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By Dylan Hefflinger
Ohio Editor in Chief/NW Scout

The 2016 OHSAA State Tournament was a resounding success once again. All the folks behind the scene with the OHSAA do a great job every year in making the State Tournament one to remember. From all of us here at PBR we would like to thank all that are apart of the OHSAA. The State Tournament for Ohio is unlike any in the nation and you guys do a great job in making dreams come true for all the athletes.

Visit our scout blog, which includes velocity, pop times and in-depth scouting reports. The blog will be updated throughout the entire spring and summer, with information on top prospects and top performances, click here.

To view the 2016 Final Regular Season Team Rankings, click here.

To view the 2016 Preseason All-State Teams, click here. (The 2016 Regular Season All-State team will be released later this week).

To discuss this, please visit our partner JJHuddle.

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

2016 Top 22 State Final Four All-Tournament Team

To view the 2015 Top 22 All-Tournament team click here.

To view the 2014 Top 22 All-Tournament team click here.

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

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

*** MVP of the tournament is at the bottom.

Top Position Player Performances

Name: Jacob Jimenez
Position: Catcher
High School: Defiance
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: The uncommitted senior catcher had an outstanding tournament for the top-ranked Bulldogs. Jimenez was their offensive catalyst during their tournament run while also being the leader behind the dish. Offensively, Jimenez turned it on late in the season, capping it off, going 4-8 with a double, run scored and an RBI while providing 4 assists defensively. Additionally defensively, Jimenez controlled the run game well, while also providing a nice backstop for a team that has numerous pitchers from the right side and left side that sit in the mid to upper-80s. The 6-foot unsigned senior would be a nice late add to a college program.

Name: Nick Cavinee
Position: 1st Baseman
High School: Newark Catholic
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: The big 6-foot-7 1st baseman for the Newark Catholic Green Wave was on base six of his seven plate appearances, going 4-5 with two runs scored, two RBIs and two hit-by-pitches. Cavinee looked to be one of the vocal leaders for Newark Catholic at Huntington Park, whether that be after a big hit, a big defensive play or a huge strikeout for the green and white. Cavinee also played well defensively, providing utilizing his big frame at first base, Cavinee was apart of 15 putouts at 1st. Cavinee was also a starter on last year's state title winner as well, going 3-6 with an RBI at the plate.

Name: Austin Taylor
Position: 2nd Baseman
High School: Defiance
Class: 2017
Tournament Performance: A walk-off single to win his team back-to-back state titles is reason enough to put Austin Taylor on the All-Tournament team. To go along with his game-winning hit, the junior 2nd baseman went 4-7 in the tournament with 2 RBIs. Defensively, Taylor was not asked to do much from his middle infield position, but made two assists and a putout in the two games.

Name: Trent McIntyre
Position: Shortstop
High School: Triad
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: One of the top uncommitted seniors down at Huntington Park put on an offensive display in both games. The Triad SS/RHP went 4-6 with a double, triple and an outstanding six RBIs while adding in a stolen base. Defensively McIntyre had six assists while leading his Cardinals to a runner-up performance. Trent would be a great pickup late as a possible two-way prospect, SS/RHP.

Name: Tyler York
Position: 3rd Baseman
High School: Newark Catholic
Class: 2018
Tournament Performance: The only sophomore to be apart of the 2016 All-Tournament team had a solid performance for the Division IV State Champion Green Wave. York went 3-6 at the plate with a double, two RBIs, a walk and a stolen base. Defensively, York made the most of his two chances at third, with two assists.

Name: Ross Mulcare
Position: Outfield
High School: Badin
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: Hamilton Badin's 5-hole hitter had a solid tournament for the Rams. The right-handed hitting outfielder went 3-7 at the plate with an RBI double. Mulcare also scored three runs for the Badin Rams. Defensively, Mulcare manned right field for the Rams, making three putouts en route to a State Runner-Up performance for Badin.

Name: Jon Erhard
Position: Outfield
High School: Newark Catholic
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: The Green Wave's three-hole hitting left fielder was apart of a record-setting performance by Newark Catholic. Erhard had three of the Green Wave's record setting 12 stolen base performance in the State Title game. Offensively Erhard went 3-6 with three runs scores to go along with the three stolen bases. Defensively Erhard made the best of his lone chance in left field.

Name: Nick Whetnall
Position: Outfield
High School: Pickerington North
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: The cleanup hitter for the Division I State Champs had a solid state tournament, going 3-6 with a double, walk and stolen base. The uncommitted senior could be a nice get for a program at the next level. Whetnall shows multiple skills in the field and at the plate that could help a college program.

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Name: Bryan Yoder
Position: Catcher
High School: Hiland
Class: 2017
Tournament Performance: The talented catcher had a solid state tournament, helping the top ranked team in Division III to their first state title in school history. The right-handed hitting catcher went 3-6 with a run scored and three RBIs. Defensively, Yoder had three assists while helping his pitching staff to solid performances.

Name: Tyson Gingerich
Position: 2nd Baseman
High School: Hiland
Class: 2017
Tournament Performance: What a performance by Tyson at state offensively. The left-handed hitting junior roped two doubles and a triple while going 4-6 with 4 RBIs, scoring two runs. Defensively Gingerich had two assists from his second base position.

Name: Connor Stykemain
Position: Shortstop/3rd Base
High School: Defiance
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: Connor had an outstanding senior year for the top ranked Bulldogs and topped that off with a solid state final four performance. The future Cincinnati Bearcat (Engineering) went 3-7 with a stolen base. Connor helped the Bulldogs mostly with flawless defense at both shortstop and third base with five assists.

