2018 OHSAA State Final Four Preview: Division III

May 30, 2018
Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Editor In Chief/Scout

Ohio Spring baseball always seems to fly by and in 2018 that is most definitely evident with the fact we are in Columbus at beautiful Huntington Park for the State Final Four. That means the four best teams in each division will battle it out to see who is the champion.

Below we have the Division III Final Four Preview.

To view the other divisions State Final Four Previews, click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV

To view the Regional Previews from last week, click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV

To view the Final Team Rankings, click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV

To view the 2018 Preseason All-State Selections, click below:
+ Division I
+ Division II
+ Division III
+ Division IV

Interested in nominating someone for the 2018 All-State Teams, please click here.

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To view all things related to the 2018 Spring High School Baseball Season, including the Scout Blog, Team Power Rankings, Preseason All-State Teams and more, click here.

2018 OHSAA State Final Four Preview: Division III

Team Rankings based on the Final Team Rankings

Division Overview: Coldwater brings a state tournament resume like nobody else this year, the Cavs in their 20th trip ever. Madeira is back for the fifth time, but first since 2011 while Minford and South Range are first-time participants. Coldwater is the only team rated in the top 10 but Madeira may have the best pitching in the division. Both Minford and South Range are led on the mound by a freshman.

For Fun Prediction: In Division III, the fans and I go with the two teams who have the experience at state in #8 Coldwater and #19 Madeira... but we disagree with who will win in the championship game as I am taking the Cincinnati school to top the juggernaut in the MAC. Picking against a MAC team in an OHSAA tournament is probably not the smartest thing to do, but nobody ever called me a genius. #11 Minford will look to put an end to the MAC dominance in the semifinal and I wouldn't count them out by any means. South Range is on a magical run and looks to continue that, but will face stiff competition in doing so.

Dylan Hefflinger:

#8 Coldwater over #11 Minford
#19 Madeira over South Range
- #19 Madeira over #8 Coldwater

Fan Vote:

#8 Coldwater over #11 Minford
#19 Madeira over South Range
- #8 Coldwater over #19 Madeira

Final Four Schedule

#8 Coldwater vs #11 Minford - Thursday 4 PM
#19 Madeira vs South Range - Thursday 7 PM

Regional Recap

To view the Scout Blog from the regionals, click here.

#8 Coldwater 7, Columbus Academy 2
#11 Minford 4, Ridgewood 1
#19 Madeira 4, Blanchester 0
South Range 4, Grand Valley 2

Team Overview

#8 Coldwater

Record: 25-6
Coaches Name: Brian Harlamert (438-130, 21 years)
Final Ranking: No. 8
Preseason Ranking: No. 5
Highest Ranking: No. 4 - Week 2

Postseason History:

Captured 20th regional title
6 state titles in school history, last in 2014

Team Stats:

.292 AVG, 44 2B, 9 3B, 2 HR, 191 Runs
2.12 ERA, 129 K

Top Players: (Stats from before regionals)

Cole Frilling, P/OF, 2019 - 60 IP, 7-4, 1.40 ERA, 54 K | 14-53, .264 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 7 R, 17 RBIs
Brad Giere, P/OF, 2018 - 54.2 IP, 6-0, 1.53 ERA, 28 K
Austin Riethman, 1B, 2019 - 31-88, .352 AVG, 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 37 R, 16 RBIs
Jacob Wenning, 2B/P, 2019 - 39-96, .406 AVG, 4 2B, 3 3B, 23 R, 29 RBIs
Sam Broering, SS, 2018 - 31-93, .333 AVG, 5 2B, 27 R, 15 RBIs
Nathan Grunden, Senior, 3B - 30-88, .341 AVG, 6 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 16 R, 24 RBIs
Jack Muhlenkamp, Senior, CF - 26-94, .277 AVG, 9 2B, 1 3B, 12 R, 26 RBIs
Seth Miller, Senior, DH - 19-64, .297 AVG, 3 2B, 13 R
Jacob Hartings, Senior - 11-54, .204 AVG, 2 2B
Joey Welsch, Senior, C
Mitch Niekamp, Junior, OF
Ross Weigel, Sophomore

Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: What do you and your team do this off season and regular season to prepare yourselves for this point?
Coach: The offseason is very important to us as we work out in hitting cages from December to February. We also have a throwing program and lifting sessions.

