2018 OHSAA State Final Four Preview: Division IV

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 IV 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

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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 IV

Team Rankings based on the Final Team Rankings

Division Overview: Four of the top 11 teams in the ratings are still alive and this is the only division in which all four teams have won at least 20 games, so confidence should not be lacking when these squads take the field at Huntington Park to open the 2018 state tournament on Thursday. Whiteoak, the highest-ranked of the group, comes in tournament tested after winning a pair of one-run games in regionals. Hicksville and Trinity are strong on the mound while Fort Loramie has been getting the job done at the plate. Whichever teams make it to Saturday's championship game will have certainly earned it.

For Fun Prediction: After having similar picks with the fans, here comes the Division IV predictions and I am going to go against the fans in both of the semifinal game before taking the NW Ohio team to win it all in the Hicksville Aces. The Aces have an Ace that they are looking to get them past an outstanding Whiteoak team. If the Aces get by Whiteoak, they will have an arm that has been dominant all season to go for them in the championship game. Whiteoak won't go down easy as they have already taken out extremely talented teams in Toronto and Eastern. With Fort Loramie and Trinity it is a coin toss to me, but thanks to a random person two years ago telling me to pay attention to Fort Loramie in the years to come, I will take Fort Loramie over Trinity in what should be a classic of a semifinal. In the end I am taking the Aces to win it all thanks to their arms and timely hitting.

Dylan Hefflinger:

#10 Fort Loramie over #11 Trinity
#5 Hicksville over #2 Whiteoak
- #5 Hicksville over #10 Fort Loramie

Fan Vote:

#11 Trinity over #10 Fort Loramie
#2 Whiteoak over #5 Hicksvills
- #11 Trinity over #2 Whiteoak (Determined by coin clip as both at 28%)

Final Four Schedule

#10 Fort Loramie vs #11 Trinity - Thursday 10 AM
#2 Whiteoak vs #5 Hicksville - Thursday 1 PM

Regional Recap

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

#10 Fort Loramie 8, Cincinnati Christian 7
#11 Trinity 15, Ottawa Hills 7
#2 Whiteoak 5, #13 Eastern 4
#5 Hicksville 11, Plymouth 0 - 5 innings

Team Overview

#10 Fort Loramie

Record: 23-6
Coaches Name: Jeff Sanders
Final Ranking: No. 10
Preseason Ranking: No. 19
Highest Ranking: No. 8 - Week 1

Postseason History:

After reaching state three times in four years (2007-2010), Fort Loramie had not won regionals in seven seasons

Team Stats:

.370 AVG, 195 Runs

Top Players:

Carter Mescher, LF, Junior - .509, 1 HR, 17 SBs
Dylan Albers, CF, Senior - .441, 3 HR, 19 SBs
CJ Billing , P/3B, Junior - .380, 1 HR, 35 RBIs | 4-2, 2.91 ERA
Jared Middendorf, P/1B, Junior - .381, 2 HR 20 RBIs | 6-2, 55 Ks, 2.75 ERA
Nathan Raterman, P/1B, Junior - .393
Eli Rosengarten, SS, Junior - .375
Mike Hoying, 3B, Senior - .350
Devin Wehrman, RF, Junior - .400
Shane Hilgefort, 2B, Junior - .333
Mason Kemper, RHP, Junior - 7-1, 50 Ks, 2.91 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: It’s important to consider different lineups and positions to put the pieces of the puzzle together. For the off-season, we have players that play other sports. So they’re getting their conditioning that form. For others, they do a lot of work on their own with hitting and conditioning.

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: I like that our team has won close games in the tournament. We haven’t always played our best game, but the team has learned that with relentless effort and determination, we can put ourselves in a position to win the game. I also have been impressed that we’ve had contributions from every player, and at some point in our tournament run, we’ve had several, and sometimes different, impact players every game.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: We have played a difficult tournament schedule and we needed to have a comeback win in the Regional Championship game to get to State. It was very special for the players and coaches to come out on top in such a thrilling game.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four with a chance at winning a state championship?
Coach: We’re very excited to be in Columbus. We know how difficult it is to reach this point and to be amongst the final four best teams in all of DIV... it is a very rewarding feeling for our program.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: It appears to be four teams packed with exceptional talent. It should be a very competitive and very exciting set of games.

