Best of Battle Creek at catcher in high school baseball? Vote here

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.

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.

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.

Jeff Michael

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