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.

Team: Elk River
Nickname: Elks
Class: AAA
League: Northwest Suburban
Head Coach: Ryan Holmgren
Years as Head Coach at School: 4
2014 Overall Record: 19-9
2014 League Record: 8-2
2014 League Finish:  League Champions
2014 Post-Season Finish: 4th Place at AAA State Tournament

Returning Starters: 4
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Returning: 2

Starters Lost:  5
Pitchers with 15+ Innings Lost: 3

TOP RETURNERS
2015, Ben Johnson, RHP/CF
2015, Austin Heuer, RHP/1B
2015, Brennan Beese, C
2015, Riley Givens, MIF

X-FACTOR
Coming off the best season in Elk River baseball history; the Elks enter unfamiliar territory in 2015 as the hunted; not the hunter. They will have to deal with high expectations within their program and from their competition.

 

2015 OUTLOOK
Elk River had a fabulous 2014 season; ultimately finishing in 4th place at the Minnesota High School State Tournament. Head Coach Ryan Holmgren's squad will be led on the mound by captains, Ben Johnson and Austin Heuer. Johnson, a Century College commit, was an All-Conference and All-State Tournament Team honoree last season as the team's #3 starter on the mound and led them offensively in runs scored, walks, and stolen bases from the lead-off spot. Heuer will also be at the top of the rotation; coming off a All-Conference campaign where he tied for team lead in batting average, hits, and total bases and will move up the ladder from being the #4 starter last year. The Elks will be strong up the middle with 2015 Brennan Beese at catcher whose shown to be a good leader and 2015 Riley Givens who started every game in 2014 at second base. The Elks will need their pitching to continue to improve and remain solid throughout the year. Elk River looks to be competitive in both the tough Northwest Suburban Conference and Section 7AAA.
 

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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.