Zack's List: Top 10 baseball players in Crawford County for 2023

BUCYRUS — Spring sports are here and it's time to take a look at the top returning baseball players in Crawford County. Three All-Ohioans and a slew of all-league players make up the list.

Here are Zack Holden's Top 10 baseball players entering the season.

10. Colonel Crawford's Micah Thomas, IF/P

Thomas lit it up as a freshman two years ago with a .381 average, 32 hits, 40 runs, 25 RBIs and 11 stolen bases before missing his entire sophomore season due to injury. Now back to 100%, he's looking to pick up where he left off and help the Eagles string together another season to remember. This is a team just four years removed from regionals and two from a district runner-up finish.

9. Wynford's Spencer Miller, P/SS

One of the most dominant pitchers in the area, Miller by himself makes up the best one-two punch in the greater area for Wynford. His 1.64 ERA was fourth in the league, and it went with a 7-3 record with 25 strikeouts and a 1.08 WHIP. And on offense his .416 average was fifth in the Northern 10, while his 37 hits was fourth, 35 runs was second, eight doubles was third and two triples led the league. He's a threat whenever, and wherever, he's on the field.

8. Crestline's Jake Bruce, OF

Bruce was a standout on the Bulldogs roster last season, batting .405 with 15 hits, six RBIs, nine runs, a .500 on-base percentage and .541 slugging. Defensively he's one of the top outfielders in the county and will be one of the leaders of the team this season with a slew of talented young players entering the fold.

7. Galion's Max Albert, P/SS

As a freshman, Albert was thrust into varsity play on the mound after senior Brody Symsick went down with a season-ending injury, along with slotting in at shortstop when he wasn't pitching, and absolutely thrived. He went 2-2 in five appearances, pitching 27⅓ innings with 27 strikeouts and a .759 ERA while also batting .250 with nine hits, seven runs and eight RBIs. This is a name you'll likely hear a lot over the next three seasons.

6. Bucyrus' Cody Pennington, P/IF

One of a few Bucyrus players back who put up some fantastic numbers last season, Pennington is yet another dual threat on the diamond in the area. His 4.38 ERA was best on the team along with 19 strikeouts and a 1-5 record in nine appearances and 40 innings. Offensively he led the team with a .357 average, 20 hits, 16 runs and five RBIs. With Pennington alongside Malachi Bayless and Riley Parker, Bucyrus could be one of the sleeper teams this season with some great pitching and big bats.

5. Colonel Crawford's Brennan Hamilton, P/IF

Hamilton quickly turned into one of the top pitchers in Crawford County last season, with his role on the mound dramatically increasing. His 0.85 ERA was the only one sub-1.00 in the N10, as he allowed just seven earned runs all season in 57⅓ innings while striking out 61. He was also one of the most reliable bats in the order with a .328 average, 21 hits, 22 runs, seven RBIs and seven stolen bases. He will be key to whatever success the Eagles have this season.

4. Galion's Braxton Prosser, P/OF

Like Albert, Prosser was a freshman phenom thrown into the fire for the Tigers last season and emerged unscathed as if he was a grizzled veteran. He wound up leading Galion offensively with a .391 average, 27 hits, 18 runs and 19 RBIs. He will slot in behind Albert in the rotation after going 1-2 last season with a 7.90 ERA and 13 strikeouts in 15 innings. The young core Galion has makes this team exciting to watch.

3. Wynford's Sam Collene, P/IF

The first of three all-state players returning, Collene is arguably the most dominant pitcher in the county, earning honorable mention All-Ohio in Division III. He boasted a perfect 9-0 record in 11 appearances with a 1.91 ERA, 64 strikeouts and 32 hits allowed in 51⅓ innings. And Collene is pretty darn good with his bat, too, carrying a .366 average with 30 hits, 26 runs, 29 RBIs and seven stolen bases. He and Miller are a tough matchup any night.

2. Wynford's Dylon Robinson, IF/P/OF

Second team All-Ohio as a junior, Robinson had the third-best batting average in the league at .463, was second in RBIs with 36 and doubles with nine, and third in OBP (.562) and slugging (.634). One of the top infielders in the area, Robinson is a reliable bat and should seen some additional time on the mound in relief this season. In order for Wynford to achieve the goals it has this season, it's going to take a total team effort, and with players like Robinson on the roster almost anything is possible.

1. Wynford's Grant McGuire, IF/P

McGuire is not only the top returning baseball player in Crawford County, he's one of the best in the state coming in at No. 14. The reigning N10 Player of the Year, he earned first team honors all the way to All-Ohio as a sophomore last season, and it's easy to see why taking a peek at his numbers. McGuire led the league with a .495 average, 45 hits, 38 runs, two triples, 50 RBIs and five home runs — the last two tied or broke league records. He also was 1-1 on the mound with three saves, striking out 21 in 16⅓ innings with a 4.71 ERA. Just one of several talented players on the roster, McGuire is the type of player who can dramatically alter a game in an instant.

This article originally appeared on Bucyrus Telegraph-Forum: Crawford County's Top 10 baseball players in 2023