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.
Branched Oak's Aiden Urbom does everything well and finds himself in the No. 1 spot. The junior not only hits .818, he's earned five free bases and has proven he can hit for power with four extra base hits so far this spring. Because of that last stat, the short stop also leads the Cornhusker State with a 1.364 slugging percentage this spring.
Video: Top 25 high school baseball rankings
See who's No. 1 in the nation and who's chasing. Urbom went 2-for-2 in a 9-2 win on April 1 over Auburn, in what was arguably his finest outing of the young season. Urbom scored three runs in the contest and knocked in two more runs with a double and a home run. In a 14-13 loss to Crete in the season opener, Urbom was 4-for-4 with two runs scored, three RBI and a pair of doubles.
Jack Torosian (Concordia/Brownell/Omaha Christian Academy), Thomas Sullivan (Omaha Central), Braden Sellon (Lincoln East) and Nolan Sailors (Ralston) round out this week's Top 5. Urbom, Torosian, Sullivan, Sailors, Connor Price of Norris, Millard West's Eric Standish and Spencer Barry of Millard South made this week's Top 10 on the strength of hitting .500 or better at the plate.
Sailors has 11 hits on the year, the most amongst Nebraska's efficient hitters, while Sellon and Tanner Black of Elkhorn South lead this week's Top 10 with 10 free bases each.
Nebraska's toughest baseball outs1. Aiden Urbom, Branched Oak [Raymond Central/Malcolm (Raymond, Neb.), Jr. — .875 OBP9-for-11, 3 walks, HBP twice, 8 runs, 5 RBI, 3 doubles and a home run
2. Jack Torosian, Concordia/Brownell/Omaha Christian Academy (Omaha, Neb.), Jr. — .789 OBP8-for-12, 4 walks, HBP three times, 5 runs, 6 RBI and 4 doubles
3. Thomas Sullivan, Omaha Central (Omaha), Jr. — .706 OBP8-for-13, 2 walks, HBP twice, 5 runs, 4 RBI and a double
4. Braden Sellon, Lincoln East (Lincoln), Sr. — .680 OBP7-for-15, 7 walks, HBP three times, 6 runs, 6 RBI, 4 doubles and a home run
5. Nolan Sailors, Ralston, So. — .667 OBP11-for-19, 5 walks, 8 runs, 4 RBI and a double
6. Tanner Black, Elkhorn South (Omaha), Sr. — .652 OBP5-for-13, 8 walks, HBP twice, 6 runs and 3 RBI
7. Jaxson Simmerman, Seward, Jr. — .650 OBP5-for-12, 7 walks, HBP Once, 7 runs, 4 RBI and a double
8. Connor Price, Norris (Firth), Jr. — .647 OBP6-for-12, 2 walks, HBP three times, 6 runs, 5 RBI, a double and a home run
9. Eric Standish, Millard West (Omaha), Jr. — .643 OBP10-for-20, 7 walks, HBP once, 8 runs, 4 RBI and a double
10. (tie) Spencer Barry, Millard South (Omaha), Jr. — .636 OBP5-for-9, walked once, HBP once, 2 runs, 7 RBI and a pair of doubles
10. (tie) Adonis Forte, Omaha Central, Jr. — .636 OBP3-for-7, 3 walks, HBP once, 3 runs, a pair of doubles and a triple
Tanner Black, Elkhorn South
File photo by Samuel Mfinanga
