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By Dylan Hefflinger
Editor in Chief/NW Scout

As we get ready to kick off the 2017 OHSAA Baseball Tournament, we at PBR Ohio would like to look ahead to some potential intriguing matchups in Sectional/District action.

As always with the way the matchups workout on the calendar, there is a chance we may not see the "Potential Top Pitching Matchups" below, but it certainly would be fun if we did.

To view the Week 5 Team Rankings, click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV

To view the 2017 Preseason All-State Selections, click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV

To see in-game video, scouting notes and much more, visit the 2017 Scout Blog.

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

To discuss the 2017 OHSAA Tournament as well as any sort of high school baseball talk, visit our partner JJHuddle.

 

2017 OHSAA  Baseball Tournament - District Preview

Team Rankings based on the Week 5 Team Rankings

Division I

Division I, Region 1 - Canton
Most Intriguing District: With two teams ranked in the top 10 and four teams in the top 45, the Canton District looks to have some interesting matchups. A district with rivals No. 1 Massillon Jackson vs No. 45 Massillon Washington and No. 10 Green vs No. 33 North Canton Hoover.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Kyle Nicholas vs Nicholas Binnie - District Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 1 Massillon Jackson vs No. 10 Green - District Final
• No. 7 Solon vs No. 27 Hudson - District Final
• No. 28 Mayfield vs Chardon - District Final
• Roosevelt vs No. 39 Walsh Jesuit - District Semifinal

Division I, Region 2 - Dublin
Most Intriguing District: Each of the districts seem evenly matched, but I will go with the Central 2 District. The potential matchup between one of the hottest teams in the state Grove City vs. one of the top 1-2 punches (Austin Becker/Henry Von Hollen) in the state from Big Walnut has me glued to this district.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Tyler Brown vs Ryan Glauner - District Semifinal
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 6 Grove City vs No. 16 Big Walnut - District Final
• No. 14 Hilliard Darby vs No. 25 Pickerington Central - District Final
• No. 19 Canal Winchester vs No. 26 Olentangy Orange - District Semifinal
• No. 12 Olentangy vs No. 15 Gahanna Lincoln - District Final

Division I, Region 3 - Bowling Green/Parma
Most Intriguing District: Three interesting districts to me in this region, but I will go with the Lorain District. I could see seven potential teams with a chance to get out of the district, with one of those being one of the best chances to get a ring in my estimation, thanks to having one of the top rotations in the entire state.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Connor Adams vs Matthew Brosky - District Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 4 Amherst Steele vs No. 8 Avon - District Final
• No. 41 Strongsville vs St. Ignatius - District Final
• No. 11 Sylvania Northview vs No. 31 Anthony Wayne - District Final
• Brunswick vs Archbishop Hoban - District Semifinal

Division I, Region 4 - Cincinnati
Most Intriguing District: The Western Hills 1 District is absolutely loaded with four teams in the top 24, along with some other stiff competition. No. 5 St. Xavier, No. 17 Mason and No. 18 Loveland are the top teams and I could see a scenario where any of those teams made it to Columbus.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Evan Miller vs Jake Schrand - Sectional Semifinal
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 5 St. Xavier vs No. 17 Mason - District Semifinal
• No. 2 Moeller vs No. 43 Centerville - District Final
• No. 4 Butler vs No. 49 Colerain - District Final
• No. 9 Lakota West vs No. 13 La Salle - District Semifinal

Division II

Division II, Region 5 - Hudson
Most Intriguing District: With three teams ranked in the top 21, the Struthers District has my eye. Will No. 7 Niles McKinley, No. 22 Canfield or someone else be able to stop No. 12 Poland Seminary's bid to get back to Huntington Park?
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Brandon Bischof vs Jared Burick - District Semifinal
Potential Top Matchup:

• No. 7 Niles McKinley vs No. 12 Poland Seminary - District Final
• No. 4 Field vs No. 18 Tallmadge - District Final
• NDCL vs Mentor Lake Catholic - District Final
• No. 20 Chagrin Falls vs CVCA - District Final

Division II, Region 6 - Bowling Green
Most Intriguing District: The Patrick Henry District features 7+ teams in my eye that could march all the way to Columbus ... Simply put, this district is loaded. The amount of 85+ mph arms in the district is astounding, with 15+ arms touching 85+, showcased by Seth Lonsway (90-94 mph), Ohio's top left-handed draft prospect.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Seth Lonsway vs Manny Vorhees - District Semifinal
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 1 Wapakoneta vs No. 19 Celina - District Semifinal
• No. 5 Jonathan Alder vs No. 22 Bexley - District Semifinal
• No. 11 Shelby vs Bellevue - District Semifinal
• Padua Franciscan vs Keystone - District Final

Division II, Region 7 - Zanesville
Most Intriguing District: The Athens 2 District has some solid potential matchups with No. 2 Marietta, Miami Trace, Unioto and Fairfield Union being the top teams in the district.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Dylan Dupler vs Brandon Sano - District Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 2 Marietta vs Miami Trace - District Final
• No. 3 Sheridan vs Athens - District Final
• No. 14 Steubenville vs New Philadelphia - District Final
• Minerva vs John Glenn - District Final

