Prep Baseball Report

Strongsville Mustangs


Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

Follow on Twitter- @PrepBaseballOH
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With 2020 now in the past, PBR Ohio is eagerly anticipating bringing the Buckeye state the best 2021 high school coverage that can be found anywhere. Starting in January, we began releasing team previews for squads across the state. Ahead, we will have Preseason All-State Teams as well as the Preseason State Rankings coming your way.

To view the full list of 2021 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

If you are a coach and haven't filled out your 2021 Team Preview, click here.

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

2021 Spring Team Preview: Strongsville Mustangs

Team Name: Strongsville Mustangs
Head Coach: Doug Cicerchi
Division: I
2019 Record: 11-17
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/4

2021 Team Strengths:

  • Team Offense -- we're as athletic as a group as we've been awhile and should swing the bats and run the bases really well.
  • Defense -- we're very strong up with the middle with Gus Gregory at SS, Mitch Szymczak at C, and Zach Gaspar in CF. We also have the most athletic 1B I've ever coached in Matt Stroemple, several good options at 2B/3B, and 6 or 7 really good defensive outfielders.
  • Belief -- we play in one of the best conferences in the state. In no particular order, Mentor, Solon, Brunswick, Medina, and we have a legitimate chance to win a district in most years. Our non-conference schedule is also difficult. Our guys believe we can win any game we play and it shows in how they handle in-game and in-season adversity.

Coach Outlook: "This will be the most unusual season any of us will be a part of and my coaching staff and I couldn't ask for a better group of young men to restart high school baseball with. Our guys prepare hard, compete, have talent, and maximize their individual abilities towards our collective goals. Everyone is having so much fun. We all simply want a season. If we throw enough quality strikes, I think our team offense and defense will give us a chance to win any game we play."

Top Returning Players:

  • Jr. SS Gus Gregory -- Wright St. recruit -- 5'10", 165 lbs
  • Sr. CF Zach Gaspar -- Shawnee St. recruit -- 5'10", 165 lbs
  • Jr. C Mitch Szymczak -- Uncommitted -- 5'10", 170 lbs
  • Sr. LF Darren Gyurky -- Uncommitted -- 5'11", 165 lbs
  • Jr. 2B/3B Anthony Gentile -- Uncommitted -- 5'8", 200 lbs
  • Sr. LHP Jack Ballas -- Ohio Northern recruit -- 6'6", 215 lbs
  • Sr. RHP/OF Ben Lien -- Uncommitted -- 5'10", 195 lbs

Class of 2021 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • CF Zach Gaspar
  • LHP Jack Ballas
  • RHP Garrett Kroese -- Capital recruit -- 6', 155 lbs
  • LF Darren Gyurky
  • 1B Matt Stroemple -- Uncommitted -- 6'4", 165 lbs

Class of 2022 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • SS Gus Gregory (Video below)
  • C Mitch Szymczak
  • 2B/3B Anthony Gentile
  • RHP/OF Maddux Beard -- Uncommitted -- 6'1", 185 lbs
  • RHP Justin Malloy -- Uncommitted -- 6'2", 195 lbs
  • 3B Jake Morad -- Uncommitted -- 5'8", 185 lbs
  • RHP Connor Zitnar -- Uncommitted -- 5'9", 165 lbs
  • RHP Aidan Cunningham -- Uncommitted -- 6', 170 lbs
  • RHP Nathan Kowalski -- Uncommitted -- 6'3", 180 lbs
  • RHP Evan Hatfield -- Uncommitted -- 6'3", 200 lbs

Class of 2023 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • SS/CF Brandon Lucek  -- Uncommitted -- 5'8", 150 lbs
  • 2. CF Luke Puma Uncommitted -- 5'9", 155 lbs

A Look Back At What Would've Been The 2020 Season:

To view each of the parts to the No 'Last Dance' Series, click below:

To view the 2020 Team Previews, click here.

To view the 2020 Preseason All-State Teams, click here.

To view the 2020 Virtual Ohio High School State Tournament/Preseason Team Rankings, click here.

A Look Back At The Last Decade:

To view the Ohio High School All-Decade Team 2010-2019, click here.

A Look Back At The 2019 Season:

To view the 2019 Team Previews, click here.

To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

To view the 2019 All-State Teams, click below.

To view the 2019 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

A Look Back At The 2018 Season:

To view the 2018 Team Previews, click here.

To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

To view the 2018 All-State Teams, click below.

To view the 2018 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

A Look Back At The 2017 Season:

To view the 2017 Team Previews, click here.

To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

To view the 2017 All-State Teams, click below.

To view the 2017 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.

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