By Chris Valentine and Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Director and Senior Writer

No. 6 Wauseon High School

Wauseon finished last season with a 16-9, 7-2 NWOAL record, but with a talented mix of seniors, juniors and sophomores the Indians look to dethrone the Bryan Golden Bears in the Northwest Ohio Athletic League and make a strong tournament run in 2013 for head coach Trent Thomas. Bryan has won the past five NWOAL titles.

With eight returning starters and five returning pitchers, Wauseon is as experienced as any team in NW Ohio. The Indians have six pitchers who throw 80+, with three of those pitchers 85+ (all listed below).

Class of 2013

• Josh Cales (1B/RHP/OF, 6-6, 215, R/R, pictured top) - University of Toledo commit. 2-time All NW District 1B, .353, 2 HR, 20 RBIs.
• Jake Trejo (C/RHP/Util, 5-11, 185, R/R) - South Carolina Sumter commit. 2-time All-Ohio Catcher, .416, 25 RBIs 25 BB, 5-2 3.20 ERA.
• Collin Bzovi (6-3, 185, R/R) - All NW District OF, .300, 17 RBI.

Class of 2014

• Ty Suntken (SS/RHP, 5-10, 185, R/R, pictured bottom) - All Ohio SS, .476, 7 HR, 37 RBIs, 4-2 on the mound.
• Axel Beuter (LHP/OF, 6-0, 175, R/L) - All NW District OF, .346, 2 HR, 17 RBIs.
• Clay Tefft (RHP/3B, 6-1, 180, R/R) - 3-1 on the mound.

Class of 2015

• Nate Suntken (RHP/OF, 5-9, 195, R/R) - Promising looking RHP, brother of Ty Suntken.

No. 7 Sandusky Perkins High School

Expectations are high this spring at Sandusky Perkins High School. With nine returning starters, including seven returning pitchers, Coach Neil’s squad looks to improve upon a 19-14 record, and a second place finish in the Sandusky Bay Conference. The Pirates figure to compete against Edison, Clyde, and Port Clinton for a conference title.

Class of 2013

• Catcher Seth Bryant – The 5-10, 185-pound Tiffin recruit will anchor the squad behind the plate. Last year, he hit .420 with two homeruns and 26 RBI.
• LHP/OF Cameron Waldock – The 5-10, 160-pound senior will anchor the top of the rotation. Last year, he compiled a 5-2 record with a 1.90 ERA.
• 1B/RHP Auintin Cantelli – The 5-11, 200-pound senior hit .340 last year. 

Class of 2014

• RHP/1B Thane Walton – The 6-2, 180-pound prospect went 6-2 with a 1.80 ERA as a sophomore. He also figures to play a prominent role in the middle of the Perkins’ lineup. He earned second team all district honors last year.
• 3B/OF Luke Fraley – The 6-2, 220-pound prospect was hurt as a sophomore, but figures to find his place in the Perkins’ lineup.

Class of 2015

• LHP/OF Braun Miller – The 6-3 prospect has plenty of upside, but needs to continue getting stronger and developing.

No. 8 Canfield High School

The Cardinals and head coach Matt Koenig were 20-5 in 2012, falling in the regional finals to Mentor Lake Catholic. Canfield has reached regionals three of the past five years. The Cardinals are led by Lake Erie commit Derek Turocy (OF/RHP, 6-0, 175). Junior Edmond Pilollo is a talented MIF/RHP. Senior Tony Velasquez (LHP, 6-1, 180) and junior Jake Cole (RHP, 6-2, 190) will look to add depth on the mound.

No. 9 Granville High School  

In 2012 the Blue Aces were 23-5 and fell in extra innings to Johnathan Alder in the district final. Granville returns 10 players (9 seniors) from last years team, seven were starters including Xavier commit Ethan Schmidt. Clay Hartness will look to add depth on the mound.

"If we can get thru some early practice injuries and get our pitching set I think we can be very good," head coach Vince Ghiloni stated. The Mid-State League should be very difficult again this year with the likes of Newark Catholic, Licking Valley and Lakewood.

No. 10 Columbus DeSales HS

Over the past two years, Columbus St. Francis DeSales put together a remarkable run by winning twostraight Division II state championships (read story here).

But now, players such as Zak Decamp (Lake Erie), Jack Miller (Ohio Wesleyan), Nick Eltzroth (Ohio Northern), TJ Alas (Eastern Kentucky) and Brennan Schlabig have all moved on and Coach Tom Neubert finds himself looking to fill several holes in his lineup and pitching rotation.

With a strong example put before them, the remaining Stallions look to maintain their dominance over the Central Catholic League and the Division II state playoffs. Despite several key losses, Coach Neubert has five returning starters and four returning pitchers.

Class of 2013

• OF/RHP Alex Perrine

Class of 2014

• RHP/1B Bryant Stopar – The 6-2, 190-pound righty has a low to mid 80’s fastball.
• OF/LHP Connor Golden – The 6-1 southpaw features a low 80’s fastball.
• OF Aaron Kienzle – The 5-9, 175-pound left-handed throwing and hitting prospect will likely hold down the centerfield spot for the Stallions.

Class of 2015

• MIF/RHP Justin Borghese – The 6-0, 170-pound prospect will likely find himself holding down one of the middle infield spots.
• LHP/1B Andrew Barber

Class of 2016

• RHP Zach Bowden – The 6-0, 165-pound freshman will surely find himself into the Stallion rotation. He has long, loose arm action, a low 80’s fastball, and a projectable body to boot.