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By Dylan Hefflinger and PBR Staff
Editor in Chief/NW Scout

With the 2016 spring season right around the corner, PBR Ohio is eagerly anticipating bringing the Buckeye state the best high school coverage throughout the entire state.

Starting February 1st, we began releasing team previews for teams across the state, leading into the Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings.

To view the full list of 2016 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2016 Team Preview, click here.

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

2016 Spring Team Preview: Bellefontaine Chieftains

Team Name: Bellefontaine Chieftains
Head Coach: Art Caudill, 103-62
Division: I
2015 Record: 18-10
Conference Record: Central Buckeye Conference, 11-5
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/6

2016 Team Strengths:

• Pitching Depth
• Experience
• Defense

2016 Team Weaknesses:

• Power
• Hitting in the bottom of our order

Coach Outlook: "Being elevated to Division I this year really puts a damper on things because I thought we'd make a decent run in D-II like we did in 2012 and 2014. Division I will definitely make that tougher. In spite of playing at the D-I level, we still have 8/9 starters back."

PBR Outlook: Seeing that Bellefontaine has moved up to Division I, numerous Division II teams should breath a sigh of relief as these Chieftains are talented. My thoughts on Bellefontaine before doing this team preview was that they would be a top 10 team in Division II to start the season. Now in Division I, they will look to make their mark with a solid core back that includes ace, Tyler Jones.

Top Returning Players:

• Tyler Jones (pictured right, Dayton commit), 2016, P/INF, 6-3, 185, L/R, .372 BA. 4-3, 3.17 ERA, 50 K’s
• Connor Burton, 2016, INF, 5-11, 190, R/R, .344 BA
• Cole Braun, 2017, P/OF, 6-2, 200, L/L, .363 BA

Top Players – Class of 2016:

• Sammy Martz, C
• Cole Braun, P/OF
• Clay Wisner, INF/P

Top Players – Class of 2017:

• Tommy Belser (pictured right), P

Top Underclassmen

• Donovan Dinovo, LHP/OF
• Issac Newman, OF

 

A Look Back At 2015 Preseason Articles:

To view the 2015 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2015 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

• Division I
• Division II
• Division III
• Division IV

To view the 2015 Preseason State Rankings, click below.

• Division I
• Division II
• Division III
• Division IV