Prep Baseball Report

JJHuddle/PBR Ohio Division I Power Rankings: No. 21 - No. 25



By Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer/Northwest Scout

No. 21 Marysville High School

Marysville and 1st year head coach Mark Brunswick have high hopes for the 2014 season. In 2013, the Monarchs finished 22-8, 9-5 Ohio Capital Conference, bowing out in the regional semifinals to Gahanna Lincoln.Jarod Yoakam

The Monarchs return six starters, and talented starters they are. Coach Brunswick will look to an experienced team to take charge and have a long run come tournament time.

The Monarchs projected lineup looks like this:

  • 1 Casey Gould 2B SOPH 5'9 165 R/R, solid young prospect.
  • 2 Billy Kidd SS SR 5'10 170 R/R. Also captain of the team. Signed to play college ball at Sinclair CC. Good contact person with good hands on the defensive end of the game, 1st team OCC 2nd team All-District, ranked number 234 in 2014 class.
  • 3 Matt Mulholland CF SR 6'1 180 L/L. 4-year starter for the varsity. Captain of the team. Looking to play college baseball but undecided at this time. Overall, solid player with a good baseball IQ, 2nd team All-OCC
  • 4 Jarod Yoakam 1B SR 6'3 185 R/R. Signed to play next year at the University of Cincinnati, ranked number 48 in Ohio and 323 overall in 2014 class. Displays a strong arm 85+ with good bat speed at the plate. Looking for a solid senior year from him. Also captain of this year's team, pictured above.Aron Mowery
  • 5 Aron Mowery P JR 5'10 175 R/R. Strong arm with good defensive skills. Topped at 89 mph last year, 2nd team All-OCC, ranked number 46 in Ohio and 326 overall in the 2015 class, pictured right. 
  • 6 Noah Arbogast DH/Jacob McNabb 3B SR R/R. Power hitter for Marysville. Strong player with good athleticism with him.
  • 7 Desmond Johnson LF JR 5'10 165 R/R. Speed with good range in the outfield.
  • 8 Grant Howard C JR 5'10 185 R/R. Solid catcher that will need to be Marysville's on field leader
  • 9 Sam Ford RF SR 6'0 170 R/R

Marysville's pitching will look like this:

  • 1 Jarod Yoakam SR 6'3 185 RHP
  • 2 Aron Mowery JR 5'10 175 RHP
  • 3 Matt Mulholland SR 6'1 180 LHP
  • 4 Greg Laurenson JR 6'1 165 LHP. Solid pitcher in our rotation that will need to have quality innings for the Monarchs this year.
  • 5 Jacob McNabb SR 5'10 180 RHP 
No. 22 Cincinnati St. Xavier High School

Jordan McDonoughSt. Xavier and 1st year head coach Bob Sherlock are looking to improve on a 16-12 record in 2013, falling to the eventual state champions Moeller in the district semifinals. The Bombers are a perennial power in division one and with the return of seven starters and four pitchers have the Bombers looking to climb the mountain in the difficult Greater Catholic League.

The Bombers will be led by one of the top players in the state, Jordan McDonough, who is committed to The Ohio State University, ranked number six in Ohio and 63rd overall in the 2014 class, pictured left.Spencer Helwig

Other top players for the Bombers include:

  • Nate Chipman 6' 1" 190, unsigned senior whose fastball is in the mid-80s, but could pick up some velocity with further coaching and development. 
  • Nick Tensing 6' 5" 200 lbs. LHP/1B outstanding baseball player; will probably play football in college  
  • Eric Jaun 6' 1" 180 lbs. Bats: R Throws: R - very athletic, will compete for a spot at shortstop or in the outfield
  • Spencer Helwig 6' 0" 175 lbs. outstanding athlete - backup catcher - started at 3B last year as a sophomore, pictured right
  • Alex Kenner 6' 1" 225 RHP will be counted on to make significant contributions as a starting pitcher in 2014
  • Andrew Fisher 6' 2" 170 lbs. LHP great frame, still raw but developing

A few other underclassmen to look out for in the future include:Noah Mehrle

  • Noah Mehrle 6' 1" 165 Bats: R Throws: R excellent throwing arm; will compete for spot at shortstop or in the outfield
  • JP Bitzenhofer 6' 1" 170 Bats: R Throws: R could be second best catcher in program next to McDonough; 7.2 60 yd. dash; strong offensively as well
  • Ben Elsen 6' 0" 175 RHP/OF/INF velocity in low-to-mid 80s; repeats motion well; will also see time in field at shortstop or third base, pictured right

No. 23 Pickerington North High School

Logan GiddingsHead coach Tim Thomas and the Pickerington North Panthers had an entertaining 2013 season, finishing 25-5. The Panthers fell to Hilliard Darby in the district finals by a final score of 2-0.

