2015 Team Preview: Shawnee Heights
March 12, 2015
By Sean McCann
Prep Baseball Report Kansas
As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.
Team: Shawnee Heights
Nickname: Thunderbirds
Class: 5A
League: Centennial
Head Coach: Ryan Schmidt
Years as Head Coach at School: 15
2014 Overall Record: 16-7
2014 League Record: 14-6
2014 Post-Season Finish: Lost in 1st round at 5A state
Returning Starters: 7
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 3
TOP RETURNERS (College Commitment)
Jesse Perez, 2B, 2015 (Northwest Missouri State) – KABC 5A All-State, 1st Team
Mason Gifford, C, 2015 (Allen County CC) – All-Centennial League, 1st Team
Zach Holmes, LHP/1B, 2015 – All Centennial League, 2nd Team
Jesse Kutzke, RHP, 2015 (Allen County CC)
Dawson Pomeroy, UT, 2016 – All-Centennial League, 2nd Team
Jarod Cooper, RHP/1B, 2016 – All-Centennial League, Honorable Mention
Conner Bond, RHP/3B, 2016 – All-Centennial League, Honorable Mention
X-FACTOR
Jesse Perez. The Northwest Missouri State commitment was named 1st Team KABC 5A All-State last spring after hitting .472 with 10 extra base hits, 21 runs scored and 17 RBI
KEY PLAYER LOST
Dayton Pomeroy, IF, 2014 (Barton County CC). Pomeroy was a 1st Team All-Centennial League performer for the Thunderbirds last spring.
2015 OUTLOOK:
Following a 16-7 season and appearance at the 5A state tournament in Manhattan last spring the Thunderbirds return one of the more experienced, proven teams in 5A. Six All-Centennial League selections from last spring return, including 1st Team All-State 2B Jesse Perez. Seniors LHP/1B Zach Holmes and left-hand hitting C Mason Gifford joined Perez in earning all-league honors as did a trio of juniors in switch-hitting utility player Dawson Pomeroy, RHP/1B Jarod Cooper and RHP Connor Bond. Senior RHP Jesse Kutzke made significant strides over the summer and fall and should log key innings this spring.
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