High School Invitational Features Unreal Talent

April 1, 2022
Bruce Hefflinger and Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer and Editor in Chief/NW Scout

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High School Invitational Features Unreal Talent

What a way to begin the high school baseball season.

Eight teams from northwest, northeast and eastern Ohio will get together for a tournament-style format on April 1-2.

“The goal of the event is to bring in some of the most talented teams in the region to play in a unique single-elimination bracket play event that will test teams' depth and talent,” explained tournament director and Rossford head coach Phil O’Shea. “Also, this allows the PBR scout team the chance to see these teams play three high-profile games over a 24-hour period.”

Rossford and Clay will both host games during the tournament, with Anthony Wayne also representing northwestern Ohio in the eight-team field. Lakewood St. Ed’s will head over from the northeast part of the state while going south from there will come Massillon Jackson, Walsh Jesuit, Akron Hoban and Canfield.

The first day will feature four matchups with the four survivors staying alive in the winners’ bracket while those falling on the opening day will drop into the losers’ bracket. All teams will play three games, with the championship contest slated at Rossford.

“My goal for the future is to make this the ‘can’t miss’ event of the early spring that all teams aspire to be invited to,” explained O’Shea. “Much like our affiliate in Florida, we want to create an event with wall-to-wall coverage with in-depth analysis and a ‘state championship’ like feel and experience for the players.”

HAPPY PARTICIPANTS

So what do the coaches participating have to say about being invited to the inaugural High School Invitational?

“This event is a great opportunity for all teams involved to play against some of the best teams not only in this state, but the region as well,” pointed out Clay head coach Jim Phillips. “That type of competition will only make our team stronger which will help us as we look toward achieving some of our 2022 season goals (repeating as league champs and winning a district title).”

Anthony Wayne head coach Ryan Donley is excited to be part of the event.

“Anytime you get the chance to play some of the best teams in the state, it helps,” Donley noted. “It's an opportunity to compete at a high level and find out where our team is at. Regardless of outcomes, we will learn a lot about our team. If our team is going to achieve the goals we've set for ourselves, we're going to have to play high-level competition. This event provides us that opportunity.”

Gary Knittle of Canfield is also thrilled to be in the impressive field of teams.

“First off, it is an honor to be recognized as one of the top teams in the state to receive an invite to play in this amazing event,” Knittle related. “It is one that we accepted immediately. To have the opportunity to play against such talented programs was something we here at Canfield strive to do year in and year out.

“With it being early in the season, it will give us an opportunity to see where we need to grow as a team. Even though we have a veteran team returning, we still have a few spots that we need to find out who is going to win those.”

Hoban head coach Andrew Bonnett, who knows what tough competition is like after taking his squad to the state tournament for the first time in school history a year ago, understands the importance of playing strong opponents.

“The big thing with this event, and I hope we can work ourselves into these kinds of events, is that we’re going to see awesome competition at one place,” the fourth-year Hoban mentor said. “These are teams that are always pushing to go far in the playoffs like we are. What I really like is that it’s at the beginning of the season so we can see what we need to improve on right away.”

Another team in the field that was part of last year’s state tournament is Walsh Jesuit.

“With the extremely high caliber of competition, it will certainly be of great value moving into the balance of the season to face a field so talented at the front-end of our year,” pointed out Walsh Jesuit head coach Chris Kaczmar “It is a win-win and such an exciting challenge!”

Massillon Jackson head coach Bill Gamble sees a lot of pluses with being part of the invitational.

“The cool thing about this event is the way it is set up,” Gamble noted. “Weather permitting, we will all be able to get three games in and that’s a big deal. These are some high-level teams and will be a challenge for everyone.”

Lakewood St. Edward mentor Matt Rosinski understands what the event is all about.

“We are thrilled to be part of this tournament,” Rosinski explained. “With us not being in a conference, we are always looking for tourney setups to give even a little extra to play for throughout the regular season. It's a great way to prepare for tourney time.

“We also love that it is so early in the season. We want to be tested as early as possible, so we learn as much as we can about our team, and simulate playoff atmospheres every day we come to the park. What better way to do that than against eight of the best teams in the state!”

POWERFUL FIELD OF TEAMS

So how good are these teams expected to be?

A defending state champion and a Division I Final Four participant in 2021 are just part of a field of teams that includes six former state winners and six programs that have been to state since 2007.

