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2024 Spring Team Preview: Montpelier Locomotives

January 28, 2024
Dylan Hefflinger
Editor in Chief/Scout

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With 2023 now in the past, PBR Ohio is eagerly anticipating bringing the Buckeye state the best high school coverage that can be found anywhere in 2024. Starting in February, we began releasing team previews for squads across the state. Ahead, we will have Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings coming your way.

To view the full list of 2024 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2024 Team Preview, click here.

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2024 Spring Team Preview: Montpelier Locomotives

Team Name: Montpelier Locomotives
Head Coach: Toby Hutchison
Division: IV
2023 Record: 12-9
2023 Tourney Finish: District Semifinal loss to Edgerton
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/4

Coach Outlook: "Coming off a 2022-23 season where we went 12-9, winning the Buckeye Border Conference, and having multiple players earn all league nominations was great for our program, but we as a team still felt like it was a disappointment. Losing out on an opportunity to continue our season in the district semifinal game has left a pretty bad taste in our players mouths. From last season we lose three solid baseball players in Trent Thorp (2nd Team all BBC), Easten Richmond (Honorable Mention all BBC), and Garrett Girrell (2 Year Starter). These boys have been a cornerstone to our program. We bring back 6 starters on our team, led by seniors Jaxon Richmond (BBC Player of the year, 2nd team All State) and Landon Fackler (2nd Team BBC). Both of these boys will play multiple positions for us, bat in the heart of our lineup, and throw a good amount of innings for us. In the Junior class, Kam Smith (HM all BBC) will roam the outfield and look to be someone we use on the mound as well. Our 3 Sophomores, Griffin Cooley (HM All BBC), Jaxon Stahler, and Hayden Sharps, will also be back and look to use their first year of varsity experience to build on another successful season. Our program will be bringing in Kenneth Smeltzer (1st Team All BBC, HM All State), a sophomore transfer from North Central as well as freshman Wesley Hartsock who we feel will make an immediate impact on the team. We look to continue to compete in the BBC conference each and every day. Our team brings back a good mix of old and new faces with experience. As always, the best team that shows up to the field that day will win."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • Experience - We bring back 6 players from our team and add in a high quality transfer player from a team that was very successful. We have a good mix of young and old who know the expectations. The have a goal of winning the league, getting out of districts, and making a deep tournament run.
  • Flexibility - Each of our kids can play multiple positions. We feel that it allows us to have a next man up mentality. If someone has an off night, the next person is ready to go. Almost all of our boys can get up on the mound and compete. Multiple kids can catch or play other specialty positions as well.
  • Grit - This group of kids are willing to work. The older few have taken over as leaders and the younger group is receptive to coaching. They want to compete and work to push one another. Last season, there was still a bit of nervousness due to inexperience. We feel that this year with as many kids as we are bringing back, the boys will rise to the occasion. 

Top Returning Players:

  • Jaxon Richmond - UTIL/RHP - 2024 - R/R. 3 Year Starter. (BBC Player of the Year, 2nd Team All Ohio) Last Year Pitching Stats - 40.1 IP, 5-2, 0.86 ERA, 1.01 WHIP, 64 K, 21 BB. Last Years Hitting - .293 AVG, .432 OBP, 3 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 15 RBI, 8 SB
  • Landon Fackler - SS/C/RHP - 2024 - R/R. 3 Year Starter. (2nd Team BBC) Last Year Hitting Stats - .316 AVG, .459 OBP, 15 RBI, 5 SB
  • Kam Smith - OF/RHP - 2025 - R/R. 2 Year Starter. (Honorable Mention BBC)
  • Kenneth Smeltzer - UTIL/C/RHP - 2026 - R/R. 1 Year Starter. (1st Team BBC, HM All State) Last Year Stats - .409 AVG, 7 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 22 R, 12 RBI, 8 SB
  • Griffin Cooley - UTIL/C/RHP - 2026 - R/R. 1 Year Starter. (Honorable Mention BBC)

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Jaxon Richmond
  • Landon Fackler

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Kam Smith

Class of 2026 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Kenneth Smeltzer
  • Griffin Cooley

Class of 2027 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Wesley Hartsock - Utility player that is physically mature. Looks to play quite a bit in the spring. 

A Look Back At The 2023 Season:

To view the 2023 Team Previews, click here.

To view the 2023 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here.

To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

To View the 2023 PBR All-State Teams click below:

    To view the 2023 Preseason All-State Teams, click below:

    To view the Weekly Team Rankings, click below:

      To view the 2023 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click here.

      A Look Back At The 2022 Season:

      To view the 2022 Team Previews, click here.

      To view the 2022 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here.

      To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

      To View the 2022 PBR All-State Teams click below:

        To view the 2022 Preseason All-State Teams, click below:

        To view the Weekly Team Rankings, click below:

          To view the 2022 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click here.

          A Look Back At The 2021 Season:

          To view the 2021 Team Previews, click here.

          To view the 2021 Ohio Spring HS Report, click here.

          To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

          To View the 2021 PBR All-State Teams click below:

          To view the 2021 Preseason All-State Teams, click below:

          To view the Weekly Team Rankings, click below:

          To view the 2021 Ohio Spring Scout Blog, click below:

                    A Look Back At What Would've Been The 2020 Season:

                    To view each of the parts to the No 'Last Dance' Series, click below:

                    To view the 2020 Team Previews, click here.

                    To view the 2020 Preseason All-State Teams, click here.

                    To view the 2020 Virtual Ohio High School State Tournament/Preseason Team Rankings, click here.

                    A Look Back At The Last Decade:

                    To view the Ohio High School All-Decade Team 2010-2019, click here.

                    A Look Back At The 2019 Season:

                    To view the 2019 Team Previews, click here.

                    To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

                    To view the 2019 All-State Teams, click below.

                    To view the 2019 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

                    A Look Back At The 2018 Season:

                    To view the 2018 Team Previews, click here.

                    To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

                    To view the 2018 All-State Teams, click below.

                    To view the 2018 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

                    A Look Back At The 2017 Season:

                    To view the 2017 Team Previews, click here.

                    To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

                    To view the 2017 All-State Teams, click below.

                    To view the 2017 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

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