By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

Follow @PBRIndiana

With the 2016 spring season right around the corner, 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: New Castle Trojans

Head Coach: Brad King
Class: 4A
2015 Record: 14-17
Conference (2015 Record): Hoosier Heritage (4-10)
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/8

2016 Team Strengths:

• Pitching Depth 
• Leadership 
• Defense 
• Experience
• Speed 

Top Returning Players:

• Garrett Welch (pictured right), OF/RHP, 2017, 6-3/160, R/R, 3 year starter (.409 BA, 5 2B, 22 R, 9 SB. 3-4, 4.27 ERA)
  
• Jared Heard, OF/LHP, 2017, 5-11/170, L/L, 2 year starter (.309 BA, 1 HR, 18 RBI. 1-0, 2.33 ERA)
• Caleb Matthews, 2B, 2017, 5-11/160, R/R, 3 year starter (.303 BA, 8 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 20 R)
• Cayden Smekens P/3B, 2017, 5-10/190, R/R, 2 year starter (3-1, 1.75 ERA)

Top Seniors: 

• Nick Jones (right), SS/RHP, (.290 BA, 11 R) Anderson Commit
  
• Jordan May, RHP,  Anderson commit. (2-2, 2 saves, 4.40 ERA) 
• Baze Conway, 1B/LHP, Taylor University commit. (.235 BA, 2 2B, 18 RBI) 
• Taylor Matthews, C,  (.165 BA, 1 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 12 RBI) 
• Dylan Darling, INF/OF/RHP, (.295 BA, 12 R, 11 SB) 

Top Underclassmen:

• Mason Gillis, OF, 2019

PBR Outlook:  The Trojans will have experience this spring, returning 11 letter winners from 2015 along with all but one pitcher from last year's squad.  Coach King's core group played on the 2013 sectional championship team as sophomore's and played for the sectional championship last year.  New Castle has depth on the mound with plenty of experience which should keep them in the hunt for an HHC and sectional crown this season.