Division II, Region 8 - Mason
Most Intriguing District: Many solid districts in this region, but the Miamisburg District is where most of my attention will be. Will No. 6 Tippecanoe be able to manage their way through the tough district, or will the likes of No. 15 Waynesville, Kenton Ridge, Indian Lake, Bishop Fenwick, Springfield Shawnee and others be able to knock the Red Devils off.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Cade Rybolt vs Aaron Hughes - Sectional Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 6 Tippecanoe vs Shawnee - Sectional Final
• No. 8 Chaminade-Julienne vs No. 23 Taylor - District Final
• No. 9 Hamilton Ross vs New Richmond - District Final
• No. 13 Hebron Lakewood vs Bloom-Carroll - District Semifinal

Division III

Division III, Region 9 - Massillon
Most Intriguing District: The Lakewood District features five ranked teams, which should provide many must-see matchups. Elyria Catholic has been a mainstay in the top 2 for the Team Power Rankings and the favorite to come out of the whole region, but getting through the district will be challenging.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Manny Garza vs Chance Lomas - Sectional Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 2 Elyria Catholic vs No. 10 Trinity - District Final
• No. 3 Champion vs No. 8 Hawken - District Final
• No. 15 Triway vs Waynedale - District Semifinal
• No. 17 South Range vs St. Thomas Aquinas - Sectional Final

Division III, Region 10 - Elida
Most Intriguing District: Each district could produce some interesting matchups, but the Defiance District has my attention. The potential matchups of GMC rivals No. 7 Fairview vs No. 22 Tinora and NWOAL rivals No. 14 Archbold vs Swanton could produce some classics. 
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Justin Smith vs Tyler Giesige - District Semifinal
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 7 Fairview vs No. 14 Archbold - District Final
• No. 11 Coldwater vs No. 24 Ottawa-Glandorf - District Final
• Eastwood vs No. 19 Rossford - District Semifinal
• No. 6 Seneca East vs Clear Fork - District Final

Division III, Region 11 - TBA
Most Intriguing District: The East 2 District has No. 1 Hiland in it, so my eyes are on them. Let's see if the Hawks can make another trip back to Columbus. Getting through the districts comes first, and there are some potential roadblocks in River and potentially the winner of Fort Frye vs Coshocton.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Jason Blevins vs Talon Osborn - Sectional Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No.1 Hiland vs Fort Frye - District Final
• Milan Edison vs No. 16 Garaway - District Final
• No. 13 Wheelersburg vs Portsmouth West  - District Semifinal
• Minford vs Zane Trace - District Final

Division III, Region 12 - Xenia
Most Intriguing District: The Kings District intrigues me with the thought that I really don't know who I think will come out of this district. Also what's intriguing as the winner of this district will be matched up, if seeding holds, either No. 9 Cincinnati Country Day or No. 12 Versailles.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Connor McMurry vs Adam Goodpaster - District Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 9 Cincinnati Country Day vs No. 12 Versailles - District Final
• No. 5 CHCA vs No. 20 Anna - District Final
• Summit Country Day vs Carlisle - District Final
• Fredericktown vs Worthington Christian - District Final

Division IV

Division IV, Region 13 - Lorain
Most Intriguing District: The Clyde District with the arms New Riegel and Tiffin Calvert has, puts my eyes squarely on this matchup. No. 5 Mohawk looks to play the spoiler in the chance to see the much anticipated rematch of Kirian-Deats, but the matchup in the Struthers District of No. 2 Berlin Center Western Reserve vs No. 9 Jackson-Milton sounds like a fun one to be at as well.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Michael Kirian vs Peyton Deats - District Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 2 Berlin Center Western Reserve vs No. 9 Jackson-Milton
• No. 8 Lake Center Christian vs Cuyahoga Heights - District Semifinal
• No. 12 New Riegel vs No. 5 Mohawk - District Final
• No . 13 Warren JFK vs Mathews - District Final

Division IV, Region 14 - TBA
Most Intriguing District: Many of these districts are intriguing, but when the MAC is involved, I like to pay attention. With No. 16 Fort Recovery, Delphos St. Johns, No. 17 Minster, St. Henry and others, there should be some entertaining games.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Nick Thwaits vs Jacob Youngpeter - District Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 10 New London vs No. 6 Norwalk St. Paul - District Final
• No. 4 Stryker vs Ayersville - District Semifinal
• No. 14 McComb vs Kalida - District Semifinal
• No. 16 Fort Recovery vs Delphos St. John's - District Final

Division IV, Region 15 - Lancaster
Most Intriguing District: With the No. 1 team in the East District, I have my attention there. The Toronto Red Knights have the talent to take it all the way to Columbus, but getting through districts comes first, and there is some stiff competition within the East District in the likes of Shadyside and Strasburg-Franklin.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Daniel Zdinak vs Jay Dibacco - District Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 1 Toronto vs Shadyside - District Semifinal
• Berne Union vs Fisher Catholic - District Final
• No. 18 Waterford vs Portsmouth Clay - District Final
• Green vs Portsmouth Notre Dame - District Final

Division IV, Region 16 - Springfield
Most Intriguing District: The Springboro District features many teams with a chance of getting hot and making a run to the regional, including No. 5 Newton, No. 7 Lehman  Catholic, No. 15 Russia, Mechanicsburg and others.
Potential Top Pitching Matchup: Wesley Earles vs Shane Ford - District Final
Potential Top Matchups:

• No. 7 Lehman Catholic vs No. 5 Newton - District Final
• No. 3 Triad vs Fort Loramie - District Semifinal
• Newark Catholic vs No. 22 East Knox - District Final
• Tri-Country North vs Fayetteville-Perry - District Final