Flashback: A Look Back At The 2016 Spring High School Season

February 1, 2017

By Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

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.

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

Flashback: A Look Back At The 2016 Spring High School Season

Before we get started with our Spring Team Previews for the 2017 season, we would like to take a look back at what the 2016 spring season had to offer ... but where do we even start?

When thinking about high school baseball in the state of Ohio, we think about starting out the season wearing layers of clothing to head to the games in April before finishing off the season at beautiful Huntington Park in Columbus, the Cleveland Indians' AAA affiliate. Making it to the OHSAA State Final Four is a dream that all high school baseball players hope to be able to accomplish. Huntington Park is one of the finest minor league venues in all of baseball and the OHSAA and Clippers' organization have done a great job of running the State Final Four.

When looking back at the 2016 season, let's start at the beginning.

Each year, we at PBR put together the Preseason All-State Teams as well as Preseason Team Power Rankings before the start of the spring high school season.

We at PBR put a lot of effort in to making the All-State Teams and the Team Power Rankings as informative, in-depth, and as accurate as possible. My own personal goal is to correctly predict the state champion for each division while having most of the teams at state within the top 10 preseason-wise. As you can expect, that is extremely difficult to do with baseball being as unpredictable a sport as there is. It is all in fun and online to promote the players, coaches, high schools and communities.

Throughout the season, we at PBR scour the entire state to find the top players and teams. We search North, South, East and West to find the hidden gems within the Buckeye State with hopes of helping them find a spot to play the game we all love at the next level.

The 2016 season had it all ... an undefeated team at the end of the regular season, numerous no-hitters, a handful of perfect games and a good amount of impressive performances at the plate. The 2016 season also featured an improbable run to a state title as well as the normal powerhouse clubs capturing yet another state title.

Heading into tournament action in May, PBR put together our final Team Power Rankings, as you can see here.

When the tournament reached the Regionals, I put together our annual Regional Preview. I would like to thank all the coaches and athletic directors who helped me with information for the Regional participants. The 2016 Regional Preview can be seen in the links below:

The final 16 teams in each division were whittled down to the final four. To view the Final Four Preview from last year, please click here.

The Preseason and Final Team Power Rankings proved to be pretty accurate in 2016, with the state champion in Division II, Division III and Division IV each finishing ranked in the top two of their respective division, while also each being ranked #1 to start the season. However, Division I was another story, as unranked Pickerington North shocked the state and made an incredible tournament run to a Division I State Championship.

To view the the State Final Recaps, please click on the links below:

While covering the OHSAA State Final Four, I also put together an All-Tournament Team. To view the 2016 All-Tournament Team, please click here.

Along with covering the OHSAA State Tournament, I also put together an in-depth look at the All-State Teams for each division while also putting together the 2nd annual Elite 25, which is the top 25 players in 2016 regardless of division.

Whether you are 1st team All-State, 2nd team All-State, 3rd team All-State ... whether you are in Division I, D-II, D-III, D-IV ... whether you are on the 2015 Elite 25 or not, being able to play the game we all have grown up to love, cherish and adore is all that matters.

That being said, being named to one (or two) of those prestigious teams is an honor and one that I hope all the prospects, coaches, fans and communities understand does not come easy.

To view the 2016 All-State Teams, please click the links below:

Now Onto The 2017 Season

The 2017 season was my 6th season with PBR Ohio and as with each of the previous five years, I couldn't ask for a better job. Yeah the weather could be better in March and April, but seeing these kids battle through the conditions that Ohio brings is great.

Personally I want to thank all of the players, coaches, parents, media members and fans who have helped PBR Ohio and myself with coverage across the great state of Ohio.

In 2017, PBR Ohio will continue to be your one-stop spot for high school baseball news in Ohio and will look to bring you even more. Thanks again! Can't wait for the 2017 season to begin!

Be on the lookout for the 2017 Spring Team Previews. They will be posted each day, all the way up to the start of the season. Also be on the lookout for the 2017 Preseason All-State Teams as well as the 2017 Preseason Team Power Rankings which will be out before the start of the season.