2016 OHSAA Tournament: Road To Huntington Park - Division IV State Final Four Preview
June 1, 2016
By Dylan Hefflinger
Editor in Chief/NW Scout
The OHSAA State Tournament's road heads straight for Huntington Park, with the 16 best teams in the four divisions represented. Ohio is blessed with having the best teams, players, coaches, parents and communities around. The support by the communities down in Columbus is second to none and us here at PBR are blessed to be able to cover such an amazing tournament.
Below we have the OHSAA State Final Four Preview.
Come Thursday we will be bringing everyone coverage of every pitch. We will have a running State Scout Blog, Twitter Updates, Game Articles, All-Tournament Team, Photo Gallery and everything in-between.
I personally want to say thank you to all the coaches that got back to me on the state preview. If you are a coach, and have not sent your state preview in to PBR, please send [email protected] information.
State Previews by Division:
Division I
Division II
Division III
Division IV
Regional Previews by Division:
Division I
Division II
Division III
Division IV
To view the Team Power Rankings by division, which includes teams that just missed the cut and are on the bubble, please click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV
To view the Preseason All-State Selections, click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV
For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2016 spring season visit the 2016 Ohio Scout Blog by clicking here.
Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.
To discuss and critique anything HS baseball wise, visit our partner JJHuddle.
2016 OHSAA Tournament: Road To Huntington Park - Division IV State Final Four Preview
****Rankings are based on PBR Ohio's Final Team Power Rankings
Division IV
Home team listed first
#7 Fort Recovery (22-9) vs. #2 Newark Catholic (22-9) Friday, June 3, 4 p.m.#10 Triad (25-7) vs. Cuyahoga Heights (15-10) Friday, June 3, 7 p.m.
Div. IV State Championship: Saturday, June 4, 7 p.m.
State Final Four Team Previews
PBR Rankings Overview of Division IV:
- Preseason Team Rankings: 4 in top 11
- Final Team Power Rankings: 3 in top 10
#7 Fort Recovery (22-9)
Head Coach: Jerry Kaup
School Facts:
- Has advanced to state three times, including back-to-back years (2016, 2015, 1953)
- Jackson Hobbs has most career wins in school history with 30
Top Hitters:
- Nick Thwaits, OF/P, 2018 - .370 BA, 16 R, 15 SB
- Cade Wendel, IF/P, 2018 - .330 BA, 30 R, 19 RBIs, 11 SB
- Jackson Hobbs, 1B/P, 2016 - .319 BA, 10 2B, 26 R, 31 RBIs
- Jacob Homan, SS/P, 2016 - .337 BA, 10 2B, 2 HR, 16 R, 34 RBIs
- Ben Homan, 2B/P, 2018
- Kyle Schroer, OF, 2016
- Chase Bruns, C/P, 2016
- Ross Homan, OF, 2016
- Will Homan, OF, 2018
- Hunter Boughman, 1B/P, 2017
- Davis Will, OF, 2017
- Reece Rogers, 1B, 2018
Rotation:
- Jackson Hobbs, RHP, 2016 - 7-2, 1.09 ERA, 49 K, 9 BB
- Nick Thwaits, RHP, 2018 - 3-0, 1.07 ERA, 40 K, 14 BB
- Cade Wendel, RHP, 2018
- Hunter Boughman, LHP, 2017
- Jacob Homan, RHP, 2016
- Chase Bruns, RHP, 2016
- Reece Rogers, RHP, 2018
Coaches Thoughts:
PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: We have had to replace 5 solid seniors from the 2015 state final four team. We feel the pieces are coming together at the right time. Our team chemistry is outstanding as the team plays for each other.
PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: It felt great since we were in such a tough regional. We played two of the best teams in the state and out team responded to the challenge very well.
PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four and Huntington Park?
Coach: The kids just love Huntington Park, as it is beautiful. The underground batting cages are a neat experience as well. Just excited to be one of the final four teams remaining.
Coach: Last year, we brought over 2,000 fans to Huntington Park. We will do that again this year. Our community is all about small town pride and we want to win for them.
#2 Newark Catholic (22-9)
Head Coach: John Cannizzaro
School Facts:
- Has advanced to state 16 times (2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2007, 2006, 2004, 2003, 2002, 1989, 1988, 1987, 1980).
