H.S. Baseball Preview: Loaded with talent, it should be another banner year for area teams
LANCASTER – There is no question that high school baseball is thriving in Fairfield County.
Two years ago, four area teams – Lancaster, Bloom-Carroll, Liberty Union and Fisher Catholic – won district championships, and two other teams were district runner-ups. A year ago, there wasn’t a lot of drop off as four area teams reached the district championship game, including Liberty Union, which made it all the way to the Division III final four, and Fairfield Christian Academy coming out of now where to win a Division IV district championship.
The scary thing is, heading into this season, just about every team returns a ton of talent and experience, which bodes well for another outstanding spring of high school baseball.
Several teams have huge expectations heading into the season, including Lancaster, which has won four consecutive Ohio Capital Conference championships and has won three of the three out of the last four Division I Central District titles.
The Golden Gales lost some key players from last year’s 21-6 team, but there seem to be enough holdovers to keep the Lancaster competitive and in the hunt for its fifth straight league title. The key will be how quickly the younger players step up, but the culture head coach Corey Conn has developed is second to none, and because of that, the Gales never seem to be in rebuilding mode. They just find ways to win.
Two years ago, Bloom-Carroll was the Division II state runner-up, falling just short in a 2-1, 10-inning loss in the state title game. Several players on that team are now seniors. Mixed in with underclassmen, the Bulldogs may have the most overall talent in the area.
Bloom-Carroll knows what it takes to win, and under coach Jason Vest, they certainly have the talent to make another run at not only a league title but another deep tournament run.
Liberty Union will be an interesting team, especially since they lost pitcher Jacob Miller, who was drafted by the Miami Marlins in last summer’s MLB draft. The Lions lost a talented senior class, but the returning players understand what it takes to win, so Liberty Union should be in the mix.
The Mid-State League-Cardinal Division should be as competitive as it has been in a long time. Last year’s league champion Berne Union returns a ton of talent, Fairfield Christian Academy surprised everyone as they went into the tournament with a losing record but were able to win a district title. The Knights are talented, and they return the bulk of their lineup, while Millersport, which will be led by first-year coach Cooper Vest, finished 16-4 last season, and the Lakers return a ton of experience.
With so much talent returning from all the teams, it should be another fun year with several teams making deep tournament runs.
All three of those teams will fight it out to see who comes out on top in the league, and all three have high aspirations of making long tournament runs.
AREA BASEBALL CAPSULES
LANCASTER
Coach: Corey Conn (11th season)
Conference: Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: (21-6, won fourth straight OCC title, Division I district runner-up)
Returning letter-winners: Isaac Cooperrider, Sr.; Jacob Mowder, Sr.; Alex Miller, Sr.; David Roby, Sr.; Carter Ross, Sr.; Caleb Knipp, Sr.; Jackson Burk, Jr.
Key losses: Tony Falvo, Riley Poston, Kyle Garber, Ajay Locke, Keegan Montgomery, Layton O’Rourke, Dom Bornino, Harrison Allen, Mason Henson, Colton Hullinger
Key newcomers: Darren Ramsey, Soph.; Zach Mowder, Soph.; Owen Pompey, Jr.; Hayden Allen, Jr.; Kathen Hutton, Jr.; Dylan Bird, Jr.; Jakub Akers, Jr.
Coach Conn’s take: “We will be a younger team this season after graduating 10 seniors, 8 starters, and over 75 percent of our innings pitched and at-bats. Our young guys were able to experience a district final game and will have larger roles this season. They have done an excellent job through the offseason and are hungry for more opportunities. I am excited to see them compete.”
BLOOM-CARROLL
Coach: Jason Vest (sixth season)
Conference: Mis-State League-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: (18-12)
Returning letter-winners: Ayden Anderson, Sr.; Tyler Parks, Sr.; Michael Malone, Sr.; Nicholas Lund, Sr.; Kale Kraner, Sr.; Owen Conrad, Sr.; Cole Sherman, Sr.; Andrew Hall, Sr.; Brody Bishop, Jr.; Jude Balser, Jr.; Carsten Beibel, Jr.; Tryce Chaffin, Soph.; Aaron Black, Jr.
