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2015 Team Preview: Cincinnati St. Xavier

January 27, 2015

By Dylan Hefflinger
Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

From now until the start of the 2015 season, Prep Baseball Report Ohio will bring you in-depth team previews throughout the entire state. If your coach has not filled out the survey please have him do so through this link.

Along with the team previews, the 2015 Team Rankings will be releasing sometime late February and we hope to bring a Q&A session to discuss the rankings. To view the final regular season rankings of 2014 please click here. To view the preseason rankings from 2014 please click here.

Also, we will be releasing the preseason All-State Teams sometime in early March. To view the 2014 preseason All-State Teams please click here.

2015 Team Preview: Cincinnati St. Xavier

School Name: Cincinnati St. Xavier
Coaches Name/Record: Bob Sherlock, 72-85 overall; 13-13 at St. Xavier
2014 Record: 13-13
Conference: Greater Catholic League South
Conference Record/Finish: 3-6
Division Level: I

Postseason Accomplishments:

  • Division I State Champions - 2003
  • Division I Regional Runner-up - 2004
  • Division I Regional Runner-up - 2007

Key Players Lost From 2014:

  • Alex Kenner - starting pitcher - ace of staff

Number of Returning Starters/Pitchers: 9/4

Strengths of Team:

  • Better pitching depth than 2014
  • Strong middle defense
  • Good starting catcher (Spencer Helwig)
  • Solid senior leadership
  • Outstanding outfield defense

Weaknesses of Team:

  • Starting pitching lacks depth
  • Large portion of pitching staff has not faced varsity competition
  • Offense is a question mark
  • Young players will have to develop quickly in order for us to succeed
  • Play one of the toughest schedules in the state

Top Prospects in Class of 2015:

  • Eric Juan, OF/RHP, 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. 2nd team All-GCL South in 2014; outstanding athlete; will be moved to CF for 2015; could provide much needed relief help on mound; Emory University commit.
  • Spencer Helwig, C, 6-foot-1, 190-pounds. solid starting catcher; has narrowed college choice to Walsh Univerisity and John Carroll; looks to improve offensively from tough 2014 season. Ranked 182nd in Ohio's 2015 class.
  • Simon Schaefer, 5-foot-9, 160-pounds.

Top Prospects in Class of 2016:

  • Noah Mehrle, OF, 6-foot-1, 185-pounds. 2nd year varsity starter in left field; Honorable Mention All-GCL South in 2014. Ranked 82nd in Ohio's 2016 class.
  • JP Bitzenhofer, OF, 6-foot-1, 180-pounds. 2nd Team All-GCL South in 2014.Ranked 120th in Ohio's 2016 class.
  • Sam Ankenbauer, 2B, 5-foot-8, 170-pounds. Will compete for starting 2B job in 2015.
  • Clayton Peterson, RHP, 5-foot-10, 170-pounds. Will be counted heavily against tough GCL South opponents.
  • Ben Elsen, RHP, 5-foot-10, 185-pounds. Will provide much needed depth to pitching staff; projected #3 in starting rotation.
  • Brennan Hatten, OF/LHP, 5-foot-7, 145-pounds.
  • Anthony Morgan, OF/MIF, 5-foot-10, 155-pounds.
  • Cameron Stocker, RHP, 6-foot, 165-pounds.

Top Prospects in Class of 2017:  

  • Trevor Kuncl, SS, 5-foot-8, 155-pounds. Will assume starting shortstop duties in 2015.Ranked 38th in Ohio's 2017 class.
  • Jonathan Brus, OF/1B/LHP, 6-foot-1, 175-pounds. Good looking young player.
  • Zach McDonough, C, 5-foot-10, 160-pounds. Good possibility he will be the starting catcher in 2016.
  • Michael Cleary, OF/SS, 5-foot-10, 155-pounds. Ranked 40th in Ohio's 2017 class.
  • Andy Mills, SS/OF, 5-foot-8, 140-pounds.

Notable College/MLB Alumni:

  • Chris Sexton - Cincinnati Reds; Colorado Rockies

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