By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

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PBR Indiana is eagerly anticipating bringing the best high school baseball coverage throughout the entire state.

Throughout March we will be releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into our Preseason All-State Teams and Preseason Team Rankings.

CLICK HERE to view more 2016 Team Previews. 

2016 SPRING TEAM PREVIEW: Columbus North Bulldogs

Head Coach: Ben McDaniel 
Class: 4A
2015 Record: 23-7
Conference (2015 Record/Finish): Conference Indiana (5-0, 1st)
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/2
Preseason Rank: 15

2016 Team Strengths:

• Pitching Staff
• Defense 

Top Returning Players:

• Brice McDaniel (right), 1B, 2016, 6-2/230 pounds, L/L, 4 year starter, Purdue Commit (.349 BA, 16-2B, 6-3B, 5-HR's, 45 RBI's, 67 R, 23 SB, 35 BB, 22 HBP)
• Collin Lollar, RHP/OF, 2016, 6-0/195 pounds, R/R, 4 year starter, Ohio State Commit (.354 BA, 21-2B, 2-3B, 4-HR's, 52 RBI's, 48 R, 16 SB, 21 BB, 5 HBP, 2.399 ERA, 15-7, 171 K, 54 BB)
   
• Canaan Baum, OF, 2016, 5-10/170 pounds L/R 4 year starter (.337 BA, 19-2B, 6-3B, 8-HR, 80 RBI's, 75 R, 21 SB, 16 BB, 10 HBP) 
• Cooper Trinkle (right), MIF, 2017, 5-10/185 pounds, R/R, 3 year starter, Evansville Commit (.296 BA, 9-2B, 0-3B, 0-HR, 23 RBI's, 32 R, 13 SB, 21 BB, 7 HBP)

More 2017's Returning:

• Korry Drum (right), OF, RHP, 5-8, 155, R/R, 2 year starter
• Nolan Wetherald, C, 5-8. 165, R/R 1st year starter 
• Nathan Van Deventer, RHP/IF, 6-0, 185, R/R, 2 year starter (3.42 ERA, 5-1, 30K, 6BB)
• Jeremias Dela Cruz, OF, 5-10, 185, R/R, 1st year starter
• Logan Jones, OF, 1B, 5-9, 170, L/L, 1st year varsity
  

Top Underclassmen:

• 2018 - Tyler Finke, MIF, 5-9, 145, R/R, 2 year starter (.419 BA, 3-2B, 0-3B, 0-HR, 11 RBI's, 23 R, 11 BB, 2 HBP) 
• 2018 - Jake Petrusky, RHP/OF, 5-9 150, R/R, (2.33 ERA, 2-0, 12 K's, 2 BB)
  2019- Parker Maddox (right), RHP/OF, 5-11, 195, R/R 
• 2019 - Jakob Meyer, RHP/IF, 6-0, 185, R/R  

Outlook: Coach McDaniel's Bulldogs enter the season ranked 15th in the Preseason 4A rankings.  They will attempt to replace a significant amount of offensive production from last year, but have the talent to do so.  Defensively they should be sound.  On the mound they return ace Collin Lollar along with some talented younger arms to round out the rotation.  If the offense is able to produce, the Bulldogs could make a serious run come tournament time.