By Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer/Northwest Scout

No. 21 Trimble High School  

Phil Faires and the Trimble Tomcats finished 2013 with a 15-8 record, while finishing 13-5 in the Tri-Valley Conference (Hocking Division) behind Racine Southern. The Tomcats bowed out of the tournament in the district finals, thanks to a 1-0 defeat at the hands of Whiteoak.

The Tomcats are led by talented junior Austin Downs (6-0, 170-pound, OF, top hitter in 2013) and Jacob Kish (6-2, 180-pound, RHP/SS, top pitcher in 2013). Other top players include Caullen Lunsford (Jr, 5-10, C/3B/RHP), Konner Standley (Sr, 5-10, second baseman), Dante Brammer (So, 5-10, 1B/LHP, pictured left) and Andrew Losey (6-0, 170-pound, SS/RHP). 

A couple underclassmen in junior Justice Jenkins (OF) and sophomore Andrew Losey (SS/RHP) look to contribute in a big way in the 2014 season.

No. 22 Edon High School 

The Edon Blue Bombers and 2nd-year head coach Brock England finished 16-11 last season and 8-1 in the Buckeye Border Conference. Despite losing four contributors from the 2013 season, the Bombers still return six starting position players. Coach England feels the senior-laden Bombers will be led by both the pitching staff (return six pitchers) and the lineup (.305 team average last season). Edon got knocked out of the tournament in 2013 by Tinora 11-0 in the district semifinals.

At the plate, the Bombers are led by seniors Brock Thiel (5-10, 200-pound, SS, 1st team All-BBC), Connor Hug (6-1, 195-pound, OF/RHP), River Wicker (5-10, 175-pound, RHP, pictured right) and sophomore Landon Bloir (5-10, 195-pound, first baseman/LHP). Other top hitters include Jacob Brown (Sr, 6-3, 190-pound, third baseman/RHP), Trevor Green (Sr, 5-8, 185-pound, OF), Wyatt Zulch (Sr, 5-11, 190-pound, OF), Tyler Seaman (So, 5-10, 200-pound, C), Kaden Sapp (Jr, 6-1, 195-pound, second baseman).

On the hill, the Bombers are led by unsigned senior River Wicker (6-1 record, 2.25 ERA), Landon Bloir (no-hitter in league game in 2013), Connor Hug and Jacob Brown.

No. 23 McComb High School

McComb and head coach Robbie Quiroga finished the 2013 season 18-6 with a 6-3 record in the Blanchard Valley Conference. The Panthers return all nine starting position players as well as all their arms on the hill, which has Quiroga and the Panthers eyeing a BVC championship and making a long run come tournament time. The Panthers bowed out of the 2013 tournament at the hands of Tinora in the regional semifinals 11-1.

McComb is led by seniors Taylor Reardon (5-8, P/OF/INF), Mitch Schroeder (5-11, P/INF/C), Travis Clark (6-0, P/INF) and Logan Meares (5-7, C/OF). The Panthers top juniors include Clay Grubb (6-5, UTIL), Blake Glaser (6-4, OF/INF) and Andrew Adams (6-0, UTIL). Coach Quiroga expects a couple of sophomores to contribute in 2014, including Dakota LaRue (5-11, UTIL) and Drew Bryan (5-8, INF/OF).

No. 24 Dalton High School

The Dalton Bulldogs finished the 2013 season with a 21-7 record, capturing a district championship before falling in the regional semifinals to LHP Zac Lowther and Cuyahoga Heights 4-0. Dalton is led by senior LHP Ty Husted (6-1, 160-pound, pictured right).

No. 25 Buckeye Central High School

Buckeye Central and head coach Chad Jensen finished with a disappointing 11-17 record in 2013 after finishing 23-7 in 2012, but the Bucks are ready to turn that around in 2014 as they return eight starting position players and five pitchers. Coach Jensen, who has a 125-75 record at Buckeye Central, feels that despite being fairly young (possibly seven sophomores to play varsity), the Bucks strengths for the 2014 season are varsity experience, team speed and overall depth. Buckeye Central fell to Crestline 6-1 in the sectional finals in 2013.

The Bucks are led by talented junior Austin Lutz (6-0, 190-pound SS/RHP, 1st team All-NCC, 2nd team District 9). The right-handed hitter hit .337 with eight doubles, three HRs, 21 RBIs and 25 runs scored last season. On the hill, Lutz pitched in 11 games accumulating a 2.49 ERA while striking out 60, walking just nine batters in 56.1 innings. Sophomore Grant Loy (6-3, 180-pound 3B/RHP) got some valuable varsity experience as a freshman and is ready to take the next step in his second full season at the varsity level. In 2013, Loy pitched 11 innings, striking out 11 and allowing just one earned run. At the plate, Loy hit .306 in 72 at bats. Other top hitters include Cody Roberts (So, 5-11, 175-pound OF), Eric Hanes (Sr, 6-1, 190-pound OF, 2nd team All-NCC, HM District 9), Jordan Hernstein (Jr, 6-3, 185-pound OF/catcher), Seth Parsons (So, 6-0, 250-pound first baseman), Tanner Haebst (So, 5-10, 155-pound SS/RHP), Cole Stacklin (Jr, 6-1, 185-pound catcher/OF) and Adam McGinnis (Sr, 5-10, 155-pound 2B).

On the hill after Lutz and Loy, Buckeye Central has Mike Blackford (Sr, 5-10, 165-pound RHP), Parsons and Zaebst.