By Phil Wade
Indiana Executive Director

Follow @PBRIndiana

The 2015 high school season is just around the corner.  Leading up to the start of the season we are going to take a quick glance at many teams from across the state.  

Team: Benton Central
Class: 3A
Conference: Hoosier

Head Coach: Tyler Rosenbarger
2014 Record: 9-20
2014 Conference Record: 4-8
Returning Starters: 8
Returning Pitchers: 6

Top Overall Players

Henry Fisher, OF, 2015
Sam Smith, MIF, 2016
Brett Shoults, C, 2015
Marcus Patterson, RHP, 2015
Jacob Turner, MIF/RHP, 2015
Joel Huff, OF/RHP, 2016

Top 2015's

Henry Fisher, OF
Brett Shoults, C
Marcus Patterson, RHP
Jacob Turner, MIF

Top 2016's

Sam Smith, MIF
Joel Huff, OF/RHP
Skyler Tucker, OF/RHP

Top 2017's

Gabe Barrett, INF/RHP
Jake Matson, 1B
Johnny Lanie, RHP

Top 2018's

Blake Morin, UTL/RHP
Kolton Tucker, LHP/1B
Elliot Freeland, MIF/RHP 

OUTLOOK

Head Coach Tyler Rosenbarger and the Benton Central Bison head into the 2015 season with high expectations.  The Bison return eight starters and six pitchers from last year's squad and will add the best freshman class they've seen in years.  Rosenbarger says, "If the pitchers can be consistent and the leadership continues to grow, it can be a great year."  Expected to lead the way for the Bison this season is senior outfielder Henry Fisher.  The 6-foot-3, 190 pounder hit .386 with 2 HR, 21 RBI, 6 3B and 11 SB last season.  Junior MIF Sam Smith will lead things up the middle.  Smith, a 6-foot, 175 pounder, hit .348 with 2 HR, 21 RBI and 5 2B last year as a sophomore.  Behind the plate is senior Brett Shoults, a 6-foot-1, 190 pounder that hit .374 with 17 RBI and 7 2B in 2014.  A big contributor on the mound will be 5-foot-11, 165 pound senior righty Marcus Patterson.  Patterson was 4-6 with a 4.65 ERA and 45 Ks as a Junior. Others expected to contribute are senior MIF/RHP Jacob Turner (.272 BA, 15 RBI, 7 2B; 4.45 ERA and 26 Ks) and Junior outfielder Joel Huff (.282 BA, 10 RBI, 3 2B, 10 SB).  In order to stay atop the conference standings the Bison will have to compete with Central Catholic, Delphi and West Lafayette. 

CLICK HERE to read more 2015 Team Previews