Licking County baseball teams not resting on 2022 accomplishments
NEWARK — The Newark Catholic baseball team returned to the Division IV state tournament last season, but the Green Wave were left wanting more. It was the same feeling for Granville and Johnstown, a pair of Division II district finalists. With Newark and Watkins Memorial primed to make noise in Division I and young talent hitting a growth spurt across Licking County, it could another spring filled with May fireworks.
Granville
The Blue Aces graduated a strong core that took them to the Division II district finals, but the cupboard is far from bare. Senior third baseman Sawyer Benschoter and junior shortstop Nolan Tracy form a strong left side of the infield and also lead the offense. Sophomore catcher Ezra Kurek and senior first baseman Owen Hoenie, who missed last season, will provide power in the middle of the lineup, and senior Alex Gregory and sophomore Connor Hare will lead a rebuilt pitching staff.
Granville Christian
After suffering some key graduation losses, the Lions will lean on the multi talents of senior Andrew Benvie and sophomore Bentley Johnson, who will share pitching and shortstop duties with Benvie also a quality catcher. Senior Jayce Heisler will catch when Benvie is not, or he will be in the outfield with junior Noah Tice as they and junior second baseman Gabe White hope to lengthen the GCA lineup.
Heath
The Bulldogs have endured some growing pains the past two seasons, but they now have experience to go with talent throughout the roster. Junior Riley Baum, sophomore Tannar Patterson and senior Cooper Bradley lead a deep pitching staff, and sophomore left fielder Connor Corbett and juniors center fielder Conner Toomey and shortstop Kaden Green join Patterson to ignite the lineup with junior utility player Hayden Woodward providing power.
Johnstown
The Johnnies were an eyelash from winning a Division II district title last season, and they bring back the needed mix of pitching, hitting and defense to again contend. Senior Clay Bruning is an ace on the mound, and classmate Garrett Grinstead is a slugger at first base, who is protected by junior left fielder Jacob Myers. Seniors center fielder Cole Boroff and second baseman Chase Boroff make the Johnnies strong up the middle with Cole Boroff and junior Nash Andrix also backing up Bruning on the mound.
Lakewood
Senior Tyler Bebout leads on the mound and the top of the order for the Lancers. Juniors left fielder William Marrero and second baseman Cayden MacDonald lead what appears to be a much improved offense during the preseason with a boost from junior catcher Nate Gall and sophomore center fielder Colton Ferry. Junior Peyton Tichenor returns with the most varsity pitching experience behind Bebout.
Liberty Christian
Seniors shortstop Parker Griffin and first baseman Joel Mollohan and juniors outfielders Caleb Windle and James Rainier return to anchor the lineup for the Eagles, who have sophomores second baseman Mason Kampii and center fielder Luke Mollohan at the top. All of the key offensive performers also will see time on the mound.
Licking Heights
The Hornets will cover a lot of ground in the outfield with senior Jonah Hane, junior Tyler Brown and sophomore Jake Lopinto, and that trio will spark the offense, too. Juniors catcher Kaleb Ribbing and third baseman Joel Busker are powerful bats in the middle of the order, and seniors Tyler VonBargen and Eli Hickman lead the pitching staff.
Licking Valley
Sophomore Evan Lichtenauer is the ace at the front of what should be a stingy pitching staff as seniors Gavin Bragg and Colby Conn follow. The top of the order has speed with juniors Hayden Rodgers and Trent Clark on the left side of the infield and senior center fielder Brenden Moore setting the table for Bragg and classmate left fielder Theo Walsh.
Newark
Seniors Owen Poole and Jayce Dansby lead a pitching staff that could vault the Wildcats into Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division and Division I district contention. The Wildcats are strong up the middle with senior center fielder Max Durbin, freshman shortstop Moses Crane and sophomore catcher Austin Rose, and Durbin and Crane also get on base at a high clip in front of run producers Poole and junior first baseman Tyler Flint.
Newark Catholic
Experience and an infusion of young talent could be the right formula as the Green Wave attempt to defend Licking County League-Cardinal Division and Division IV regional titles. Seniors Eli Morris and Braylon Bates lead a veteran pitching staff that also could be complemented by young arms down the road. Senior center fielder Grant Moore uses his speed in the outfield and on the bases with he and sophomore shortstop Mikey Hess looking to wreak havoc in front of power hitters Morris, senior third baseman Nate Ferrell and junior left fielder Bryan McAnally.
Northridge
The Vikings hope experience from a difficult season pays off. They return senior workhorses in shortstop James Kalas and catcher Quentin Felhofer, who lead the offense, defense and pitching staff. Senior center fielder Layne Mercer and sophomore third baseman Alex Wright will put pressure on opposing pitchers at the top of the order.
Utica
Utica brings back a talented core that has speed up the middle and power on the corners. Juniors second baseman Chase Bennett and center fielder Roman Gamble are the ignitors at the top of the lineup and also are two of the top pitchers joining juniors Gavin Chinn and Connor Staugh at the top of the staff. Sophomores catcher Aidyn Burgess and first baseman Ryan Bigler were plugged right into the middle of the order and produced.
Watkins Memorial
The Warriors have holes to fill after graduation losses, but pitching depth again could earn the Warriors the LCL-Buckeye crown with seniors Trace Hartman and Ethan Pollock leading the staff. Senior first baseman Sam Johnson is the power bat in a lineup that could see seniors Hartman, second baseman Ethan Ryan and catcher Michael Olson move up into key spots.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: Licking County baseball teams not resting on 2022 accomplishments
