Stark County-area baseball players honored on NEOBCA All-District Teams

CantonRep.com staff report
·5 min read
Garrett Wright of Jackson slides safely into home during a win at Hoover on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
Garrett Wright of Jackson slides safely into home during a win at Hoover on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.

Thirteen Stark County-area players earned first-team all-district from the Northeast Ohio Baseball Coaches Association.

Green’s Jacob Rollyson, Lake’s Connor Campbell, Jackson’s Garrett Wright and Hoover’s Nick Vardavas were first team in Division I; the Louisville duo of Anthony Warner and JT Popick and the Marlington duo of Drew Denham and Tommy Skelding made first team in Division II; Central Catholic's Ryan Turner, East Canton's Chase Vacco, Manchester's Owen Canter and Tuslaw's Liam McCollister were first team in Division III; and Lake Center’s Matt Warder was first team in Division IV.

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Rollyson was the Federal League Player of the Year after going 6-2 with a 0.66 ERA for the Bulldogs. The Malone University recruit, a senior right-hander who also played first base, added a .308 batting average with seven doubles, a triple and 10 RBIs.

Connor Campbell of Lake delivers a pitch during their DI district semifinal against Boardman at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, May 24 2022.
Connor Campbell of Lake delivers a pitch during their DI district semifinal against Boardman at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium on Tuesday, May 24 2022.

Campbell, a right-handed pitcher and Mount Union recruit, went 6-2 with an area-best 0.46 ERA as a senior for the Blue Streaks.

Wright batted a Federal League-best .405 as a junior catcher and never struck out in 74 at-bats in leading Jackson to the league title. The Bowling Green recruit totaled four doubles, two triples, 22 runs, 10 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

Hoover's Nick Vardavas delivers a pitch in the second inning against Walsh Jesuit in Div. I Regional Semifinal at Louisville High School. Thursday, June 02, 2022
Hoover's Nick Vardavas delivers a pitch in the second inning against Walsh Jesuit in Div. I Regional Semifinal at Louisville High School. Thursday, June 02, 2022

Vardavas led the district-champion Vikings in batting average (.378), doubles (nine), triples (two), home runs (three) and RBIs (25) as a senior outfielder. The lefty, a Miami RedHawks recruit, also went 6-3 with a save and a 1.79 ERA on the mound, striking out 64 in 47 innings.

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Louisville starting pitcher Anthony Warner delivers a pitch during a game against Central Catholic on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
Louisville starting pitcher Anthony Warner delivers a pitch during a game against Central Catholic on Tuesday, April 5, 2022.
JT Popick of Louisville celebrates after stealing third base during their DII regional semifinal against University School at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium on Thursday, June 2, 2022.
JT Popick of Louisville celebrates after stealing third base during their DII regional semifinal against University School at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium on Thursday, June 2, 2022.

Warner went 9-0 with a save and a 1.01 ERA in helping lead the Leopards to a district championship and a regional final appearance. The senior right-hander, a Mount Union recruit, led the area in wins and strikeouts (90 in 62.1 innings).

Popick, a shortstop, batted a team-best .448 out of the leadoff spot for Louisville as a senior and swiped a team-high 20 stolen bases. The University of Akron recruit added 26 runs and 14 RBIs.

Denham, also a shortstop batting out of the leadoff spot, finished third in the area in batting (.455) and first in runs (35) as a junior for the EBC champion Dukes. He added five doubles, two home runs, 14 RBIs and 20 stolen bases.

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Marlington's Tommy Skelding delivers a pitch against Streetsboro in the top of the 5th i of Division II Baseball District Semifinal at Louisville. Monday, May 23, 2022
Marlington's Tommy Skelding delivers a pitch against Streetsboro in the top of the 5th i of Division II Baseball District Semifinal at Louisville. Monday, May 23, 2022

Skelding, a junior pitcher-first baseman, earned player of the year honors for Repository Stark County and the EBC as a Marlington junior. The University of Kentucky recruit led the area in RBIs (32) while finishing top 10 in batting (.415, seventh), home runs (two, tied for sixth), pitching wins (eight, second), ERA (1.15, seventh) and strikeouts (68, third).