“This field is extremely talented and deep,” Phillips noted. “You have a defending state champ (Hoban), a team that reached the state Final 4 (Walsh Jesuit), and a team that only lost one game the whole season (Canfield). This, combined with the individual talent that will be on display - out of the 70 players in Ohio nominated for NHSBCA Preseason All-American honors, 16 will be playing in this event - will make this a must see for high school baseball fans across northwest Ohio.”

With outstanding teams obviously come big-time players

Left-handed pitcher Landon Beidelschies of Canfield is the top-rated senior in the event with the 10th-ranked 2022 an Ohio State commit. Beidelchies is the Division II Preseason Co-Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year. The Cardinals also have other D-I commits in senior RHP Nate Shaw (Wright State) and juniors AJ Havrilla (3B, Ohio State) and Ben Slanker (OF, Ohio U).

Walsh Jesuit has the most ranked players in the tournament, and also the state, led by senior shortstop Henry Kaczmar (Michigan), the Preseason Player of the Year in D-I and for the Elite 25 Team. Other seniors of note are Will Harding (OF, Holy Cross), Andrew Gormley (RHP, Charleston) and Logan Oakes (LHP, Gannon). Four of the top 20 juniors in Ohio are also on the Warriors in catcher Mason Eckelman (Michigan), RHP Ryan Piech (Xavier), RHP Drew Erdmann (Cincinnati) and shortstop Joey Canzoni (Cincinnati).

Hoban is led by senior shortstop Shawn Parnell (Cincinnati), junior outfielder Parker Falkenstein (Wright State) and sophomore RHP Noah LaFine (Vanderbilt).

Seniors Christian Romas (2B, Bowling Green) and Thomas Harrison (catcher, Miami) headline a St. Ed’s team that also includes sophomore shortstop Grant Wilson, a Tulane commit.

Other commits in the field include Anthony Wayne junior RHP Dominic Carlson (Toledo), Massillon Jackson senior RHP Mike Olivieri (Ohio Wesleyan) and Clay seniors Spencer Fortier (3B, Northwood) and Jackson Kennedy (catcher, Lourdes).

Among the top uncommitted players are seniors Ryan Petro (Canfield), Caleb Kepler (Hoban), Ryan Miklich (St. Ed’s), Kasey Kish (Walsh Jesuit) and Jackson Phelps (Walsh Jesuit) along with juniors Alejandro Covas (Walsh Jesuit), Brandon Swope (Rossford), Carter Potts (St. Ed’s), Jase Kennedy (Clay), Brayden Weis (Anthony Wayne) and Anthony Barnes (Clay). Sophomores Sam Pece (Walsh Jesuit), Landon Browning (Hoban) and Michael Ciavolella (Hoban) are others not yet decided on a college future home as is Hoban’s Andrew Karhoff, the top-ranked uncommitted freshman in Ohio.

In addition to standout players, teams are also highly regarded as evident by the PBR Preseason Ratings.

Walsh Jesuit is the top-ranked team in Division I while Canfield is number one in D-II. The rest of the field is also among the best in the state entering the season, with Clay 14th, St. Ed’s 15th, Anthony Wayne 16th and Massillon Jackson 17th among D-I teams. Hoban comes in at third in D-II with Rossford ranked 24th.

“The competition, that’s what is unique to it,” Gamble said. “The invite has a lot of depth from top to bottom. Teams are trying to figure out their own identity rather than the opposition, but if you look at the history of some of the teams, many made deep tournament runs like Canfield and Walsh. Hobon won state and Rossford won their conference. It’s a deep field. St. Ed’s is as good as any in northeast Ohio.”

Knittle concurs with the Massillon Jackson coach.

“The field for this tournament is outstanding!” the head coach of Canfield pointed out. “I would like to thank the two host schools of Clay and Rossford for helping it all come together. We actually open up with Clay. They are a very solid Division 1 program that won 22 games last year. Teams like Walsh Jesuit, who is ranked nationally year in and year out, Massillon Jackson, that contends for D1 state titles yearly, Akron Hoban, who won a state title last year, St. Ed’s, another D1 powerhouse, and Anthony Wayne, a D1 team that is always in the mix, makes for a very difficult task in coming out on top that weekend.”

Donley admits it is not an easy way to start his head coaching career.

