By Phil Wade
Director, PBR Indiana

As we prepare for our 2014 high school preseason coverage, we are going to take a quick glance at teams from across the state.

Team: Hammond Morton 
Class: 4A
League: Lake Athletic 

Head Coach: Scott Lush
2013 Overall Record: 13-11
2013 Conference Record: 6-0
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS

Cody Earl, SS/RHP, 2015
DeVonte Robinson, 2B, 2015
Tobin Mielenz, RHP/UTL, 2015
Tim Skalba, C, 2014 
Patrick McCormack, RHP/3B, 2015
Alex Tomaszewski, RHP/SS/OF, 2015

OUTLOOK:

Head Coach Scott Lush and the Hammond Morton Governors are defending Lake Athletic champions after going undefeated in conference play last spring.  The Governors return a total of eight position starters and four pitchers.  Junior SS Cody Earl expects to have a big year in 2014 after being injured last year. Second baseman DeVonte Robinson, a 5-foot-8, 155 pound Junior, returns after hitting .315 with 15 Runs and 8 SB. 2016 RHP/UTL player, Tobin Mielenz, is expected to contribute on the mound this spring.  In his freshman season the RHP went 3-2 with a 2.65 ERA and totaled 37 strikeouts.  Senior catcher Tim Skalba returns for his final season with Hammond Morton.  The 5-foot-10, 195 pound senior will be a key contributor at the plate after hitting .305 with 5 2B and 14 RBI last year.  Coach Lush will look to two other Juniors for contributions in RHP/SS/OF Alex Tomaszewski and RHP/3B Patrick McCormack. Expectations for the Governors this season are to compete for both a Lake Athletic Conference championship and a Sectional championship.  

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COACHES PRE-SEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate the strong response so far from high school coaches across the state assisting with our pre-season coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches pre-season questionnaire online by clicking here.

click here for more 2014 Team Previews