By Phil Wade
Director, PBR Indiana

As we prepare for our 2014 high school preseason coverage, we are going to take a quick glance at teams from across the state.

Team: Leo
Class:  3A
League: Allen County Athletic 

Head Coach: Dave Boyce
2013 Overall Record: 22-5
2013 Conference Record: 5-2
Returning Starters: 5
Returning Pitchers: 4

TOP PLAYERS

Treg Haberkorn, OF/LHP, 2014
Carter Davis, 3B/RHP, 2014
Tanner Hartman, C, 2014
Luke Smitley, DH, 2014
Kyle Bauer, RHP, 2015

OUTLOOK:

The Leo Lions ended the 2013 season in heartbreak fashion, losing their sectional final 6-5 in extra innings to Angola.  Despite the tough loss, Head Coach Dave Boyce and the 2013 Lions had a terrific season going 22-5 and finished the regular season ranked No. 21 in the Power 25 Poll.  They lose All-State SS Jackson Boyce (IPFW) and 2B Trey Phillips (Bethel) to graduation along with a pair of corner infielders, but do return a solid pitching staff, catcher and outfield.  University of Cincinnati commit Treg Haberkorn is the key returning player this spring.  The 6-foot-3, 190 pound OF/LHP hit .500 with 7 HR, 45 RBI and 13 stolen bases as a Junior.  The No. 6 ranked player in Indiana's class of 2014 rankings was also 3-1 on the mound with 46 K's, and a 2.56 ERA in 35 innings of work, and also earned All Conference honors. Senior 3B/RHP Carter Davis is expected to contribute both on the mound and at the plate after going 7-0 with a 1.51 ERA in 46 innings and hitting .353 with 29 RBI.  Davis was also an All Conference selection in 2013. Coach Boyce will look to two more seniors for offensive contribution in catcher Tanner Hartman and DH Luke Smitley.  The right handed hitting Hartman hit .386 with 17 RBI, while Smitley finished with a .317 BA and drove in 25 runs.  Junior RHP Kyle Bauer will be looked upon for quality innings after going 2-2 with a 3.82 ERA last spring.  Coach Boyce believes this year's success will depend on how well his pitching staff performs and how his infield develops.  Offensively they must find the top of their lineup after losing their No.1 and No. 2 hitters to graduation.  If the Lions can get production at the top of their lineup and develop their infield they should be very competitive throughout this season.  

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COACHES PRE-SEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate the strong response so far from high school coaches across the state assisting with our pre-season coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches pre-season questionnaire online by clicking here.

click here for more 2014 Team Previews