Key losses: Graduated 10 seniors
Key newcomers: Athan McKnabb, Sr.; Jayden Duckworth, St.; Adam Black, Jr.; Jacob Genton, Jr.; Tristan Ruckman, Jr.; Markus Roberson, Soph.; Joey Dawson, Soph.; Ethan Moore, Soph.; Park Truex, Soph.; Caleb Hinkel, Fr.
Coach Vest’s take: “We return 13 letter-winners and have three starters who remain from a second-place finish in the state two years ago. We also have several newcomers who we anticipate providing depth and a spark at certain positions. Defense, speed, and pitching will be the strength of the team. Once the lineup is figured out, combined with a very tough schedule, we should have an exciting season and hopefully a deep tournament run.”
LIBERTY UNION
Coach: Justin Miller (fifth season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: (24-6, MSL-Buckeye Division champion, district champion, regional champion, Division III state final four)
Returning letter-winners: Cayden Carroll, Sr.; Colton Hutchison, Sr.; Austin McClure, Sr.; Ian Wilson, Jr.; Bobby Savage, Soph.; Cam Wood, Soph.; Justin Sisson, Soph.; Raul Lopez, Soph.
Key losses: Jacob Miller, Austin Ety, Jon Wheeler, John Edwards, Trevor Wood, Braden Shreyer, Zeb Loring, Nick Buskirk
Key newcomers: Troy Myers, Sr.; Daniel Deerfield, Sr.; Ashton Moyer, Jr.; Tanner Farmer, Fr.; Pierce Weis, Fr.
Coach Miller’s take: “Great day to be a Lion.”
FISHER CATHOLIC
Coach: Jared Stewart (fourth season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Cardinal Division
Last year’s record: (8-14, 7-7 in MSL)
Returning letter-winners: Nick Dolci, Sr.; JJ Viau, Sr.; Simon Messerly, Jr.; Gavin Stewart, Soph.; Grant Keefer, Soph.
Key losses: Jack Tencza, Chase Springer
Key newcomers: Peyton Owens, Jr.; Simon Martin, Fr.; Jayden Scott, Fr.
Coach Stewart’s take: “This is year two of a rebuild. We will once again be young, inexperienced, and will lack depth. Our entire program consists of just 13 players. However, what we lack in experience, skill, and depth is made up for with grittiness and a will to get better every time we step on the diamond. This year's team is a bunch of hard workers and great teammates who love to compete together. Our strength is our starting pitching. We return two of our top three pitchers from the last two seasons and we have added a top-notch pitcher who transferred in. Our two seniors are tremendous leaders. I look for us to be better than we were last year.”
AMANDA-CLEARCREEK
Coach: Travis Stone (eighth season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: (18-7, Division III district runner-up)
Returning letter-winners: Blayne Barker, Jr.; Peter Brockman, Jr.; Leland Riley, Jr.; Tanner Affolter, Soph.
Key losses: Peyton Cassley, Ryan Chambers, Grant Guiler, RJ Hall, Trent Hedges, Hunter Matheny, Landon Mills, Kansas Rhymer, Eldon Williams, Cade Young
Key newcomers: Brady Holbrook, Soph.; Bryton Carruthers, Soph.; Noah Chambers, Fr.; Gary Kemmerling, Fr.; Brody Elder, Soph.; Braxton Bussard, Soph.; Jesse Spangler, Jr.; Colton Tooil, Jr.; Luke Speakman, Jr.; Peyton Beavers, Soph.; Bodie Martin, Fr.
Coach Stone’s take: “Looking to build on one of the most successful seasons in program history with a lot of young, hungry players who have been competing hard all off-season for positions that were vacated by the class that just graduated.”