“Given the fact that this is my first season as head coach, I don't know a lot about the other teams,” Donley related. “All I know is what I read and can find online. It's clear that there are some extremely talented ballclubs in this event which is exciting.

“However, our focus at the moment is to control what we can control,” continued Donley. “We are putting a large emphasis on playing the game the right way and being fundamentally sound in all phases. If we can do that, I believe we have a group that can compete with anyone. With that said, there is no shortage of talent amongst the teams in this year's field.”

Kaczmar, in his final season as head coach, looks forward to the challenge.

“What an amazing field this is!” the Walsh Jesuit coach said. “We are honored to be a part of such an early-season collection of talented programs from across the state. Each team will be appreciably tested regardless of round.”

For Hoban, it is a bit different from the other teams participating, which have conference honors to play for each year.

“We’re not in a league so we play games against most of these teams already,” explained Bonnett, who played Canfield in a scrimmage back in mid-April. “You’re not going to learn if you don’t put stress on your team. Are we going to be able to handle the pressure?”

O’Shea is pleased with the teams that were recruited to be part of the first-year event.

“I think the field of teams is incredibly talented,” the Rossford mentor said. “Between individual players, elite coaches, and prestigious programs, you can't match this weekend unless you are in Akron the second weekend of June (the state tournament). It’s going to be some really great baseball to be a part of.”
Rosinski summed it up well.

“LOADED! All great programs, led by great coaches!” the St. Ed’s head coach said. “I wish the tourney started today!”

LEARNING EXPERIENCE

While winning is important, the coaches involved see playing this kind of competition as valuable when it comes to the rest of the upcoming season.

“For my team, this event will serve as a measuring stick to see where we line up against the top programs in the state,” O’Shea pointed out. “My hope is we get a first-hand look at what separates teams from ‘good’ and ‘great’ that weekend and the coaches and players in our program have a new benchmark to chase.”

Phillips is confident these three games will be beneficial for his squad, which last year ended the season rated 12th in the final PBR Division I rankings.

“Playing against high-level competition is going to stress us in all facets of the game,” Phillips said. “This will shed light on where our strengths lie along with our weaknesses, which will only be a benefit to us as we head into the meat of our schedule.”

Kaczmar’s squad made it to the state semifinals before falling in 2021 and hopes this event is the springboard to more success.

“I think our team will benefit greatly from facing this level of pitching so early on,” the Walsh Jesuit coach said. “We will learn about what may be some strengths, and also learn about what areas of our offensive game and lineup need additional focus.”

Donley also hopes to learn more about his team, which a year ago finished fourth in the final PBR Division 1 state ratings heading into the postseason.

“We have a talented, but very young group this year,” the Anthony Wayne head coach said. “Several of our players have realized success in summer ball on their various travel teams but do not have a lot of varsity experience. I'm hoping to learn what they're made of from a competitive standpoint. With the strong field of teams in this event, we will certainly be tested. I'm eager to see how our guys perform, both physically and mentally, in those moments.”

Gamble sees it as another way to evaluate his team.

“Where to start, there are so many checkboxes for us,” the Massillon Jackson mentor said about what he will learn about his team by playing in this invitational. “To play high-level clean baseball and defense, to be able to execute on offense, that will be tougher with the high-level competition. This is the type of environment we like to get us ready for our league and the tournament and we look forward to getting out there and getting after it.”

The tough competition is just the start of what is to come for Canfield.

“Our schedule this season has to be one of, if not, the most difficult in the state,” Knittle noted. “It was done so that we hopefully put ourselves in every situation possible to prepare for tournament time. Last season was an incredible one, in which we went undefeated heading into tournament play. While I would hope for the same results this year, it is highly unlikely.

“This tournament will be a grind, and I hope that it prepares us for the grind of winning seven straight to finish the season and hold up a state title trophy that these young men have worked all off season to accomplish.”

That is something Bonnett and his Hoban team managed to do a year ago.

“We think we have solid pitching and a good defense back, the big thing we want to see is our resiliency,” said Bonnett about what he hopes to find out when it comes to this year’s Hoban edition. “How will we do when the pressure is on? That usually takes until the end of the year to see who we are, so it will be nice to see at the beginning of the year rather than just at the end.”

Rosinski feels the same with his St. Ed’s team.

