By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

Team: East Ridge
Nickname: Raptors
Class: AAA
League: Suburban East
Head Coach: Brian Sprout
Years as Head Coach at School: 6
2014 Overall Record: 15-5
2014 League Record: 14-4
2014 League Finish: NA
2014 Post-Season Finish: Section Runner-up

Returning Starters: 5
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 3

Starters Lost: 4
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Lost: 2

TOP RETURNERS
2015, Sam Cobbs, IF
2015, Carter Stoehr, IF/RHP

X-FACTOR
The East Suburban Conference is a buzz-saw with the likes of Cretin Derham Hall, Stillwater, Woodbury and Mounds View. If the Raptors can maintain consistency throughout the season; they will be in a good position come play-off time.

UNDERCLASSMAN TO WATCH
2016's Cal Kellner and Dylan Blake are two underclassmen to watch for the Raptors. Kellner, a 6-foot-2 185-pound 2-way player was All-Conference as a junior with a .370 batting average and is typically low-mid 80's on the mound and Blake is an athletic 5-foot-11 165-pound shortstop who hits for a high average, strong OBP, and has shown flashes of power to all fields.

2015 OUTLOOK
East Ridge is coming off a strong season with an overall record of 15-5. Senior standout and St. Thomas commit, Sam Cobbs, will lead the Raptor's this season. Cobbs was an All-Conference performer last season with a .400 batting average and an .500 OBP. 2015 Carter Stoehr will be a strong presence; as he is one of the better 2-way players in the state of Minnesota in the senior class. East Ridge will have to work to get all their talent onto the field at the same time, play great defense, and be able to pitch efficiently throughout the season. The talent level is high in the Suburban East Conference; especially in the 2016 class. If the Raptor's can blend their 5 returning position players and 3 arms who saw considerable varsity time last season with a stable of talented underclassmen; they stand a good chance of competing for a Section Championship in 2015.

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COACHES PRESEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online by clicking here.