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2015 Team Preview: Amherst Steele

March 10, 2015

By Dylan Hefflinger and PBR Staff
Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

From now until the start of the 2015 season, Prep Baseball Report Ohio will bring you in-depth team previews throughout the entire state. If your coach has not filled out the survey please have him do so through this link.

Along with the team previews, the 2015 Team Rankings will be releasing sometime late February and we hope to bring a Q&A session to discuss the rankings. To view the final regular season rankings of 2014 please click here. To view the preseason rankings from 2014 please click here.

Also, we will be releasing the preseason All-State Teams sometime in early March. To view the 2014 preseason All-State Teams please click here.

Please head over to JJHuddle to discuss the team previews.

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2015 Team Preview: Amherst Steele

School Name: Amherst Steele
Coaches Name/Record: Matt Rositano, 40-15
2014 Record: 19-9
Conference: Southwestern
Conference Record: 7-5
Division Level: I

Postseason Accomplishments:

  • Sectional Champs: 01, 03, 04, 05, 08, 10, 12, 13, 14
  • District Champs: 08
  • SWC Champs: 03, 04, 08, 12

Key Players Lost From 2014:

  • Justin Mott, C/P, BGSU, 4-0, 8 saves, school record 0.50 ERA
  • Alex Walts, 3B/C, Hillsdale, team high .415 batting average
  • Kody Bledsoe, SS, Lake Erie College, 21 hits, 24 BBs, 20 RBI
  • Zack Bires, 2B, Defiance College, 3 year starter at 2B
  • Noah Skladan, P, Mount Union College, #1 pitcher, 2.76 ERA, 42 Ks

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/4

Strengths of Team:

  • Outfield
  • Starting pitching
  • Top of the line-up
  • Winning tradition

Weaknesses of Team:

  • Inexperience at varsity level
  • Youth in the infield
  • Pitching depth

Top Prospects in Class of 2015:

  • Rees Rua, CF, 5'11 - 165 lbs, S/L, Switch hitting lead-off man, can hit for average and power, one of the best defensive outfielders in the state, Lake Erie College signee
  • Jordan Williams, LF, 6'2 - 185 lbs, R/R, good combination of speed and power, excellent arm
  • Brad Hagerich, 3B/OF, 5'10 - 185 lbs, R/R, limited by injuries last year, has a great bat, and can play multiple positions, Mount Union signee
  • Antonio Serrano, P, 6'2 - 175 lbs, R/R, 4-1, 4.32 ERA last season

Top Prospects in Class of 2016:

  • Casey McConihe, 1B/P, 6'1 - 175 lbs, L/L, expected to be a top contributor on the mound and at the plate
  • Joe Masters, 3B/1B/P, 6'3 - 240 lbs, R/R, hits with tremendous power, will see a bigger role on the mound
  • Nick DeJesus, P, 5'9 - 195 lbs, R/R, 5-1, 3.77 ERA last season, will compete to be the #1 man in the rotation
  • Isaac Walts, 2B, 5'9 - 160 lbs, R/R, up from JV last season
  • Michael Burgess, SS, 5'9 - 150 lbs, R/R, up from JV last season

Top Prospects in Class of 2017:

  • Mark Harris, C/P/OF, 5'10 - 175 lbs, R/R, solid in the batter’s box and behind the plate, up from JV last season
  • Chad Jones, OF/P, 6'1 - 180 lbs, L/L, shows great potential at the plate
  • Cameron Stamco, INF/P, 6'0 - 165 lbs, R/R, great work ethic and potential

Top Prospects in Class of 2018:

  • Hunter Cassidy, C/P, 6'1 - 165 lbs, R/R, already throwing in the low 80s, varsity potential as a frosh
  • Evan Shawver, OF/P, 5'10 - 165 lbs, L/L, already throwing in the low 80s, varsity potential as a freshmen
  • Cameron Karnik, INF/P, 5'10 - 150 lbs, R/R, smooth defensively and at the plate

Notable College/MLB Alumni:

  • Ryan Rua, c/o 2008, Texas Rangers
  • Austin Walts, c/o 2011, Ashland University
  • Kyle Hagerich, c/o 2011, Mercyhurst University
  • Griffin Weir, c/o 2013, Stanford University
  • Justin Mott, c/o 2014, Bowling Green State University
  • Alex Walts, c/o 2014, Hillsdale University
  • Kody Bledsoe, c/o 2014, Lake Erie College

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