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2015 Team Preview: Rockhurst Hawklets

March 12, 2015

Shon Plack and Jeff Viles
Prep Baseball Report-Missouri

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

Team: Rockhurst
Nickname: Hawklets
Class: 5A
League: Independent
Head Coach: Jim DeGraw
Twitter Handle: @GoHawklets
2014 Overall Record: 19-9
2014 Post-Season Finish: Lost in Districts
2015 MHSBCA Preseason Rank: #6

Number of Position Players Lost: 6
Number of Pitchers Lost: 0
Number of Returning Starters/Position Players: 2
Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8

TOP RETURNERS (Commit)
Tyler Benninghoff, RHP/INF, 2016 (Arkansas)
Nick Bosma, RHP, 2015
T.J. Green, OF, 2015
Brooks Hallock, RHP, 2015
Tyler Peterson, RHP/INF, 2015 (Drury)
Luke Ritter, INF, 2015 (Wichita State)
J.T. Watt, LHP, 2015
Jon Wemhoff, RHP, 2016
Ben Whetstone, RHP/1B, 2015 (Missouri State)

CLICK HERE, for a complete list of Rockhurst players on PBR.

OUTLOOK
Athleticism is not a problem for the Rockhurst Hawklets.  Four players; OF T.J. Green, RHP/INF Tyler Benninghoff, RHP Nick Bosma, and INF Luke Ritter were starters on the football team that played for the state championship last fall.  They will also have depth on the mound this spring, headed by Arkansas commit, junior RHP Tyler Benninghoff.  Benninghoff is a projectable 6-foot-4 185-pound athlete with a fastball in the upper 80's and a sharp/late breaking ball.  He will also see time on the infield this spring.  Senior J.T. Watt will give the Hawklets a LHP that will complement the righty starters.  Senior RHP Nick Bosma and junior RHP Jon Wemhoff are two pitchers to keep your eye on.  Bosma stands 6-foot-3 195-pounds, and Wemhoff is 6-foot-4 170-pounds.  Wemhoff has command of three pitches, and will keep hitters off balance with his change-up.  Senior RHP Brooks Hallock, a strike thrower with excellent pitchability, will see his share of innings this spring as well.  There will plenty of offense in the Hawklets dugout as well.  Seniors INF Luke Ritter, a Wichita State commit, and 1B Ben Whetstone, a LHH and a Missouri State commit, will hit for average and power this spring.  Senior Tyler Peterson will add to the pitching rotation and could give Rockhurst another power bat in the line-up.  Senior OF T.J. Green, the starting quarterback on the football team, will return in the outfield.  The Hawklets will have experienced, athletic players all over the field this season.  They will start the season ranked #6 in the MHSBCA poll, but will have a tough district pool.  A pool that features three top ten teams.  The Hawklets will be ready to make state championship run in late May. 

CLICK HERE, to see the MHSBCA Rankings
CLICK HERE, to see the entire list of 2015 Missouri Team Previews

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.

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