2015 Team Preview: Conner HS

Team: Conner
Nickname: Cougars
District: 33rd
Region: 9th
Head Coach: Brad Arlinghaus
2014 Overall Record: 26-10
2014 District Record: 2-1
2014 Post-Season Finish: KHSAA Elite 8

TOP PLAYERS (Coach’s Comments)

Blaise Ostertag- Sr- RHP/OF/SS- Will be a 3 year starter.  He might be making the move from outfield to shortstop.  Blaise will be one of the top pitchers in the area.  Last year he got the win in the 1st Round of the Regional tournament and the win in the 9th Region finals.  Last year Blaise won 3 games and lost 4 games the mound.  He had a 2.10 ERA and struck out 48 batters.  At the plate he hit .347.  He had 10 doubles and 2 triples and had 19 RBI and 29 Runs scored.  He will be the Ace of the staff and be one of our hitting leaders.  We will lean on him to be one of the leaders of the team.  2014 Regional All Tournament Team.  2014 Enquirer All Star Honorable Mention.  Looking to play in college:  Transy, Georgetown, Cumberlands, Thomas More and more have shown interest. (VIdeo on PBR site)
                                                                                                                                           
Ryan Ward- Sr.- 1B/RHP- Will be a 2 year starter at 1st base. Ryan will be look upon to provide the power in the Conner lineup.  Last year Ryan hit .341 with 9 doubles, 1 triple, and 4 homeruns.  He 33 RBI and scored 22 Runs.  Ryan came up clutch last year with his game winning 3 Run Homerun in the District Finals and a 2 Run triple in the Reginoal finals.  Ryan also pitches for us.  Last season he 2 and 1 on the mound with a 3.10 ERA.  He will pitch some for Conner again this year.  2014 33rd All District Team.  2014 Enquirer All Star Honorable mention. Committed to Hanover.
                                                                                                                                                      
Drew Borman- Jr.- OF/RHP- Will be a 2 year starter for Conner in the outfield. Drew started last season in Right field.  Drew hit .263 as a sophomore in limited at bats but did have 2 doubles and 4 RBI.  Will be look at the help offensively as well as defensively. (VIdeo on PBR site)
                                                                                                   
Nick Craddock- So.- RHP- will be a 2 year letterman.  Nick went 7-1 last year as a freshmen.  He pitched mostly out of relief but he also started some games.  Nick got the save in the District and Regional finals.  Nick had a 0.40 ERA last year and 32 Strikeouts in 12 games.  He will be looked at to step up and take the role as our #2 pitcher this year.

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN  

Nick Craddock- So- Pitcher

Drew Borman- Jr.- Outfield/Pitcher

Jacob Owens- Jr.- third basemen

Alec Garnett- Jr. Outfielder

NOTABLE LOSSES

Blake Hart- C- 33rd District All Tournament Team, 9th Region All Tournament Team, 2014 Enquirer All Star Second Team. College ball at Transy

Jared Williams- SS- 33rd All District Team, 9th Region All Tournament Team, 2014 Honorable Mention Enquirer All Star Team. College ball at Transy

Cameron Ross- OF/P- 1st team All State, 33rd District MVP, 9th Region MVP, 2014 Enquirer All Star 1st Team, All Tournament at State tournament. College ball at University of Cincinnati .

According to the Coach

After Winning the 9th Region Tournament for the first time in 35 years and the first 33rd District Championship in 10 years, we look to replace the loss of 6 Seniors, 3 of them were three years starters and provided a lot of leadership.  We return four starters. We will need to replace two very key positions in Shortstop and Catcher.  We will be inexperienced at a lot of key positions.  We will have a good 1-2 combination on the mound with Blaise Ostertag and Nick Craddock.  We will have pitching depth this year, though it will be inexperienced.  Ryan Ward, Blaise Ostertag and Drew Borman will be the anchor of the Cougar offensive attack this year.  The Cougars will look for a mix of seniors and underclassmen to step up on the offensive and defensive side of the field.  Seniors who will look to step include Austin Lindsey, Davis Black, Dustin Catron, Ryan Gosney, and Dillion Lockstead.