Brownsburg baseball preview

I have found two previews for the Brownsburg high school baseball team this year. The team is ranked 11th in class 4A in the preseason poll. The team is on spring break this week and starts the season on April 6th against North Central.

The Indianapolis Star - The Bulldogs lost Mr. Baseball Tucker Barnhart to the major league draft and star pitcher Dalton Wentz to an arm injury from last year's 24-6 team. But plenty of experience returns, led by shortstop Joel Stucker (career .409 hitter) and second baseman Ben Blystone (seven homers, 25 RBIs, .416 last year). Alex McGowan (6-2, 4.25 ERA) and Matt Bowman (4-0, 4.14 ERA) return on the mound.

IHSBCA website - The 2010 Brownsburg baseball team will be challenging again for conference championship and state tourney success. Led by a productive senior class and an athletic group of underclassmen the Bulldog’s will be solid defensively, an opportunistic offensive team and a pitching staff that will challenge hitters. Strong up the middle has been a mainstay and with Joel Stucker, Ben Blystone and Alex McGowan, 2010 will be the same. Junior catcher, Tyler Hampton and senior Cory Sears look to take over for Mr. Baseball, Tucker Barnhart, as they both display a solid arm and defensive skills. Senior All-State pitcher, Dalton Wentz will be unable to pitch due to Tommy John surgery, but Matt Bowman, Isaac Sampen, McGowan and Blystone have experience and skills to be successful. Other potential arms will come from Juniors Ryan Rhodes, Levi Slawta, Tyler Owensby, Taylor Jones, and sophs Mycha Whetstone and Jordan Deal. Speed to run will be available with Blystone, McGowan, Stucker, Sampen and Kakowski. Power is supplied from McGowan, Hartnagel, Blystone, Hampton, Sampen and Tyler Whetstone. Lending support in various ways will be junior Jason Catron and sophs Dylan Whetstone, Bobby Carr and Johnny Moore. The Bulldogs play in the toughest baseball conference in the state and will play some of the top programs outside the conference as well. By playing this type of competition, the Dog’s should be battle tested going into the state tourney and will have an opportunity to make some noise on their quest to Victory Field! Brownsburg is 230-42 during Coach O’Neil’s nine years at BHS and 309-94 over his 14 years as a Head Coach. The Dog’s managed a 24-6 record in 2009 and were Hendricks County Tourney Champs and Hoosier Crossroads Conference Co-Champs while being ranked 4 in the final 4A coaches poll.