PBR Ohio's Top Stories For The Year 2014: The Top 11 Stories Are Revealed
January 7, 2015
By Dylan Hefflinger and PBR Staff
Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout
Top 11 Stories for The Year 2014
PBR Ohio started up on May 3rd, 2011 as seen here. From that day, Chris Valentine has had a goal to promote high school baseball in Ohio at the highest level possible. Chris has been able to do this thanks to the help of parents, coaches, and the talented players throughout the state of Ohio.
Chris has also built a staff that has the drive to make Ohio one of, if not the top viewed website for Prep Baseball Report as well as put on some of the best showcases in the nation to help promote the high school talent that resides in the Buckeye State.
Dylan Hefflinger, PBR Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout, along with JD Heilmann, PBR Ohio Director Scouting take a look back at the year in review and put together a list of the top stories for 2014.
We would like to thank all who participated in the contest as well as all the student-athletes, coaches, parents, fans, and supporters, as without your help none of these stories could happen. Us at PBR are ready to bring even better coverage for Ohio in 2015.
After a two-day twitter contest for top story, we reveal the top 11 stories of 2014 for PBR Ohio.
No. 1 - 44 votes
Montoya ATV Accident Brings Family Closer
After capturing back-to-back state championships in 2012 and 2013, the Cincinnati Archbishop Moeller Crusaders were poised and hungry for a third straight state title.
Moeller headed into the OHSAA tournament as the third-ranked team in the state and the number one team in SW Ohio as seen here.
The Crusaders were determined to get back to Columbus despite all the impressive teams they were matched up against along the way. Moeller won its first game 8-4 over Walnut Hills, but then after that, the Crusaders were in some nail-biting contests. In the district semifinal they beat Loveland 2-1, before defeating Centerville 2-1 in eight innings to capture the district championship.
Then came regionals, where Moeller shut out Beavercreek 3-0 before topping Mason 4-3 in a nine inning classic to claim the regional crown.
Moeller again looked ready to make it a third straight championship.
However, just a day before the state semifinal against a talented Massillon Jackson squad tragedy struck the Crusaders as junior catcher Bailey Montoya lost his younger brother, 15-year old Levi Montoya, as a result of an ATV accident.
To read full story please click here.
No. 2 - 41 votes
Adam No Longer A "One-Man Wolfpack"
It all started back on August 25th, 2012. This was the first time us at Prep Baseball Report got to see this 6-foot-4, 165-pound southpaw with a thin, lanky frame.
As an incoming sophomore, Adam Wolf was very raw, having to still learn how to use his body. But all the potential of being one of the top 2015 prospects was there as you can read in this report from the Toledo Open ID.
Just over six months later we had the pleasure of seeing the improvement from Wolf, but still it was not all there as Adam was still not incorporating his lower half to its full potential. However, we did see a good jump on the fastball velocity despite the lower half. The jump was from 78-82 to 81-85 mph as you can see in this report from the Last Showcase of the Winter.
To read the full story please click here.
No. 3 - 34 votes
The Tinora Rams Steal Home in Semis (Twice) and Walk-Off in Finals
Two of the most exciting games that I have ever covered happened in Columbus at the 2014 OHSAA State Tournament, and both featured the Tinora Rams.
The Rams reached Columbus three seasons in a row (2011, 12, 13) but had never won a game at the state Final Four ... until 2014.
For the fourth consecutive year the Rams reached Columbus with one of, if not the, most talented team in school history.
Tinora featured a trio of seniors that could have started for any team at state in any division. Clay Pittman (C/RHP, San Jacinto commit), Derek Drewes (SS, BGSU commit) and Reid Renollet (LHP/CF, Findlay commit) had all been to Columbus three times prior to 2014 and were hungry to get their first win at state.
To read full story please click here.
No. 4 - 12 votes
The Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs Are Dominant In 2014
In 2014 the Bloom-Carroll Bulldogs proved that the state Final Four run of 2013 was no fluke.
A year ago, the Bulldogs reached the Final Four for the first time since 1974 and advanced to the state championship game for the first time in the school's history.
However, the first trip to the state title game ended in heart-breaking fashion as the Bulldogs fell to Wheelersburg (who were back-to-back D-III State Champions) as seen in this story.
