Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Senior Writer and Northwest scout

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DIVISION II

Hudson Regional

No. 22 Youngstown Cardinal Mooney (20-7) vs. No. 12 Canton South (24-4)

Mooney head coach Al Franceschelli has led Mooney to the district finals five times, and the fifth time was the charm as Mooney defeated Struthers 12-0 this year after losing the previous four times. One of Mooney's top hitters is junior . Senior catcher Drew Delsignore (Marietta recruit) is a standout for Mooney, which like Canton South is young with just two senior starters. Junior third baseman Andrew Beck (pictured right, nephew of Nebraska football offensive coordinator Tim Beck) is getting Division I looks for Mooney, which beat Struthers in the district finals after topping Poland Seminary 9-6 in the semis. Mooney also blanked Corland Lakeview 10-0 in the sectionals finals. A year ago Mooney lost to Canfield 7-0 in the district finals. This is the first regional appearance for Mooney since 2004.

Canton South have lost four games this season by a combines five runs, with three of those losses coming in the first week of the season. The Wildcats have won the Canton district two years in a row. The Wildcats are a young squad starting five sophomore, 3 juniors and just one senior. At the plate South is hitting .351 as a team, led by DJ Wilson (pictured left, .456, 36 runs, 25 RBIs, 8 triples, 15 SB), Damon Wade (.389, 23 runs, 25 RBI), Garrett Crum (.371, 23 runs, 25 RBIs), Noah Mallen (.365, 17 runs, 14 RBIs), Connor Thomson (pictured right, .338, 30 runs, 15 RBIs), Preston May (.321, 12 runs, 24 RBIs) and Alex Porter (.304, 20 runs, 19 RBIs, 12 SB). On the mound the Wildcats have a team ERA of an outstanding 1.74. South has five pitchers who have thrown more than 20 innings including Kendall Fowler (6-1, 45 2/3 innings, 1.53 ERA), Jake Newell (5-0, 38 1/3 innings, 1.28 ERA), Cody Stickel (5-1, 34 1/3 innings, 1.63 ERA), Johnny Haslam (3-1, 23 innings, 1.83 ERA) and Wilson (2-1, 22 innings, 2.23 ERA, 4 saves)

Canton South head coach Trent McIlvain thoughts on his team's strengths:

"We are a pretty well-rounded team. We have depth in our pitching staff and have the ability to create big innings offensively. We are tough outs 1-9 and do not strike out much."

 

Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (16-12) vs. Akron Archbishop Hoban (18-10)

North Coast League members NDCL and Hoban meet for the third time this season.

Ryan Falls and Connor Kaucic have provided strong arms for Notre Dame Cathedral Latin in the tournament. NDCL beat Chagrin Falls 5-0 to advance to regionals after knocking off University School 4-3 and Ashtabula Edgewood 8-5 in their previous tourney games. Falls is 4-0 with a 1.35 ERA and Kaucic 3-1 with a 1.67 ERA on the season. Falls has given up six earned runs in 31 innings while Kaucic has surrendered 10 in 42 innings. Top players are Cody Paterni (.490, 35 stolen bases), Ryan Proud (.425, 33 RBIs, 26 stolen bases) and Jim Brinkman (.400, 24 RBIs).

Akron Hoban beat NDCL twice during North Coast League action in the regular season, 11-7 and 13-12. Pitching has been the key for the Knights, which have given up just one run in each of three tournament games capped off by an 8-1 victory over Tallmadge in the district finals, avenging a 4-0 loss to Tallmadge in last year's district championship. Senior Drew Lakos (6-1, 1.78 ERA) and junior Travis Pero have been handling the pitching chores. Hoban defeated Medina Buckeye 4-1 in the district semis and Streetsboro 11-1 in the sectional title game. The team, now riding a six-game winning streak, has been boosted by the return of catcher Anthony Osmun, who missed a month of the season with a dislocated thumb. Senior shortstop Sean Trexler (26 RBIs) and senior second baseman Cody Hargett anchor the infield for a veteran team that has seniors Tony Guerriero, Adam Gray (27 RBIs) and Aaron Cain (.511) in the outfield. Senior third baseman Austin Farber (34 RBIs) and sophomore first baseman Jordan Burns are others in the infield. Hoban was state runner-up in 2011.

