By Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer/Northwest Scout

No. 6 Olentangy Liberty High School

Olentangy Liberty and head coach Ty Brennings finished 19-10 last season, bowing out of the tournament in the district semifinals to Watkins Memorial, 2-1.

The Patriots return a lot of experience and talent as coach Brennings has seven returning starters and six pitchers with varsity experience, which has the Patriots looking to claim an O.C.C. championship and long tournament run.

Coach Brennings top players include:

• Jacob Niggemeyer; SR, 6'5, 220, R-R, All-Ohio OF - The Ohio State University commit, ranked number 11 in Ohio and 75 overall in the 2014 class.
• Cameron Comer; JR, 6', 180, L-R, All-District 2012, SS/C, Virginia commit, ranked number 9 in Ohio and 71 overall in the 2015 class, pictured above.
• Mitchell Griffiths; SR 6'3, 185, R-R, 3-2 with 4 Saves, Opponents hit .259 against, Alderson-Broaddus University commit, ranked number 91 in the 2014 class, pictured right.
• Marcus Wechselberger; SR 6'4, 185, R-R, OF/P, .282 ave. .379 OBP.
• Danny Kirchner: SR 5'10, 170, R-R, OF, All-District 2013, unsigned senior.
• AJ Kullman: JR 6'8, 170, L-R, P/1B, 2-2 1 Save, 2.93 ERA, low 80s, good movement, projectable.

Other players that coach Brennings is looking to contribute, along with some underclass talent include:

• Nick Parr, RHP, 6'3, 190 - low 80s, good movement, projectable, ranked number 189 in the 2015 class.
• Charlie Lutwen, SS/OF, 6', 175, R-R - great athleticism, great bat control.
• Mason Groves, SS/OF/RHP, 5'11, 155 R-R. Solid two-way potential, pictured right.
  
• Spencer Yankle SS/C, 5'11, 165 R-R.
• Griffin Hart, OF, 5'10, 165 R-R.

No. 7 Lebanon High School

The Lebanon Warriors finished last season with a 20-7 record, falling to the eventual state champion Archbishop Moeller in the district final.

The Warriors feature a talent roster in each class. Top players include seniors:

• Wes Noble, RHP/OF. Campbell commit, ranked number 30 in Ohio and 225 overall in the 204 class, pictured above.
• Nick Cecil, LHP/OF, Evansville commit, ranked number 34 in Ohio and 263 overall in the 2014 class.
• Daniel Nyquist, OF/RHP, ranked 285 in the 2014 class.
• David Chrostowski, OF/3B.
• Austin Renwick, RHP/3B.
• Janzen Kestner, MIF.

The Lebanon Warriors have a couple of the top underclassmen in the state:

• Ty Duvall, C/RHP, 2016, Vaderbilt commit, ranked number 4 overall in the 2016 class, pictured right.
• Christian Steele, 1B/RHP, 2015 ranked number 34 in Ohio and 253 overall in the 2015 class, pictured right.

Another underclassmen that could contribute for the Warriors in 2014 is sophomore Shea Konneally, SS/OF.

No. 8 Mentor High School

Mentor and head coach Len Taylor went 23-6 last season, coming one game short of reaching Columbus as they fell to Aurora 2-1 in the regional finals.

The Cardinals lose three key contributors from the 2013 team in Dan Trimble, Nick Delis and Nick Gieble. However the Cardinal reload as they return six starters and five pitchers from the 2013 team.

Coach Taylor, who enters the season one win shy of 300 victories (299-100) feels Mentors strengths come from the defense, seniors leadership and pitching. Speaking of pitching here is their projected rotation:

• 1 Kade McClure 12 6'6" 190 RHP, Louisville commit, ranked number 8 in Ohio and 67 in the 2014 class, pictured right.
  
• 2 Evan Lovick 12 5'10" 175 LHP
• 3 Branden Kasberg 12 5'8" 155 RHP
• 4 Sam Vilk 12 6'3" 230 RHP
• 5 Matt Eiswerth 10 5'11" 190 RHP

The Cardinals projected lineup looks as followed: 

No. 9 Cincinnati Elder High School 

The Panthers fell to Cincinnati Turpin in the district finals 2-1, finishing the 2013 season with a 14-12 record, while competing in the difficult Greater Catholic League.

Elder as a program has the most wins in the state and the most state championship, 12 with the last coming in 2005 and the Panthers are hungry to get back to Columbus.

Coach Mark Thompson will look to some talented upperclassmen to lead the Panthers in 2014:

• Kyle Orloff SS/P Jr 5'11" 185 R/R Huge key to our success. Hit .354 as a soph. Outstanding competitor/Leadership qualities, ranked number 63 in 2015 class.
• Shane Smith P/Inf Jr 5'10" 165 L/R . Should be our ace. Outstanding poise. Good command of 3 pitches. Mid-upper 80's FB. 2.10 ERA 1.21 WHIP as a Soph. Also hit .321, ranked number 41 in Ohio and 309 overall in 2015 class, pictured above.
• Sam Hauer C Jr 5'10" 210 R/R. Should be much improved this year. Has outstanding tools behing the plate. 2.0-2.1 pop time. Good power, ranked number 111 in 2015 class, pictured right.
• Dominic Faillace OF Sr 6'1" 160 L/L. 2 year starter in the OF. Hit .322 as a Jr.
• Johnny Lammers OF Sr 5'10" 160. 2 year starter in the OF. Hit .317 as a Jr. 4.5 40 yd dash.
• Austin Koch P Sr 6'1" 200 R/R. Mid - upper 80's FB. 2.95 ERA 1.21 WHIP as a Jr
• Kyle Koeppenhoeffer RHP Sr 6'3" R/R. Really grew and improved since last season. Increased velocity to mid-upper 80's with plus breaking ball, University of Cincinnati commit, ranked number 63 in 2014 class, pictured right. 

A few other athletes that coach Thompson will look to contribute in 2014 include:

• Brian Guck Inf Sr 6'2" 190 R/R. Hit .313 as a Jr.
• Greg Cappel 1B/P Jr 6'1 160 R/R. Quick hands/strong at the plate. Drops down as a pitcher Low 80s FB

No. 10 Lakewood St. Edward High School

Lakewood St. Edward bowed out of the 2013 tournament with a loss to Amherst Steele.

The Eagles are poised to have a strong 2014 campaign and making a long tournament run.

The Eagles are led by upperclassmen:

• Jon Laird RHP Sr, ranked number 107 in the 2014 class.
• Mason DeAnna C/SS Jr, ranked number 73 in the 2015 class, pictured right.
• Darien Knowles OF/LHP Jr, ranked number 136 in 2015 class.
• Kyle Hegedus OF/MIF Jr, ranked number 176 in 2015 class.
• Garett Zorb 3B/RHP Jr, ranked number 192 in 2015 class.
• Shayne Erny 3B/RHP Jr.
• Charles Hindulak 1B/OF Jr.

St. Edward also boasts in their sophomore and freshman classes:

• Jaret Edwards RHP/OF So, ranked number 33 in the 2016 class, pictured right.
• Joe Weisenseel MIF So.
• Turner Mudrock MIF/RHP So.
• Jared Becker LHP/1B