Cathedral, Westfield, Brownsburg among teams to beat in Class 4A baseball this season
Westfield has seven starters back from last year's conference championship team.
Cathedral, Westfield, Brownsburg among teams to beat in Class 4A baseball this season Westfield has seven starters back from last year's conference championship team. Check out this story on IndyStar.com: http://indy.st/1ge4gk3
Published 5:19 p.m. ET March 30, 2014 | Updated 8:36 p.m. ET March 30, 2014
Ashe Russell delivers a pitch for Cathedral. Cathedral lost the championship game of the IHSAA state baseball 4A tournament to new champion Elkhart Central 1-0 at Victory Field Saturday June 15, 2013 (Photo: Rob Goebel/The Star. )Buy Photo
If the preseason polls and returning talent is any indication, several Central Indiana teams could be in the hunt for state titles this year.
Cathedral, the 2013 Class 4A state runner-up, is ranked No. 2 in the preseason, while Westfield (No. 3) and Brownsburg (No. 5) are right behind.
In Class 2A, Park Tudor was a semistate qualifier and is tied for third in the preseason poll. Speedway isn't ranked, but the Sparkplugs return six starters from their 2013 semistate team.
Scecina, Noblesville and Brebeuf Jesuit also are worth keeping an eye on this spring.
Five teams to watch
Westfield: It returns seven starters from a team that finished 22-7 and won the brutal Hoosier Crossroads Conference. Back is Indiana State-bound Chris Ayers, who hit .284 with four home runs and 15 RBIs. Also returning are Bailey Partow (.337, two HRs, 22 RBIs); Cole McCary (.333, 27 RBIs) and Alec Nelson (.264, 12 RBIs). On the mound, the Shamrocks are loaded with Ayres (4.2, 2.65 ERA), Eastern Illinois signee Luke Dietz (5-1. 0.67), Jacob Robinson (4-0, 3.15) and Max McCool (3.17). "Expectations are high for this year's club to continue the success and tradition of the Westfield baseball program," coach Ryan Bunnell said.
Cathedral: TheIrish went into the state finals last year with 28 straight wins. A leadoff home run in the bottom of the first inning was the difference in their 1-0 loss to Elkhart Central. Although there were some big graduation losses, a strong nucleus returns. The Irish have an ace in junior pitcher Ashe Russell (see below). Also back are Harry Shipley, who batted .386 with 13 RBIs and 31 runs in the No. 2 spot in the lineup last spring, and cleanup hitter Alex Boos (.432, 1 HR, 30 RBIs, 30 runs).
Brownsburg: It brings back six starters from an 18-10 squad that lost to Cathedral in the regional final. Tyler Houston (see below) is dangerous on the mound and at the plate. Also back are Sam Comer (.355, 18 runs); Cody Gill (.353, nine runs) and Caleb Sampen (nine runs). Houston also has strong support on the mound in the form of three-year starter Ty McCoy (7-3, 2.75 ERA) and Sampen (1-2, 3.26). "We would like to be in a position to control our own destiny toward the end of the season and hopefully be playing our best baseball when the state tourney rolls around," coach Eric Mattingly said.
Speedway: The Sparkplugs went 24-6 last season, falling to Park Tudor in the semistate. Six starters are back, led by first-team All-Marion County Nicholas McCormick, who hit .450 with 31 RBIs. Matt Turk also showed a strong bat (.450, two HRs) while going 6-2 on the mound. Coach Marcus McCormick also expects strong contributions from Sam Ahrens, Cameron Kinnick, Jonathon Willoughby and Collyn Carson.
Park Tudor: It returns six starters from a team that went 18-10 and lost 2-0 to South Spencer in the semistate final. Back are Eric Sutton (22 runs, eight RBIs), Chris Elbrecht (17 runs, 21 RBIs), Pierce Hardacker (16 runs, 15 RBIs), A.J. Stautz (12 runs, eight RBIs) and Jon Rulli (19 runs, 10 RBIs). On the mound, Evan Frank was 4-0 with 3.71 ERA, while Elbrecht, Hardacker and Evan Summer combined for a 6-1 record. "These seniors have been to (the semistate) three seasons in a row and would like to finally get over the hump," coach Courtney Whitehead said.
Five players to watch
Jarrett Montgomery, Lawrence Central.A junior bound for Florida State, Montgomery hit .344 with eight home runs, 24 RBIs, 31 runs and 16 steals in the leadoff spot last season. A Perfect Game preseason underclass first-team All-American, Montgomery also possesses a fastball that tops 90 mph; in 2013, he struck out 38 batters in 292/3 innings.
Ashe Russell, Cathedral.Another Perfect Game All-American pick, Russell struck out 103 batters while posting a 1.22 ERA in 80 innings as a sophomore last year. He also hit .317 with two home runs and 21 RBIs, and has committed to Notre Dame.
Tyler Houston, Brownsburg.A senior committed to Butler, Houston hit .451 with six home runs, 35 RBIs, 30 runs and 11 doubles. On the mound, he was 6-0 with a 1.13 ERA and was a first-team all-state selection last year.
Tre Gantt, Hamilton Southeastern.Headed to Ohio State next season, Gant hit .411 last season, with four home runs, 13 doubles, four triples and 28 RBIs.
Gabe Burkhardt, Plainfield.An honorable mention all-state selection last year, Burkhardt hit .376 with a home run, 21 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He has committed to play for Western Illinois.