Preseason Nebraska high school baseball capsules

Arlington


Coach: Rusty Hilgenkamp, 4th year. 2018: 7-11.


Returning starters - Seniors: Trevor Smailys, OF; Trent Borgmann, INF.


Outlook: Only two returning starters but a strong junior class for the Eagles.


Auburn


Coach: Mike Henrichs, 4th year. 2018: 7-11.


Returning starters - Seniors: Branden Lavigne, OF. Juniors: Josh Lambert, UTIL/P; Hayden Hall, OF; Kyson Warner, C/UTIL. Sophomores: Weston Reiman, INF/P; Brody Darnell, INF; Tye Ommert, INF.


Outlook: The progress of a young pitching staff could be the key for the Bulldogs.


Beatrice


Coach: Chris Belding, 2nd year. 5-12.


Returning starters - Seniors: Zach Hoffman, P/3B; Griffen Vater, P/SS. Juniors: Peyton Murphy, P/INF. Sophomores: Brody Nelson, P/CF.


Outlook: Orangemen, who haven't been to state since 2011, will rely on senior pitching of Hoffman and Vater.


Bennington


Coach: Scott Heese, 10th year. 2018: 11-10.


Returning starters - Seniors: Cooper Prososki, P/CF. Juniors: Kyler Essink, C.


Outlook: Badgers don't have many returning starters but can build around ace Prososki, who had a 1.02 ERA last season.


Blair


Coach: Mike O'Kane, 3rd year. 2018: 6-10.


Returning starters - Seniors: AJ Bilslend, INF; Jack Nielsen, OF. Juniors: Max Nickerson, OF/P; Colin Quick, INF/P; Ben Aguilera, OF/P; Auggie Rasmussen, INF/OF; Jason Stewart, INF/P; Gunnar Ogle, INF/P. Sophomores: Dex Larsen, C/INF.


Outlook: The Bears' fortunes are tied to the progress of the pitching staff.


Branched Oak


Co-Coaches: Andrew Edwards, Corey Serrano. 2018: 3-10.


Returning starters - Seniors: Aiden Urbom, SS/P; Garrett Moudry, INF/P; Nate Kuhn, CF. Juniors: Logan Black, C; Mikey McCoy, 2B; Rick Nickel, INF/OF.


Outlook: The co-op of Raymond Central and Malcolm hopes to improve on last year's three-win performance; Urbom batted .333 last season.


Central City/Fullerton


Coach: Brandon Detlefsen, 2nd year. 2018: 4-9.


Returning starters - Juniors: Nik Erickson, c/P; Michael Rutherford, 2B/P; Josiah Ohlman, OF/P; Brandon Rasmussen, 3B/P. Sophomores: Jackson McGinnis, OF/P; Tres Gonsior, SS/P.


Outlook: No seniors on the roster but the team should show improvement in its second season of varsity play.


Crete


Coach: Jeremy Fries, 8th year. 2018: 10-11.


Returning starters - Seniors: Dillon Feeken, SS/P; AJ Page, C.


Outlook: Cardinals graduated 10 seniors from last year but a new co-op with Milford should help boost numbers.


Douglas County West
Coach: Trey Baker, 3rd year. 2018: 10-7, state qualifier.


Returning starters - Seniors: Ty Eggen, OF; Jackson Gernandt, 1B/P. Sophomores: Nolan Chandler, SS/P.


Outlook: Young Falcons have hopes to make a return to state.


Elkhorn


Coach: Kyle McCright, 4th year. 2018: 20-11, state qualifier.


Returning starters - Seniors: Parker Lange, OF. Juniors: Trey Frahm, SS/P; Kyler Beekman, 3B/P. Sophomores: Aiden Young, OF/2B; Drew Christo, OF/P.


Outlook: Antlers return a nice nucleus and should be a state contender once again; Frahm is a Kansas State commit.


Elkhorn Mount Michael


Coach: Michael Hagge. 2018: 8-12.


Returning starters - Seniors: Sid deMayo, Patrick Collins, Sammy Eberle, Matthew Draper, Nick Akers, Jarrett Cline, Matt Brichacek. Juniors: Andree Kakish, Drew Thornton, Jacob Kubasik, Ben deMayo, Cole Cordes.


Outlook: The Knights hope that their experience and depth lead to a state tournament berth.


Fort Calhoun


Coach: Roy Prauner, 8th year. 2018: 2-13.


Returning starters - Seniors: Cole Halford, Nate Premer, Justin Evans. Juniors: Kaden Therkildsen, Cole Klabunde. Sophomores: Jake Siena, Justin Myer.


Outlook: The Pioneers should show improvement after last season's two-win performance.


Lincoln Christian


Coach: Jason Bingham.


Outlook: This will be the first season of play for the Crusaders, who have just one senior on the squad.


Lincoln Pius X


Coach: Troy Charf, 14th year. 2018: 7-11.


Returning starters - Seniors: Noah Unger, INF/P; Parker Swanson, INF; Alex Angele, OF.


Outlook: Thunderbolts missed the state tourney last year as a member of Class A; will rely on new players to step up.


Nebraska City


Coach: Kyle Ferguson. 2018: 6-8.


Returning starters - Seniors: Trent Fahey, P/OF; Bryce Levy, OF/P/C; Tyler Levy, UTIL; Jacob Shannon, P/UTIL. Juniors: Jordan Williams, P/C; Eli Southard, OF/2B.


Outlook: The Pioneers hope to build off the late-season success from last year.


Omaha Concordia/Omaha Brownell Talbot/Omaha Christian


Coach: Dan Kraft, 6th year. 2018: 14-7, state qualifier.


