Alabama High School Team Preview: East Limestone Indians

2019 Team Previews:

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High School: East Limestone

2018 Record: 13-15

Head Coach: Bradley Craig

AHSAA Classification: 5A

AHSAA Area: 16

2018 Area Finish: 3rd

2018 Playoff Run: N/A

RETURNING STARTERS:

Tyler Wagnon ‘19 SS/RHP

Cameron Johnson ‘19 2B/RHP

Zach Pyles ‘19 1B/LHP

Brady Kassay ‘19 3B/RHP

Nathan Greene ‘19 OF

Reis Browning ‘20 RHP/OF

UNDERCLASSMEN TO WATCH:

Corey Couch ‘20 MIF/RHP

Jacob Burgess ‘20 RHP

Ben Petty ‘20 3B/C

Drew Harting ‘21 C/RHP

Kollin Swart ‘21 OF/RHP

Jacob Eslick ‘22 RHP/1B

Barrett Brown ‘22 RHP/IF

Connor Beck ‘22 SS

TEAM STRENGTHS:

A ton of experience returning, including all of the infielders

Lots returning innings pitched returning, including #2 and #3 starters

Team speed

OUTLOOK:

The East Limestone Indians enter the 2019 season with a veteran ball club with numerous returnees from the 2018 season. Coach Bradley Craig welcomes back six positional starters and six pitchers that saw innings in 2018 as his team will battle Ardmore, Madison County and Madison Academy in a rugged 5A Area 16. The Indians will rely heavily on experience gained in 2018 and will be looking for someone to take over the catching job on a daily basis. Several players moving up from last year’s JV team will be counted on to make significant contributions in 2019. A nice group of seniors will help lead the way this year. Tyler Wagnon (SS/RHP) will return to the leadoff spot after hitting .446 in 2018. He is a Calhoun CC signee.  Cameron Johnson is a senior 2B that will return after hitting .325 a season ago. Johnson will also see time as a RHP. Zach Pyles is another senior that will return as a dual threat player this year. The 2019 grad will return to 1B after producing 15 RBI’s and 1 HR in 2018. Pyles was also the team’s #2 pitcher a year ago and should be a huge factor on the mound again in 2019 from the left side. Brady Kassay is another 2019 grad that returns with starting experience at 3B and will be called on to be an offensive threat this season. Nathan Greene returns as the starter in CF where he had 47 putouts and only 1 error a season ago. Leading the junior class for the Indians is RHP/OF Reis Browning, who was the team’s #3 arm in 2018 throwing a little over 28 innings while maintaining a 3.10 ERA. Corey Crouch will be making the jump from JV to Varsity in 2019 and will be counted on to help on the mound and at 2B/SS. Two additional juniors that recently moved in to East Limestone are RHP Jacob Burgess and 3B/C Ben Petty. Both of these players may play significant roles for the Indians in 2019. A few youngsters to keep an eye on in 2019 and beyond are: 2021 Drew Harting (C/RHP), 2021 Kollin Swart (OF/RHP), 2022 Barrett Brown (RHP/IF) and 2022 Connor Beck (SS). The Indians will depend on a strong nucleus of seniors to hopefully lead the team to the state playoffs