#11 Trinity

Record: 22-3
Coaches Name: Randy Rundgren
Final Ranking: No. 11
Preseason Ranking: No. 11
Highest Ranking: No. 9 - Week 2

Postseason History:

Regional champions 1984, 2018

Team Stats:

.337 AVG, 38 2B, 6 3B, 3 HR, 180 Runs, 57 SB
2.02 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 167 K

Top Players:

Jake Visha, P/OF, 2018 - 15-52, .288 AVG, 1 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 19 R, 18 RBI, 16 BB | 40.2 IP, 69 K, 26 BB, 1.20 ERA, 1.23 WHIP - Gannon commit
Clay Anderson, P/SS, 2018 - 37-76, .487 AVG, 8 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 35 R, 30 RBI, 17 BB | 34.2 IP, 32 K, 10 BB, 2.42 ERA, 1.29 WHIP
Kevin McSweeney, 1B, 2018 - 30-66, .455 AVG, 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 23 R, 24 RBI, 21 BB
Danny Strenk, LF, 2018 - 26-74, .351 AVG, 5 2B, 22 R, 23 RBI, 12 BB | 35 IP, 30 K, 9 BB, 3.20 ERA, 1.40 WHIP
John Oleksik, C, 2018 - 31-75, .413 AVG, 8 2B, 2 3B, 28 R, 24 RBI, 5 BB
John Costella, 2B, 2020 - 16-36, .444 AVG, 2 2B, 12 R, 14 RBI, 2 BB
Michael Clancy, 3B, 2021 - 10-44, .227 AVG, 3 2B, 15 R, 15 RBI, 10 BB
Jack DiPronio, CF, 2018 - 7-33, .212 AVG, 9 R, 6 RBI, 4 BB
Zach Mammana, RF, 2018 - 18 IP, 17 K, 3 BB, 1.16 ERA, 0.94 WHIP

Coach's Thoughts:

#2 Whiteoak

Record: 26-1
Coaches Name: Chris Veidt
Final Ranking: No. 2
Preseason Ranking: Next 10
Highest Ranking: No. 2 - Final

Postseason History:

First regional title in school history
17 sectional titles
Southeast District Champions 2013

Fun Facts:

Traeten Hamilton set record in season for runs 50 and stolen bases 42
Outscored our opponents 294-71
Set school record for stolen bases in season with 210
Evan Brill set record in season for wins with 9
Trever Yeager set record in season for saves with 7

Team Stats:

Offense: .335 AVG, 294 runs, 66 2B, 10 3B, 4 HR, 210 SB 230 RBI
Pitching: 188.2 IP, 1.52 ERA, 9 SHO, 165 K

Top Players: (Stats from before regionals)

Traeten Hamilton, 2B, Junior - 38-90, .422 AVG, 13 2B, 3 3B, 0 HR, 50 R, 21 RBI, 42 SB | 33.2 IP, 5-2, 1.46 ERA, 44 K, 2 SHO
Chase Carraher, SS, Senior - 37-97, .381 AVG, 6 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 38 R, 33 RBI, 41 SB
Caleb West, LF, Senior - 33-85, .388 AVG, 10 2B, 2 3B, 1 HR, 44 R, 39 RBI, 28 SB
Evan Brill, P, Junior - 32-77, .416 AVG, 7 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 28 R, 24 RBI, 18 SB | 54.1 IP, 9-0, 0.64 ERA, 62 K, 2 SHO
Mason Lehr, 3B, Soph - 34-79, .430 AVG, 12 2B, 0 3B, 2 HR, 25 R, 31 RBI, 9 SB | 16.1 IP, 3-0, 1.29 ERA, 10 K
Trever Yeager, CF, Senior - 27-93, .290 AVG, 7 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 32 R, 33 RBI, 20 SB | 12.1 IP, 0-0, 0.57 ERA, 11 K, 7 SV
Casey Nace, DH, Senior - 12-50, .240 AVG, 3 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 6 R, 11 RBI, 3 SB
Billy Oliver, C, soph
Chase Butler ,RF, Junior - 14-59, .237 AVG, 0 2B, 0 3B, 0 HR, 12 R, 10 RBI, 13 SB | 55.1 IP, 8-0, 2.40 ERA, 15 K, 1 SHO
Ryan Roberts,1B, Junior - 27-85, .318 AVG, 8 2B, 2 3B, 0 HR, 37 R, 23 RBI, 19 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: We recently completed an indoor hitting facility for year-round use. Every player in program plays some level of summer baseball. We also have an extensive fitness and strength training program.

