2023 Spring Previews - 4A: No. 21-25
March 14, 2023
#25
2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: New Albany Bulldogs
Head Coach: Tim Redford
Class: 4A
2022 Record: 24-8
Conference (2022 Record): 5-2 (Regular Season HHC Champions)
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/5
2023 Team Strengths:
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Athletic Lineup
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Defense
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Frontline Pitching
Top Players:
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Landon Tiesing, INF/RHP, 2023: Kent State University recruit
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.358 avg, 1 HR, 19 RBI / 46.2 IP, 4-2 record, 2.78 ERA
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.269 avg, 6 HR, 25 RBI / 35.1 IP, 7-0 record, 3.17 ERA
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Outlook: New Albany will look to a pair of two-way standouts in Senior Landon Tiesing and Junior Chase Loesch to be the leaders of the 2023 squad. Tiesing, a Kent State recruit, logged 46.2 IP with a 2.78 ERA in 2022 - along with being one of the top returning hitters on the team after hitting .358 as a junior. Loesch went 7-0 on the mound and hit 6 HR’s in his sophomore campaign and will look to build upon those numbers in 2023. The Bulldogs will look to a very strong sophomore class to step up and make big contributions at the varsity level. Catcher Gavin Rand, UTL Kadin Bush, and UTL Landon Gum all gained valuable varsity experience as freshmen in 2022 and will look to take on bigger roles this season. Sophomore Tyler McMillian and Freshman Braden Brewer are also underclassmen who will be counted on to contribute this season. Coach Tim Redford also expects Seniors Gavin Hamilton and Phil Gil, along with Juniors Maxwell Alexander and Zach Fleming, to provide depth to the 2023 squad.
#24
2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Hamilton Southeastern Royals
Head Coach: Kory Seitz
Class: 4A
2022 Record: 10-18
Conference (2022 Record): 3-11
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/4
2023 Team Strengths:
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Pitching
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Defense
Top Players:
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Ethan Lund, LHP, 2024: Purdue University recruit
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26 IP, 0-6 record, 5.92 ERA, 47 K’s
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Ty Bradle, RHP/INF, 2023: Lincoln Trail College recruit
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9 IP, 0-3 record, 13 K’s / .267 avg, 5 2B, 2 HR, 17 RBI
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Brady Strawmyer, LHP, 2023: Rose Hulman recruit
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27.2 IP, 1-2 record, 3.80 ERA, 33 K’s
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.301 avg, 6 2B, 3 HR, 18 R
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.174 avg, 2 2B, 1 HR
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12.2 IP, 2-1 record, 5.53 ERA, 20 K’s
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14.2 IP, 1-0 record, 4.30 ERA, 15 K’s
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Outlook: Hamilton Southeastern will rely on a strong pitching staff in 2023. The Royals will be led by Junior LHP Ethan Lund, a Purdue recruit, to be the ace of the staff. Seniors Brady Strawmyer (27.2 IP | 3.80 ERA) and Ty Bradle are returning arms with varsity experience that will be expected to join Lund in the starting rotation. Sophomore Michael Hoog will join Seniors Griffen Haas, Eli Lantz, and Matthew Becher to provide quality depth to the pitching staff. Offensively, Bradle and Senior Cole Earlewine are the top returning hitters to the Royals’ lineup. Senior Chugga Rosario and Haas also gained varsity experience in 2022 and will be expected to take on larger roles this season. Kam Seitz and Sophomore Maddux Bach will also be contributors in the Royals’ lineup.
#23
2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: LaPorte Slicers
Head Coach: Scott Upp
Class: 4A
2022 Record: 24-4
Conference (2022 Record): 11-3
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/2
2023 Team Strengths:
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Return Strong Core
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Pitching
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Defense
Top Players:
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RJ Anglin, RHP/INF, 2023: Huntington University recruit
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38.1 IP, 4-0 record, 2.30 ERA, 55 K’s / .420 avg, 26 RBI
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Kade Flores, INF, 2023: Huntington University recruit
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.425 avg, 14 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 34 R, 16 SB
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11 IP, 1-0 record, 2.55 ERA, 10 K’s / .321 avg, 6 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR, 24 RBI
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.316 avg.
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Drew Flores, UTL/RHP, 2024
Outlook: The Slicers return a strong core of seniors from last year’s group that finished 24-4. LaPorte will look to a pair of Huntington University recruits, RJ Anglin and Kade Flores, to be the leaders of the 2023 squad. Anglin, a RHP/Infielder, had a perfect 4-0 record on the mound a year ago and posted a .420 batting average. Flores, an Infielder, posted loud numbers in 2022, hitting .425 with 14 2B, 2 3B, and 1 HR. Seniors Tommy Samuelson and Jackson Land will also return to provide varsity experience to the middle of the Slicers’ lineup. Expect Senior LHP Grant Olson to take a step up and provide valuable contributions on the mound. Coach Scott Upp will rely on a handful of juniors to provide depth in C Carter Moses, INF Kai Jones, INF Drew Catron, and UTL/RHP Drew Flores.