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: Our team is playing very good baseball in all phases of the game. Our team defense has been very good all year; along with our pitching.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Winning our schools 20th Regional title was a great feeling, but now we prepare to do our best to come home with 2 more wins.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: The state final 4 always has 4 good teams, so it will be a huge challenge.

#11 Minford

Record: 24-2
Coaches Name: Aaron Hopper (39-12)
Final Ranking: No. 11
Preseason Ranking: Just missed the cut
Highest Ranking: No. 10 - Week 5

Postseason History:

2016 Regional Runner-up
2017 District Runner-up
2018 District and Regional Champions

Team Stats:

.333 AVG, 36 2B, 7 3B, 1 HR, 125 BB, 83 SB, 231 Runs
2.27 ERA, 129 K

PBR: What do you and your team do this off season and regular season to prepare yourselves for this point?
Coach: A lot of weight room and conditioning in the winter. Lifting 3 days a week and conditioning 2. In the regular season continued to condition after practice and lifting on Saturdays to keep their bodies in shape and maintain flexibility.

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: Playing really good team baseball right now. Getting runner on and moving them into scoring position has been the key to our offensive success. Also great pitching performances and ability to work out of jams.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Special. These kids have earned it with the hard work a diligence that they have put into the offseason and maintained throughout the season.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four with a chance at winning a state championship?
Coach: It will be a great opportunity to put our program on the map with respect to the state tournament. Also show the community and upcoming classes what it takes to compete at the State finals level.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: As always a lot of great competition.

Top Players:

Luke Lindamood - 25-82, .333 AVG, 9 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 25 R, 36 RBIs, 19 BB
Darius Jordan - 33-88, .375, 3 2B, 1 3B, 36 R, 27 RBIs, 19 BB, 26 SB
Nathan McCormick - 31-83, .373 AVG, 7 2B, 1 3B, 27 R, 20 RBIs, 14 BB
Elijah Vogelsong-Lewis - 65.1 IP, 8-1, 2.33 ERA, 51 K | 27-75, .360 AVG, 1 3B, 26 R, 23 RBIs, 13 BB, 8 SB
Ethan Lauder - 70 IP, 6-1, 2.39 ERA, 43 K | 30-85, .360 AVG, 1 3B, 21 R, 30 RBIs, 8 BB
Braden Davis - 29-85, .341 AVG, 2 2B, 1 3B, 36 R, 11 RBIs, 18 BB, 25 SB
Bailey Rowe - 22-65, .338 AVG, 1 2B, 17 R, 15 RBIs, 12 BB | 16.1 IP, 2.33 ERA, 8 K
Payton Davis - 25-75, .305 AVG, 3 2B, 21 R, 24 RBIs, 8 BB
Reid Schultz - 22.1 IP, 2.39 ERA, 17 K

#19 Cincinnati Madeira

Record: 20-6
Coaches Name: Scott Stocker
Final Ranking: No. 19
Preseason Ranking: No. 17
Highest Ranking: No. 17 - Preseason

Postseason History:

State champions - 1999
Regional champions - 2002, 2007, 2011, 2018

Fun Facts:

We have had 7 college bound Mustangs in the past six years

Team Stats:

.365 AVG, 52 2B, 17 3B, 12 HR, 238 Runs
1.88 ERA, 198 K

Top Players: (To view full stats, click here)

Matt Megois - 41-86, .477 AVG, 9 2B, 6 3B, 5 HR, 34 R, 38 RBIs, 14 SB
Patrick Thatcher - 40-91, .440 AVG, 11 2B, 4 3B, 2 HR, 42 R, 25 RBIs, 17 SB | 26.1 IP, 3-2, 3.19 ERA, 27 K - Otterbein commit
Tyler Richmond - 29-71, .408 AVG, 2 2B, 19 R, 21 RBIs
Tyler Sullivan - 29-75, .387 AVG, 8 2B, 24 R, 27 RBIs, 12 SB | 41 IP, 4-1, 2 SV, 1.02 ERA, 0.88 WHIP, 62 K
Trey Waltz - 26-69, .377 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 23 R, 17 RBIs, 16 SB
Josh Cobb - 19-54, .352 AVG, 3 2B, 1 HR, 17 R, 21 RBIs, 8 SB
Nick Schroeder - 19-56, .339 AVG, 2 2B, 4 3B, 1 HR, 17 R, 21 RBIs, 8 SB
Casey Wirsing - 30.1 IP, 5-0, 1.15 ERA, 1.15 WHIP, 42 K
Sam Wirsing - 22-72, .306 AVG, 8 2B, 1 HR, 26 R, 19 RBIs, 8 SB | 36 IP, 5-1, 1.56 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 50 K - Wright State commit
Lee Megois - 14-53, .264 AVG, 2 2B, 15 R, 5 SB

Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: What do you and your team do this off season and regular season to prepare yourselves for this point?
Coach: Our strength and conditioning program has made our team stronger and faster than ever. Weighed balls, weighted bats, and Blast Motion technology has made our practices more competitive and productive. The hard work the boys have put in has paid off tremendously for them.

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: We are versatile, and adapt to situations and overcome adversity.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Excited about the win, but not the overall goal.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four with a chance at winning a state championship?
Coach: This has been our goal and expectation all off season. It’s great that we have been able to perform well enough to put ourselves in the situation to meet this expectation/goal.

PBR: Anything else you would like to add?
Coach: I would like to thank my assistant coaches, parents, alumni and the Madeira community for all of the support and efforts to help make this happen.

South Range

Record: 16-15
Head Coach: Jim Hanek (189-121)
Final Ranking: Unranked
Preseason Ranking: Unranked
Highest Ranking: Never Ranked

Postseason History:

First district title and regional titles in program history.

Fun Facts:

Jake Gehring tied the school win record this season with 7 and the innings pitched record with 58 1/3 innings

Team Stats:

.285 AVG, 44 2B, 5 3B, 1 HR, 55 SB, 173 Runs
3.47 ERA, 192 K

Top Players:

Jared Bajerski, C Junior - 35-104, .337 AVG, 2 2B, 31 R, 9 RBIs, 18 BB, 19 SB
Brandon Youngs, SS, Senior - 32-95, .337 AVG, 11 2B, 2 3B, 19 R, 14 RBIs, 9 BB
Brycen James, 3B, Senior - 25-81, .309 AVG, 3 2B, 1 3B, 13 R, 21 RBIs, 23 BB
Ben Rivera, LF, Junior - 36-97, .371 AVG, 7 2B, 1 3B, 23 R, 23 RBIs, 16 BB
Jake Gehring, P, Freshman - .300 AVG | 58.1 IP, 7-2, 85 K, 20 BB, 0.96 ERA, 0.96 WHIP
Josh Stear, CF, Junior - 24-87, .276 AVG, 6 2B, 1 3B, 18 R, 14 RBIs, 15 BB
Mike Cunningham, 1B, Senior - 21-87, .241 AVG, 4 2B, 11 R, 17 RBIs, 4 BB
Jaxon Anderson, RF, Junior - 19-77, .247 AVG, 5 2B, 16 R, 8 RBIs, 10 BB
Kris Scandy, 2B, Sophomore - 15-68, .221 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 12 R, 5 RBIs, 11 BB
Sam Brooks, RHP, Junior - 46 IP, 5-2, 38 K, 18 BB, 1.67 ERA, 1.08 WHIP
Nick Habeth - 23.1 IP, 3-1, 17 K, 3.30 ERA

Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: What do you and your team do this off season and regular season to prepare yourselves for this point?
Coach: Players worked very hard in the weight room and in practice. We also have a number of multi-sport athletes competing in other sports throughout the season, which helps our players to learn how to compete. This season we played a very challenging schedule against some larger schools which placed us in a number of tight ball games. I feel this has played a big part in this year’s tournament run.

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: We are playing solid defense and have gotten timely hitting throughout the tournament.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Very proud of my players and coaches. They have worked so hard to get to this point and I just feel blessed to be able to share that moment with them. It was special. One of the most special moments of my coaching career, and a feeling I will never forget.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four with a chance at winning a state championship?
Coach: It’s a dream come true. To be one of four schools remaining we are thrilled to have the opportunity to compete for a state title.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: The other three teams are all great teams with past state final four appearances and state titles. You do not make it to this point in the season without being a great team.

A Look Back At The 2017 Season:

To view the 2017 Team Previews, click here.

To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.

State Final Four Roundup
State Final Four Scouting Notebook
- News, notes and numbers from each of the top prospects at state
ABC's of the OHSAA State Tournament
6th Annual Top 22 All-Tournament Team

To view the 2017 All-State Teams, click below.

To view the 2017 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.