Pre-Season Preview: Maple Valley HS

By Mike Penn
Michigan Director of Scouting

Maple Valley HS, a DIII school, returns a solid core of players.  They have eight starters who return to the team including four pitchers.  In 2012, Maple Valley had a 7-11 conference record but a 19-11 overall record.

Senior Tyler Hickey returns behind the plate.  An All-Region performer in 2012, Hickey hit .380 and had 31 RBI.  He should have another big season for Maple Valley, and of course he will need to handle the pitching staff.

Maple Valley's four returning pitchers provide a wealth of experience.  Collectively they combined for 231 innings pitched, 224 strikeouts and accounted for all 19 wins in 2012.  The four pitchers are junior Austin Gonser, sophomore Beau Johnson, senior Tommy Mudge, and junior Kyle Brumm.  Here is a look at their statistics in 2012:

Top Returning Pitchers
+ LHP, Austin Gonser- The 6-foot-3, 160-pound Gonser provides the best upside of the group.  He logged 54 innings and struck out 50 last season boasting a 2.20 ERA.
+ RHP, Kyle Brumm- Brumm had the most strikeouts of the bunch with 81 K's in 69 innings pitched.
+ RHP, Beau Johnson- As a freshman last year Johnson was 8-4 with 54 innings pitched and 50 strikeouts.
+ RHP, Tommy Mudge- Senior Tommy Mudge stands at 6-foot-3, 165-pounds and had 43 strikeouts in 54 innings pitched.

With pitching experience on their side, don't be surprised is Maple Valley surprises a few teams this season.