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: Pike
Class: 4A
League: Metropolitan Interscholastic 

Head Coach: Michael Ruth
2013 Overall Record: 5-17
Conference Record: 2-6 (Conf. Indiana)
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 2

TOP PLAYERS

Jared Ruth, SS, 2014
Matthew Mikesell, RHP/OF, 2014
Leighton Turnpaugh, OF, 2015
Mitchell Graff, OF, 2015
Andre Hart, RHP, 2014
Tate Spence, C, 2014

OUTLOOK:

The Pike Red Devils enter their first season as a member of the Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference (MIC).  Head Coach Michael Ruth is expecting improvement from his team this year with two seniors leading the way.  SS Jared Ruth, who played injured most of 2013, will once again lead things up the middle defensively.  As a Junior Ruth posted a .908 fielding % and hit .250.  Ruth, who's also being recruited as a football player, is now healthy and should be very productive for the Red Devils this spring. RHP Matthew Mikesell is expected to contribute on the mound after going 2-3 last season.  Junior Leighton Turnpaugh finished 2013 hitting .265 and shows promise of improving his offensive production this season.  Coach Ruth will look to senior RHP Andre Hart to be a major contributor on the mound this spring. The 5-foot-11 righty had no decisions last year in relief.  Fulfilling the catching duties is senior Tate Spence, a 5-foot-8, 185 pounder expected to add some power and drive in runs for the Red Devils in 2014.  

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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