2A Preview

 

Sectional 33:

Wheeler (17-6) and Hanover Central (16-5) look to be the favorites to make it to the championship game. Hanover Central is going to be tough to beat when they send Senior Andy Wellwerts to the bump. Wellwerts is 6-0 on the season with a 0.34 ERA with 78 Ks in 40.2 innings pitched. Zac Maciejewski (0.528 BA) and Nick Bollenbacher (.419) will need to provide the offense for Hanover Central. Hammond Noll is another team to watch out for, with a 10-2 conference record, they are looking to repeat as sectional champs.

 

Sectional 34:

Boone Grove may be the favorite to win sectional 34. They are the defending sectional champs, but could get a tough test from several teams; Hebron beat them 2-1 earlier this season.

 

Sectional 35:

At 18-4 Fairfield comes in as the favorite. Garrett Scott (6-1 2.27 ERA) and Jerad Stump (8-0 1.60) will need to lead them on the mound if they hope to repeat as sectional champs. Fairfield will have a tough road having to face Bremen who beat them earlier in the year, and Jimtown who is led by Kois, Weinkauf, and Desimone.

 

Sectional 36:

Central Noble will have a tough time repeating as sectional champs taking on Fremont in the first round. At 17-6 Fremont looks to be the favorite coming in, but Churubusco could provide a tough sectional championship matchup.

 

Sectional 37:

This sectional is up for grabs as Delphi looks to repeat as sectional champion. Codey Sattler and Karson Bender will have to lead the offense if Delphi hopes to accomplish that goal.

 

Sectional 38:

Another sectional that is up for grabs. Adams Central is the defending champion and could have a rematch of last year?s sectional championship with Bishop Luers if they win their first round matchup.

 

Sectional 39:

Northfield (21-5) and Wabash (20-5) come in as the favorites and could set up a rematch of last year?s sectional championship in which Northfield won. Northfield is tough to beat with ace Ryan Keaffaber (8-0, 0.84 ERA, 94 Ks) on the mound. Adam House and Andy Roser will also be key parts for Northfield?s pitching with five wins apiece. Keaffaber and Peyton Ross lead a potent offense both hitting 0.434. Wabash is led on the mound by Andrew Shepherd (8-2, 3.81 ERA) and Jack Holley (6-0, 3.04 ERA). Shea Beauchamp is big offensive contriubutor for Wabash, hitting 0.480 with 6 HRs and 38 RBIs. Shepherd (0.488 BA) and Landon Cole (7 HRs) are also main offensive contributors.

 

Sectional 40:

Taylor is the defending champion, and at 22-4 is the favorite to win the sectional. Oak Hill and Guerin Catholic also are teams that should have a good chance to play for the sectional championship. Jake Althouse will be a key contributor for Oak Hill on the mound and at the plate. On the mound he is 8-1 with a 2.13 ERA and at the plate he is hitting 0.583 with eight homeruns and 42 RBIs. Ryan Spaulding will be important at the plate and Jordan Hamilton will be needed on the mound for Oak Hill to advance. Guerin Catholic will be tough to be when 2011?s 15^th ranked player Matt Pletzke takes the mound. The Ball State commit brings a fastball that tops out in the upper 80s.

 

Sectional 41:

Wapahani (20-3) is ranked #2 in the coaches? poll and comes in as the favorite to repeat as sectional champs. Wapahani is led on the mound by Jon Keesling who is 8-0 with an ERA in the low 2s with 49 Ks.  Offensively Wapahani has nine hitters batting above .330, led by Ball State commit Brandon Estep who is hitting .521 with three homeruns and 22 RBIs.  Aaron Gardner, Woodward, and McWhirt are all hitting over .400 and Heath Reynolds leads the team with six homeruns.

 

Sectional 42:

The big game should be in the second round when Union County (20-3) and Centerville (14-5) face off.  Fourth ranked Union County is the defending champion beating Centerville last year.

 

Sectional 43:

Park Tudor, ranked 3^rd in the state, comes in as the favorite at 22-5.  Kyle Hardacker leads a strong offensive attack hitting .535 with eight homeruns and 50 RBIs. Nolan Smith provides some more pop with seven homeruns and 38 RBIs while hitting .415. Kevin Rex and Max Zhang also post batting averages above .400. On the mound Park Tudor is lead by Zhang and Madison Foster who are both 6-1 with ERAs in the 1s. Triton Central?s Luke Stephenson will be another player to keep an eye on with a fastball in the upper 80s. Heritage Christian comes in as the defending sectional champion which will be a tough first round matchup for Park Tudor. Heritage Christian is also the two-time defending state champion so beating an experienced postseason team will be hard for anyone to accomplish in this sectiona.

 

Sectional 44:

Milan comes in as the defending sectional champion and could face a tough second round matchup with Hauser, in a sectional that could have many different outcomes.

 

Sectional 45:

This is another one of the sectionals in 2A without a lear cut favorite. Linton-Stockton will be playing at home trying to defend their sectional championship from last year.

 

Sectional 46:

Covenant Christian at 16-5, six straight wins, looks to be the early favorite. If they are going to advance they will need solid performances from Cody Gaddis (3-2, 3.56 ERA) and Alex McIntyre (4-0, 2.13 ERA). Gaddis (.391 BA, 13 RBIs) and McIntyre (.455, 24 RBIs) will also need to produce at the plate. Tyler Watson of North Putnam is also a player to keep an eye on. At the plate he hit 11 homeruns and on the mound he went 4-2 with a 1.87 ERA. Monrovia?s Jeremy Gray will be a tough pitcher to beat.  He currently is 4-4, but has a 2.39 ERA and 96 Ks to just 16 walks on the year.

 

Sectional 47:

At 16-7 and ranked 10^th, Eastern (Pekin) has a good chance to win this sectional. Reigning champion Providence will be one of their biggest obstacles. Providence sits at 12-8, but many of their losses coming to 4A schools.  They do have a win over 4A Jeffersonville.

 

Sectional 48:

This may be the toughest sectional in 2A with three teams, Forest Park, South Spencer, and Tell City, ranked in the coaches? poll. Evansville Mater Dei is the defending champion and although not ranked, is still one of the better teams in 2A. Beating Tell City?s Shane Weedman will be a tough task, as he is 7-0 with a 2.12 ERA. Tell City is led offensively by Trent Gunn with a .404 BA, six homeruns, and 27 RBIs. Forest Park will need production from 11^th ranked prospect and Evansville commit Kyle Schwinghamer to make a deep run.