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The Best Of Battle Creek series is now including top high school baseball and softball players. Readers can vote for the best catcher among nominated players from local teams.
BATTLE CREEK ― The B.O.B. is ready for spring sports.
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: Top pitchers in high school baseball in the area
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:
Ayden Delp
School: Colon
Class: Senior
Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A tough-minded player behind the plate, he is a standout at blocking balls, taking foul tips and finding a way to play every single inning. Ayden Delp was all-league and second on the team in batting average a year ago.
Lakeview's Isaiah Jackson.
School: Lakeview
Class: Junior
Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A rising prospect as a junior, Isaiah Jackson shows great athleticism behind the plate. Splitting time at catcher with a returning senior, Jackson gives Lakeview the kind of ability not often seen at that position.
Jackson Knickerbocker
School: St. Philip/Climax-Scotts
Class: Senior
Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: Jackson Knickerbocker is a returning all-conference player. He currently has a .478 on-base percentage with nine stolen bases. A senior captain, he also has a 1.000 fielding percentage.
Lakeview's Caleb McCune.
School: Lakeview
Class: Senior
Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: Splitting time behind the plate for the Spartans, Caleb McCune was all-district and all-league a year ago and provides great leadership as a senior and helps control the running game.
Harper Creek's Nathan Miller returns a pitch during a game at Pennfield High School on Tuesday, April 28, 2026.
School: Pennfield
Class: Senior
Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: Jeff Michael has done a good job handling the Pennfield pitching staff for two years, showing a love for the game and providing a very analytical mind behind the plate. He has a career on-base percent of .470.
Nathan Miller
School: Harper Creek
Class: Freshman
Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A talented freshman, who is part of a strong catching duo for the Beavers. Nathan Miller has started the season hot and is hitting over .400 and leading the team in RBIs and runs scored.
Blake Thomas
School: Gull Lake
Class: Senior
Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A returning starter for a district title team, Blake Thomas is a leader on the infield as a catcher. A great contact hitter, who only struck out 10 times in 106 plate appearances a year ago, he hit .322 a year ago.
Tucker Zweng
School: Union City
Class: Junior
Why he is the best catcher in the city/area: A three-year starter, Tucker Zweng was an all-area and all-league catcher a year ago. Playing through injuries early this season, he is batting .423 as Union City was 6-1 when he was on the field and 0-5 when he couldn't play.
Contact Bill Broderick at bbroderi@battlecreekenquirer.com. Follow him on X/Twitter @billbroderick.
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek-area high school baseball best catchers for 2026 season
You can vote for the best catcher by participating in the polls provided by the Enquirer as part of the Best Of Battle Creek series.
Players are nominated by city and area coaches who provide information about each player for the voting process.
The series includes various positions in high school baseball and softball, with a focus on players from city and area teams.
Voting for the Best Of Battle Creek series takes place weekly throughout the spring sports season.

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