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By Dylan Hefflinger
Editor in Chief/NW Scout

The OHSAA State Tournament's road heads straight for Huntington Park, with the 16 best teams in the four divisions represented. Ohio is blessed with having the best teams, players, coaches, parents and communities around. The support by the communities down in Columbus is second to none and us here at PBR are blessed to be able to cover such an amazing tournament.

Below we have the OHSAA State Final Four Preview.

Come Thursday we will be bringing everyone coverage of every pitch. We will have a running State Scout Blog, Twitter Updates, Game Articles, All-Tournament Team, Photo Gallery and everything in-between.

I personally want to say thank you to all the coaches that got back to me on the state preview. If you are a coach, and have not sent your state preview in to PBR, please send [email protected] information.

State Previews by Division:
Division I
Division II
Division III
Division IV

Regional Previews by Division:
Division I
Division II
Division III
Division IV

To view the Team Power Rankings by division, which includes teams that just missed the cut and are on the bubble, please click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV

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

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

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

To discuss and critique anything HS baseball wise, visit our partner JJHuddle.

2016 OHSAA Tournament: Road To Huntington Park - Division I State Final Four Preview

****Rankings are based on PBR Ohio's Final Team Power Rankings

Division I

Home team listed first

#16 Cincinnati LaSalle (24-7) vs. #6 Solon (25-4), Thursday, June 2, 4 p.m.
#20 St. Ignatius (22-10) vs. Pickerington North (21-9) Thursday, June 2, 7 p.m.
Division I State Championship: Saturday, June 4, 1 p.m.

State Final Four Team Previews

PBR Rankings Overview of Division I:

• Preseason Ranked Teams: 1 in top 10 / 4 in top 38
• Final Team Power Rankings: 3 in top 20

#16 Cincinnati LaSalle (24-7)

Head Coach:  Joe Voegele

School Facts:

• This is the 50th anniversary of La Salle Baseball.
• 2nd state appearance in school history (1995).
• Was the 3rd appearance in the regionals over last 7 years (2010, 2015 and 2016)
• This Senior Class has the highest winning percentage in school history of .760.
• Jake Kaiser holds the LaSalle record for most wins in a season with 9.

Top Hitters:

1. Andrew Sexton, CF, 2016 - .333 BA, 6 2B, 25 R, 20 RBIs, 12 SB
2. Brady Reynolds, INF, 2017 - .376 BA, 2 2B, 1 3B, 21 R, 15 RBIs, 14 SB
3. Kevin Browne, 3B, 2016 - .368 BA, 7 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 23 R, 27 RBIs
4. Micah Allen, P, 2017 - .365 BA, 2 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 16 R, 20 RBIs
5. Griffin Merritt, 1B, 2018 -.322 BA, 6 2B, 1 3B, 14 R, 26 RBIs
6. Jon Hambrick, C, 2016 - .278 BA, 1 2B, 12 R, 12 RBIs
7. Tyler Wardwell, SS, 2017 - .416 BA, 8 2B, 22 R, 12 RBIs
8. Baron Moreland, RF, 2017 - .308 BA, 20 R, 6 RBIs
9. Tim Casey, 2B, 2016 - .457 BA, 3 2B, 1 3B, 22 R, 21 RBIs

The Arms:

1. Jacob Kaiser, 2016 - 71.2 IP, 9-1, 1.30 ERA, 35 K
2. Micah Allen, 2017 - 42.2 IP, 4-2, 1 SV, 2.30 ERA, 24 K
3. Jacob Barford, 2016 - 36 IP, 4-3, 1 SV, 2.72 ERA, 17 K
4. Quintin Baldwin, 2016 - 16.2 IP, 2-1, 2.94 ERA
5. Dana Reeves, 2016 - 15.1 IP, 3-0, 3.65 ERA

Coaches Thoughts:

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: We are playing with solid defense and good pitching; two areas needed in tournament play.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: It’s a great feeling for the team, community, parents, and school. We last appeared at State in 2004, so everyone is excited to go back. This is a very exciting time for the program.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four and Huntington Park?
Coach: Our program has been building for this for the last four years. We felt last year we had a great opportunity to go to the Final Four, only to lose in the Regionals. Our Seniors have worked very hard to get to this stage and are honored to have the opportunity.