“We want to see how the team reacts and responds when the brightest lights are on,” Rosinski said. “We hope to see a carry over of their great training these last past several months onto the field. Mound presence, confident aggressive at-bats, energy and composure in the field.

“It’s inevitable when you play against such great competition that the players will face plenty of adversity each game. The team's awareness and response is something I know our coaching staff will be focused on.”

FINAL THOUGHTS

Coaches are appreciative to PBR as well as being delighted to have the chance to show off their school and program when it comes to being part of the inaugural event.

“We are thankful for the opportunity to show the state what Canfield baseball is all about, not only on the field but also how they conduct themselves off of it as well,” Knittle said.

Donley is also grateful to be part of the High School Invitational experience.

“I'd just like to say thank you to PBR for including us in this event,” Donley concluded. “It is a great opportunity for our team to compete at a high level and we are certainly grateful.”

Kaczmar summarized the feelings of all those involved perfectly.

“We are grateful for the opportunity that PBR Ohio continues to offer and provide for the student-athletes in our state,” Kaczmar said. “What a luxury it is to have them present … and this remarkable tournament is another great example of the great things PBR is doing in our state.”

The 2022 Inaugural PBR Jerry Baumgartner HS Invitational - The Preview

The High School Invitational is designed to bring together eight of the top teams in the state to square off in a single-elimination bracket-play event. This event will test a team's depth and also add a bracket-play format that typically doesn't exist until the OHSAA State Playoffs for most teams. PBR Ohio's full Scout and Media team will be on hand to provide world-class coverage of the event.

The Schedule

Schedule	Day	Time	Location	Team 1	Team 2
GM 1	Friday	5:00	Glenwood Var	Rossford	Jackson
GM 2	Friday	5:00	Glenwood JV	Hoban	St. Ed's
GM 3	Friday	5:00	Anthony Wayne	Anthony Wayne	Walsh Jesuit
GM 4	Friday	5:30	Ousky	Canfield	Clay
GM 5	Saturday	9:30	Glenwood Var	LGM1	LGM2
GM 6	Saturday	9:30	Glenwood JV	LGM3	LGM4
GM 7	Saturday	11:30	Glenwood Var	WGM1	WGM2
GM 8	Saturday	11:30	Glenwood JV	WGM3	WGM4
GM 9	Saturday	2:00	Glenwood Var	WGM5	WGM6
GM 10	Saturday	2:00	Glenwood JV	LGM5	LGM6
GM 11	Saturday	4:30	Glenwood Var	WGM7	WGM8
GM 12	Saturday	4:30	Glenwood JV	LGM7	LGM8

Team Previews

*****Team Previews will be updated as we get information back from the coaches/teams.

Anthony Wayne

Team Name: Anthony Wayne Generals
Head Coach: Ryan Donley
Division: I
2021 Record: 24-5
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/3

2022 Team Strengths:

Athleticism
Good combination of speed & power in the lineup
Energy
Fundamentally sound

Coach Outlook: "As a staff, we are really excited about this team. We graduated a lot of production in the class of 2021 but have a great deal of confidence in the guys who will be stepping in to fill those roles. Our kids have done a tremendous job adjusting to the new coaching staff which isn't always easy. We've got a lot of things to work on and clean up, but we're really happy where we are at right now and we're excited to start competing."

Top Returning Players:

Noah Sample
Chase Saneholtz
Dom Carlson (Video Below)

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Noah Sample
Chase Saneholtz

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Dom Carlson
Tyler Mull
Marco Morrison
Mitch Harder
Cody Keller
Jack Behnfeldt
Tommy Ling
Brayden Weis

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Bryce Anderson
Landon Gates

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Grant Kinnee
Owen Graf
Tanner Graf
Ben Nieckarz
Liem Eichenlaub

Canfield

Team Name: Canfield Cardinals
Head Coach: Gary Knittle
Division: II
2021 Record: 24-1
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/9

2022 Team Strengths:

Leadership
Pitching
Offense

Coach Outlook: "We return a veteran team that the only loss was in the regional last year. The pitching staff is completely in tact from last year that sported a sub 1.00 ERA. Offensively we also return 6 starters with a lot of pop 1-9. Staying healthy will be the key to success."

