Prep Baseball Report

2015 Team Preview: Anoka Tornadoes



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By Rob Allison
Prep Baseball Report Minnesota

As we prepare for the upcoming 2015 high school season, we will be taking a preseason glimpse at programs from around the state.

ANOKA TORNADOES

Team: Anoka
Nickname: Tornadoes
Class: AAA
League: Northwest Suburban
Head Coach: Shannon Blansette
Years as Head Coach at School: 2
2014 Overall Record: 15-8
2014 League Record: 8-2
2014 League Finish: Conference Co-Champion
2014 Post-Season Finish: Lost in 4th round

Returning Starters
: 6
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 4

Starters Lost: 2
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Lost: 0

TOP RETURNERS
2015, Alex Glick, RHP/1B
2015, Trevor Smith, UTL/RHP

2016 PLAYERS TO WATCH
2016, Alex Pribyl, RHP
2016, Alex Farley, 1B/LHP
2016, Chase Thomas, SS

2017 PLAYER(S) TO WATCH
2017, Trent Palmer, 3B/RHP

X-FACTOR
The Northwest Suburban Conference will be a beast this year. If Anoka can make it through league and sectional play; they stand a good chance of making a serious run at the state tournament.

2015 OUTLOOK
Anoka returns their entire starting pitching rotation so expectations are high heading into 2015. The jury is still out on them offensively. If the bats can consistently generate run production; the Tornadoes like their chances with the pitching depth they have. Glick, a DMACC recruit, is coming off a 8 win season on the mound and earned All-Conference and All-Section honors last year. Trevor Smith will be a "jack of all trades" type player who will lead from multiple areas on the field; Smith was All-Conference and led the team in saves in 2014. 2016's Alex Pribyl and Alex Farley are two of the better juniors in the state. Reports have come in that Pribyl, in top form, will reach the upper 80's from the mound and Farley is a 2-way talented 1B/LHP who has upper echelon potential with the bat. 2016 Chase Thomas will key the defense from his shortstop position and provide consistent quality AB's at the plate. And 2017 Trent Palmer, who attended last week's Preseason Underclass event, shows the ability to play third base, has power and hitting ability at the plate, and shows a quality 3-pitch mix from the mound. Talent is available, expectations are high, and the Tornadoes are ready to compete in 2015.

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COACHES PRESEASON QUESTIONNAIRE

We appreciate all of the help provided by high school coaches across the state assisting with our preseason coverage. If you have not already done so you can fill out our coaches' preseason questionnaire online by clicking here.

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