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2019 OHSAA Tournament: State Final Four Preview - Division II

June 4, 2019
Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

Follow @PBR Ohio 

To view the State Previews, click below:
Division I | Division II | Division III | Division IV

To view the Regional Previews, click below:
Division I | Division II | Division III | Division IV

To view the Final Team Rankings, click below:
Division I | Division II | Division III | Division IV

To view all things related to the 2019 Spring High School Baseball Season, click here.

To view the 2019 Scout Blog, click here.

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

2019 OHSAA Tournament: State Final Four Preview - Division II

We are holding a fan vote via twitter that will end Thursday night and we will add those results below after the vote is completed.

State Final Four Overview: Experience appears on the side of Chaminade-Julienne but the defending champs, at state for the third year in a row, must face hard-throwing Lawson Blackmore of Van Wert in the semifinals. It is a match up of the number one and two teams in the state. The same thing occurred last year when C-J faced another Western Buckeye League champion - Wapakoneta - in the state finals and it lived up to the hype. While St. Clairsville is on a mission, a youthful Gilmour Academy squad has been as dominate as anyone in the tourney, outscoring the opposition 46-7.

For Fun Prediction:

Dylan Hefflinger:

  • Gilmour Academy over St. Clairsville
  • Chaminade-Julienne over Van Wert
    • STATE CHAMP - Chaminade-Julienne

Fan Vote:

  • Gilmour Academy over St. Clairsville
  • Chaminade-Julienne over Van Wert
    • STATE CHAMP - Chaminade-Julienne

Gilmour Academy

Record: 24-6
Coach's Name: Jay Fowler
Final Ranking: No. 5
Preseason Ranking: NR
Highest Ranking: No. 3 - Week 4/5
Postseason History:

  • Last district appearance came in 2015 in Division III
  • 2008 Final Four appearance

Team Stats:

Top Players:

  • Jack Krebs, RF, Senior - .291 AVG, 7 2B, 25 R, 17 RBIs, 10 BB, 14 SB
  • Nick Christopher, C, Senior - .447 AVG, 16 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 30 R, 38 RBIs, 16 BB
  • Zack Komoroski, P, Senior - 12 IP, 1.75 ERA, 7 K
  • Matt Christopher, SS/2B/RHP, Junior - .400 AVG, 8 2B, 2 HR, 42 R, 26 RBIs, 16 BB, 10 SB | 13.2 IP, 2-0, 3.07 ERA, 20 K
  • Garrett Olsen, 3B, Junior - .349 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 17 R, 33 RBIs, 9 BB
  • Marco Costabile, DH, Junior - .333 AVG, 2 2B, 1 3B, 28 R, 16 RBIs, 22 BB
  • Joey Hollis, P/2B, Junior - .316 AVG, 3 2B, 22 R, 16 RBIs, 13 BB | 49 IP, 7-0, 2.86 ERA, 33 K
  • Ty Plucinsky, LF, Junior - .233 AVG, 1 3B, 18 R, 13 RBIs, 13 BB | 29.2 IP, 3-2, 4.96 ERA, 26 K
  • Conner Krebs, CF, Junior
  • Ben DeMell, P/SS, Sophomore (Penn State) - .472 AVG, 5 2B, 8 3B, 2 HR, 44 R, 40 RBIs, 20 BB | 67.2 IP, 10-1, 0.31 ERA, 97 K
  • Vinny Bandwen, 1B, Sophomore - .238 AVG, 2 2B, 2 3B, 17 R, 11 RBIs, 10 BB

Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Unbelievable emotion. To see the boys gather on the field and share in their excitement is everything as a coach. Its all about these young men and to be a part of that moment with them will remain with me forever.

PBR: Talk about what this means for your school and community?
Coach: This being the first time we have made the Final Four since 2008 makes this extremely special, especially because this one is at the Division II level. We have had a great year on the field and bonded off the field. These young men love playing the game and love playing for one another, and it shows. It is a great example of the Gilmour Academy mission, who we are, and who we aim to be. The support of the Gilmour Academy administration, athletic department, staff, and community are on display each day and we are fortunate to have their backing in all that we aim to accomplish as a program. Finally, I must be sure to give thanks to the late Matthew Figgie, who so generously provided us the greatest high school baseball facility in the state. This facility has allowed us to take another step as a program this year, and will give future Lancers the same opportunities for years to come.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: It is the Final Four. Each team is incredibly strong and we are honored to be a part of this field. We are excited for the opportunity to compete and look forward to challenging for our first state title as a program.