Top Returning Players:

Landon Beidelschies 6’4 (LHP/1B, 2022): Ohio State University Commit All-State Selection, AAC Player of the Year, PBR pitcher of the Year, Elite 60 Invite 51 IP 9-1 3ER 90K’s .421 ERA .181BAA. 83PA .344BA .470OBP 23RBI 22 RUNS 15BB’s 7 2B 4SB
Ryan Petro 5’11 (RHP/IF, 2022): All-State Selection, 1st Team AAC Pitcher, PBR 1st Team Pitcher 50.3 IP 9-0 2Sv 8 Comp Games 3ER 62K’s .417 ERA .096BAA
Nate Shaw 6’1 (RHP/SS, 2022): Wright State University Commit 1st Team AAC 6IP 1-0 0 hits 1ER 9K’s 1.167 ERA. 79PA .258BA .399OBP 2HR 19RBI 23RUNS 5SB
Jake Grdic 6’5 (RHP, 2022): 17 IP 2-0 3Sv 4ER 19K’s 1.647 ERA .185BAA
Josh Juliano 5’10 (CF, 2022): All-State Selection, 1st Team AAC, 80PA .532BA .610OBP 6 2B 11BB’s 19RBI 25 RUNS 12SB
A.J. Havrilla 6’0 (RHP/3B, 2023): Ohio State University Commit 1st Team ACC 88PA .323BA .466OBP 5 2B 20RBI 29 RUNS 7SB
Ben Slanker 6’0 (RHP/OF, 2023): Ohio University Commit 1st Team AAC 84PA .309BA .387OBP 5 2B 4 3B 1HR 17RBI 20 RUNS 4SB
Connor Miller 6’0 (RHP, 2023): 7.6 IP 1-0 4K’s
Michael Patellis 5’11 (C, 2024): 14PA .257BA .468OBP
Jake Schneider 6’6 (LHP, 2024): 4.2IP 1-0 0ER 0.00ERA 6K’s

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Landon Beidelschies (Video Below)
Nate Shaw
Ryan Petro
Jake Grdic
Josh Juliano

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

A.J. Havrilla
Ben Slanker
Connor Miller

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Michael Patellis
Jake Schneider

Hoban

Team Name: Archbishop Hoban Knights
Head Coach: Andrew Bonnette
Division: II
2021 Record: 24-9
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/5

2022 Team Strengths:

Our strengths will be in our pitching and in our experience. We have 5 returning defensive starters who know what it takes to play defense at a high level and we have a very solid group of pitchers.

Coach Outlook: "We had some key seniors graduate from last season. Guys who set the tone for our whole program. Our biggest challenge this season will be in our leadership. We have to find out who our leaders are and we have to set the tone early."

Top Returning Players:

Michael Ciavolella
Parker Falkenstein
Nolan Holmgren (Video Below)
Caleb Kepler
Shawn Parnell
Matt Terzola
Noah LaFine
Nate Shimmel
Zach Zimmerman

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Nolan Holmgren
Shawn Parnell
Caleb Kepler
Matt Terzola

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Nate Shimmel
Zach Zimmerman

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Michael Ciavolella
Parker Falkenstein
Noah LaFine

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Andrew Karhoff
Jordan Kievman
Leo Wilson

Lakewood St. Edward

Team Name: Lakewood St. Edward Eagles
Head Coach: Matt Rosinski
Division: I
2021 Record: 19-7
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4

2022 Team Strengths:

Leadership
Speed and Power
Athleticism

Coach Outlook: "We have a very athletic, tough, and close-knit group that cannot wait to compete against the best teams around the state and nationally. 11 homes games at immaculate Crushers Stadium and Baldwin Wallace University, and three mid-season tournaments including the Charleston (SC) Invitational will be incredible experiences for our team."

Top Returning Players:

Tommy Harrison (C/RHP), 2022, .420 BA, .991 OPS, 13RBI, 10R, 1HR
Grant Wilson (RHP,2B), 2024, .403 BA, 1.109 OPS, 20RBI, 19R, 52B, 3HR, 17SB; 34.1IP., 2.44ERA, 39K
Christian Ramos (OF) 2022, .319 BA, 19RBI, 2HR, 12SB
Ryan Miklich (CF) 2022, 9 2B, 2HR, 16RBI, 11SB
Danny Joyce (LHP) 2022, 16IP, 1.31 ERA, 11K, 1.00WHIP