 

#6 Solon (25-4)

Head Coach: Damien Kopkas

School Facts:

• Has advanced to state seven times, with the last time being in 1991.

Top Hitters:

1. Joseph Bubonics, C, 2017 - .397 BA, 4 2B, 19 R, 12 RBIs
2. Casey Maniglia, DH, 2018 - .362 BA, 4 2B, 23 R, 19 RBIs
3. Anthony Charles, LF, 2016 - .438 BA, 4 2B, 27 R, 15 RBIs
4. Will Meyer, SS, 2016 - .436 BA, 3 2B, 1 3B, 35 R, 14 RBIs
5. Brandon Dim, RF, 2016 - .323 BA, 5 2B, 21 R, 15 RBIs
6. John Alvarez, CF, 2016 - .253 BA, 2 2B, 1 3B, 22 R, 19 RBis
7. Johnny Mooney, 1B, 2016 - .400 BA, 10 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 22 R, 35 RBIs
8. Joe Paskell, 3B, 2017 - .403 BA, 8 2B, 1 3B, 22 R, 22 RBIs
9. Mike Tsironis, 2B, 2017 - .416 BA, 9 2B, 3 3B, 1 HR, 24 R, 21 RBIs
10. Ryan McCann, .333 BA
11. Ryan McCurry, .233 BA

The Arms:

1. Nathan Altstadt, P, 2016 - 44.2 IP, 6-1, 0.94 ERA, 70 K
2. Jeremy Friedman, P, 2017 - 38.2 IP, 7-0, 1.99 ERA, 41 K
3. Tim Harmody, P, 2016 - 21 IP, 1-0, 1 SV, 2.33 ERA, 8 K
4. Ryan McCurry, P, 2018 - 17 IP, 1-1, 1 SV, 1.64 ERA, 17 K
5. Ian Erkkiila, P, 2016 - 21.1 IP, 2-0, 0.98 ERA, 22 K
6. Ryan McCann, P, 2016 - 12.1 IP, 3-0, 2.27 ERA, 6 K

Coaches Thoughts:

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: We are a very balanced lineup and we are playing extremely loose. The guys are excited and enjoy the time they get to spend with their teammates on the field. We are playing with a sense of calmness and focus that is great to see.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: I was really just excited for the players and for our school. To accomplish something that hasn’t been done in Solon in 25 years is an impressive feat. These guys have worked tirelessly to reach this point and to see them achieve another goal was a lot of fun for me. 

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four and Huntington Park?
Coach: It’s something that you dream about as both a player and a coach. It is a goal I set for our team each and every year, but rarely do you have the talent and team chemistry to put it all together to actually get here. This is a special team in my eyes, and to be with them as we get the opportunity to play at that beautiful facility in the state final four is extremely satisfying.

 

#20 Cleveland St. Ignatius (22-10)

Head Coach: Brad Ganor

School Facts:

• Has advanced to state 13 times (2016, 2015, 2013, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2004, 2002, 2000, 1997, 1995, 1993, 1954)
• 6th trip to Final Four in last 10 years and 2nd consecutive.
• State Champions in 2002.
• Runner-Up in 2000, 2008, 2013.

