By Dylan Hefflinger 

STATE TOURNeY TOP 22

Top Position Players

 

Catcher- Jack Miller (DeSales, senior) 2-5 (2-2 with two runs and an RBI in 3-2 win over Wapak).

 

1st Base- Jamie Lackner (Westlake, junior) 3-5 with two doubles, an RBI, a run scored and two doubles.

 

2nd Base- Garrett Carmichael (Wheelersburg, sophomore) 2-5 with one run scored and two RBI. Also had the only RBI in the 1-0 victory over LCC.

 

Shortstop- Devon Poeppelman (Minster, junior) 5-7 with two runs scored, five RBI, a walk and a double. Also had the walk-off single in the 5-4 victory over Cuyahoga Heights.

 

3rd Base- Austin Lane (Cuyahoga Heights, senior) 4-6 with two home runs, five RBI and two runs scored.

 

OF- Jay Eilerman (Minster, junior) 4-7 with one RBI and four runs scored. Scored the winning run in the 5-4 victory over Cuyahoga Heights.

 

OF- Corey Bowers (Westlake, senior) 3-5 with four RBI and a run scored. Also drew four walks and had two doubles and a home run.

 

OF- Ryan LeFevers (Moeller, senior) 1-5 with three walks. The speedster also stole three bases.

 

DH- Adam Niemeyer (Minster, junior) 3-7 with five runs scored and an RBI. The talented junior also drew two walks and crushed a double.

 

Utility- Josh Apple (Wapakoneta, junior) 4-5 with an RBI, two runs scored and a double. Apple also made three web gems throughout the tournament.

 

Utility- Riley Mahan (Moeller, sophomore) 2-6 with three RBI and three runs scored. The gifted sophomore also drew a walk, roped a double and stole two bases.

 

Utility- Andrew Dunn (Westlake, senior) 4-6 with an RBI and three runs scored. Dunn also drew a walk and laced a triple.

 

Top Pitchers

 

Doug Huber (Minster, senior) Picked up the win in the semifinals 12-2 victory over Tinora, pitching five innings. The side-armed righty allowed no runs on two hits and four walks, while striking out seven. Huber drew a no-decision in the 5-4 D-IV finals victory over Cuyahoga Heights, going five innings allowing no runs on one hit and two walks, striking out three. Huber threw 99 of his 157 pitches for strikes.

 

Wade Martin (Wheelersburg, freshman) was two outs away from history, allowing his first base runner with one out in the 7th inning. The talented freshman threw a one hitter allowing one walk while striking out nine in the 1-0 victory over Lima Central Catholic in the D-III finals.

 

Nick Eltzroth (DeSales, senior) picked up the win in the D-II semifinals victory over Mentor Lake Catholic, throwing a three-hitter, walking none while striking out five. In the finals the righty pitched the final 1 1/3 innings allowing no base runners while striking out two in the 3-2 victory over Wapakoneta.

 

Derek Moore (Wheelersburg, junior) picked up the win in the D-III semifinals victory over Fredericktown 3-0. The righty threw a four hitter allowing just one walk, while striking out 11.

 

Brian Burkhart (Moeller, senior) picked up the win in the D-I semifinals victory over Grove City 3-2. The righty went six innings allowing two runs on nine hits and two walks, while striking out six.

 

Johnny Crawford (Wapakoneta, junior) picked up the win in the semifinals 3-2 victory against West Holmes. The talented lefty allowed one earned run on six hits and three walks, while striking out five. The speedy centerfielder also had two doubles and an RBI, while featuring some exceptional defense.

 

Travis Clark (Lima Central Catholic, senior) picked up the win in the 2-0 victory over Grand Valley. The righty went the distance allowing just three hits and no walks, while striking out three.

 

TJ Alas (DeSales, senior) picked up the victory in the 3-2 win over Wapakoneta. The righty went 5 2/3 innings allowing two runs on three hits and three walks, while striking out five.

 

Nash Cunningham (Fredericktown, junior) was the tough luck loser in the 3-0 loss against eventual D-III champion Wheelersburg. The righty went the distance allowing three runs, none earned. Cunningham allowed just four hits and two walks, while striking out seven.

 

Nick Watkins (Lima Central Catholic, junior) fell in the D-III state championship game 1-0 to Wheelersburg. The righty went the distance allowing just one run on two hits. Watkins didn't walk a batter, while striking out one.

 

2012 Tournament MVP

Doug Huber (Minster, senior) Picked up the win in the semifinals 12-2 victory over Tinora, pitching five innings. The side-armed righty allowed no runs on two hits and four walks, while striking out seven. Huber drew a no-decision in the 5-4 D-IV finals victory over Cuyahoga Heights, going five innings allowing no runs on one hit and two walks, striking out three. Huber threw 99 of his 157 pitches for strikes. Huber also went 5-8 at the plate with two RBI.