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2015 Team Preview: Shawnee Misison East

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: Shawnee Mission East
Nickname: Lancers
Class: 6A
League: Sunflower
Head Coach: Jerrod Ryherd
Years as Head Coach at School: 6
2014 Overall Record: 17-6
2014 League Record: 8-3
2014 Post-Season Finish: Lost 1st round at 6A state tournament
2014 Final Top 25 Ranking: 8

Returning Starters: 4
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 3

TOP RETURNERS (College Commitment)
Joey Wentz, LHP/1B, 2016 (Virginia) – 1st Team All-Sunflower League
Max Sanborn, RHP/SS, 2015 (Pittsburg State) – 2nd Team All-Sunflower League
Karl Harding, C/3B, 2015
Charley White, 2B/RHP, 2015 – HM All-Sunflower League

X-FACTOR
Joey Wentz. The 6-foot-5, 190-pound left-handed pitcher and left-hand hitting first baseman has established himself as a national prospect in the class of 2016. Last spring he produced as a starting pitcher (6-3, 1.57 ERA) and middle of the line-up hitter (.689 SLG%) for the Lancers and was named 1st Team All-Sunflower League.

NEWCOMERS TO WATCH
Sophomore class. With several talented players gone from last spring’s 6A state tournament team opportunities now exist for upperclassmen that have been waiting their chance, however the Lancers also have a very talented sophomore class that could be a factor this spring, a group that includes RHP/SS Luke Anderson, 1B Cameron Fritz, 1B/RHP Henry Miller, OF Jake Randa and RHP/OF Zeb Vermillion.

KEY PLAYERS LOST
Trey Austin, LHP/1B, 2014 (Iowa Western CC)
Gunnar Troutwine, C, 2014 (Wichita State)

2015 OUTLOOK:  
The Sunflower League looks to be one of the top leagues in Kansas again this year and the Lancers must replace five All-Sunflower League performers from last season. The good news is they return a core of proven seniors in RHP/SS Max Sanborn, C/3B Karl Harding and 2B/RHP Charley White as well as ulta-talented junior LHP/1B Joey Wentz. Beyond this question marks exist, but look for the Lancers to tap into their deep sophomore class this spring as they put the pieces together and try to make a return trip to the 6A state tournament.

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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