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: Southwood 
Class:  2A
League: Three Rivers
Head Coach: Kris Holtzleiter
2013 Overall Record: 9-15
2013 Conference Record: 2-5
Returning Starters: 7
Returning Pitchers: N/A

TOP PLAYERS

Robbie Cole, 1B/RHP, 2015
Nathan Hollars, SS/RHP, 2015 
Jackson Blair, OF/LHP, 2014 
Jake Lloyd, C, 2015 
Clay Hinrichsen, RHP/MIF, 2016 
Brennan Kelly, LHP/1B, 2016

OUTLOOK:

Southwood High School baseball coach Kris Holtzleiter enters his second year as head coach of the Knights.  Holtzleiter led the team to a 9-15 record in 2013, a significant improvement from the 2012 season when Southwood compiled only one varsity win and one JV win. The 2014 squad returns 12 of the 14 varsity players from last year, including four players who received valuable varsity experience as freshman and five key players who are now juniors.  Robbie Cole is one of those key juniors returning. The 6-foot-2, 175 pound 1B/RHP hit .314 with 5 2B, 2 HR, and 10 SB last spring.  On the mound the righty finished with a 2.60 ERA with 40 K's in 43 IP. Nathan Hollars, a junior SS/RHP, is a solid defender up the middle and produces at the plate.  Last season Hollars hit .305 with 11 2B, 3 HR, 21 RBI and 18 SB.  Senior OF/LHP Jackson Blair is a solid hitter at the plate.  The 6-foot-1, 180 pound senior hit .391 with 6 2B and a .534 OBP in 2013.  Junior catcher Jake Lloyd will be also be counted on to produce offensively for the Knights. As a sophomore the 6-foot, 180 pound Lloyd hit .333 with 3 HR and 21 RBI. Pitchers Clay Hinrichsen and Brennan Kelly will be counted on for productive innings this spring. Hinrichsen is a 6-foot-4 sophomore that went 3-0 with a 4.26 ERA in 21 IP while compiling 25 K's.  Kelly, a 6-foot LHP, struck out 12 batters in 18 IP last year as a freshman. With valuable experience returning and a solid pitching staff, look for the Southwood Knights to compete for a TRC championship and to possibly make a run in the 2A state tournament.   

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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