By Dylan Hefflinger
Managing Editor/NW Scout
 

top 22 all-tournament team

Top Position Players

Catcher- Mitch Lohr (Newark Catholic, sophomore) The sophomore went 2-3 in the tournament with three runs, two walks and a sacrifice bunt while batting towards the end of the Green Wave lineup. Lohr scored two of Newark Catholic's three total runs in the state finals as they fell 4-3.

1st Base- Brennan Dingler (Massillon Jackson, senior) The senior went 2-5 at the plate with a run scored, RBI and stolen base. Dingler also had a big sacrifice bunt in the semifinals against the back-to-back state champs, Cincinnati Moeller.

2nd Base- Brevin Renollet (Tinora, sophomore) The sophomore went 3-4 with two RBIs, a sacrifice bunt, a sacrifice fly and three assists in the field.

Shortstop- Derek Drewes (Tinora, senior) The talented unsigned senior has had an outstanding career and finished it with a state championship. At the plate, the left-handed hitter went 3-5 with a triple (385+ foot shot), two runs scored, RBI, walk and a sacrifice fly. On the base paths, Drewes showed off his wheels as the fleet footed middle infielder had three stolen bases, including a steal of home to tie the game in the semifinals. Defensively the shortstop had five total assists in the two games.

3rd Base- Isaiah Simerman (Crestview, senior) The senior had a big day in the semifinals against the eventual state champion Tinora. The right-handed hitter went 3-3 with a double, triple, stolen base and two runs scored.

OF- Chase Murray (CHCA, sophomore) The talented sophomore went 5-6 with a double, two triples, a walk, a run scored and four RBIs. The left-handed hitter showed why he is a Georgia Tech recruit as he consistently squared up the ball, spraying line shots from gap-to-gap. 

OF- Seth Paszke (Bloom-Carroll, sophomore) The sophomore clean-up hitter went 4-6 with a double, two runs scored, three RBIs and a walk. The left-handed hitter will be one to watch over the next couple of years.

OF- Roger Danison (Bloom-Carroll, junior) The talented junior outfielder went 4-7 with a double and four runs scored. The right fielder made the only play that was hit to him in the outfielder as the Bulldogs cruised to a state championship.

Utility- Clay Pittman (Tinora, senior) The San Jacinto commit went 3-7 with a walk, two runs scored, two RBIs,  and two stolen bases for the DIV state champs. Defensively Pittman played center field and catcher, with six assists while picking off two runners. On the mound Pittman  picked up two wins in his eight innings on the bump. The righty allowed three runs (2 ER) on nine hits and one walk while striking out seven.

Utility- Sam Bordner (Bloom-Carroll, junior) The Louisville commit threw three dominant innings in a semifinals stomping. In the three innings the righty allowed just one hit while striking out six. At the plate Bordner went 2-5 with a double, walk, two runs scored and three RBIs.

Utility- Grant Muhlenkamp (Coldwater, senior) The senior had one of the biggest hits in the tournament with a two run triple in the 1st inning of the state championship against CHCA. In the tournament Muhlenkamp went 3-6 with two triples, two runs scored and two RBIs. The senior also pitched 9.1 innings in the tournament while picking up two wins. The righty allowed  four runs on nine hits and two walks while striking out two.

Utility- E.J. Kissel (Tinora, junior) The junior went 1-3 with three runs scored, two walks, two HBPs and a sacrifice bunt while batting out of the lead-off spot for the DIV state champs. Defensively Kissel played center field and catcher. On the mound Kissel went two innings of relief in the state championship. The righty allowed one run (0 ER) on two walks while striking out one.

Utility- Bryan Bielak (North Royalton, senior) The senior shortstop went 4-6 with a double, run scored, two RBIs. Defensively Bielak had eight assists with just one error. 

 

Utility- Hunter Nance (Newark Catholic, Senior) The BGSU commit went 3-5 with a double, two walks, two runs scored and an RBI.

Utility- Ryan Proud (NDCL, senior) The senior went 4-4 in a semifinals loss to Jonathan Alder with four singles and a run scored.

 

 

Utility- Mike McCann (Massillon Jackson, senior) The senior went 3-6 with two doubles, HBP, a run scored, an RBI at the plate. Defensively McCann had seven putouts and an assist.

Just missed the cut

2nd Base- Kyle Mottice (Massillon Jackson, senior) This University of Cincinnati recruit went 3-7 with two runs, a sacrifice bunt and two assists.

2nd Base- Mike Lohr (Newark Catholic, senior) The senior went 3-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and a sacrifice bunt.

