Prep Baseball Report

2016 Spring Team Preview: Celina Bulldogs



Follow @PBR Ohio 

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: Celina Bulldogs

Team Name: Celina Bulldogs
Head Coach: Andy Mikesell, 31-20
Division: II
2015 Record: 18-6
Conference Record: Western Buckeye League, 8-1
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/4

2016 Team Strengths:

  • Drive > Their "want" to win
  • Camaraderie
  • Experience
  • Defense
  • Leadership

2016 Team Weaknesses:

  • Team Depth
  • Team Speed
  • Offensive Consistency

Coach Outlook: "We have been looking forward to this season ever since our early exit in the state tournament last spring. Being so young last year (starting 4 sophomores and 3 juniors) has given us a great opportunity to learn and grow from those experiences as well carry a chip on our shoulder to prove we are a program who can contend every year."

Coach Outlook: Celina is a scary team in 2016. They have an ace in Seth Lonsway and they have a hungry team (lost early in tournament after winning difficult WBL). The 2016 Bulldogs of Celina and coach Mikesell will be a team to watch all season long as they have the ability to make a run come tournament time.

Seth LonswayTop Returning Players:

  • Seth Lonsway (pictured right), 2017, P/OF/1B, 6', 175, L/L, OSU Commit
  • Justin Keeling, 2016, 2B/SS/P, 5'11", 170, R/R, 2nd Team WBL, 407BA 
  • CJ Kimmel, 2016, 1B/P, 6'3", 205, R/R, Best defensive 1B in the WBL. Lot of pop in his bat.

Tanner FreemanTop Players – Class of 2017:

  • Seth Lonsway, P/OF/1B, 6', 175, L/L, OSU Commit
  • Isaiah Eichler, C, 5'11", 175, R/R, will become an elite catcher in the next 2 seasons, .315 BA
  • Jake Smalley, OF/P, 5'11", 170, R/R, Great defensive OF with a very strong arm. Looks to prove his bat is also up to par.
  • Tanner Freeman (pictured right), 3B/P, 5'10", 175, R/R, Great defensive 3B with strong arm. Very capable pitcher with a developing bat.

Top Underclassmen

  • Kole Murlin, 2018, OF/C/IF, 6'1", 170, R/R, Athletic with a good arm. Very good contact hitter with good pop.
  • Parker Maurer, 2019, Util/P, 5'9", 160, R/R, Very athletic with a strong arm and a quick bat. Will compete for a varsity spot.
  • Kane Moeller, INF/P, 5'10", 155, R/R, Very quick hands with a solid bat.
  • Reid Harter, 1B/3B/P, 6'1", 160, L/R, Best pitching prospect. Good velocity with command of several pitches. Will compete for innings on varsity this year.

 

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.

To view the 2015 Preseason State Rankings, click below.


Top Headlines for the Buckeye State