2015 Team Preview: Lexington Catholic

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By Chris Fuller
Kentucky Scouting Director

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Lexington Catholic
Nickname: Knights
District: 43
Region: 11
Head Coach: Taylor Brooks
2014 Overall Record: 23-14
2014 District Record: 6-4
2014 Post-Season Finish: Lost 1st rd of region

TOP PLAYERS (Coach’s Comments)

Daniel Little - 2015 SS, Louisville  (Profile and Video on PBR site)
                  
Anthony Ethington - 2015 RHP, Wabash Valley (Profile and Video on PBR site)
                                                                                                 
Connor O'Neil - 2015 OF , Uncommitted (Profile and Video on PBR site)

Ben Wilhite - IF, Uncommitted (Profile and Video on PBR site)

Will Sherman - 2015 RHP, Uncommitted (Profile and Video on PBR site)

Jack Carroll, 2015 LHP, Uncommitted, coming off injury

CJ Bush - 2016 1B, Uncommitted (Profile and Video on PBR site)

Josh Flowers - 2016 RHP/OF, Uncommitted, Transfer from Florida

Chris Thompson - 2016 2B, Uncommitted

Andy Thompson - 2016 OF, Uncommitted

Luke Ritchie - 2016 RHP, Uncommitted (Profile and VIdeo on PBR site)

Carson Coleman - 2016 RHP/SS, Uncommitted (Profile and Video on PBR site)

Grant Noffsinger - 2016 LHP, Uncommitted

Austin Madry - 2016 3B, Uncommitted (Profile and Video on PBR site)

TOP UNDERCLASSMEN  

Sam Armstrong

Steven Bender

Landon Moberly

Tyler Grigalis (Profile and Video on PBR site)

Notable Losses

Riley Jackson - Louisville

Griffin Neuer - Bellarmine

Willie Poe - Bellarmine

Taylor Henley - Transy

Connor Cleary - Sinclair CC

Ben Coates - Centre

According to the Coach

Should swing it very well and have a lot of team speed. Very versatile offensively, with guys who hit for a high AVG and guys with power. Will be able to play small ball and run to win games, along with swinging it to play for big innings. Return Wilhite, Little, Chris Thompson, and Bush to the INF, with Bush likely making the move to 1B, along with David Mueller. Austin Madry could also see some time in the INF and DH spot, along with David Mueller. O'Neil will be in the OF, along with Andy Thompson and Josh Flowers. Flowers (transfer from FL) is a big (6'3/220 lb) RHH with pop and great feel for OF and at the plate. Steven Bender and Joey Griggs will also have a chance in the OF. Should run very well with Little, Thompson twins, and O'Neil having plus speed, and Bush/Flowers are above average.

Behind the plate, Landon Moberly returns, and will split time with freshman Tyler Grigalis. Moberly has gotten stronger and shown improved arm strength. Has made strides in blocking/receiving and should continue to get better at the plate. Has worked hard on making some great adjustments. Grigalis is a freshman with huge potential. Great LH swing with a great approach and mentality at the plate. He is ready physically to compete at a high level and should have a big impact this season. Good arm and continues to get better.

Little has continued to improve and should have a great year and will be one of the best players in the state. Wilhite has made major strides physically and mentally and is poised for a breakout year. He has grown up a lot. Bush has worked hard on his body and should have a big year, with the chance to be one of the best hitters in the state. Andy Thompson split time last year and had grown up and made major strides at the plate. A star WR for the football team, he has a high baseball IQ and is extremely athletic. He has the ability to put a lot of pressure on opposing teams on the base paths. Flowers is a big physical kid with the chance to hit in the middle of the order. Made great strides at the plate and should have a big year for his first year in KY. Chris Thompson is returning at 2B and has gotten physically and continued to get better. Was one of the top hitters on the team last year and the same is expected this year. O'Neil has gotten a lot stronger and much more aggressive. Is the leader of the team. Has made big strides in his offensive approach/swing and will be a much more physical hitter this season. Madry has grown up and has a chance to contribute this season. Very athletic guy that could be a factor as he continues to mature. Mueller is also another JR that has a chance to be a factor. Made some good strides at the plate and is a gamer. Griggs is coming back after playing only football this season and is much stronger physically and should help lead the team.

On the mound, Ethington should be the ace and leader of the staff. Have a lot of arms who have seen varsity innings, and have a chance to be a very good staff. Should have a lot of mid 80's guys who throw three pitches for strikes and pound the zone. Have some younger guys who have the potential to be very very good this season. Staff will have a lot of arms to throw at teams and should continue to get better through the year.

Ethington has the chance to be one of the best pitchers in the state. Has gained some velo and throws 3 pitches for strikes with good movement. Played at Midland last summer and has really grown up and is poised for a huge season. Ethington has made the jump everyone expected from him. Gatewood Robbins, Will Sherman, and Jack Carroll are other seniors that will throw innings. Robbins has continued to get better and has gained some velo. He is 83-85 with 3 pitches for strikes and pounds the zone. Sherman has continued to get better and work on his body. Sherman is 84-86 with 3 pitches and the chance to continue to get better and gain velo. Carroll, who is returning this season after Tommy John surgery, is looking to return to his previous form and be a factor from the left side of the mound. Luke Ritchie, Carson Coleman, and Grant Noffsinger are juniors who should get innings. Ritchie is a RHP with a live arm and should continue to gain velo. Has a plus CB and continues to improve on the mound. Coleman has some big time potential on the mound, with an upper 80's FB and a lot of run. Has a great SL and continues to improve on the mound, despite only pitching for the last year. Has a chance to be a high level P if he continues to improve physically and mentally. Grant Noffsinger is a LHP who has continued to make strides and has a chance to make an impact this year. Steven Bender, Trip Lockhart, Sam Armstrong are all sophomores who have a chance to contribute this season. Bender is a RHP and is a low to mid 80's guy with a heavy FB and three good pitches. Pounds the zone and has a great demeanor on the mound. Lockhart is a a RHP who is also low to mid 80's and pounds the zone with 3 pitches. Has made some major strides and should continue to do so. Armstrong threw a lot last year and has continued to improve. Another low to mid 80's RHP, Armstrong should have a big role again this season. Sam Hodges (sophomore) and Eric Sottile (freshman) are also RHP who could throw some varsity innings.

Team shows a lot of leadership and is very tight. They are loose and have a good time playing. Very competitive group and tough guys. With leadership, have a chance to have a special season.