Ryan Turner of Central Catholic drives in a run during their Division III regional semifinal against Berkshire at Massillon on Friday, June 4, 2021.
Ryan Turner of Central Catholic drives in a run during their Division III regional semifinal against Berkshire at Massillon on Friday, June 4, 2021.

Turner, a junior first baseman, batted a team-best .369 with 18 runs, 11 RBIs and eight steals for Central. He also posted a 2.68 ERA in 31.1 innings pitched.

Tuslaw’s Liam McCollister hits a ground rule double to tie the score in the sixth inning against Northwestern on Monday, May 17, 2021. (Bob Rossiter / Repository)
Tuslaw’s Liam McCollister hits a ground rule double to tie the score in the sixth inning against Northwestern on Monday, May 17, 2021. (Bob Rossiter / Repository)

Vacco, a senior catcher headed to Malone University, batted .312 with 23 runs, nine RBIs and 24 steals (tied for second most in the area) for the Hornets. He also went 2-3 with a 2.73 ERA and 40 strikeouts in 43.2 innings on the mound.

Canter, a junior infielder and pitcher, produced one of the best all-around seasons in the area, ranking in the top 10 in batting (.426, sixth), home runs (four, tied for second), RBIs (19, tied for ninth), ERA (1.06, fifth) and strikeouts (71 in 46 innings, second) for the Panthers.

McCollister, a junior catcher, led the area in batting at .532 — 44 percentage points better than the closest player — while ranking top 10 in home runs (four, tied for second) and RBIs (21, eighth) for the Mustangs.

Warder, a sophomore outfielder, batted .384 with 23 runs and 15 RBIs as Lake Center reached a district final.

Massillon’s Mike Parker and Louisville’s Tyler Whitlatch were the Division I and II district assistant coaches of the year, respectively.

Green pitcher Jacob Rollyson winds up for an Ellet batter during the first inning of a Division I sectional semifinal, Tuesday, May 18, 2021.
Green pitcher Jacob Rollyson winds up for an Ellet batter during the first inning of a Division I sectional semifinal, Tuesday, May 18, 2021.

Stark County-area honorees on 2022 NEOBCA All-District Teams

Division I

First Team: Jacob Rollyson, Green, P; Connor Campbell, Lake, P; Garrett Wright, Jackson, C; Nick Vardavas, Hoover, UTL.

Second Team: Jaxon Clark, Jackson, P; Ryan Bruni, Alliance, C; Shea White, Jackson, INF; Luke Senften, GlenOak, INF; Sam Suba, GlenOak, OF; Tyler Hackenbracht, Massillon, OF; Brady Rollyson, Green, UTL.

Honorable Mention: Christian Marsh, Massillon; Matt McGeorge, Massillon; Tommy ElFaye, GlenOak; Caleb Collins, Lake; Christian Ivanic, Perry; Mason Champagne, Lake; Nate Martinez, McKinley; Nemo Toles, Perry; Cashe Gaut, Perry; Drew Elliott, Green.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Mike Parker, Massillon

Drew Denham of Marlington watches the ball while driving in a run during their game at Jackson on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.
Drew Denham of Marlington watches the ball while driving in a run during their game at Jackson on Wednesday, April 13, 2022.

Division II

First Team: Anthony Warner, Louisville, P; JT Popick, Louisville, INF; Drew Denham, Marlington, INF; Tommy Skelding, Marlington, UTL.

Second Team: Garret Odey, Marlington, P; Tyler Ogozalek, Northwest, INF.

Honorable Mention: Trevor Szekely, Northwest; Cole Miller, Louisville; Karson Siegfried, Louisville.

Assistant Coach of the Year: Tyler Whitlatch, Louisville

Chase Vacco
Chase Vacco

Division III

First Team: Ryan Turner, Central Catholic, INF; Chase Vacco, East Canton, C; Owen Canter, Manchester, P; Liam McCollister, Tuslaw, C.

Division IV

First Team: Matt Warder, Lake Center, OF.

Second Team: Wyatt Fether, Lake Center, C; Dylan Maninga, Lake Center, INF.

This article originally appeared on The Repository: Northeast Ohio baseball coaches announce all-district teams