#22
2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Greenfield Central Cougars
Head Coach: Mark Vail
Class: 4A
2022 Record: 12-15
Conference (2022 Record): 7-7
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/7
2023 Team Strengths:
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Pitching
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Hitting
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Experience
Top Players:
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AJ Oden, INF, 2023: Lincoln Trail College recruit
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.420 avg, 4 2B, 5 HR, 27 RBI, 28 R
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Grant Shepherd, OF, 2023: IU Southeast recruit
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.373 avg, 9 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 28 R
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Andrew Zellers, 1B/OF/RHP, 2023: University of Saint Francis recruit
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.351 avg, 6 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 18 RBI, 22 R / 33.1 IP, 4.41 ERA, 59 K’s
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Jaden Markus, OF/RHP, 2023: University of Saint Francis recruit
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.368 avg, 2 2B, 1 3B, 17 R / 34 IP, 3.29 ERA, 65 K’s
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Connor Sims, OF/RHP, 2023: IU Southeast recruit
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.345 avg, 5 2B, 1 3B, 4 HR, 21 RBI, 22 R / 33 IP, 1.38 ERA, 72 K’s
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.315 avg, 4 2B, 16 RBI
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.304 avg, 2 2B, 1 3B, 19 R
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Landon Brooks, INF/P, 2024
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.250 avg / 22.1 IP, 3.13 ERA, 20 K’s
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Luke Willett, P, 2023
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18.1 IP, 5.35 ERA, 22 K’s
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Outlook: Greenfield Central will have an older group this season with enough talent to compete at a high level in 2023. Pitching will be a major strength for the Cougars, led by a Senior trio with plenty of experience in Connor Sims (33 IP / 1.38 ERA), Andrew Zellers (33.1 IP / 4.41 ERA), and Jaden Markus (34 IP / 3.29 ERA). Senior Luke Willett (18.1 IP / 22 K) and Junior Landon Brooks (22.1 IP / 3.13 ERA) will provide depth to the pitching staff. Sophomore Parker Rhodes is a very talented newcomer to the staff and should be a weapon in the starting rotation. Offensively, the Cougars are led by Senior AJ Oden, who batted .420 with 5 HR as a junior. Senior OF Grant Shepherd should hit near the top of the order again this season after batting .373 with 9 2B as a junior. Zellers (.351 / 11 XBH), Markus (.368), and Sims (.345 / 10 XBH) will all be impact bats in the Cougars’ order. Senior Brodie Mayberry (.315) returns behind the dish and will add depth to the lineup. Expect Junior Kirk Knecht (.304), Brooks, and Rhodes to make in impact offensively as well.
#21
2023 HS TEAM PREVIEW: Avon Orioles
Head Coach: Troy Drosche
Class: 4A
2022 Record: 15-14
Conference (2022 Record): 6-8
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/6
2023 Team Strengths:
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Team Speed
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Hitting
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Depth & Versatility
Top Players:
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Nate Simpson, OF, 2023: Purdue Fort-Wayne recruit
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.405 avg, 6 2B, 1 3B, 2 HR, 37 R, 11 SB
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.276 avg, 5 2B, 1 HR, 19 RBI
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Griffin Schabel, OF, 2023: Lincoln Trail College recruit
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.256 avg, 6 2B, 2 3B, 19 R
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Cannon Vandever, 3B, 2024: University of Evansville recruit
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.148 avg, 3 2B, 1 3B, 10 R
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.237 avg / 26.1 IP, 3-3 record, 3.99 ERA, 31 K’s
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39 IP, 4-5 record, 2.51 ERA, 50 K’s
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Wyatt Pennington, RHP, 2025
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17.2 IP, 1-0 record, 2.38 ERA, 17 K’s
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Gavin Schultz, RHP, 2023: Muskingum University
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18.2 IP, 1-0 record, 1.12 ERA, 27 K’s
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.368 avg
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Outlook: Avon returns tons of experience in 2023 and will look to build upon a 15-win, 2022 season. Senior Nate Simpson will lead the charge offensively after batting .405 with 9 XBHs and 37 runs scored as a junior. Junior Miguel Correa Jr. (.276) and Senior Griffin Schabel (.256) will hit near the top of the Orioles’ lineup. Junior Cannon VanDever is a talented infielder that will look to improve upon his sophomore year. Junior Carson Foxen and Senior Kyle Riley will provide quality depth to the lineup. The Orioles will have a deep pitching staff headlined by Riley (3-3 / 3.99 ERA), Senior Daniel Eck (4-5 / 2.51 ERA), and Sophomore Wyatt Pennington. Junior Kade Tislow should be a starter after he tossed 17.2 IP with a 2.38 ERA in 2022. Senior Gavin Schultz (18.2 IP / 1.12 ERA) brings back varsity experience and will look to anchor the Orioles’ bullpen.
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