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

Leading up to the season we will be releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into our Preseason All-State Teams and Preseason Team Rankings.

CLICK HERE to view more Team Previews 

2017 TEAM PREVIEW: Blackford Bruins

Head Coach: Tony Uggen
Class: 2A
2016 Record: 8-21
Conference (2016 Record/Finish): Central Indiana (1-6)
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

2017 Team Strengths:

• Experience 
• Pitching
• Defense
• Potential Speed  

Top Returning Players:

• Kerigan Reynard, P/DH, 2017: 6'2-190, R/R, .227 BA, 2 RBI, 61.0 IP, 2-3, 2.75 ERA, 11 BB, 32 K 
• Dayton Dow, 1B/OF/P, 2018: 6'0-180, L/L, .231 BA, 3 2B, 1 3B, 14 RBI, 37.2 IP, 0-6, 6.13 ERA, 25 BB, 31 K
• Braxton Strait, SS, 2018: 5'9-140, R/R, .291 BA, 5 2B, 1 HR, 15 RBI
• Blaine Riddle, 2B/P, 2018: 5'9- 140, R/R, .257 BA, 3 2B, 8 RBI
• Jake Wells, OF, 2017: 5'11-160, R/R, .219 BA, 1 2B, 5 RBI
• Tyler Cagle, 1B/C, 2018: 6'0-180, R/R, .167 BA,  6 RBI 
• Jake Ross, 3B/P, 2018: 5'9-170, R/R, .154 BA, 2 RBI,  27.0 IP, 1-1, 6.48 ERA, 8 BB, 10 K

Outlook: The Bruins return seven daily starters along with their 1,2,4 and 5 pitchers from last season. Coach Uggen's team will still be relatively young and have a talented incoming freshmen class that finished 12-1 last summer in junior high baseball. Uggen will need to find a regular behind the plate and at third base to shore up what should be a quality fielding ball club. The Bruins could also have more overall team speed and a more potent offensive attack than in 2016. Four pitchers return with mound experience and there is the possibility of a freshman or two stepping in as well.