Prep Baseball Report

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



By Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer/Northwest Scout

No. 21  Liberty-Benton High SchoolAlex Harter

Liberty-Benton and 1st year head coach Scott Arnold are ready to reload after a 22-4 season in 2013. Arnold is taking over for long time head coach Jim Rucki. The Eagles fell to Ottawa-Glandorf in the sectional finals last season.

The Eagles return five starters led by senior Jared Neiling (5-11, 165-pound RHP/INF, 1st team All-BVC) and junior ace Alex Harter (6-2, 175-pound RHP/INF, 1st team All-BVC, pictured right). Other top contributors include senior Anthony Webb (OF) and juniors Caleb Russell (3B/RHP), Josh Ostrander (OF) and Parker Lease (INF)

No. 22  Tontogany Otsego High School  

Hunter CarsonThe Otsego Knights and head coach Chase Welker look to rebound after being upset in the sectional finals by Elmore Woodmore 3-2 last season. Despite being upset in the tournament, the Knights had an impressive 2013 campaign, going 17-7 and 14-0 in the Northern Buckeye Conference.  

Otsego has a group of seniors that look to take the next step in 2014, these seniors include: Max Miller (5-11, 165-pound, INF/P), Deven Vollmar (6-1, 185-pound, INF/P), Austin Cox (5-8, 175-pound, catcher), Zac Gregory (6-0, 180-pound, OF/1B) and C.J. Selders (5-9, 160-pound, OF/P).

Talented sophomore Hunter Carson (6-1, 170-pound, RHP/OF, ranked number 8 in the 2016 class, pictured left) could be the key to how far the Knights go. Carson sits mid 80s on the hill with solid offspeed.

No. 23  Van Buren High SchoolRoss Adolph

Brooks Lance and the Van Buren Black Knights look to rebound after a difficult loss in sectional action in the 2013 season. The Black Knights are poised to improve on an 18-7, 7-2 Blanchard Valley Conference.

The Black Knights return five starters led by gifted junior Ross Adolph (6-1, 190-pound, OF, .478 BA, 22 extra base hits, 7 HRs, ranked number 33 in 2015 class, pictured right). Junior Jameson Jacobs (5-10, 185-pound, RHP/SS, 7 wins, under 2.00 ERA).

Other top contributors are Isaac Sexton (Jr, 6-0, 1B), Drew Connor, Chance Sonnenburg and Corey Spoon.

No. 24  Genoa Area High School 

Casey GoseThe Genoa Area Comets and head coach Ron Rightnowar had a impressive season in 2013. The Comets fell to Bloom Carroll in the regional finals 8-1 ending the 2013 season with a 20-10 record.

Genoa returns their entire team and look to take the next step. The Comets are a bunch of scrappy upperclassmen who understand the game of baseball. The Comets lineup includes all seniors and juniors. The seniors include leadoff hitter Casey Gose (2B/OF, pictured left), three-hole hitter Alex Hayes (SS/RHP, .500 BA), Tyler Rozek (OF), Logan Scott (1B) and Quentin Spiess (LHP). The juniors include two-hole hitter Cody Pickard (2B), Nick Wolfe (C), Jake Wojiechowski (OF), Kyle Edwards (3B/RHP), Luke Rightnowar (6-2, 170-pound, RHP, 9-0 last season) and Matt Aumiller (RHP).

No. 25  Cincinnati Summit Country Day High School

Triffon Callos and the Summit Country Day Silver Knights look to improve on a 21-11 season in 2013 whereEric Terry the Silver Knights fell to Johnstown Northridge 1-0 in the regional semifinals. 

Summit Country Day return six starters and 10 total players from last seasons squad. The Silvers Knights 2-4 hitters are all back and looking to create some runs for the Silver Knight offense. Doug Compton (Sr, 5-11, 180-pound, OF/RHP, .408 BA, 30 RBIs, 14 doubles, 2.46 ERA), Eric Terry (Jr, 5-7, 170-pound, catcher, .313 BA, 31 RBIs, 2.00-2.08 pop time, ranked 95 in 2015 class, pictured right) and Mark Peterson (Jr, 6-0, 180-pound, 3B/RHP).

Other top contributors include Ryan Stoffel (Sr, UTIL), Brooks Taylor (Jr, OF) and Brennan Byrne (Sr, 2B). A few underclassmen that Callos is looking to contribute in 2014 are Will Mackey (So, SS), John Merritt (6-3, 160-pound, RHP) and Reece Jackson (RHP/UTIL).