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By Dylan Hefflinger and PBR Staff
Editor in Chief/NW Scout

With the 2016 spring season right around the corner, PBR Ohio is eagerly anticipating bringing the Buckeye state the best high school coverage throughout the entire state.

Starting February 1st, we began releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into the Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings.

To view the full list of 2016 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2016 Team Preview, click here.

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

2016 Spring Team Preview: Wauseon Indians

Team Name: Wauseon Indians
Head Coach: Trent Thomas
Division: II
2015 Record: 18-9
Conference Record: Northwest Ohio Athletic League, 6-2
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4

2016 Team Strengths:

• Leadership
• Team hitting
• Starting pitching
• Defense

2016 Team Weaknesses:

• Depth
• Team speed
• Youth at key positions

Coach Outlook: We will look to continue to compete for a league championship, which will require consistent play throughout the season. We feel like we have developed a non-conference schedule that prepares us for the league season and will prepare us for a longer tournament run. Several players have moved on due to graduation and we will need to have players step up to fill those roles. We do have several players who have the potential to do this but it will all depend on how fast they acclimate themselves to varsity baseball. One concern is we have a few players who enter the year with injuries, some of which should be healed before the season, but others which will not. This will significantly test our depth. We do however have a solid group returning and we have several players competing to see who can step up and fill those shoes. The preseason has gone really well and we are excited about this group. Our success will be determined by how quickly we are able to develop pitchers and hitters who have little to no varsity experience.

Top Returning Players:

• Brady Kinnersley, RHP/IF, 2016, Second Team All Ohio DII, First Team All NWOAL and NW District DII 2015, .447 BA, 34 H, 25 R, 22 RBI, 5-2 record, 3.00 ERA
• JJ Kauffman, SS, 2016, two year starter, .261 BA, .931 fielding percentage
• Brady Rupp, P/OF, 2016, two year starter, Second Team All NWOAL, Second Team All NW District DII 2015, .405 BA, 26 R, 32 H, 19 RBI
• Jac Flory, C, 2016
• Josh Whitcomb, OF, 2016
• Travis Smith, P/IF, 2016 (.286 BA)
• Carter Bzovi, OF/P, 2017(.310 BA, 26 H, 26 R)

Top Underclassmen:

• Brooks Gype, P/1B, 6'2" 195, Athletic frame, good arm, potential to throw in mid 80's
• CJ Moser, P/UTL, 6'0" 185
• Everett Bueter, P/UTL, 6'1" 175, Athletic Frame, good stick and good arm, potential to throw in mid 80's
• Carter Stump, 2018, P/IF

 

A Look Back At 2015 Preseason Articles:

To view the 2015 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2015 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

• Division I
• Division II
• Division III
• Division IV

To view the 2015 Preseason State Rankings, click below.

• Division I
• Division II
• Division III
• Division IV