FAIRFIELD UNION
Coach: Joe Alford (sixth season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Buckeye Division
Last year’s record: (10-15)
Returning letter-winners: Ronnie Rowley, Sr.; Malachi Palmer, Sr.; Joey Bell, Sr.; Aiden McCafferty, Jr.; Kyle Wolfe, Jr.; Micah Hartman, Soph.
Key losses: Wyatt West, Owen Morgan, Connor Schorr, Jared Blankenship, Brody Wolfe, Dylan Knox, Josh Forson
Key newcomers: Ty Fisher, Jr.; Jacob Forson, Soph.; Angelo Galella, Soph.; Chase Harmon, Soph.; Garrett Dilcher, Fr.
Coach Alford’s take: “We lost a core group of seniors who played a lot of innings together. We have a good core returning and we will rely on Rowley and Palmer to do a lot for us offensively. We have some young guys who have been challenged with taking on a larger role, and I think they are up to the challenge and will be ready when called upon.”
MILLERSPORT
Coach: Cooper Vest (first season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Cardinal Division
Last year’s record: (16-4)
Returning letter-winners: Michael Levacy, Sr.; Trey Johnston, Sr.; Mikey Smith, Sr.; Andrew Kronenbitter, Sr.; Brendan Jakeway, Jr.; Jacob Elinger, Soph.
Key losses: Mason Reynolds, Cody Blosser, Trevor Trenish, Tyler Hall
Key newcomers: Nick Yingling, Fr.; Tyler Large, Jr.; Ty Johnston, Fr.’ Wyatt Collins, Sr.; Bryce Frogette, Sr.
Coach Vest’s take: “We have a lot of experience returning combined with several newcomers that will need to contribute right away. Our strengths are in our pitching and speed on the basepaths. If we can execute our strengths and get solid contributions from our newcomers, I believe we will have a special season.”
BERNE UNION
Coach: Chad Cupp (fifth season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Cardinal Division
Last year’s record: (15-7-1, MSL-Cardinal Division champions)
Returning letter-winners: Luke Shafer, St.; Nate Nemeth, Sr.; Russ Blank, Sr.; Hudson Gerken, Jr.; Austin Snyder, Jr.; Cade Pugh, Jr.; William Bolton, Soph.; Clayton Moore, Soph.
Key losses: Sammy Amnah, Lance Burroughs, Bradley Hartman, Tylor Tipple, Dylan Winkler
Key newcomers: Ethin Redinger, Fr.; Zach Hartman, Soph.; Quynn Duncan, Soph.; Glenny Harris, Jr.; Cooper Mitchell, Sr.
Coach Cupp’s take: “We graduated some key players from last year’s team but bring back eight returning letter-winners. We bring back solid pitching depth and most of our infield. They are a hard-working group of young men who are pushing each other to be successful.”
FAIRFIELD CHRISTIAN ACADEMY
Coach: Josh Baker (sixth season)
Conference: Mid-State League-Cardinal Division
Last year’s record: (14-12, Division IV Central District champion)
Returning letter-winners: Matt Keener, Sr.; Andrew Keener, Sr.; Jimmy Schmitz, Jr.; JP Vance, JR.; Aiden Langwasser, Jr.; Gabe Linn, Jr.; Sam Harper, Soph.; Gunner Hankison, Jr.
Key losses: Manny Schulz, JT Hammel, Julius Wilson
Key newcomers: Brayden Stem, Fr.; Caleb White, Fr.; AJ Holbrook, Fr.
Coach Baker’s take: “We return seven starters from a district championship team, and we added a good freshman class. We again will rely heavily on our pitching and defense to lead the way and hope to be in a position to compete at the top of the league. We have put together a tough non-league schedule to challenge us and put us in a better position as we go into May.”
Tom Wilson is a sports reporter for the Lancaster Eagle Gazette. Contact him at 740-689-5150 or via email at twilson@gannett.com for comments or story tips. Follow him on Twitter @twil2323.
This article originally appeared on Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: H.S. Baseball Preview: Loaded with talent, it should be another banner year for area teams
