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: Bloom Carroll
Class: DII
League: Mid-State Buckeye
Head Coach: Brian Thacker
2013 Overall Record: 26-6
2013 Conference Record: 13-1
Returning Starters: 6
Returning Pitchers: 5

TOP PLAYERS 
Jarrett Peters, C, 2014
Scott Baker, IF/RHP, 2014
Sam Bordner, RHP/1B, 2015 ... Committed to Louisville
Corey Stanley, RHP, 2015
Roger Danison, OF, 2015 ... Already holds DI offers
Tristen Epp, OF/LHP, 2015 ... Transferred from Liberty Union

YOUNG UP AND COMERS
Seth Paszke, OF/1B, 2016
Jacob Robinson, RHP/IF, 2016
Alex Seagraves, RHP/IF, 2016

OUTLOOK:  

After coming within outs of the Division III state championship in 2013, the Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs felt the agony of defeat last June at Huntington Park. But, that agony became short lived as the focus shifted to the 2014 season.

Despite making the jump to Division II play, Bloom-Carroll will be ranked as one of the top programs in the state. It is hard to imagine, especially with the loss of four starters, but Coach Thacker's squad is even stronger on paper this year than last.

Junior RHP/1B Sam Bordner, who transferred from Liberty Union last season, was relegated to the dugout due to OHSAA transfer rules. But now, Bordner, a 6-foot-6, 210-pound prospect headed to the University of Louisville, figures to play a prominent role at the front of the rotation with a fastball that reaches into the low 90's as well as a power bat in the middle of the order. Bordner will pair with fellow junior Corey Stanley, who serves as the ace of the staff in 2013, to give the Bulldogs one of the state's top 1-2 punches.

Offensively, the Bulldogs should be strong from top to bottom. Senior Jarrett Peters, one of the state's top unsigned seniors, returns behind the plate while junior Roger Danison, one of the top left-handed hitters in his class, figures to roam in centerfield.

As if Bloom Carroll didn't have enough talented players on the roster, Coach Thacker, one of the state's top young coaches, has several talented sophomores that figure to play important roles this season. And, on top of it all, junior Tristen Epp, who transferred from Liberty Union this past season, will join the lineup after sitting out due to OHSAA transfer rules. Epp, like Danison, is a talented left-handed hitter and DI recruit.

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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.