Shortstop- Riley Mahan (Cincinnati Moeller, senior) The University of Kentucky commit went 2-4 with a double, triple, run scored and two assists in a semifinal loss to Massillon Jackson.

Outfielder- Tyler Sorg (Bloom-Carroll, senior) The senior went 3-7 with a double, run scored and four RBIs. 

Utility- Rob Engle (Newark Catholic, junior) The junior went 3-7 with two runs and a HBP while making five assists in the field at shortstop. On the mound the righty went 4.1 total innings while picking up the save in the semis and the losing pitcher in the state championship against Tinora. Engle gave up just one run on five hits while striking out two. 

Top Pitchers

Sam Miller (Massillon Jackson, sophomore) The sophomore picked up two wins on the mound (one against the defending state champs Cincinnati Moeller). The righty went eight innings allowing just one run (0 ER) on six hits, three walks and three strikeouts.

Cameron Varga (CHCA, senior) The University of North Carolina recruit and Tampa Bay Rays draftee was electric in his performance in the semifinal contest against a good Orrville club. Varga threw the 12th no-hitter in state final four history (first no-hitter in Huntington Park history). The righty set a DIII record for most strikeouts in a state final four game with 15. Varga also walked just one batter and another reached via an error with prevented the perfect game. Varga sat 93 mph while touching 95 in the first inning.

Corey Stanley (Bloom-Carroll, junior) The junior went the distance in the state championship, shutting out Jonathan Alder while giving up just four hits and two walks while striking out four.

Frank Frate (North Royalton, senior) The Walsh University commit went six shutout innings in a semifinals win. The righty allowed just three hits and four walks while striking out two.

 

 

Derek Thobe (Coldwater, junior) The junior pitched in both games for Coldwater as the Cavaliers won a DIII state championship. The righty went 7.2 shutout innings allowing just four hits and three walks while striking out five.

Wade Martin (Wheelersburg, junior) The junior went 9.1 innings in a classic against Coldwater in the semifinals. The righty allowed just three runs (2 ER) on seven hits and one walk while striking out six. Martin is the only player to be on all three Top 22 All-Tournament teams.

Just missed the cut

Gabe Morris (Newark Catholic, junior) The junior picked up the win in the semifinals while going 6.1 innings. The righty allowed two runs (0 ER) on two hits and one walk while striking out three.

Tanner Gaerke (Jonathan Alder, junior) The junior picked up the win in the semifinals going the distance allowing one run (0 ER) on 10 hits and a walk while striking out six.

Blake Swanger (CHCA, senior) The senior was the tough luck loser in the state finals against Coldwater, however the righty kept his team in the game after a rough 1st inning. The righty went seven innings allowing four runs (1 ER) on five hits and two walks while striking out nine.

Damian Helm (Convoy Crestview, senior) The IPFW commit fell in a dramatic and classic DIV state semifinal against Tinora. The lefty went 6.2 innings allowing four runs (3 ER) on six hits, six walks and six strikeouts.

Boomer Lowe (Gahanna Lincoln, senior) The Sinclair CC commit was the tough luck loser in the semis as the righty went the distance allowing three runs (2 ER) on eight hits and one walk while striking out four.

Zach Logue (Cincinnati Moeller, senior) The University of Kentucky recruit fell in the state semifinals to the eventual state champ Massillon Jackson. The lefty went five innings allowing three runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out six.

Ryan Falls (NDCL, Junior) The junior threw well against Jonathan Alder in the 3-1 loss in the semifinals. The lefty threw four strong innings as he allowed three runs (0 ER) on three hits and four walks while striking out six.

2014 Tournament MVP

Picking an MVP in the 2014 tournament was a difficult one as there were some outstanding performances, including: Sam Miller (2 wins, 8 IP, 0 ER), Cameron Varga (record setting performance with no-hitter and 15 Ks), Grant Muhlenkamp (two wins on the mound and a huge two-run triple) and Derek Drewes (3-5 with huge triple/run in finals and SB of home to tie game in the semis) among others, but the MVP goes too......

Clay Pittman (Tinora, senior) The San Jacinto commit went 3-7 with a walk, two runs scored, two RBIs,  and two stolen bases. This also included the game-winning, walk-off single in the bottom of the seventh to capture a DIV state title. Defensively Pittman played catcher and center field, with six assists while picking off two runners. On the mound Pittman picked up two wins in his eight innings on the bump. The righty allowed three runs (2 ER) on nine hits and one walk while striking out seven.

To view the 2013 Top 22 All-Tournament team click HERE.

To view the 2012 Top 22 All-Tournament team click HERE.