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Tommy Harrison (Miami)
Christian Ramos (Bowling Green)
Christian Wright (Norfolk State)
Ryan Miklich
Dom Sidari

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Carter Potts
Matthew Lesjak
Luke Godlewski

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Grant Wilson (Tulane, Video Below))
Danny Tome
Max McClellan
Joey Bobincheck
Casey Bullock

Massillon Jackson

Team Name: Massillon Jackson Polar Bears
Head Coach: Bill Gamble
Division: I
2021 Record: 17-9
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/6

2022 Team Strengths:

Pitching
Catching
Experience

Coach Outlook: "The Jackson Polar Bears return 18 letterman and a multitude of starters including a very seasoned pitching staff. The Bears return two committed position players in catcher Garrett Wright (BGSU ‘22) and Shea White (ODU ‘21) and 3 committed arms in Jaxon Clark (Adrian College '21), Caden Goodwin (Potomac St. U. '21) and Mike Olivieri (OWU '21). The 2022 Polar Bears will rely on our pitching depth as we navigated a demanding non-league schedule and the very competitive Federal League."

Top Returning Players:

Jaxon Clark Sr. RHP Signed Adrian College
Jack Faflik Sr. RHP/SS Uncommitted
Caden Goodwin Sr. RHP Signed Potomac State Univ.
Ben McCallum Sr. RHP Uncommitted
Mike Olivieri Sr. RHP Signed Ohio Wesleyan Univ.
Alex Snyder Sr. C/1B Uncommitted (Honorable Mention All Federal League '21)
Shea White Sr. 3B Signed Ohio Dominican U
Garrett Wright Jr. C Committed Bowling Green St. U (2nd Team All Federal League and 2nd Team All District) (Video Below)
Eric Freetage Soph. OF Uncommitted
Carter Mottice Soph. OF Uncommitted

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Jack Faflik RHP/SS
Ben McCallum RHP
Alex Snyder C/1B

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

James Bossart OF
Nick Zito OF

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Carter Mottice OF
Eric Freetage OF

Oregon Clay

Team Name: Clay Eagles
Head Coach: Jim Phillips
Division: I
2021 Record: 22-6
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 5/4

2022 Team Strengths:

Experience
Defense
Pitching
Speed
Offense

Coach Outlook: "This season holds a lot of potential, coming off of a league championships season there is a lot of buzz around the program. How we handle this, gel as a unit, and navigate the most challenging schedule in the 95 year history of our program will go along way in if that potential is reached."

Top Returning Players:

Jon Marsico RHP 2022, 5'11 180, R/R. 3-Year starter, Lourdes Commit. Last Year Stats 37.1 IP, 2-0, 8-8 SV, 0.375 ERA, 33 K, 5 BB
Donovan Coughlin 1B, 2022, 6'2/215, R/R 3-Year starter, Team Captain. Last Year Stats- .355 AVG, 7 2B, 1 3B, 16 RBI, 20 R, 4 SB
Jackson Kennedy C, 2022, 5'10 200, R/R. 4-Year Starter, Lourdes Commit, Team Captain. Last Year Stats- .351 AVG, 8 2B, 20 RBI, 12 RS, 2 SB
Anthony Barnes- RHP, 2023, 5'10 210, R/R, 2-Year starter, Last Years Stats 26 IP, 5-1, 1.89 ERA, 29 K, 26 BB
Spencer Fortier-INF 2022, 5'10 190, R/L. 4-Year starter, Northwood Commit, Team Captain. Last Year Stats-.284 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 3 HR, 26 RBI, 18 R, 1 SB

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Jon Marsico
Donovan Coughlin
Jackson Kennedy
Spencer Fortier
Connor Millimen LHP/OF 2022, 5'11 155, L/R. 2-Year letter winner, Last Years Stats- 20 2/3 IP, 2-0, 1.36 ERA, 18 K, 13 BB

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Anthony Barnes
Christian Mays OF 2023, 5'9 160, R/R. 2 Year Returning Starter, Last Years Stats-.273 BA, 3 2B, 11 RBI, 21 R, 7 SB
Kale Wilkins INF 2023, 6'0 185, R/R. 2 Year Returning Starter, Last Years Stats- .263 BA, 12 RBI, 17 R, 3 SB
Jase Kennedy P/INF/OF- 5'11 215, R/R. 2 Year Returning Letter Winner, Last Years Stats- 19 IP, 1-0, 3.68 ERA, 22 K, 17 BB
Jared Hoersten P/OF 2023, 6'1 155
Ethan Stager INF/OF/P 2023 6'0 180
Brendan Hazuda C 2023 6'2 205