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: Team speed, pitching depth, team defense, and the ability to “trust the process.”

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Very happy for our kids to reap the benefits of their dedication. Elated for our community. Rather emotional feeling for a Coach of 27 yrs to have it happen for first time.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four with a chance at winning a state championship?
Coach: Obviously an honor and a privilege. Just enjoying the journey as we seek 2 more victories.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: If you are fortunate enough to be playing in the State tournament you will be facing talented, well prepared teams. It will take many intangibles to come out on top of this extraordinary field of Ohio high schools.

PBR: Anything else you would like to add?
Coach: To be a baseball coach or player at WHS carries with it a great deal of dedication, pride and sense of tradition. Our community and school administration have blessed us with the best baseball facilities in Southeast Ohio. Our fans are passionate and dedicated. Our assistant coaches knowledgeable and extremely hard working. We are grateful for all that we have been given and would like nothing better than to bring back a State Championship to Whiteoak HS.

#5 Hicksville

Record: 18-5
Coaches Name: Tim Shock (84-59, 6 years)
Final Ranking: No. 5
Preseason Ranking: No. 8
Highest Ranking: No. 4 - Week 1

Postseason History:

Fourth appearance in the regional, second in the last four years.
Won the state title in ’78 and state appearances in ’82 and ’15.

Team Stats:

.313 AVG, 41 2B, 7 3B, 5 HR, 192 runs
2.67 ERA, 191 K

Top Players:

Jake Greer, P, Senior - 38-75, .507 AVG, 9 2B, 1 HR, 27 R, 25 RBIs, 20 BB | 50.2 IP, 6-2, 1.38 ERA, 75 K
Parker Thiel, SS, Junior - 34-78, .436 AVG, 22 RBIs, 24 BB | 49.2 IP, 6-0, 2 Saves, 1.83 ERA, 55 K
Lukas Yoder, C, Senior - 22-74, .297 AVG, 1 2B, 1 HR, 17 R, 18 RBIs, 10 BB
Zac Brickel, CF, Junior - 20-80, .250 AVG, 5 2B, 3 3B, 23 R, 14 RBIs, 17 BB | 13.2 IP, 4-0, 4.10 ERA, 17 K
Braden Langham, 1B, Soph - 21-66, .318 AVG, 4 2B, 2 3B, 16 R, 11 RBIs, 14 BB
Eric Chapman, LF, Soph - 20-64, .313 AVG, 6 2B, 3 HR, 16 R, 15 RBIs
Ethan Wilhelm, 3B, Senior - 17-63, .270 AVG, 4 2B, 14 R, 14 RBIs, 10 BB
Gage Yoder, 2B, Senior - 21-78, .269 AVG, 3 2B, 20 R, 14 RBIs, 10 BB | 23.1 IP, 2-1, 3.60 ERA, 29 K
Jonah Gipple, RF, Soph - 18-50, .360 AVG, 3 2B, 21 R, 7 RBIs
Blake Stairhime - 13.1 IP, 2-0, 1.54 ERA, 7 K

Coach's Thoughts:

PBR: What do you and your team do this off season and regular season to prepare yourselves for this point?
Coach: We don’t get the boys a lot in the offseason with most of them playing multiple sports. We just stress the fundamentals in the preseason and it becomes natural during the season.

PBR: What are a couple of things you like about your team right now?
Coach: Right now we’re playing loose and having fun. Team comradery is real good at this point and the boys are really focused.

PBR: Talk about the feeling when your team won regionals?
Coach: Great feeling but that is what they expected going into the tournament. We knew we had a team that could be real good and we’re playing the way we expected all season.

PBR: Thoughts about being able to play in the state final four with a chance at winning a state championship?
Coach: Great to get back to Columbus but this time I think we will all be a little more focused. We have a big task in front of us but we’re just going to play our game and go from there.

PBR: Thoughts on the four-team field at the state?
Coach: Tough field overall but it will be fun to compete. We’ll take it one game at time.

PBR: Anything else you would like to add?
Coach: This journey is special and I’m so proud of the team, coaches, and all the support we’ve received from our community all year. We expect another huge following because it has been that way all year. GO ACES!!!!!

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.