Whether they hit for a high average, sacrifice their bodies to get on base or are patient at the plate, some guys are just tough to get out. At MaxPreps we took to our statistics database to study just how Nebraska's Top 10 hitters in regards to on-base percentage (OBP) have earned their place above the rest of the Cornhusker State in the category.
Grand Island's Tycen Nelson does everything well and finds himself in the No. 1 spot. The senior not only hits .667, he's earned four free bases and has proven he can hit for power with four extra base hits so far this spring.
Nelson's latest outing, a 23-11 win over Lincoln Northeast on April 12, was arguably his finest of the season. The senior scored three runs in the contest and knocked in four more after going 4-for-4 from the plate with a double. In a 16-6 win over Lincoln Northeast on April 8, Nelson went 3-for-3 with a pair of doubles, scored a run and knocked in two more.
Mason Wisnieski (Malcolm), Connor Capece (Omaha Gross Catholic), Tucker Timmerman (Beatrice) and Clyde Stenglein (Douglas County West) round out this week's Top 5. Luke Broderick of Mount Michael Benedictine is the only member of this week's Top 10 that is not hitting .500 or better at the plate. Broderick, however, is hitting a cool .455 on the year and leads this week's Top 10 with seven home runs.
Omaha Northwest's Brody Leyboldt and Sean Barth have 28 hits each on the year, the most amongst Nebraska's efficient hitters, while Broderick leads this week's Top 10 with 18 free bases.
In order to be considered for this week's Top 10, a baseball player had to have at least 20 plate appearances. Statistics for this week's Top 10 were taken off of the database on Thursday.
Nebraska's Top 10 toughest baseball outs
1. Tycen Nelson , Grand Island.696 OBP | .667 BA | .889 SLGP | 1.585 OPS
12-18, 4 Walks, 5 Runs Scored, 7 RBIs, 4 Doubles
2. Mason Wisnieski, Malcolm.694 OBP | .621 BA | .862 SLGP | 1.556 OPS
18-29, 3 Walks, 4 HBP, 12 Runs Scored, 19 RBIs, 4 Doubles, 1 Home Run
3. (tie) Connor Capece, Gross Catholic (Omaha).667 OBP | .622 BA | .865 SLGP | 1.532 OPS
23-37, 9 walks, 2 HBP, 11 runs scored, 19 RBIs, 5 doubles, 2 triples
3. (tie) Tucker Timmerman, Beatrice.667 OBP | .611 BA | 1.139 SLGP | 1.806 OPS
22-36, 5 walks, 1 HBP, 17 runs scored, 18 RBIs, 7 doubles, 4 home runs
3. (tie) Clyde Stenglein, Douglas County West (Valley)
.667 OBP | .500 BA | .833 SLGP | 1.500 OPS 9-18, 6 walks, 3 HBP, 9 runs scored, 5 RBIs, 2 doubles, 2 triples
6. Brody Leyboldt, Omaha Northwest (Omaha).650 OBP | .571 BA | .653 SLGP | 1.303 OPS
28-49, 11 walks, 21 runs scored, 6 RBIs, 4 doubles
7. Luke Broderick, Mount Michael Benedictine (Elkhorn).647 OBP | .455 BA | 1.182 SLGP | 1.829 OPS
15-33, 15 walks, 3 HBP, 19 runs scored, 16 RBIs, 3 doubles, 7 home runs
8. Hayden Frank, Malcolm.629 OBP | .536 BA | .857 SLGP | 1.486 OPS
15-28, 6 walks, 1 HBP, 17 runs scored, 11 RBIs, 1 double, 1 triple, 2 home runs
9. Joey Meier, Omaha Gross Catholic.608 OBP | .513 BA | .744 SLGP | 1.352 OPS
20-39, 9 walks, 2 HBP, 7 runs scored, 14 RBIs, 6 doubles, 1 home run
10. Sean Barth, Omaha Northwest.607 OBP | .538 BA | .769 SLGP | 1.376 OPS
28-52, 7 walks, 2 HBP, 19 runs scored, 15 RBIs, 9 doubles, 1 home run