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Vinny Gallaher 5'10 140 P/INF/OF (Video Below)
C.J. Boudreaux 6'1 175 P/INF/OF

Rossford

Team Name: Rossford Bulldogs
Head Coach: Phil O'Shea
Division: II
2021 Record: 15-13
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/3

2022 Team Strengths:

Hitting
Pitching
Team Speed
Defense

Coach Outlook: "We return a solid core from a group that went 15-9 in Ohio. I believe we will be able to compete with anyone but we are still in the process of learning to Win in Big Time Moments."

Top Returning Players:

Brandon Swope - 1B/LHP 2023 6`0 180 L/L .481AVG 13 2B 1 3B 1 HR 20 RBI 27R 17SB
Jacob Tuczynski - CF 2023 6`2 160LB L/L .370AVG 3 2B 2 3B 7RBI 28R 15SB

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Seth Walters

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Brenden Revels - OF/P 2023 6`3 160LB R/R
Brandon Swope
Jacob Tuczynski

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Kaden Kirkman - MIF/P 2024 5`9 150LB R/R
Landen Reiter - C/P/UT 2024 6`1 160LB R/R

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Jackson Yerkes - P/3B 2025 6`0 155LB R/R

Walsh Jesuit

Team Name: Walsh Jesuit Warriors
Head Coach: Chris Kaczmar
Division: I
2021 Record: 28-4
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 7/5

2022 Team Strengths:

Defensive Depth
Pitching Depth

Coach Outlook: "Walsh Jesuit Baseball returns a strong nucleus of players from the 2021 State Semi-final team led by a very deep Junior and Senior class."

Top Returning Players:

Henry Kaczmar, senior SS, 5-11/185, L/R, 4-year starter, team captain, University of Michigan recruit. .568, 18 2B, 2 3B, 4 HR, 42 RBIs, 46 runs, 9 SB
Mason Eckelman, junior C, 6-0/205, L/R, 3-year starter, University of Michigan recruit. .388, 6 2B, 4 HR, 31 RBI, 19 runs.
Joey Canzoni, junior 2B, 5-11/180, R/R, 3-year starter, University of Cincinnati recruit, .355, 5 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 18 RBI, 26 runs.
Justin Bremner, junior OF, 5-11/185, R/R 2-year starter, undecided, .447 avg, 2 2B, 2 HR, 9 RBI, 15 runs.
Andrew Gormley, senior OF/RHP, 6-0/180, 3 year starter, University of Charleston, .270, 2 2B, 11 runs. 0.24 ERA, 6-1 record, 44 Ks, 10 BB.
Ryan Piech, junior RHP, Xavier University recruit, 0.87 ERA, 10-2 record, 78 Ks, 28 BB Tyler Barni, senior RHP. Youngstown State recruit. Injured in 2021.
Alejandro Covas, junior OF, 6-0/180, 2-year starter, undecided, .439, 2 2B, 1 3B, 15 RBI, 14 runs.
Drew Erdmann, junior RHP, 6-3/190, University of Cincinnati recruit, .438, 5-1 record on mound, 4.35 ERA, 25ks, 16 BB
Will Harding, senior OF, 6-3/210, Holy Cross, 2-year starter, .368, 6 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 13 RBI, 16 runs
Kasey Kish, senior DH/OF, 5-11/205, undecided, .410, 3 2B, 1 3B, 13 RBI, 17 runs
Jackson Phelps, senior RHP, undecided, 0.48 ERA, 26 Ks, 10 BB
Logan Oakes, senior OF/LHP, Gannon University recruit
Sam Pece, sophomore 1B/LHP. .375
Zach Halligan, junior RHP/1B/3B
John Simecek, junior RHP/3B/1B
Tyler Dermott, junior LHP
Nicholas Herbele, junior OF
Topher Salek, junior OF/C
Gabe Gardner, junior SS/2B

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Henry Kaczmar
Tyler Barni
Andrew Gormley
Will Harding
Jackson Phelps
Logan Oakes
Kasey Kish

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Mason Eckelman
Joey Canzoni
Ryan Piech
Drew Erdmann
Alex Covas
Zach Halligan
Justin Bremner
Tyler Dermott
John Simecek
Nicholas Herbele
Topher Salek
Gabe Gardner

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Sam Pece

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

RHP Harper Lann

A Closer Look At The High School Classics

Since 2011, PBR Ohio has been the number one resource for amateur baseball in the State of Ohio.

