Tipp Baseball Preview: New coach ready for big season

As the Tippecanoe baseball team prepares for their season opening week in Florida, new head coach Cameron Dickens has liked what he has seen in the early parts of the preseason. He knows with a solid group of returning veterans, it could be a successful season for the Red Devils.

“I feel we are in a good place even though we are young as a team, we have a good number of kids who are experienced,” Dickens said, “The five sophomores all got varsity reps last year and we have a lot of guys back. We are strong up the middle with two catchers with experience, and we are good at shortstop and second base. We also have a centerfielder who played every day last year. We are focused on improving every day and working on things that are important to us. I am happy where we are for the first two weeks.”

Dickens has been impressed how well the kids have worked in the offseason as they look to come out swinging when the season kicks off Sunday night.

“Watching how the swings have evolved over the winter. I think we are growing offensively and starting to impact the baseball with more authority,” Dickens said.

Tipp will bring five seniors into the season as they will rely on their experience for the year ahead.

For this year varsity player Landon Turner will man second base, who has also played for Dickens in the summer.

“He is the consummate top of the order type of player,” he said. “He gives you a lot and is a pesky out. He gives you exactly what you need at the top of the lineup.” Jaxon Hill also returns, another senior that Dickens will be counting on this season.

“He is a guy who we feel comfortable with in the middle of the order who will play some infield and some outfield. He has some good speed and gap-to-gap pop.”

Lukas Merry also returns as one of their primary pitchers as a senior.

“He has shown some good things in some scrimmages,” Dickens said. Also, Brayden Burgbacher suits up after dealing with past injuries.

“He hasn’t been able to play the past couple of years,” the new Tipp coach said. “We have been impressed with him coming off his ACL last year.”

The final senior who will be counted on is Peyton Schultz, one of their key rotation pitchers who should be a strong leader this season.

“We feel comfortable with him at the top of our rotation and he has thrown in big games,” Dickens said. “We feel comfortable with his leadership pedigree coming off of his quarterback-one season.”

Key juniors to watch include Logan Wright (catcher), Landon Muhlenkamp, Anderson McKinney (pitcher), Preston Zumwalt (Toledo commit), Carson Mayer (catcher).

Cayden McKinney is a sophomore being counted on this season along with Bryce Eckert, Carson Jackson, and Brady Liskey.