By Chris Webb

For many Ohio high school baseball coaches and players, April was a strenuous, if not forgettable, month. With one of Ohio?s wettest months on record, games across the board from the Indiana border to the Pennsylvania state line, up Lake Erie and down to the Ohio River, were continuously cancelled or postponed. As the calendar has turned to May, in its first week, the weather has cooperated a bit better throughout. However, not even the soggiest of days can damper the hype, anticipation, and expectation of the state baseball tournament, which begins next week with Sectional and District action.

As Prep Baseball Report prepares to bring to you unrivaled coverage of the OHSAA State Baseball Tournament, with the release of the statewide tournament bracket, we present to you five intriguing possible matchups between top players and teams that may occur prior to the District championship round.

 Division I Hudson District; District Quarterfinal: Brecksville-Broadview vs. Solon. In what would be the second tournament game for each, if played, this showdown at Brecksville-Broadview could pit two elite arms against each other in Georgia-bound Sr. RHP Mike Mancuso of Brecksville-Broadview, and UNC commit Jr. LHP Matt Smoral.

Division I Kettering 1 District; District Quarterfinal: Cincinnati LaSalle vs. Cincinnati Sycamore. There is not a possible match-up for this game, this Queen City showdown is a reality as LaSalle opens the tournament by hosting Sycamore. On the mound LaSalle has RHP Sr. Brett Humphrey, who is headed to Toledo, while Sycamore counters with LHP Sr. Kyle Hart, who is headed to Indiana.

Division II Lorain District; District Quarterfinal: Parma Heights Holy Name vs. Richfield Revere. With a trio of future Division I players; Sr. RHPs Nick and Tyler Plys, who are headed to Ohio, and Sr. Anthony Smith, a future Toledo Rocket, Revere will have a tough second game if they can get past Medina Buckeye. However, the Minutemen have on their team a quality arm Jr. RHP in Nathan Allen that could have the opportunity to enhance his stock.

Division III Creston District; District Semifinal: Massillon Tuslaw vs. Wooster Triway. A Tuslaw team that has been ranked in the state top 10 in Division III by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association Poll, as of May 1 sitting 10, could face a very tough opponent in Triway led by Kent State recruit Sr. INF Sawyer Polen who has helped his team be one of five teams receiving 20 or more votes just shy of the state top-10.

Division IV Bryan District; District Semifinal: Edon vs. Hamler Patrick Henry. In the latest OHSBCA poll, Edon received 23 of 28 first-place votes to overwhelmingly be the top team in Division IV. Not too far down in the rankings sits Patrick Henry who checked in at number 8. On its roster Edon has Ryan and Tyler Wells, both senior right-handed pitchers who will play at Lincoln Trails C.C., while Patrick Henry could trot out Kevin Kline, one of the state?s top junior right-handed pitchers for this third-round showdown.