The Panthers return just four starters, but look to reload in the 2014 season and make a run come tournament time.Trezden Johnson

Pickerington North's top players include a mix of upper and lower classmen:

  • Justin Childers - Sr- 6'2 190 r/r - INF & P, Northern Kentucky commit, ranked number 85 in 2014 class.
  • Hayden Ballog - Sr - 5'9 150 r/r INF
  • Logan Giddings - Jr 6'1 185 l/r INF/OF/P, ranked number 32 in Ohio and 225 overall in the 2015 class, pictured above.
  • Brendan Green - Jr - 5'9 160
  • Trezden Johnson - Soph 5'11 175 r/r, OF/P, ranked number 37 in 2016 class, pictured right.
  • Jake Edwards - P/INF
  • Colin Anderson - C/P
  • Derek Herd - INF/P
  • Kobe Rush - P/INF

No. 24 Hudson High School 

Joe CahillThe Hudson Explorers and head coach Buddy Dice finished 2013 with an impressive 24-6, 9-1 NOC Valley record. The Explorers fell to Brunswick in the district finals last season.

In 2014, coach Dice and the Explorers return five starters and sixNanak Saran pitchers from a 24 win team. The Explorers have a nice mix of upper and lower classmen who have their eyes geared toward a league championship and long tournament run:

The upper classmen include:

  • Joey Cahill, OF/1B/P, sr, 5'8 175. L/L, Hit 333 last year w/ 9 doubles & 1 HR & .439 as sophomore. 4.2 GPA & 31 ACT- looking at Northwestern, ranked number 252 in 2014 class, pictured above to left.
  • Nanak Saran, P/1B, sr, 6'2" 170, R/R, 2-2 2.23 era - batted in middle of order hitting 369 with 10 doubles, looking to continue baseball & academics at Wooster or Marietta, ranked number 151 in 2014 class, pictured right.
  • Kevin Zullo, P/1B, sr, 6'3" 195, R/R, 7-0 & 1 save. .662 era - bigger & stronger tan last year, looking to continue baseball & academics at Ohio Weslyn or John Carrol, ranked number 281 in 2014 class
  • Travis Wood - OF/C jr. - 6'1" 185lbs, R/R, brother coaches at Kenyon - has grown into frame & will compete for starting position
  • Jake Stuursma - SS, jr. 5'10" 160, R/R, smooth hands with good range, lettered as sophomore
  • Dean Miller, OF, jr. 5'8" 160lbs, R/R, starting tailback on football team - FAST with some pop.

A few underclassmen that look to contribute down the line include:

 

No. 25 Loveland High School

Brian BullockHead coach Ken Reed and the Loveland Tigers finished 2013 with a 20-7, 9-3 Eastern Cincinnati Conference record. The Tigers fell to Lakota East 4-3 in the district semifinals.

The Tigers return lots of talent from the 20 win team, including seven returning starters and four pitchers. The Tigers look to have a veryDarren Sackett experienced senior laden team in 2014. Some of the top seniors include:

  • Brian Bullock RHP SR 5'11 185 R-R, 5-3 1.89 ERA 33K 1st Team All-ECC, Lake Erie College commit, ranked number 69 in 2014 class, pictured above left.
  • Darren Sackett C SR 5'10 185 L-R, .312 BA, 32 RBI, 1st Team All-ECC, Lake Erie College commit, ranked number 126 in 2014 class, pictured right.
  • Reid Waddell SS SR 5'10 165 R-R, .36 BA, 26 RBI, 1st Team All-ECC
  • Trevor Simon LHP SR 6'1 190 L-L; Transfer from Amelia
  • Jacob Wagoner RHP SR 6'1 185 R-R, 2-0 1.50 ERA 3 Saves, ranked number 266 in the 2014 class.
  • Nathan Dickerson 2B 5'8 165 R-R, .359 BA 8 SB

Some of the top underclassmen include:Chris Sackett

  • Adam Beran LHP/OF Jr, 6' 180 R-L
  • Chris Sackett 1B/C Jr, 6'0 210 R-R, .304 BA, ranked number 199 in 2015 class, pictured right.
  • Jay Wilson RHP So, 6'4 175 R-R, 2-0 1.40 ERA, ranked number 15 in the 2016 class.