Vote: Who Is The Best High School Catcher In Baseball In Battle Creek Area?

BATTLE CREEK - The B.O.B. is hitting the diamond.

The Best Of Battle Creek series in the Enquirer is being expanded this year to include the top players on baseball and softball fields throughout the area.

Each week, throughout the spring, we are going to ask, "Who is the Best Of Battle Creek?" as we look at each position in baseball and softball among the city/area high school teams. 

Nominations for each position have come from the city/area coaches with a little information on each player. It will be a tougher list to make this year as we expand the field to city and area teams, but once we do, then it will be up to the Enquirer readers to decide who is the B.O.B.

MORE: Vote for the No. 1 catcher in high school softball

Each week we will give readers choices and open our online poll for voting, with a winner decided by the following Tuesday with polls closing at noon.

Next up are the catchers for the city/area baseball teams:

Boston Byers

School: Bellevue

Class: Senior

Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A key senior leader on a young Bellevue team, Boston Byers can play all over the field, but his ability to lead the pitching staff from his catching position gives the Broncos their best chance at success.

Ayden Delp

School: Colon

Class: Junior

Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: Ayden Delp has a strong arm and exceptional blocking skills. He is hitting .500 with a .833 slugging percentage with 15 RBI and 10 stolen bases.

Finnegan Mahoney

School: Harper Creek

Class: Senior

Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A four-year varsity player, Finnegan Mahoney has been an all-conference and all-city selection. A great leader on defense, the senior is also hitting .400 with a .550 on-base percentage. He has committed to play baseball at Grace Christian University next year.

Ashton Matrau

School: Galesburg-Augusta

Class: Senior

Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A senior captain in his first year playing for Galesburg-Augusta, Ashton Matrau has been a standout at the plate with a .500 batting average with 22 runs scored and 16 RBI to go along with nine stolen bases.

Jeffrey Michael

School: Pennfield

Class: Junior

Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A first-year player who is growing into his role as the everyday catcher for Pennfield. Jeffrey Michael is also developing into an offensive threat, batting nearly .350 in his last 10 games as he is becoming comfortable with varsity baseball.

Spencer Shotwell

School: Lakeview

Class: Senior

Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: One of the few returning starters on a young Lakeview team, Spencer Shotwell brings good leadership to the catching position. An all-city and all-league returner, Shotwell has battled injuries, but has been a force when he has been on the field.

Parker Woodrow

School: Gull Lake

Class: Senior

Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A true field general, Parker Woodrow is a key senior and a returner from Gull Lake's state semifinal team from a year ago. Woodrow is hitting .347 with 16 RBI and will play at Hope College next year.

Tucker Zweng

School: Union City

Class: Sophomore

Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: In his second season behind the plate, Tucker Zweng is a standout defensive catcher. The sophomore is also hitting cleanup in the batting lineup, batting .400 with 17 RBI.

Bill Broderick can be reached at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on Twitter: @billbroderick

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: List of best catchers in baseball in Battle Creek Enquirer area