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: Northwood

Head Coach: Jay Sheets
Class: 3A
2015 Record: 23-4
Conference (2015 Record/Finish): Northern Lakes (12-2)
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/5

2016 Team Strengths:

• Pitching 
• Defense 
• Fundamentally sound  
• Baseball IQ 

Top Returning Players:

• Vincent Miranda- SS/RHP, 2017, 6/150-pounds, R/R. 2-year starter. .372 BA, 6 2b, 1 3B, 21 RBIs, 25 R, 9 SB. .440 OBP. Pitching Record: 9-1, 1.54 ERA, 45 K, 11BB
• Chad Sellers- SS/2B/RHP, 2016, 5-9/160-pounds, R/R. 3-year starter. .372 BA, 5 2B, 18 RBIs, 18 R, 4 SB. .433 OBP. Pitching Record: 7-3, 1.35 ERA, 25 K, 9 BB. 
• Vincent Herschberger- 3B/P, 2017, 5-11/190 pounds, L/R. 2 year starter. .349 BA, 7 2B, 2 HR, 22 RBIs, .447 OBP.
• Brock Beehler- 1B, 2016, 1B, 2016, 6-1/170 pounds, R/R. 1 year starter, .333, 1 2B, 9 RBI, .475 OBP 
• Tanner Cleveland- C/3B, 2016, 5-9/185-pounds, RR. 3 year starter. Returning Captain. .288 BA, 1 2B, 9 RBIs, 23 R, 13 BB, 4 SB. .412 OBP

2017's Returning:

• Drake Gongwer- 1B/RHP/OF, 2015, 6-3, 190-pounds, R/R. 1 year starter. .310, 4 2B, 3 3B, 6 RBIs, 7 BB, 10 R, .423 OBP. Pitching Stats- 2-0, 1 SV, 8 appearances, 1.81 ERA, 18 Ks, 12 BB, 19.33 IP
• Drew Minnich- C/RHP/3B/OF, 2017, 5-10/180pounds, R/R. 2 year varsity starter. .297 BA, 4 2B, 1 HR, 16 RBIs, .392 OBP 

Outlook: Coach Sheets' 2016 squad returns most of the starters from a 2015 season in which they had a very successful run. The Panthers have high expectations for this season. Along with most of the starters returning, they also return the entire pitching staff.