Prep Baseball Report

Several Ranked Prospects Looking to Win Football State Championship This Weekend





By Phil Wade

Director, PBR Indiana

The 41st IHSAA Football State Finals take place this weekend, beginning this afternoon at Lucas Oil Stadium in downtown Indianapolis.  A total of nine players currently ranked in the PBR Indiana player rankings will be stepping on the gridiron either later today or tomorrow with hopes of hoisting the championship trophy. 

5A

No.1 Westfield vs.  No. 5 Cathedral: Friday, November 29th 7:05 pm ET

The No. 1 ranked Westfield Shamrocks have two prospects ranked in the PBR Indiana rankings.  Senior Cole McCrary is ranked No. 152 in the 2014 class.  McCrary is a 6-foot-3, 205 pound corner infielder on the baseball team.  At the 18U Nationals showcase at Victory Field this summer he showcased quick hands at the plate with some projectable power.  For the Shamrock football team, the tight end is fifth in receiving with 16 receptions for 151 yards and a touchdown.  McCrary is averaging 9.4 yards per carry. 

Jacob Robinson is a right-handed pitcher on the Westfield baseball team and currently ranked No. 115 in the 2015 class.  We saw Robinson last spring up to 81 mph with his fastball.  Robinson plays on the defensive line for the No. 1 ranked Shamrocks and is fourth in tackles with 65. 

The Cathedral Fighting Irish have two ranked prospects in the 2015 class looking to win a state football championship.  Caleb Cross, ranked No. 113, plays outfield for the Fighting Irish in the spring, and is the starting running back on the 5A No. 5 ranked football team.   At the Preseason All State event last February, Cross ran a 7.00 60 and showcased a solid arm in the outfield at 79 mph with solid defensive actions.  At the plate he posted an exit velo of 86 mph.  For the football team Cross leads the team in scoring with 17 total touchdowns.  He leads Cathedral in rushing with 1,190 yards and 16 touchdowns. Cross is fourth on the team in receiving with 15 receptions for 114 yards and 1 touchdown. 

Cathedral wide receiver Evan Whigham is ranked No. 110 as an outfielder in PBR Indiana’s 2015 class.  He attended last year’s Preseason All State event where he ran a 7.12 60 and was 81 mph from the outfield.  Whigham is third in receiving for the Fighting Irish football team with 45 receptions for 695 yards and five touchdowns. 

4A

No. 1 Columbus East vs. Fort Wayne Dwenger: Saturday, November 30th 3:30 pm EST

Christian Wichman is currently ranked No. 147 in Indiana’s 2014 class as a catcher.  This spring we saw him in the 2.1-2.2 range with his pop times.  He possesses good athleticism and speed.  At the 2012 Preseason All State showcase Wichman ran a 6.81 60.  For the Olympians football squad he serves as a linebacker and running back.  He is fifth on the team in scoring with a total of nine touchdowns, six of which were rushing touchdowns. 

3A

No. 1 Andrean vs. No. 7 Brebeuf Jesuit: Friday, November 29th 3:30 pm EST

Quarterback Matt DeSomer leads the Andrean 59ers in scoring, rushing and passing yards.  He’s rushed for a total of 18 touchdowns and passed for 24.  He’s averaging over 100 yards per game in both rushing and passing.  In 199 passing attempts, DeSomer has only thrown four interceptions.  The Unsigned Senior was a member of Team Indiana at the 2012 Midwest future Games, and is ranked No. 30 in the class of 2014. In the spring, DeSomer serves as a right-handed pitcher and outfielder for the 59ers baseball team.  On the mound he pitches in the mid-80’s with his fastball.  At the MWFG he showcased a strong arm in the outfield at 89 mph. 

Unsigned senior Ben Powell serves as tight end and linebacker on the Brebeuf football team.   The 6-foot-2, 205 pound senior is an all-around solid athlete.  Powell plays the outfield and is a right-handed pitcher for the Braves baseball program.  He’s currently ranked No. 65 in the 2014 rankings.  The Top Prospect Games participant was 81 mph from the OF with good defensive actions.  Offensively, he possesses present bat speed with some projectable power. 

2A

No. 2 Cardinal Ritter vs. No. 9 Tipton: Saturday, November 30th Noon EST

Two players on Cardinal Ritter Raider’s football team are ranked in the PBR Indiana rankings.  Senior Logan Beaman is ranked No. 72 in the 2014 class.  At last month’s Unsigned Senior Showcase the outfielder impressed with a 90 mph exit velo and ran a 7.10 60.  For the Raider’s football team the RB/LB is second in rushing with 550 total yards and six touchdowns. 

Outfielder Tommy Waites is ranked No. 74 in the 2015 class.  He attended last year’s Preseason All State showcased where he impressed with a strong arm at 84 mph.  He also ran a 7.00 60 at the event.  He serves as a RB/DB on the Raiders football team.  Waites leads Cardinal Ritter in rushing with 558 yards and 11 touchdowns.  Defensively, Waites  is second in tackles with 70 and has one interception to his credit. 

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