2017 Spring Team Preview: Tri-County North Panthers
February 6, 2017
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: Tri-County North Panthers
Team Name: Tri-County North Panthers
Head Coach: Justin Tucker
Division: IV
2015 Record: 17-11
Conference Record: Cross Country Conference, 9-3
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/8
2017 Team Strengths:
- Pitching staff
- Experienced offense
- Leadership
2017 Team Weaknesses:
- We will need some key underclassmen to step up into more productive roles this year.
- We will need players to step into new roles as last year's senior class leave holes in the OF.
Coach Outlook: "We return 7 players that started for us last year and 10 guys that got varsity ABs during our Regional Semi-Finals run last year. We also return all 3 league starters who did not give up an earned run in 4 tournament games. We look to compete for the Conference and at the State level."
PBR Outlook: After a solid 17-11 season, coach Tucker and the Panthers look to carry that momentum into the 2017 spring season. With the return of seven starters and 10 guys back that contributed in 2016, lookout for the Panthers all season long.
Top Returning Players:
- Zach Edgin, SS/P, 2017
.345BA, 29R, 29H, 16RBI, 3 2B, 2 3B - Tanner Booth, 1B/P, 2017
.277BA, 25R, 28H, 13RBI, 7 2B - Bo Hendrickson, OF/INF, 2017
.295BA, 20R, 23H, 17RBI, 5 2B, 1 3B - Chandler Sproles, 1B/P, 2018
.338BA, 17R, 27H, 20RBI, 3 2B
Top Underclassmen:
- Colin Whipp, 2019 - Started 26 games as a freshman. Will develop into a good player. Pretty good stick along with the ability to play anywhere but behind the plate.
- Liam Downing, 2019 - Best Freshman catcher I have seen in a long time. Was easily the best catcher we had in our league last year. Stick will come with time, but defensively he is already head of most.
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.