In 2022, we are taking our high school coverage to the next level. We were hoping to introduce the PBR Ohio High School Spring Classics in 2020, but with Covid happening that was impossible due to the cancellation of the 2020 High School Season, but in 2021 we were able to kick off our weekend events in a good way with some outstanding matchups and talent all across the field.

This coming spring, we will be hosting PBR High School Spring Classics across the State of Ohio. These weekend events will feature many of the top programs from all levels of play.

Along with the High School Spring Classics, we will continue to bring to you the top coverage throughout the state with Scout Blogs, Team Rankings, Preseason/Postseason All-State Teams, OHSAA Tournament Regional Previews and full coverage of the OHSAA State Tournament along with committed and uncommitted stories on players.

To see what we provided in 2021, click here.

Below you will see each of the matchups for the 2022 PBR Ohio High School Classics. Team previews for each of the teams will be provided once we get closer to the season.

April 3rd at Ross Park

Time	Team 1	Team 2
11:00 AM	Elder	Lakota East
2:00 PM	Roger Bacon	Wyoming
5:00 PM	LaSalle	McNicholas

April 9th at Gilmour Academy

Time	Team 1	Team 2
11:00 PM	Canfield	Hoban
1:30 PM	Gilmour Academy	Chagrin Falls
4:00 PM	Mayfield	St. Edward

April 16th at Defiance High School

Time	Team 1	Team 2
10:00 PM	Lincolnview	Ottawa Hills
12:15 PM	Defiance	Olentangy Berlin
2:30 PM	Mason	Walsh Jesuit
4:45 PM	Marlington	Badin

April 16th at Chillicothe

Time	Team 1	Team 2
10:00 AM	Dublin Jerome	Springboro
12:30 PM	CHCA	Toronto
3:00 PM	Shadyside	St. Xavier
5:30 PM	Olentangy Liberty	Lancaster
8:00 PM	Jonathan Alder	Licking Valley

April 23rd at Mercy Field (Toledo)

Time	Team 1	Team 2
10:30 AM	Ottawa Hills	Bowling Green
1:00 PM	Toledo St. Francis de Sales	Wapakoneta
3:30 PM	Stow-Munroe Falls	Lima Bath
6:00 PM	Toledo Central Catholic	Tiffin Columbian

April 23rd at Chillicothe

Time	Team 1	Team 2
10:00 AM	Minford	Firelands
12:30 PM	Circleville	Wheelersburg
3:00 PM	Ironton	Middletown
5:30 PM	Olentangy Berlin	Franklin
8:00 PM	Cedarville	Hamilton Township

April 30th at Defiance High School

Time	Team 1	Team 2
11:00 AM	Toledo St. Johns Jesuit	New Albany
1:15 PM	Defiance	Tallmadge
3:30 PM	Franklin	Coldwater
5:45 PM	Tinora	St. Henry

April 30th at Grove City High School

Time	Team 1	Team 2
12:30 PM	Grove City	Hilliard Darby
3:00 PM	Marengo Highland	Indian Valley
5:30 PM	Granville	Bellefontaine

May 7th at Rossford High School

Time	Team 1	Team 2
Varsity Field (Turf)
9:00 AM	Rossford	Oak Harbor
11:30 PM	Eastwood	Liberty-Benton
2:00 PM	Bowling Green	North Royalton
4:30 PM	Perrysburg	Strongsville
JV Field (Turf)
9:00 AM	Sandusky Perkins	Bryan
11:30 PM	Genoa	Lima Shawnee
2:00 PM	Toledo St. Francis de Sales	University School
4:30 PM	Triway	Fremont Ross

May 7th at Newton High School

Time	Team 1	Team 2
11:00 AM	Newton	Dayton Christian
1:30 PM	Fort Loramie	Chaminade-Julienne
4:00 PM	Vandalia Butler	Olentangy Orange
6:30 PM	Cincinnati Country Day	Ottawa Hills