Possible Lineup:

1. Nick Freund, RF, 2016 - .399 BA, 2 2B, 1 3B, 27 R, 14 RBIs, 19 SB
2. Joe Evans, 2B, 2016 - .215 BA, 3 2B, 19 R, 11 RBIs, 10 SB
3. Dennis Grosel, 3B, 2016 - .366 BA, 5 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 15 R, 23 RBIs
4. George Asadorian, DH, 2016 - .306 BA, 5 2B, 9 R, 12 RBIs
5. Kevin Mingus, SS, 2016 - .281 BA, 8 2B, 8 R, 11 RBIs
6. Ryan Jacobs, LF, 2017 - .302 BA, 7 2B, 1 3B, 13 R, 14 RBIs
7. Michael Rogers, RF, 2016 - .308 BA, 1 2B, 2 3B, 16 R, 14 RBIs
8. Tommy Grosel, 1B, 2018 - .295 BA, 1 2B, 5 R, 9 RBIs
9. Drew Asadorian, C, 2018 - .205 BA, 9 R, 6 RBIs

The Arms:

1. Connor Adams, LHP, 2017 - 54.1 IP, 6-3, 0.90 ERA, 68 K
2. Murphy O'Brien, RHP, 2016 - 39 IP, 5-2, 1.44 ERA, 34 K
3. Braydon Nelson, RHP, 2017 - 33.1 IP, 3-0, 0.63 ERA, 19 K
4. Griffin Hunt, RHP, 2017 - 20.2 IP, 2-0, 1.69 ERA, 18 K
5. Michael Rogers, LHP, 2016 - 9 IP, 1.56 ERA, 15 K

Coaches Thoughts:

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: After starting the season 0-5 and 1-6, we have really played good baseball. To get to 22-10, winning 21 of the last 25, has been very impressive. We played our best baseball to date starting in the tournament. Our pitching has been the key the whole season and the offense has generated runs lately.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Any tournament win is great. I always feel the District tournament is tougher to win because the teams know each other so well. But, winning Regionals is great too! A chance to be in the Final Four, especially 2 years in a row, is awesome. I think it goes to show that “rankings” don’t mean a whole lot when it comes down to it.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four and Huntington Park?
Coach: Playing at Huntington is a great experience. Having played Final Four games at Bill Davis and Cooper Stadium in the past, Huntington really provides a venue that makes the kids feel these games are a little more special than all the others!

PBR: Anything else you would like to add, feel free to send it.. Remember, this is for your players, your coaching staff and your community.
Coach: The name of the game for 2016 Saint Ignatius Baseball team is RESILIENT… Our players trust their teammates and themselves and continued to work when the times were the toughest, and now we are all reaping the benefits of that faith.

 

Pickerington North (21-9)

Head Coach: Tim Thomas

School Facts:

• 2nd time in school history in the State Final Four.
• Runner-up in 2009.

Possible Lineup:

1. Conner Ayers, 3B, Senior - .355 BA
2. Dillian Smith, CF, Junior - .298 BA
3. Alec Bradbury, C, Junior
4. Nic Whetnall, LF, Senior - .333 BA
5. Justin Grubb, 1B, Senior
6. Koebe Rush, P, Senior
7. Mitchell Smith, SS, Soph
8. Cole Loconsy, RF, Senior
9. Drew Salinas, 2B, Freshman

The Arms:

1. Koebe Rush, RHP, Senior - 8-1, 1 SV, 0.86 ERA, 39 K
2. Justin Grubb, RHP, Senior - 7-2, 2 SV
3. Dillian Smith, RHP, Junior, Closer
4. AJ Snyder, RHP, Senior, Relief

Coaches Thoughts:

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: Our belief that we can win every time we step on the field. It is amazing how strong our team chemistry has blossomed since the beginning of the tournament.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Our motto from the district final and beyond has been “Why Not Us”. This regional title was even more special than our 1st one in 2009, because we were not supposed to be here. We are still in awe and have been enjoying the awesome support from our school and community

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four and Huntington Park?
Coach: Words cannot describe it. This is our final goal each and every year. To make it happen for a second time is incredible and we will enjoy every second of being there. We cannot wait to play only 20 minutes from home. Our fans are going to come out in full force to cheer us on to victory.