Returning starters - Seniors: Coleton Kanzemeier, SS/P; Noah Jones, OF/P; Ethan Bierman, OF; Tony Bellus, 1B/OF; Grant Meyer, C; Braden Olson, 3B/P; Jack Torosian, OF/2B.


Outlook: The return of seven starters bodes well for a team that seeks to return to state.


Omaha Gross


Coach: Mike Filipowicz, 30th year. 2018: 7-17.


Returning starters - Seniors: Ben Deiber, INF/P; Joe Godek, C. Juniors: Collin Almgren, OF; Nolan Lewandowski, INF/P; Jake McGregor, INF/P; Garret Hunter, C.


Outlook: The return of Deiber and Lewandowski, the Cougars' top two pitchers last season, is a positive.


Omaha Roncalli


Coach: Jake Hoover, 5th year. 2018: 18-5, state champion.


Returning starters - Seniors: Alex Rodgers, OF/INF; Justin Niederle, OF; Dave Mordeson, INF/OF. Juniors: Ethan Tyrakoski, OF.


Outlook: Crimson Pride return just four starters from last year's championship squad.


Omaha Skutt


Coach: Tim Lackovic, 2nd year. 2018: 18-6, state qualifier.


Returning starters - Seniors: Trevor Stevens, 3B; Austin Oswald, UTIL; Jacob Legleiter, 2B; Tanner Lukowski, C; Ryan Doble, P/OF; Josh Heser, P; Reilly Kirkpatrick, P.


Outlook: Perennially tough SkyHawks return a solid nucleus from last year's 18-win squad.


Platteview


Coach: Bryan Dutcher. 2018: 15-5.


Returning starters - Seniors: Jordan Mathewson, 2B; Caden Mathewson, SS; Hunter Babe, C; Grant Thomas, LF; Caden Johnson, P/OF; Jake Richards, P/OF.


Outlook: Motivated Trojans just missed state last year, losing to eventual state champion Omaha Roncalli in the district final.


Plattsmouth


Coach: Jim Olsen, 8th year. 2018: 3-15.


Returning starters - Seniors: Nathan Konkler, OF/P; Shawn McKinley, OF/P. Juniors: Jack Glup, SS/P. Sophomores: Aaronn Aho, C/P; Adam Eggert, OF/P.


Outlook: Blue Devils should show improvement with several juniors and seniors on the roster.


Ralston


Coach: Tom Cooper, 2nd year. 2018: 11-12.


Returning starters - Seniors: Darrien Costello, 3B; Kyler Corcoran, CF; Nick Krajeski, P; Michael Heig, OF. Juniors: Zane Harris, C; Jahrren Paces, UTIL.


Outlook: Rams return six position players from last summer's Legion team; addition of Bellevue East transfer Jaden Walls will help.


Seward


Coach: Brock Anderson, 8th year. 2018: 6-10.


Returning starters - Seniors: Brett Meyer, INF/P; Joseph Krause, INF/P; Derek Holtorf, INF; Caden Gardiner, OF; Carson Core, OF; Max Peery, OF/DH. Juniors: Tayte Rolenc, INF/P; Jaxson Simmerman, C. Sophomores: Colton Meyer, INF.


Outlook: Pitching and defense will be the keys for the Bluejays, who return the top three from last year's rotation.


Thurston/Cuming County


Coach: Clay Haymart, 8th year. 2018: 2-10.


Returning starters - Seniors: Eric Schopke, P/INF; Sam Mailloux, 1B. Juniors: Devin Hegge, C/P. Sophomores: Lucas Vogt, SS/C; Jaxon Maise, 3B/DH.


Outlook: Team returns several juniors from the successful Legion team last summer.


Wahoo/Lincoln Lutheran/Wahoo Neumann


Coach: Kyle Weyers, 5th year. 2018: 17-6, state qualifier.


Returning starters - Seniors: Karson Hesser, INF/P; Colby Bliss, OF; Trey Ahrens, UTIL/P; Nick Oden, P/INF.


Outlook: Team returns four starters from last year's state tourney squad.


Waverly


Coach: Kyle Parker, 4th year. 2018: 17-6.


Returning starters - Seniors: Jay Adams, SS; Kaleb Carrillo, OF; Andrew Moylan, OF/C; Rhett Jordon, INF/P; Sawyer Schroder, 1B; Thatcher Kozal, C/OF; Nolan Brown, INF; Jonah Reiser, P/OF; Ben Carter, UTIL; Maverick Wylder, P. Juniors: treyton Kozal, OF/P; Ian Steinmeyer, UTIL/P.


Outlook: Vikings have the experience and the motivation - narrowly missed state last year - to be a factor this season.


Wayne


Coach: Adam Hoffman, 8th year. 2018: 12-6.


Returning starters - Juniors: Trevor DeBoer, P/INF; Blake Bartos, UTIL; Josh Lutt, INF; Gunnar Jorgensen, OF; Hagan Miller, INF. Sophomores: Reid Krth, C; Jacob Kneifl, OF/P.


Outlook: The Blue Devils hope that added pitching depth and improved defense will lead to a successful season.
Ratings: Nebraska prep baseball, March 15


Class B


1. Elkhorn 20-11 5


2. Omaha Skutt 18-7 4


3. Norris 22-8 2
4. Waverly 17-6 9


5. Omaha Roncalli 18-5 1


6. Lincoln Pius X 7-11 NR


7. Wahoo 17-6 6


8. Omaha Concordia 14-7 7


9. Hastings 18-7 3


10. Bennington 11-10 NR