 

Tiffin Regional

No. 13 Granville (21-6) vs. No. 5 Wapakoneta (18-5)

Granville let a 2012 district championship slip away after a huge error sent the game to extras, allowing Jonathan Alder to win the title. With most of its lineup returning the Blue Aces are poised to make a run in 2013. After starting the season out 5-4, Granville has went 16-2 since, including a 6-5 win over perennial power Columbus DeSales, the first district crown since 2000. Granville has a tough 1-2 punch on the mound in seniors Clay Hartness (pictured left) and Dalton Boucher. Hartness threw a no-hitter in the district semis against Hamilton. Boucher allowed just two hits while striking out seven in five-plus innings in the district finals. The Blue Aces are led by seniors at the plate as well in Devon Dager (pictured right, 9 HR) and Alex Marcum (6 HR, 35 RBIs).

Wapakoneta who was the preseason No. 1 team started out slow, losing four of its first six games, before winning 16 of its last 17 (only loss to Defiance, 1-0). Bowling Green State University recruit LHP Johnny Crawford (pictured left, 7-2, 1.36 ERA) is expected to start for the Redskins, with RHP Chace Culver (Jr. 5-1, 0.96 ERA), last year's regional title winner, Wapak's No. 2 starter. Chandler Kaeck (first baseman, .391, 27 RBI), Crawford (.373, 6 doubles, 2 home runs, 21 RBI), Andrew Hines (right field, .367, 21 RBI), Alex Koch (second base, .343, 6 doubles), talented unsigned senior shortstop Josh Apple (pictured right, .341) and Brandon Schreiber (catcher, .320, 5 doubles) power the Wapak offense.

Parma Heights Holy Name (15-12) vs. No. 1 Defiance (27-1)

Holy name is back to regionals for the sixth time in eight years. The Green Wave has had to battle adversity as they started the season 5-9 and were down by 4-0 in bot the district semis and district finals. The Green Wave will have senior Dave Javor (4-2) on the mound with sophomore Chris Follina in relief. At the plate the Green Wave are led by Tyler Sullivan (senior), a switch-hitting shortstop that has signed to play baseball at Evansville. Senior Dan Cora (second baseman) also hits well, senior Dan Cunningham (right field) anchors the outfield and senior Matteo Beechuk will be behind the plate. Also in the lineup will be juniors Alex Tober (third baseman), Ryan Leonard (first base) and T.J. Szczepinski (center field), while sophomore Frankie Spinelli (left field) rounds out the starters.

The topped ranked Bulldogs of Defiance looked poised for a run to Columbus, but will have to win a difficult Tiffin regional before they can worry about the capital city. Defiance is making its 16th trip overall and 10th in 15 seasons to regionals.

Defiance has arguably the top 1-2 punch on the mound in University of Kentucky recruit Rob Zeigler (pictured left, 8-0,48 2/3 innings, 0.58 ERA, 81 K, .113 BAA) and Lincoln Trail recruit Weston "Heff" Rivers (pictured right, 8-0, 57 2/3 innings, 0.24 ERA, 68 K, 12 BB, 2 saves, .100 BAA), who will move up the 2013 player rankings more than anyone after how much he has improved this season. The two have combined to allow just six earned runs all season. The Bulldogs also feature other strong arms in Austin Hancock (3-1, 24 2/3 innings, 1.42 ERA, 21 K), Derek Turner (5-0, 24 innings, 0.29 ERA, 33 K), Mazen Kanouh (1-0, 14 1/3 innings, 0.98 ERA, 1 save) and Ethan Willitzer (2-0, 16 2/3 innings, 18 K). The staff as a whole has a astounding 0.75 ERA with 228 strikeouts in just 186 innings.

