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By Jordan Chiero
PBR Ohio Scouting Director

We look to bring the Buckeye state top-notch high school coverage throughout the entire state.

We will have the 2016 Scout Blog, Spotlight Games, Inside the Recruitment Articles, Unsigned Senior Spotlights, The Recruiting Trail, All-State Selections, Full Coverage of the OHSAA State Tournament as well as numerous other articles throughout the spring.

To view the Team Power Rankings by division, click below:
+ Division I
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+ Division III
+ Division IV

To view the Preseason All-State Selections, click below:
+ Division I
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+ Division III
+ Division IV 

To view the full list of 2016 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2016 spring season visit the 2016 Ohio Scout Blog by clicking here.

Interested in attending a PBR Ohio event? Check out our schedule by clicking here.

Ohio Spotlight Game: #30 Olentangy Liberty vs #31 Thomas Worthington

The Thomas Worthington Cardinals traveled to Olentangy Liberty to take on the Patriots in a much anticipated match-up for the OCC Central division title. 

This game didn’t disappoint as it had a little bit of everything and the Patriots came out victorious in extra innings by a score of 2-1.

Both teams put their aces on the mound as Liberty went with Winthrop commit Mason Groves and Thomas Worthington tossing rising sophomore Spencer Kiehl.

It was Thomas Worthington that struck first as Joey Pischel led off the Cardinal 3rd inning with a scorched line drive single to left. He eventually moved into scoring position and was brought in by Trent Castle’s second single of the day to give the Cardinals an early 1-0 lead.

Liberty looked to answer in the bottom half of the third but were kept off the board, largely in part to two flashy defensive plays by Cardinal second baseman Anthony Falks.

The pitcher’s duel continued into the 5th until Thomas Worthington loaded the bases with nobody out.

Groves who was obviously tiring showed incredible poise and competitiveness by getting out of the jam with no damage done.

The two teams continued to mirror each other as Liberty started a rally of their own in the 5th.

Jordan Seich drew a walk on a great at bat and Chase Gresock followed by reaching on an error giving the Patriots runners on 1st and 2nd with one out.

What ensued next is something not seen very often in baseball.

Confusion between Thomas Worthington’s middle infielders resulted in a balk moving to runners to 2nd and 3rd. On the very next pitch Kiehl was once again called for a balk as Liberty got their first run of the ball game without having to put a ball in play.

Kiehl then bared down to strikeout the next two batters, keeping the game tied at 1-1 moving to the 6th.

Both teams decided to go to the bullpen with the Cardinals bringing in Jarrett Gerber and the Patriots went with Connor Stewart. Both pitchers did a great job of battling and keeping the score deadlocked moving to the 7th. 

Liberty’s Chase Gresock got the Patriot 7th started by crushing a one out double to the left field fence. Gerber retired the next batter bringing Oakland commit Spencer Yankle to the plate.

Yankle squared a ball up with middle to be what looked like the game winning hit but Cardinal shortstop Joey Pischel had different plans. Ranging to his glove side he made an outstanding diving play to retire Yankle and send the game into extra innings.

Both teams threatened in the 8th, most notably Liberty loading the bases but neither team could push a run across keeping the score knotted up at one heading to the 9th. The Cardinals were unable to get anything going off Stewart in the 9th and the Patriots came to the plate looking to win the game and earn themselves a division title.

Gresock continued his big day by leading off the 9th with a beautiful bunt single down the first base line. Gerber retired the next batter, while keeping Greslock at first base and looked to be on the verge of escaping another jam until Gresock took second on a great ball in the dirt read.

The Cardinals intentionally walked Yankle putting runners at 1st and 2nd with one out. Geber once again showed his competitiveness by battling with Liberty’s Corey Mayer and forced him to pop out without advancing the runners bringing Corbin Rapier to the plate. Rapier came in the clutch by lacing a ball to the right-center gap giving Liberty the game and the division title.