pitcher 2016, 7 wins, 0.85 era, 0.73 whip, 59 K's
- Leighton Banjoff, Soph., CF, 6' 180, R/R, Great Lakes Conference player of the year 2016, .429 Ave., 29 RBI', 12 SB
- Tony LoParo, SS, Sr., 5'8" 155, Baldwin Wallace commit, R/ R, Team defensive player of the year 2016, .312 Ave. 19 rbi's
- Ryan Strittmather, 3b/2b, Jr., 5'11" 175, Ohio University commit, R/R, .385 Ave., 33 runs, 19 SB, 5 triples
- Jeff Spencer, Sr., 3b/1b/P, R/R, 5'11" 175, .375 Ave., 21 rbi's, 2.15 era, 1.03 whip
- Grant McClure, Soph., Catcher, 5'5"" 155, R/R, 19walks, .393 obp
- Jack Laird, Soph. P, R/R, 6'2" 190, 5-0, 1.35 era, .99 whip, 33 K's
To view the 2016 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2016 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.
A Look Back At 2015 Preseason Articles:
To view the 2015 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2015 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.