At the plate Zeigler (.447, 8 doubles, 4 home runs, 27 runs, 31 RBIs), Dom "The Vacuum" Gentile (third base, .390, 29 runs, 7 doubles, 21 SB), Austin Hancock (shortstop, .360, 31 runs, 20 RBIs, 6 doubles, 3 triples, 21 SB), Adam Schaffer (right field, .359, 4 doubles) and Defiance College recruit Austin Yant (DH, .333, 4 doubles, 2 home runs) are all hitting over .300 for the Bulldogs. Other hitters include Dom Romero (left field, .290, 16 runs), Turner (second base, .278, 16 runs), Joe Keween (catcher, .254, 21 runs). The Bulldogs also have pinch hitter Drake Jimenez (.308, Defiance College recruit). Defiance has two defensive specialists, Jacob Green mans center field and has flashed the leather all season, and Wes Detter comes in to play right field if Defiance is up late in the game, and has been known to make a play or two himself.

  

Zanesville Regional

Vincent Warren (15-9) vs. No. 16 Harrison Central (21-6)

Seven players hitting .300 or better lead the way for Vincent Warren, which was helped out by a triple play when the game with Washington Court House was still in doubt in the district finals. Leadoff hitter Lance Schafer tops the team with a .397 average along with eight doubles. Pitcher Danny Pannell, shortstop Ethan Estes (.357) and catcher Gunnar Smith (.356, 21 RBIs), the clean-up hitter, are other standouts. Pannell, a right-harder headed to the University of Muskingum, is 8-2 with a 1.86 ERA and 50 Ks. Other pitchers are lefty Justin Hill (3-1, 1.75 ERA) and righty Garrett Kennedy (3-3, 3.31 ERA). DH David Ryan (.352), third baseman Kennedy (.329), left fielder Zach McKenna (.301 along with sophomore right fielder Blake Kidder (.419), who has played the last 10 games after being elevated from the junior varsity, are other top players for head coach Mark Farr.

Left-hander Rashaen Mitchell (8-1) threw a two-hitter in a big 6-2 win over top-seeded Dover in the districts and the 6-6 senior is expected to get the nod on the mound against Vincent Warren. Other main players for Harrison Central include catcher Nick Slaten, Rhett Kuryn, Drew Horn, Dalton Rutter, Austin Kowalski, Nick Pelegreen, Dustin Redish and Ryan Rose. Reaching regionals was difficult, with an 8-7 win in 12 innings over Carrollton in the district semis.

 

West Holmes (20-8) vs. Waverly (22-7)

West Holmes, a 2012 state participant is poised to get back to Columbus (in 2012 lost to Wapakoneta 3-2). The Knights have a one-two punch that has the ability to win an game. Junior Louisville recruit Dillon "Butch" Baird (pictured left, 7-1, 1.40 ERA, 67 K, 16 BB) and senior Wright State recruit Gabe Snyder (pictured right) are healthy and ready to take the next step. In tourney play, Baird threw a three-hitter to beat Cambridge 11-1 in five innings in the district finals after striking out 13 earlier in the tourney against Indian Valley in a 4-2 victory. Snyder and Keaton Leepla provide a nice 3-4 pop in the batting order. Snyder is hitting .482 with four home runs and 41 RBIs while Leepla is batting .471 with a pair of homers and 34 RBIs. West Holmes head coach Kurt McDowell wants has been preaching all year to have a killer instinct. That killer instinct was evident when the Knights run-ruled No. 19 Cambridge 11-1 in five innings to capture the district crown.

After Waverly started the season 5-4, the Wildcats have won 20 in a row. This is Waverly's 7th regional appearance, and third appearance in the past 11 seasons. The Tigers are led by a one-two punch on the mound in Pierce Knisley (8-0, 67 2/3 innings, 0.31 ERA, 98 K), Corey Johnson (5-2, 43 innings, 2.44 ERA, 53 K). At the plate the Tigers are led by Adam Tiu (.432 BA, 20 RBIs), Knisley (.326, 14 RBIs, 12 SB), Tyler Nartker (.330, 18 RBIs, 10 doubles), Eric Rinehart (pictured left, .297, 17 RBIs, 5 doubles) and Paul Underwood (.333, 16 RBIs, 12 SB).

