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2017 Spring Team Preview: Olmsted Falls Bulldogs

March 6, 2017

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By Dylan Hefflinger and PBR Staff
Editor in Chief/NW Scout

With the 2017 spring season right around the corner, PBR Ohio is eagerly anticipating bringing the Buckeye state the best high school coverage throughout the entire state.

Starting in Mid-January, we began releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into the Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings.

To view the full list of 2017 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2017 Team Preview, click here.

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2017 Spring Team Preview: Olmsted Falls Bulldogs

Team Name: Olmsted Falls
Head Coach: Dan Largent
Division: I
2016 Record: 14-14
Conference Record: Southwestern Conference (SWC), 9-9
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/4

2017 Team Strengths:

  • Starting Pitching - 10 of our 14 wins return to the mound
  • Young Talent - lots of our returners are underclassmen, and our JV won the SWC last season.
  • Baseball IQ - we have a lot of players with high baseball IQ's returning.

2017 Team Weaknesses:

  • Leadership - we only have 3 seniors returning who were full-time varsity players in 2016
  • Scoring runs - we feel that we have the pitching to beat anyone this year.
  • Pitching Depth - with the new pitch count rules, we need to have a lot of arms ready to go.

Coach Outlook: "We should be a very competitive team, and have one of the best players in the state returning in Collin Romel. Collin was the MVP of the 10 team SWC, is ranked as one of the top LHP in the state, and signed with Kent State. We also return our starting catcher, Jack Hamel, and All-SWC IF Ricky Castrigano. Jack Spellacy, who started as a freshman and is ranked as one of the top players in his class by PBR, also returns.On the mound, we return Romel (5-2 1.00 ERA as a junior), junior Nate Causey (3-2 1.91 ERA as a sophomore), junior Logan Bratsch (2-0 4.50 ERA as a sophomore) and Spellacy."

PBR Outlook: After a 14-14 2016 season, the Bulldogs are ready to get back on the field and have the arms to be dangerous in 2017. With one of the top arms in the state in Collin Romel, the Bulldogs have a chance to win anytime the lefty is on the bump. Coach Largent has a nice mix of upper and lower classmen to go along with Romel with eyes on a successful season.

Collin RomelTop Returning Players:

  • Collin Romel, LHP/1B, 2017, 6-1 220 pounds, L/L, Kent State University Baseball - Early Signee, Team Captain, As a Junior (2016): MVP of the Southwestern Conference as a Junior- One of the top “big school” baseball conferences in Ohio, Pitched a “No-Hitter”, All-Ohio (OHSBCA) 2nd team Pitcher (Only 3 pitchers chosen for both 1st and 2nd team), All-Ohio (Prep Baseball Report) 2nd team, 1st Team All-District, 1st team All-SWC, 1st Team Morning Journal All-Star Team, #3 Ranked Pitcher in Ohio by Prep Baseball Report, Top 50 National Ranking by Prep Baseball Report. Broke his own ERA record in 2016.
  • Ricky Castrigano, IF, 2017, 5-9 180, R/R, returning starter and All-SWC Honorable Mention as a junior. Batted .275 out of the leadoff spot with 9 RBI.
  • Jack Spellacy, OF/P/C, 2019, 5-9 180, R/R, returning starter. As a freshman in 2016 he batted .286 with 13 RBI, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR in 19 games. Can play every position on the field, including catcher, but will likely start in the outfield for the majority of 2017. Is the 5th ranked OF and 29th ranked overall in the state by PBR Ohio.
  • Nate Causey, LHP/1B, 2018, 6-2, 200, L/L, returning starter. Went 3-2 with a 1.91 ERA as a sophomore. Possible Division I prospect. Is an absolute "bulldog" on the mound.
  • Logan Bratsch, RHP/IF, 2018, 6-0, 200, R/R, returning starter. Went 2-0 as a sophomore.

Nate CauseyTop Underclassmen:

  • Nate Causey - see above
  • Logan Bratsch - see above
  • Jack Spellacy - see above
  • Sullivan "Sully" Kilbane, 1B/P, 6-1, 220, on varsity as a sophomore but was injured for most of the season. Will provide a lot of pop in the middle of the line-up and log innings on the mound.
  • Blaine Spanulo, OF, 5-9, 170, saw limited time on varsity as a sophomore. Should compete for starting CF job.
  • Jared Feskanich, C/1B/P, 6-2, 180, saw limited time on varsity as a sophomore. Will compete for playing time at multiple positions.
  • Eric Hanna IF, Teddy Grendzynski IF/P, Braden Galaska OF - all 3 were on our JV SWC Championship team as Freshmen last year.

 

A Look Back At 2016 Preseason Articles:

To view the 2016 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2016 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

A Look Back At 2015 Preseason Articles:

To view the 2015 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2015 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.