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: Mt. Vernon (Fotville)
Class: 4A
League: Hoosier Heritage

Head Coach: Scott Johnson
2013 Overall Record: 18-11
2013 Conference Record: 8-6
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 3

TOP PLAYERS

Zach Norman, CF, 2014
Tyler Langdon, 1B, 2014
James Stricker, RHP, 2015
Noah Powell, SS, 2016
Joey Turner, RF/LHP, 2014
Wyatt Wills, LHP, 2014
Zach Spears, LHP, 2015

OUTLOOK:

The Mt. Vernon Marauders and Head Coach Scott Johnson are looking to build off last season's 18-11 record, and compete for a conference and sectional championship in 2014. Vincennes commit Zach Norman is expected to hit in the top of the order this season  As a Junior Norman hit .287 with 21 RBI and 6 2B.  Lincoln Trail commit Tyler Langdon is expected to make the move from 2B to 1B this spring after undergoing Tommy John surgery and will play a key role offensively.  In 2013 Langdon drove in 15 runs and had 6 2B's.  Coach Johnson will look to Junior RHP James Stricker to be a key component in the pitching rotation. Stricker pitched in 19.1 innings as a sophomore and finished with a 1.09 ERA and 15 K's. The Marauders have plenty of left-handed pitching to look to for quality innings this spring. Senior lefty Andrew Boyle is expected to provide quality relief innings this season.  Boyle was 3-1 last year with 18 K's.  Junior Zach Spears, ranked No. 19 in Indiana's class of 2015 rankings, is a 6-foot-6, 210 pound lefty with tons of projectablity and an 83-84 mph fastball.  In 13 IP as a sophomore Spears went 2-1 with a save and 15 K's. Senior LHP's Joey Turner and Wyatt Wills will also be expected to contribute on the mound. Turner finished 2013 2-0 on the mound with a 2.58 ERA and will be counted on for more appearances this season. Turner should also be a contributor at the plate after hitting .303 with 21 RBI. Wills pitched in 25.2 innings as a Junior and finished with a 2-2 record with 1 save and an ERA of 1.36. Junior LHP Nate Lash could also see some innings on the mound this year. Up the middle defensively is sophomore SS Noah Powell and Junior 2B Christian Smith.  Powell is a solid defender who posted a fielding % of .926 as a freshman and hit .270 with 8 RBI. Smith, who is making the move from LF to 2B, hit .246 with 11 RBI in 2013. Fulfilling the catching duties this spring will be Junior Michael Cripe.  Other players expected to contribute this spring are senior 3B Alex McMillan and sophomore RHP Kennedy Parker.  

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Click here for the 4A Preseason Team Rankings

click here for more 2014 Team Previews