Semi-State Preview

4A

Lake Central vs. Zionsville

Lake Central has two of the top arms in the state in Jimmy McNamara and Taylor Lehnert, both committed to Central Michigan. Both of them threw complete games in Regionals striking out seven in their performance. Either one of them will present a tough test for Zionsville’s offense. At the plate they have the best unsigned senior left in CF Chase Fieldhouse. Fieldhouse delivered the big hit in LC’s win over Elkhart Central, breaking a tie ball game with a solo homerun in the 6^th. WhileL LC is featured by their top two arms their offense is also able to explode during any game with contributions from Ryan Burvan, Nick Kellams, Austen Wagoner, Nick Fulk, and Alec Olund.

Zionsville has one of the best offenses in the state. Their lineup features college baseball players all the way down the order, led by Ohio State commit Troy Kuhn (.462) and sophomore Ben Kocher (.389). Joel Trewartha (Bellarmine) and Nick Barrientos (Wabash Valley) were both hot at the plate throughout Regionals. Drew Small (Butler), Ryan Bertram (Southern Illinois), and Junior Parker Dunshee are also part of the middle of Zionsville powerful offense. Dunshee will likely get the ball and will be tough for LC if he can maintain his velocity (mid to upper 80s) and command his breaking ball.

Roncalli vs. New Palestine

Roncalli will send their ace Colin Hawk (Cincinnati) to the mound. Hawk threw for Roncalli in the Regional Championship game getting the win striking out four and shutting down Brownsburg’s offense for the last three innings. Aaron Schnell (2014) was a cluctch batter for Roncalli during the Regional Championship driving in four runs and Nick Wright (Bellarmine) will be another main key contributor for the offense. Joey Ardizzone, Joey Mulinaro, Chase Steinbrunner, and Jason Simpkins will also key Roncalli’s offense.  

New Palestine has had some of the most exciting games in the tournament. New Pal in sectionals got a three runs blast from Jacob Barnes in the 6^th to put them up a run. In the Regional Championship game he out did that blast with another one, this time hitting a walk off two run shot to send New Pal into Semi-State. New Pal’s lineup is pretty tough all the way down the order. Alex Rejer and Brian Page will get the offense started then Barnes, Reid Clark, Cameron Clark, and Connor Swain will drive in runs. Page will likely get the ball on the mound. He struggled in the beginning of the New Pal’s first regional game, but settled in not allowing a run against Castle in the last five innings. Reid Clark is the other arm the New Pal could use on the mound.

 

3A

Western vs. Bellmont

Western will likely use Ronnie Smith on the mound, who pitched in Western’s Regional Semi Final victory. Evan Warden will be another arm that could see some time on the mound if Smith struggles. Warden struck out 13 in the Regional Championship win. Western’s offense can be explosive at times led by Adam Bolen and Marcus Pingleton. Both have good pop in their bats and each one of the hit a big solo homerun in the Regional Championship win. Dakota LaMott will be another key bat for Western along with Austin LaFollette, Drew Bellus, and Warden.

Bellmont has some big wins this year beating Huntington North, DeKalb, Munster, and Hamilton Heights in the Regional Championship. Brian Hakes leads a powerful offense with a batting average of .492 with five homeruns and 27 RBI. Gunnar Cale is Bellmont’s tough three hole hitter that hit .386 with 14 RBI. Phillip Bauman will likely get the start on the mound against Western. During the year he was 5-1 with a sub-3 ERA.

 

Brebeuf vs. Greensburg

Brebeuf will send Notre Dame commit Connor Hale to the mound. Hale will sit in the upper 80s touching 90 with his fastball and will be a tough matchup for Greensburg. Nic Meyers (Franklin) could also see some time on the mound. At the plate Brebeuf’s offense can produce runs well. Joey Perkins and Meyers key the middle of the lineup. Both players have the ability to drive the ball well and will be important if they are going to be able to move on past Greensburg.

Greensburg will send their ace to the mound in St. Joes commit Kevin Meyer. Meyer will sit in the low to mid 80s with his fastball and has two off speed pitches that he can throw for a strike. If Meyer struggles Tyler Burcham could be used on the mound. Both pitchers threw complete game shutouts in the regionals. Greensburg has an explosive offense lead by Austin Schultz, Clayton Tressler, and Ethan Bailey. The rest of their lineup is very tough though with Collin Rigney, Macy Holdsworth, Riley Billieu, and Burcham.