Top Players:
- Caine Whitney, RHP, 2016 - 7-1, 1.22 ERA, 46 K
- Tanner Marmie, RHP, 2016 - 6-2, 2.44 ERA, 39 K
- Tanner Lake, SS, 2017 - .400 BA
- Jon Erhard, LF, 2016 - .392 BA
- Zac Walker, RF, 2016 - .373 BA
- Mitch Lohr, C, 2016
- Jody Mummey, CF, 2017
- Nick Cavinee, 1B, 2016
- Jack Wollenburg, 2B, 2016
- Tyler York, 3B, 2018
#10 Triad (25-7)
Head Coach: Will Nichols
School Facts:
- 3rd state appearance in school history (2nd place in 2004, 1973).
- Mad their 5th regional appearance since 2004.
Top Hitters:
- Dalton Holycross, CF, 2016 - .373 BA, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 20 R, 26 RBIs, 23 BB
- Shane Ford, RHP, 2017 - .341 BA, 2 2B, 1 3B, 17 R, 20 RBIs, 16 BB
- Trent McIntyre, RHP/SS, 2016 - .385 BA, 6 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 36 R, 20 RBIs, 15 BB
- Isaiah Bruce, DH, 2019 - .301 BA, 24 R, 19 RBIs, 12 BB
- Trevor Instine, C, 2018 - .309 BA, 6 2B, 12 R, 26 RBIs, 12 BB
- Jacob Greve, 1B, 2018 - .222 BA, 2 2B, 13 R, 11 RBIs, 9 BB
- Dustin Bruce, 2B, 2017 - .212 BA, 1 2B, 20 R, 10 RBIs, 10 BB
- Briley Harlan, 3B, 2018 - .333 BA, 4 2B, 3 3B, 24 R, 24 RBIs, 12 BB
- Alex Ober, LF, 2017 - 431 BA, 3 2B, 2 3B, 10 R, 19 RBIs, 6 BB
- Timmy Marsalis, RF, 2016 - .405 BA, 8 2B, 18 R, 20 RBIs, 14 BB
Key Reserves:
- Shem Pond, OF, 2016 - .310 BA
- Derek McCall, OF, 2017 - .283 BA
- Noah Unger, 1B/3B, 2017 - .342 BA
The Arms:
- Shane Ford, 2017 - 64 IP, 8-0, 0.55 ERA, 58 K
- Trent McIntyre, 2016 - 40 IP, 5-2, 2 SV, 1.40 ERA, 43 K
- Dalton Holycross, 2016 - 25.2 IP, 3-2, 1.91 ERA, 42 K
- Dustin Bruce, 2017 - 25 IP, 1-1, 1 SV, 20 K
- Trevor Instine, 2018 - 20 IP, 4-0, 1.40 ERA, 20 K
Coaches Thoughts:
PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: We are playing our baseball of the season right now. We are playing with lots of energy and emotion.
PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: It’s a great feeling for the team, community, parents, and school. We last appeared at State in 2004, so everyone is excited to go back. This is a very exciting time for the program.
PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four and Huntington Park?
Coach: This is going to be a great experience for the kids and everyone involved. We are excited and anxious to play.
Coach: Our pitchers and defense have done an outstanding job during our tournament run. Through our first five tournament games, the two pitchers I have used, Ford and McIntyre have given up just one run and offense has scored 36 runs. Players are contributing in many ways and making it contagious for everyone.
Cuyahoga Heights (15-10)
Head Coach: Marc Lowther
Season Facts:
- 3rd appearance at state.
- Runner-up in 2012 and 1976.
Top Hitters:
- Matt Harris, OF, 2017
- Dalton Skerlec, OF, 2016
- Brett Lowther, SS, 2017
- Aaron Kucia, SP, 2016
- Tyler Selig, 3B, 2017
- Austin McDonald, INF/DH, 2018 for Mason Johnnson, OF, 2016
- Tyler Hughes, 1B, 2018
- RJ Dean, 2B, 2017
- Nick Frye, C, 2017
The Arms:
- Aaron Kucia, LHP, 2016
- Michael Hartman, RHP, 2016
- RJ Dean, RHP, 2017
- Tyler Selig, RHP, 2017
- John Pesta, LHP, 2016
PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: The way we are moving runners over and getting them in. Hitting and starting pitching have also been good right now. The kids are having fun and very relaxed.
PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: I was very excited for this team which has come close the past few years. The players have worked very hard to get to this point.
PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four and Huntington Park?
Coach: Very exciting time for our school. This is an experience of a lifetime for the players, to be able to play in a game like this.