Name: Chris Kline
Position: Shortstop
High School: Hiland
Class: 2017
Tournament Performance: The leadoff hitter was a catalyst offensively for the top ranked team in Division III. The state champion Hawks' junior shortstop went 3-6 with four runs scored and an RBI while being hit by a pitch. Defensively, Kline flashed a solid glove while providing six assists.

 

Top Performances on the Mound

Name: Eric Mullet
Position: Pitcher
High School: Hiland
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: Mullet has the OHSAA record for most consecutive scoreless innings with 120+ innings in a row after an outstanding last couple of season. At state, Mullet picked up the win in the semifinals while coming in relief for the save in the finals to help the Hawks win the D-III State Title. Overall the Malone commit went 8.2 innings, allowing just three hits and two walks without giving up a run run while striking out nine.

Name: Justin Grubb
Position: Pitcher
High School: Pickerington North
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: What a performance by Grubb in the Division I State Championship game. The 6-foot-4 senior went the distance in the state title game for the win while also pitching in relief in the state semifinal game for the save. Versus a talented Cincinnati LaSalle lineup, Grubb went all 7 innings, allowing just five hits, two walks and one unearned run while striking out four. Overall Grubb went 8 innings, allowing seven hits, two walks, one run (zero earned) while striking out four. Grubb may not have been the most overpowering pitcher at Huntington Park, but you could tell by his presence on the mound that he knew how to get his job done.

Name: Abram Smith
Position: Pitcher
High School: Defiance
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: The uncommitted southpaw was dominant against one of the top hitting teams down at state, the Hamilton Badin Rams. The 6-foot-3 lefty went 5 innings, allowing just two hits and an unearned run while striking out one and walking a batter. Abe did not overpower the Rams, but made kept them off balance with an array of pitches. Last I knew, Smith has decided to not play ball at the next level, but if his mind changes, would be a great late pickup for anyone looking for a low-80s lefty.

Name: Shane Ford
Position: Pitcher
High School: Triad
Class: 2017
Tournament Performance: Triad's junior right-handed pitcher Shane Ford pitched the Cardinal into the Division-IV State Title game with a dominant performance in the semifinals. Against Cuyahoga Heights, Ford went the distance allowing just one hit and two walks while striking out three. Look for Ford to be one of the top pitchers in Division IV next season, while also playing a solid shortstop. Solid looking prospect.

Name: Marcus Schlabach
Position: Pitcher
High School: Waynedale
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: Senior right-handed pitcher Marcus Schlabach was dominant in the Golden Bears semifinal win, which propelled Waynedale into their first state title game in school history. In the semifinal game against Clear Fork, the righty went the distance allowing just three hits and three runs while striking out eight and walking three. Schlabach, a Mercyhurst College commit was a key part of what was the Waynedale Golden Bears first ever baseball trip to the OHSAA State Final Four in school history.

Name: Koebe Rush
Position: Pitcher
High School:  Pickerington North
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: The future Fairmont State commit pitched his team into the Division I State Championship game with his semifinal win over Cleveland St. Ignatius. Versus the talented squad from St. Ignatius, Rush went 7 innings, allowing 10 hits. Rush limited St. Ignatius to just three runs on those 10 hits however, putting his team in line for the win. Rush struckout five batters while allowing two walks in the semifinal win.

Name: Jacob Kaiser
Position: Pitcher
High School: Cincinnati LaSalle
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: The Charleston (West Virginia) commit pitched his LaSalle Lancers into the Division I State Championship game with a solid performance in the State Semifinal win over Solon. In the semifinals, the side-arm right-handed pitcher went the distance, allowing five hits and four runs while striking out six and walking four.

Name: Tanner Marmie
Position: Pitcher
High School: Newark Catholic
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: Tanner Marmie was apart of the 1-2 connection on the mound that the Green Wave put out there during the Division IV State Final Four. Tanner was not at his best in the semifinal game, going just 3.2 innings and allowing three runs ... but after being picked up by his teammate in the semifinal, Tanner did the same in the State Final. In a relief performance, Marmie went 4 innings, allowing just two hits and one unearned run while striking out three. Overall Marmie went 7.2 innings, allowing four runs (3 ER) while walking seven and striking out six.

Name: Caine Whitney
Position: Pitcher
High School: Newark Catholic
Class: 2016
Tournament Performance: Caine Whitney picked up Marmie in the Division IV State Semifinal, coming in relief in dominant form. Whitney went 3.1 innings, allowing just one hit and a walk while striking out two and helping the Green Wave to the State Title game. Whitney started the state title game and didn't have his best stuff, but still held a talented Triad team to three runs in three innings while striking out four. Overall Whitney went 6.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits and four walks while striking out six.

2016 OHSAA State Tournament MVP

The 2016 State tournament was all about solid pitching performances, stellar defense by the state champions and clutch hitting 1-9 by the four teams that got to hold up the championship trophy. That being said, in 2016 the MVP goes to the top prospect down at Huntington Park, Defiance's RHP/SS Shay Smiddy.

The future Louisville Cardinal pitched the maximum 10 innings for the Division II State Champion Defiance Bulldogs. In the State Semifiinal win over Steubenville, Smiddy went the distance, allowing just one run on five hits and two walks while striking out eight. In the State Final game, Smiddy came in relief for Abram Smith. Despite giving up the tying run in the 7th, Smiddy came away with the win, going three innings, allowing one run on four hits while striking out four against a strong Badin team.

Pitching was not all that Shay did well at Huntington Park. Shay, the leadoff hitter for Defiance, went 1-2 at the plate with three walks and two hit-by-pitches. The 6-foot-5 RHP/SS also scored four runs while driving in a run. Defensively Smiddy had six assists while playing a stellar shortstop when not on the mound.