Now in 2014, Bloom-Carroll had a couple things to overcome. For one, the Bulldogs were moving up in competition to Division II after being a D-III program for years. Also having made it to state in 2013, the returning players on the team had some added pressure to make it back to Columbus.
To read full story please click here.
No. 5 - 9 votes
Coldwater Wins 6th State Championship In School History
The 2014 Coldwater Cavaliers had a season to remember as Coldwater won its 6th State Championship in school history.
Coldwater was preseason ranked 12th in Division III as they showed a good mix of upper and lower classmen to contribute to their success.
However, the Cavs exceeded my expectations as they found an ace on the hill in Derek Thobe (uncommitted, 2015) and just found a way to win all season.
Coldwater finished the regular season at 23-5, ranked 6th as seen here.
To start off the tournament, the Cavaliers had a tough game against Paulding, as they came away with a 3-1 behind a Thobe two-hitter as seen here.
To read full story please click here.
No. 6 - 7 votes
A First State Championship In School History For The Polar Bears
Massillon Jackson began the season ranked as the number five team in Division I within the state. The Polar Bears had a solid senior core (14 seniors) to go along with a mix of talented underclassmen. To view the preseason rankings click here.
Throughout the season, the Polar Bears never fell below 12th in Division I and finished 5th in the rankings, very impressive considering the caliber of competition within D-I. To view the final regular season rankings for Division I please click here.
To read full story please click here.
No. 7 - 5 votes
It all started in 1958 when Papa Joe went with his wife, Lois, to see two of his sons playing for a winless Little League team. Upon being notified that their coach was being transferred to a job in St. Louis, he took the reigns and one could argue, since that time, the amateur baseball world was never the same.
Over the years, he created one of the most recognized and successful amateur baseball teams in the United States, the Midland Redskins.
To read full story please click here.
No. 8A - 2 votes
The Cam Varga ExperienceIt isn't every day that one of the top prospects in the nation moves from Florida to Ohio, but that was the case with Cameron Varga.
The 6-foot-3, 205-pound prospect, who committed to Florida before the start of his freshman year, instantly became the top class of 2014 prospect in the PBR coverage area. Varga chose the Gators over the likes of Florida State and the University of Miami.
To read the full story please click here.
No. 8B - 2 votes
26 Ohio Players Selected In 2014 MLB Draft
In total, 26 players with Ohio roots were selected in the 2014 MLB draft.
There were 19 players selected from respected universities from around the nation along with seven players selected out of high school.
Indiana catcher and Middletown native Kyle Schwarber stole the early headlines as the Chicago Cubs called his name with the fourth pick in the first round. This made Kyle one of the highest drafted players from Ohio in the history of the MLB draft. The highest selected player from Ohio in the history of the MLB draft is Ken Griffey Jr. who was selected 1st overall in the 1987 draft out of Cincinnati Moeller High School.
To read full story please click here.
No. 9A - 1 vote
JD Heilmann Takes Over As Scouting Director
Over the past four years, the PBR Ohio staff has worked tirelessly to become your No. 1 resource for amateur baseball in the Buckeye State.
In a short time, we have built a comprehensive network of regional scouts from across the state to provide coverage throughout the year.
In the middle of July, PBR Ohio was able to add a great man to their staff in JD Heilmann, who took over as the new Scouting Director for Ohio.
"When the opportunity came to add JD to our staff, it was a no brainer," stated Chris Valentine, Executive Director. "He has been a familiar face on the recruiting trail for many years during his time at Cincinnati and Xavier."
To read full story please click here.
No. 9B - 1 vote
Every week, we update the top prospects who have signed their letter of intent and committed to the school of their choice. Along with updating recent commitments, we highlight schools that players have been receiving interest from, visits they have lined up for the future, and visits that have already taken place.
In addition to the recruiting trail, we have also reached out to prospects through Q&A sessions to get a sense of where they stand, and how they have found the recruiting process to be so far. This allows players to compare the process with their peers, pass along information and little tips or reminders, as well let players compare themselves to other teammates or opponents across the province and see where they fit in from a college recruitment standpoint.
To read the full story please click here.
