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By Phil Wade
Director, PBR Indiana  

The top team in 3A, and one of the top teams in all of Indiana, is No.4 ranked Norwell (29-3).  They are led Illinois State commit and the No. 3 ranked prospect in 2013, Josh Van Meter, as well as the No. 1 ranked prospect in 2014, Jonah Patten, an Arkansas commit.  Heading into sectionals, Van Meter was hitting a .436 with 7 HR, 33 RBI, and 27 SBs.  Tailur Szarenski, and Austin Dettmer are key pieces to a Norwell lineup that finished the regular season htting .346.  Norwell is the clear favorite to advance. 

Norwell will face Delta (17-11) tomorrow morning at 11 AM in the first game of the Bellmont Regional.  Delta is led by Austin Conway, ranked 40^th in the 2013 class and committed to Indiana State.  Conway possesses a good arm and has the capability to shut down Norwell’s lineup.  If Conway is on his game, they need good offensive performances from the No. 24 ranked prospect in the 2013 class, Alex Maloney as well as Conway.  Maloney, son of Ball State Head Coach Rich Maloney, will be headed to Ball State this fall.  

No. 5 Andrean (27-2-1) and No. 11 Western (21-5) expect to meet in the Plymouth Regional Final where we could see a pitching matchup between Andrean’s Zac Ryan and Western’s Ronnie Smith.  Ryan is ranked as the No.4 overall prospect in the 2013 class with a fastball in the low 90’s.  Smith is ranked No. 23 in the 2013 class and was up to 90-91 earlier this week in the sectional final.  Both pitchers are headed south for college; Ryan is committed to Georgia Tech while Smith is heading to the University of Alabama-Birmingham.  

Western also has junior Evan Warden.  Warden is the No. 15 prospect in the 2014 class.  Warden is Western’s No. 2, giving them a solid 1-2 on the mound.  Warden is also a key defensively at SS and at the plate. 

Andrean hitters that should produce include; Nick Podkul (2015), Ryan, Joey Plesac and Matt DeSomer.  DeSomer was a member of Team Indiana at last year’s Under Armour Midwest Future Games.  

Assuming these two teams advance to the Regional Championship game, this is by far one of the best matchups in not only 3A, but in the entire state. 

Down South in the Jasper Regional we will see No. 6 Jasper (29-3) take on No. 25 Silver Creek (23-7).  Jasper has a solid 1-2 on the mound in seniors Mark Geisler (No. 30 in 2013 class) and Nick Gobert (No. 61 in 2013 class). Offensively Jasper is led by Geisler, rising sophomore prospect Austin Alles and Gobert.  On paper Jasper is the team to beat in this regional, but last year were upset by Silver Creek. 

Silver Creek will lean on RHP Luke Barnett to pitch a great game. Silver Creek rolled to a sectional final outscoring their opponents 25-1.  Junior Shea Durham (SS) leads the team defensively. As mentioned Jasper is the team to beat on paper, however, Barnett is good enough keep Jasper’s offensive attack in check. 

3A Sleepers 

Franklin County could be a team to make some noise this weekend in the Jasper Regional.  We have not seem them much this year, but they do have an impressive record of 22-3 and knocked off an impressive Greensburg team in the sectional final. 

Delta (17-11) possesses enough talent to pull off some upsets Bellmont Regional, especially with Conway and Maloney leading the way. 

SB St Joseph’s (17-7) gave defending 3A State Champs Western a scare last year.  They possess quality players all around including senior SS Brad Hartman.  Hartman is ranked No. 48 in the 2013 class and was a member of Team Indiana at the 2011 Under Armour Midwest Future Games.