How strong is high school baseball on the Northside this year? The team in ninth place in the preseason rankings went 19-9 last year. Teams can begin playing Monday. Here's a look at the teams, top players and some key early season games in the area:
Preseason ranking
1. Cathedral: The Irish return just four players with significant varsity experience . . . but what experience it is. The program is 87-11 the past three seasons, with a state championship appearance in 2006 and the title in '07. Dillon Peters (7-0, 0.46 earned run average) and Kevin Bower (6-0, 3.33 ERA) return on the mound, with Bower (.378, 7 homers, 37 runs batted in), second baseman Brian Lauer (.394, 26 RBIs) and shortstop Patrick Paligraf (.340, 13 doubles, 27 RBIs) back in the lineup.
2. Lawrence North: The Wildcats return six members of the starting lineup and almost all the pitching from last season's co-Metropolitan Interscholastic Conference, which went 18-9 despite playing all its games on the road due to field upgrades. The pitching staff will be led by University of Arizona recruit Nick Cunningham (6-1, 2.51 ERA), with pitcher/right fielder Elijah Linder, center fielder Chris Chamberlin, pitcher/right fielder Clint Seefeldt, first baseman Andy Hearn and pitcher Tyler Watson also returning.
3. Lawrence Central: The defending Conference Indiana champions are young but experienced. The Bears lost three starters off last year's team and return a single senior starter, catcher Kyler Mason. But they will be led by returning junior starters shortstop Alex Chittenden, pitcher Matt Jefferson, outfielder Chris Hoopingarner and first baseman Phillip Powell. Sophomores Brandon Krieg (second base) and Christian Montgomery and Jared Ruxer (pitchers) also are expected to contribute.
4. Brebeuf Jesuit: The Braves won one of the state's most competitive sectionals last season and return eight players with significant experience from that team, including Kevin Simms (Wright State), Stevie Eberhart (Marshall), Jack Dillon (.446, 4 homers, 37 RBIs), shortstop Tres Eberhart (.418, 26 runs) and third baseman/catcher Mitch Overley (.394, 22 RBIs). The pitching will be led by Jamie Hebenstriet (6-1, 3.57 ERA).
5. North Central: The Panthers return just two regulars from last season, but both are preseason all-state selections -- catcher Kolin Conner and pitcher Jordan Robinson. Coach Phil McIntyre quickly turned the Panthers into a perennially competitive team, and he'll rely on the program's strength to provide players to step in this season.
6. Heritage Christian: The Eagles return five starters -- including .400 hitters Scott Kreeger, Christian Rector and Chris Ward -- and a pitching staff the includes ace Joey Perrott (3-3, 2.52 ERA). But they will have to battle through an always loaded sectional, which includes Park Tudor, Ritter, Scecina and Triton Central.
7. Bishop Chatard: After losing one of the program's most successful classes, with a 25-4 mark last season, the Trojans' rebuilding efforts took a blow when they lost junior center fielder/pitcher T.J. Agnew for the season to a knee injury. The team returns shortstop/pitcher Bobby Akin (.326/4-0, 2.20 ERA), second baseman Steve Maniago (.323, 6 doubles) and outfielder Shawn Nickleson (.271) and will count on John Brumleve (third base), John Bryant (pitcher/outfielder) and Steve Commiskey (outfielder/pitcher).
8. Pike: First-year coach Michael Ruth will benefit from the experience gained by a talented group of sophomores on last year's team, which was 7-17. Ace and No. 3 hitter Gabe Hoffman leads the returning cast, which also includes Scott Aaron Goode, David Simmons and Evan Moncrief.
9. Park Tudor: The Panthers only lost two senior regulars from last year's 19-9 team, but the biggest blow is shortstop Micah Johnson, an Indiana University commitment, missing the season due to a left shoulder injury. Coach Courtney Whitehead won't be able to replace Johnson's power but is comfortable with Andrew Bain (Valparaiso) in the middle of the order and at shortstop. Max Thomas is back at the front of the pitching staff, Wes Dunn returns in center field, and Kyle Hardacker returns after hitting .400 as a freshman.
The coaches at Arlington and Broad Ripple could not be reached.
Preseason All-North Team
Catcher: Kolin Conner, North Central.
First base: Kevin Bower, Cathedral.
Second base: Brian Lauer, Cathedral.
Third base: Kyle Hardacker, Park Tudor.
Shortstop: Alex Chittenden, Lawrence Central.
Outfielders: Jack Dillon, Brebeuf; Elijah Linder; Lawrence North; and Chris Ward, Heritage Christian.
Pitchers: Nick Cunningham, Lawrence North; Matt Jefferson, Lawrence Central; and Dillon Peters, Cathedral.
Top early season games
Roncalli at Brebeuf, 5 p.m. April 7: Expect to see this matchup again in sectionals.
Lawrence Central at North Central, 5 p.m. April 13: Two young squads get a good early test.
Cathedral at Southport, 4:45 p.m. April 15: Defending City champ vs. Marion County titlist.
Lawrence North at Carmel, 5 p.m. April 16: Shared the MIC title last year, play at Lawrence North on April 17.
Heritage Christian at Brebeuf, 5 p.m. April 21: Eagles will find out about themselves playing a Class 3A power.