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2015 Team Preview: Strongsville

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: Strongsville

School Name: Strongsville High School
Coaches Name/Record: Doug Cicerchi, 16-5
2014 Record: 16-5
Conference: Northeast Ohio Conference
Conference Record/Finish: 8-2, 1st
Division Level: I

Postseason Accomplishments:

  • Won or shared the conference title each year since 2007
  • Won the 2006 Division I State Title
  • District Champions in 2007 (lost in Regional final), 2009 (lost in Regional semifinal), 2010 (lost in Regional semifinal), 2011 (lost in Regional final)

Key Players Lost From 2014:

  • Colin McManamon, CF, Ohio University, Great Defensively, very good at the top of the order
  • Mike Jones, RHP, Ohio State University (not playing baseball), #2 starter and best reliever, depending what the situation called for--great competitor--great teammate--great leader
  • Ryan Frank, RF, Ohio State University (not playing baseball), Quiet leader--good HS power--very good defensive outfielder
  • Nick Stewart, 3B, Consistently competitive every pitch--Fundamentally sound
  • Brady Fine, LF, Did all of the little things

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/3

Strengths of Team:

  • Depth
  • Team defense
  • Athleticism
  • Top of pitching rotation
  • Competitiveness and belief in program

Weaknesses of Team:

  • Consistency
  • Vocal leadership

Top Prospects in Class of 2015:

  • Dominic Lombardo, SS, Sr, R/R, likely to commit to Notre Dame College soon if he hasn't officially already
  • Caleb Thomas, 1B, Sr, L/R, committed to Ohio Northern University
  • Alex Barnes, RHP, Sr, R/R, committed to Ashland University
  • Brandon Lekan, RHP, Sr, R/R, committed to Baldwin-Wallace University
  • Jake Bokar, C, Sr, R/R, uncommitted

Top Prospects in Class of 2016:

  • Caleb Homan, RHP/OF, Jr, R/R...two-way guy; is very much in the mix for playing time as a position guy and on the mound
  • Ryan Robertson, OF/1B, Jr, L/R--projects more as an outfielder, 6'1", he has some leverage in his swing and there's plenty of room to fill out
  • Jon Campo, C/OF, Jr, L/R--another strong kid with more room to fill out (5’11), his arm is a little short behind the plate right now, but if he gains arm strength, has the athleticism to play the outfield
  • Sami Mehmed, 2B, Jr, L/R--little guy who can really play--5'6" but he's fundamentally sound and has a really quick bat with surprising pop for a smaller guy
  • Nico Ramicone, 3B/SS/2B, Jr, R/R--energy everywhere, plays the game all out, all the time...can do a bit of everything and while he's an infielder first, he could see some time in the outfield depending on positional needs and how the season shakes out
  • Zach Kahn, 2B/MIF, 5’10, 165

Top Prospects in Class of 2017:

  • Parker Shannon, RHP/OF, So, R/R...true two-way prospect--D-I guy. He has a chance to start in the outfield and will likely begin the year as our #3 pitcher--that could mean starting the second game of a conference series/good non-conference team and/or relieving in high leverage situations in conference
  • Jaret Beechy, LHP, So, L/L...prospect as a pitcher
  • Alex Gray, RHP/OF, So, R/R
  • Kyler Damm, SS/2B, 6’0, 150
  • Jacob Hendrickson, OF/1B, 6’0, 185

Top Prospects in Class of 2018:

  • John Spragg, RHP, Fr., R/R

Notable College/MLB Alumni:

  • Anthony Gallas--OF--Kent State (currently in Indians system--AA)
  • Ryan Bores--RHP--Kent State (Rangers organization; started their win in the CWS)
  • Johnny Hamilton--LHP--UNC Charlotte (went to NCAA tourney)

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