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2015 Team Preview: Sparta Highland

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: Sparta Highland

School Name: Sparta Highland
Coaches Name/Record: Donnie Kline, 7-18
2014 Record: 18-6
Conference: MOAC - Blue Division
Conference Record/Finish: 11-1/1st
Division Level: II

Postseason Accomplishments:

  • MOAC Div Champs 8 of 10 years, Last (5) years - won (or tied) MOAC Champs

Key Players Lost From 2014:

  • Marcus Chapman - C - Leadoff and Good Def player
  • Garrett Weikel - CF - Really good defensive player

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

Strengths of Team:

  • Experience
  • Solid Pitching
  • Good defense

Weaknesses of Team:

  • Finding C and CF
  • Baserunning

Top Prospects in Class of 2015:

  • Dalton Stambaugh, 1B, LHP - R/L - MOAC Blue POY; Central District; U of Akron commit; good leader; 72 K in 53 IP; 6-3, ERA under 1
  • Jett Swetland, SS, RHP - R/R - MOAC 1st Team; Central District; FL Southwestern; Athletic, Conference Player of Year in Basketball 2014; led team in BA, Doubles in 2014; 5-2, ERA under 1, 68 K in 53 Inn
  • Byron Belcher, 3B, RHP - L/R - MOAC 1st Team; Central District; leadoff in 2014 (.370 BA, 21 BB, 3 K in 73 AB). Pitt CC commit
  • Justin Tuggle, 2B, Utility - R/R- 3-1 Record, ERA 1.4; 4 year starter; can play all def positions

Top Prospects in Class of 2016:

  • Wyatt Gresh, RF - L/R - 2nd Team MOAC, Central District - Top 3 all Off Hitting Categories; Led Team in RBI (24)...6'3" 180...3rd year on varsity
  • Shane Carney, LF - R/R - 3rd year on Varsity

Top Prospects in Class of 2017:

  • Max Schreiber - Middle IF - R/R (JV in 2014)

Top Prospects in Class of 2018:

  • Lane Ballard - C - R/R (Mid-Ohio Bullets)
  • Sam LoPiccolo - P - R/R (Ohio Elite)

Notable College/MLB Alumni:

  • Tim Belcher- P

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