By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

Follow @PBRIndiana

The 2015 high school season is just around the corner.  Leading up to the start of the season we are going to take a quick glance at many teams from across the state.  

Team: Southwood
Class: 2A
Conference: TRC

Head Coach: Kris Holtzleiter
2014 Record: 20-8
2014 Conference Record: 5-2
Returning Starters: 9
Returning Pitchers: 10

Top Overall Players

Robbie Cole, RHP/OF, 2015
Clay Hinrichsen, RHP/INF, 2016
Jake Lloyd, C, 2015
Christian Deeter, C/3B/DH, 2016
Brennan Kelly, LHP/1B, 2016
Nathan Hollars, SS/RHP, 2015

Top 2015's

Robbie Cole, RHP/OF
Jake Lloyd, C
Nathan Hollars, SS

Top 2016's

Clay Hinrichsen, RHP
Brennan Kelly, LHP
Brandin Frazier, 3B

Top 2017's

Zach Ball, OF/MIF
Matt Cox, OF 

OUTLOOK

The Southwood Knights are coming off a successful 2014 campaign in which they went 20-8 overall and won a sectional championship.  They ended the 2014 season with a 7-5 loss to Elwood in the Regional. Holtzleiter's team has high expectations this spring, returning 11 players who had at least 10 varsity starts last year.  They lose just one starter off last year's squad, outfielder Jackson Blair, a North/South All-Star. Returning for the Knights is senior RHP/OF Robbie Cole who hit .411 last year with 8 2B, 2 3B, 3 HR and 15 SB.  On the mound Cole finished his Junior season going 4-1 with a 2.69 ERA and 46 Ks in 39 IP. Another RHP back for the Knights is Junior Clay Hinrichsen.  Hinrichsen posted a 2.19 ERA with 54 Ks in 44 IP last season as a sophomore. Fulfilling the catching duties is senior Jake Lloyd.  Lloyd threw out 46% of base stealers last year and hit .367 with 4 HR and 23 RBI.  Two more Juniors the Tigers will rely on are Christian Deeter and Brennan Kelly.  Deeter, a C/3B/DH, hit .380 last season with 6 2B, 2 HR and 29 RBI while Kelly, a LHP/1B, hit .353 and went 4-0 on the mound with a 3.14 ERA and 45 Ks in 35 IP. Senior SS Nathan Hollars returns for his final season at Southwood  The senior hit .264 last year with 22 RBI and 2 HR while also swiping 17 bags. The Knights have the experience and talent to not only win the TRC crown, but to also make a serious run in the 2A state tournament. 

CLICK HERE to read more 2015 Team Previews