Waverly head coach Jeffrey Noble's thoughts on his team's strengths:

"Our strengths have definitely been pitching and defense but we do have the capability to swing the bats. I think for the most part our team will give you quality at bats."

Dayton Regional

No. 24 Plain City Jonathan Alder (21-8) vs. Springfield Shawnee (19-10)

Jonathan Alder continues to be a state power, losing to Columbus DeSales in the 2011 state finals and then to Defiance 14-4 in the 2012 regional semis. The past four years Alder has either won state or lost to a team that made it to the regional finals or beyond. To date Alder has beaten Hebron Lakewood 8-1, Bexley 12-6 and Columbus Bishop Watterson 4-3 to reach the regionals. . Jonathan Alder has reached regionals for the fourth year in a row and looks to return to state like in 2010 where they won the state championship (34-0 record). Brad Miller (pictured right) should be on the mound while batting leadoff. Catcher Trent Kaltenbach is another solid player for the Pioneers.

Springfield Shawnee is on a four-game winning streak and looks to take the next step and head to Columbus. The Braves are led by Derek Zinkon (5-2, 54 1/3 innings, 1.67 ERA. 56 K) on the mound. Zinkon won the Braves first two games of the tournament against Graham and Kenton Ridge. Other arms include Tyler Bostick (3-2, 31 innings, 2.48 ERA) who threw a two-hitter in the district final game against New Richmond (3-2 victory) and Sinclair CC recruit Jordan Huggins (pictured right, 5-1, 30 innings, 1.87 ERA, 43 K). At the plate the Braves are led by Joey Chapman (pictured left) who is hitting .414 with 27 runs scored 26 RBIs and 10 doubles. Other top hitters include Huggins (.348, 33 runs, 24 SB) and Bostick (.337, 22 RBIs, 24 runs).

 

No. 4 Tipp City Tippecanoe (27-4) vs. Franklin (17-13)

Tipp City Tippecanoe was preseason ranked No. 2 and has lived up to the ranking. This is the Red Devils third straight regional appearance and are currently on a 10-game winning streak and have tied the school record with 27 wins. With all nine players back from last season regional appearance the Red Devils are looking to take the next step. At the plate Tippecanoe is hitting .324 as a team, led by Ben Hughes (pictured right, .446, 38 runs, 30 RBIs, 8 doubles, 17 SB). Other top hitters include Dayton recruit Carter Langdon (.400, 28 runs, 38 RBIs, 8 doubles, 5 HR, 10 SB), Zack Blair (.348, 33 runs), Cameron Johnson (.344, 21 runs), Austin Hadden (.340, 22 runs, 24 RBIs, 15 SB), BJ Donathan (pictured left, .338, 17 runs, 20 RBIs, 7 doubles), Toledo recruit Steven Calhoun (.333), Austin Clack (.324) and Reid Ferrell (.300). The strength of the Red Devils is on the mound where they have a team ERA of a ridiculous 1.34. The top arms include Hughes (8-0, 54 1/3 innings, 0.77 ERA, 82 K, 3 saves), Calhoun (5-3, 43 1/3 innings, 0.48 ERA, 67 K), Cole Quillen (5-1, 40 2/3 innings, 1.89 ERA, 55 K), Ferrell (5-0, 34 1/3 innings, 2.45 ERA, 26 K) and Johnson (3-0, 24 innings, 1.17 ERA, 29 K, 3 saves). Also coming into the season Langdon was considered the ace of the staff, but because of an injury he has been limited to DH all season.

 

Franklin is only 17-13 on the season, but don't let that record fool you, they are a talented team. Also when you have an ace like Travis Lakins (pictured right, Ohio State University recruit) on the bump you can win any game, and it looks as though Lakins will be on the mound against Tippecanoe. Franklin center fielder Matt Thompson threw out the potential tying run at home plate for the final out of Franklin's 2-1 win over Dayton Carroll in the district semifinals before beating Batavia Clearmonte Northeast 4-1 for the district crown. Lakins (7-2) struck out 11 to pick up the win against Carroll. Franklin blanked Dayton Meadowdale 5-0 in the sectional opener and topped Clinton-Massie 6-3 in the sectional finals.