PBR: Anything else you would like to add?
Coach: I am incredibly grateful for being a member of the Gilmour community and for all of its support. I am also very blessed to work with these young men each day as they have given us their all since late February. They are an amazing group of young men that I am so proud of and will keep the memory of this year and this team with me forever.

St. Clairsville

Record: 20-10
Coach's Name: Tom Sliva
Final Ranking: NR
Preseason Ranking: NR
Highest Ranking: NR
Postseason History:

  • Three regional championships: 1938, 1997, 2019

Top Players:

  • Matthew Busby, SS, Senior - .387 AVG, 5 2B, 2 3B, 13 RBIs, 34 R, 13 BB, 18 SB
  • Kyle Storer, RHP, Senior - .321 AVG, 6 2B, 1 3B, 18 RBIs, 26 R, 21 BB, 7 SB | 45 IP, 5-2, 1 SV, 40 K
  • Jakob Jarvis, C, Senior - .326 AVG, 8 2B, 2 3B, 23 RBIs, 22 R, 10 BB
  • Peyton Drake, LF, Senior - .333 AVG, 3 2B, 20 RBIs, 21 R, 14 BB
  • Will Balgo, 1B, Sophomore - .308 AVG, 4 2B, 22 RBIs, 8 R, 21 BB
  • John Luke DeFilippo, 2B, Junior - .348 AVG, 12 RBIs, 12 R, 8 BB
  • Derek Witsberger, RF/RHP, Junior - .183 AVG, 4 2B, 14 RBIs, 7 R, 7 BB | 30.2 IP, 4-2, 11 K
  • Tyler Tonkovich, 3B/RHP, Sophomore - .267 AVG, 2 2B, 2 3B, 14 RBIs, 17 R, 7 BB | 44.1 IP, 5-3, 351 K
  • Cade Wolfe, CF, Junior - .250 AVG

Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: The team was extremely excited and happy that all their hard work paid off. The coaching staff and myself were very happy to be able to move on to the state tournament, something that is every coaches dream.

PBR: Talk about what this means for your school and community?
Coach: This means a great deal to our community it is only the  third time in school history that the baseball team has qualified for the state tournament. I think the kids, along with the parents and the community, are very excited about going to Akron.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: The Division II field is extremely talented as there are three number one seeds from their sectionals left with us being a number 8 seed. This shows you that the top teams from the other regionals are there and will be very hard to beat.

Van Wert

Record: 27-2
Coach's Name: Charlie Witten
Final Ranking: No. 2
Preseason Ranking: No. 5
Highest Ranking: No. 2 - Week 6
Postseason History:

  • Western Buckeye League teams have won regional seven of last 10 years
  • First regional championship in school history

Team Stats:

  • .341 AVG, 226 Runs
  • 1.13 ERA, 196 Ks

Top Players:

  • Jaxson Amweg, SS, Senior (University of Saint Francis) - .379 AVG, 9 2B, 2 3B, 33 R, 15 RBIs, 11 BB
  • Jake Lautzenheiser, 2B, Senior - .304 AVG, 2 2B, 28 R, 15 RBIs, 16 BB
  • Hayden Maples, C/RHP, Senior (Ancilla College) - .349 AVG, 2 2B, 28 R, 27 RBIs, 15 BB | 39 IP, 6-0, 2 Saves, 0.89 ERA, 40 Ks
  • Nathan Temple, 1B, Senior (University of Saint Francis) - .333 AVG, 6 2B, 1 3B, 26 RBIs, 20 R, 15 BB
  • Lawson Blackmore, RHP/3B, Senior (Miami,OH) - 51.1 IP, 6-1, 1.50 ERA, 75 Ks | .279 AVG, 3 2B, 2 3B, 2 HR, 21 R, 21 RBIs, 16 BB
  • Parker Conrad, 3B/DH/RHP, Junior - .361 AVG, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 12 R, 26 RBIs, 13 BB | 23 IP, 4-1, 1.21 ERA, 14 Ks
  • TJ Reynolds, LF, Junior - .323 AVG, 3 2B, 18 R, 12 RBIs, 9 BB
  • Keaton Brown, RF, Junior - .393 AVG, 5 2B, 2 3B, 24 R, 7 RBIs, 15 BB | 10 IP, 2-0, 0.00 ERA
  • Jalen McCracken, 2B, Senior (University of Saint Francis) - .444 AVG, 5 2B, 17 R, 16 RBIs, 6 BB
  • Owen Treece, RHP, Sophomore - 61.1 IP, 9-0, 1 Save, 1.14 ERA, 56 Ks

Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: When we won the regional finals, it was a tremendous feeling of pride in our baseball team. Being the first Van Wert High School baseball team to reach the state tournament is a goal our kids wanted to accomplish.

PBR: Talk about what this means for your school and community?
Coach: Our school (and athletics at Van Wert) are such a big part of our community. The reception we got from our community when we arrived home from the regional final victory was tremendous.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: The defending state champions will deservedly get the most attention in this field. They are a tremendous team. The rest of the field has beaten some great competition and have had to play extremely good baseball to make it to state.

PBR: Anything else you would like to add?
Coach: The Van Wert Baseball Program would like to thank our families, the VWCS administration, staff and student body, and the entire community of Van Wert for helping to make this season the best it can be. From parents & businesses providing team dinners to city employees getting our field ready to play to all of the fans that have come out to watch our games, we appreciate every single person that has supported us. THANK YOU Van Wert!

Chaminade-Julienne

Record: 25-2
Coach's Name: Michael Barhorst
Final Ranking: No. 1
Preseason Ranking: No. 1
Highest Ranking: No. 1 - Each Week
Postseason History:

  • Third straight regional title
  • Sixth trip to state for the Eagles

Team Stats:

Top Players:

  • AJ Solomon, 2B, Sophomore - .306 AVG, 1 2B, 2 3B, 31 R, 19 RBIs, 28 SB
  • Andrew Simones, CF, Senior - .440 AVG, 10 2B, 1 3B, 28 R, 22 RBIs, 23 SB | 29 IP, 3-2, 1.69 ERA, 27 K
  • Nick Wissman, P/SS, Senior (Dayton) - 60 IP, 10-0, 0.93 ERA, 71 K | .257 AVG, 3 2B, 2 3B, 22 R, 15 RBIs, 17 SB
  • Sebastian Gongora, 1B/P, Junior - 54 IP, 8-0, 1.17 ERA, 81 K | .329 AVG, 9 2B, 2 3B, 20 R, 25 RBIs, 10 SB
  • Dylan Snyder, 3B/LF, Junior - .296 AVG, 7 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 19 R, 26 RBIs, 11 SB
  • Jake Hieatt, C, Junior - .429 AVG, 2 2B, 1 3B, 8 R, 14 RBIs
  • Jack Huffman, RF, Junior - .323 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 11 R, 14 RBIs
  • Elliot Seelig, DH/1B, Junior - 27 IP, 4-0, 1.04 ERA, 20 K
  • Andrew Tillman, LF/DH, Junior - .341 AVG, 1 2B, 2 3B, 10 R, 8 RBIs
  • Cam Benoit, SS/3B, Senior (Walsh)

Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: It was a great feeling knowing we had made it through a very tough season, when everyone was gunning for us, and making it back to State.

PBR: Talk about what this means for your school and community?
Coach: I think for our community they are starting to figure out we must be a pretty good team. Our school and alumni have been very excited about our success.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: I’m not real familiar with everyone, but know what it takes to make it to this stage. Obviously every team that makes it here is very good, and it comes down to who gets got at the right time and who executed the best.

PBR: Anything else you would like to add?
Coach: We’re very excited to be here, looking forward to playing in the State Tournament atmosphere again.