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By: Dan Machovina
PBR Ohio Assistant Director of Scouting

We look to bring the Buckeye state top-notch high school coverage throughout the entire state.

We will have the 2016 Scout Blog, Spotlight Games, Inside the Recruitment Articles, Unsigned Senior Spotlights, The Recruiting Trail, All-State Selections, Full Coverage of the OHSAA State Tournament as well as numerous other articles throughout the spring.

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+ Division I
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+ Division IV

To view the Preseason All-State Selections, click below:
+ Division I
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+ Division III
+ Division IV 

To view the full list of 2016 Team Previews that we have already completed, please click here.

For insider information and scouting notes from the PBR staff during the 2016 spring season visit the 2016 Ohio Scout Blog by clicking here.

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Ohio Spotlight Game: District Final - #20 Cleveland St. Ignatius vs #21 Lakewood St. Edward

This match-up had all the makings for a great game and the two, division one powerhouses did not disappoint. As if a game between the two historic rivals needed any additional reasons besides wanting to get a win against the other, this game was for a Division I District Championship, and a ticket to advance further into the state Tournament.

Just as expected, it was a battle until the end, and the St. Ignatius Wildcats would come out on top over the St. Edward Eagles by a final score of 3-1.

St. Ignatius put the first run up on the scoreboard in the top of the third inning. A walk from the Wildcat’s senior right fielder Nick Freund and a single through the left side by senior second baseman Joe Evans, eventually left runners on second and third with one out. Senior first baseman Dennis Grosel then hit a ground ball to the third baseman, which was muffled and allowed Freund to score.

In the top of the fifth inning with two outs it was the Wildcat’s leadoff man, Freund again, being the spark plug hitting a single to left field.

Freund then stole second on a pickoff attempt and then showed good baserunning instincts getting to third base on a pitch thrown to the dirt. The next play was a called balk, allowing Freund to score the second St. Ignatius run of the game.

The final Wildcats run came in the sixth inning when the big left-handed hitting first baseman hit a towering solo blast that landed on top of the school building that is located behind the right field fence.

The biggest scoring threat and perhaps the biggest turning point in the game as far as momentum goes came in the fourth inning.

Senior second baseman Evan Kayser (Truman State) leadoff with a double to center field, following the play was a sacrifice bunt that was not fielded cleanly and allowed senior third baseman Jake Budyka to reach base safely.

But, senior starting right-handed pitcher Murphy O’Brien (St. Bonaventure commit) showed his toughness by striking out the next three St. Edward hitters on sharp, late breaking curveballs. He struck out his third victim of the inning on a full-count curveball that fell right off the table.

St. Edward would score their lone run with runners on first and third and one out. Junior center fielder Riley Baumbick hit a ground ball back to the pitcher, who opted to try and turn a double play but couldn’t get Baumbick out at first base.

Give the talented St. Ignatius pitching duo of O’Brien and relief right-handed pitcher junior Braydon Nelson a lot of credit for keeping the St. Edward lineup at bay throughout the game.

Together the two Wildcats combined to put up a line score of tossing seven innings, yielding just two hits, four walks, one hit batter, eleven strikeouts, and allowing the one earned run.

St. Edward’s starting left-handed pitcher junior Quinn Lavelle (Northwestern commit) did a great job of keeping a tough St. Ignatius Wildcat lineup in check.

Lavelle pitched his heart out to give the Eagles a chance to win and advance further into the state tournament, he did just that. The junior lefty threw seven innings, scattering five hits, only walking one batter, hit one batter, struck out three, and allowed three runs.