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2015 Team Preview: Holcomb

February 23, 2015

By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: Holcomb HS
Nickname: Longhorns
Class: 4A-II
League: GWAC
Head Coach: Todd VanCleave
Years as Head Coach at School: 4
2014 Overall Record: 11-10
2014 League Record: 4-6
2014 League Finish: 4th
2014 Post-Season Finish: Lost in regional final

Returning Starters: 8
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 3

TOP RETURNERS
Conner VanCleave, LHP/1B, 2017 – All-GWAC
Lane Penick, 1B/OF, 2015 – All-GWAC
Colby Casaus, RHP/3B, 2015 – Honorable Mention All-GWAC
Calen Rupp, RHP/IF, 2015 – Honorable Mention All-GWAC

X-FACTOR
Conner VanCleave. The 6-foot-6, 210-pound left-hander made quite an impression during his freshman campaign racking up All-GWAC, Hutch News All-Area and Garden City Telegram Spring Sports Player of the Year after compiling an 8-3 record with 103 strikeouts in 69 innings pitched and a 1.31 ERA. He also hit .338 with a team-leading 29 RBI.

NOTEWORTHY
Holcomb moves to 4A-II this spring after playing in class 3A last spring.

2015 OUTLOOK:  
Experience will not be an issue for the Longhorns this spring as they look to build on last spring’s 11-10 season with eight starters from their everyday line-up and three pitchers with significant innings returning. The list includes four all-league performers in sophomore LHP/1B Conner VanCleave and a trio of seniors in 1B/OF Lane Penick, RHP/3B Colby Casaus and RHP/IF Calen Rupp. Holcomb also returns a pair of juniors at key defensive positions in C Tanner Mongeau and SS/RHP Christian Merz. Three sophomores that had the opportunity to start as freshman are also back including CF Brandon Stegman, who lead the team with 10 stolen bases; 2B Braden Rupp; and OF/RHP Alex Ortega.

For Kansas high school baseball news and updates follow us on Twitter @pbrkansas

COACHES PRESEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online by clicking here.

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