By Chris Valentine and Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Director and Senior Writer

No. 11 Bellefontaine High School

Bellefontaine High School made an impressive run in the Division II state playoffs last year. After putting together a 21-7 record, the Chieftains fell to the eventual two-time state champions Columbus DeSales.

Despite losing Daulton Mosbarger, who is now starting as a freshman at Akron, Coach Caudill has high expectations for a squad that returns six starters and five pitchers. With plenty of defense and pitching returning, Bellefontaine will look to tighten up their squad in the outfield and behind the plate.

Class of 2013

• 3B/RHP Brandon Wilson – The 6-foot, 185-pound athlete put together a batting average of .363 while hitting third in the lineup last year.
• RHP/OF/IF Tyler Shamblin – The 5-foot-8, 175-pound athlete has a live arm and figures to help the squad in many ways.
• RHP/1B Josh Clifton – The 5-foot-11, 200-pound prospect hit over .400 last year and will be counted on in the middle of the Chieftain lineup.

Class of 2014

• SS/RHP Jarrod Houchin – The 5-foot-10, 185-pound two-way prospect is one of the team’s top players. He will be expected to fill several key roles for Coach Caudill’s squad.
• RHP/IF/OF Cody Lyons – The 5-foot-10, 165-pound prospect will likely become the ace of the staff after serving as the number two pitcher in 2012.
• RHP/OF/IF Nick Burton – The 5-foot-9, 150-pound versatile prospect figures to find his way into the lineup this year.

Class of 2015

• LHP/OF Matt Entsminger – The soft tossing lefty will be counted on for his abilities on the mound as well as in the outfield.

Class of 2016

• P/IF/C Tyler Jones – The 6-foot-2, 165-pound prospect has a bright future. The son of a coach, he brings an advanced understanding of the game for his age.

No. 12 Plain City Jonathan Alder High School

Jonathan Alder finished 2012 with a 19-6 record, falling to Defiance in the regional semifinals. The 2013 Pioneers team losses key players from the previous year, but Alder just reloads. A few of the prospects for head coach Craig Kyle and the Pioneers include: Trent Kaltenbach (C/OF, 5-10, 170), Brad Miller (3B/RHP, 5-9, 170, 8-4 with a 1.81 ERA and 35 strikeouts, pictured), Devin Van Winkle (1B/3B, 6-1, 205) and Pete Whitmer (1B/3B, 6-1, 215).

No. 13 Bellevue High School

Finishing last season with a 23-6, 9-1 Northern Ohio League record was not expected from the 2012 Redmen's squad, but head coach Andy Dennings got everything out of his team and looks for more success in 2013. 

The Redmen have five senior pitchers to lean on in 2013 led by Alex Manner, a first-team all-NOL and all-district selection. Manner finished 2012 with a 3-3 record, 58 strikeouts, four saves and a 3.63 ERA. Dalton Jarvis went 7-0 with a 2.70 ERA with 55 Ks, Trent Stamm went 4-2 with a 3.43 ERA, Ethan Hartley finished 2012 with a 5-1 record and a 3.53 ERA and Jake Smith went 4-0 on the mound.

Manner also hit .370 to go with 11 doubles and 26 RBIs, Jarvis batted .386 and was also a first-team all-NOL pick. Stamm hit .330 with 19 RBIs and was second-team all-NOL. Senior catcher Matt Dudek, a second-team all-NOL and all-district selection, hit .395 and drove in 21 runs. Smith, a corner infielder, hit .364. Promising newcomers include junior Tyler Rospert and sophomores Dylan DeWitt, Clay Fries, Thomas Pressler and Triston Snezek.

No. 14 Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin

The Lions fell in the district semifinals a year ago, but head coach Jim Clark looks for improvement this season. NDCL has reached Columbus four times since 2001, last winning the championship in 2009. The Lions have a young sophomore to keep an eye on, Ryan Falls (LHP, 6-5, 190) who is ranked the fifth overall prospect in the 2015 rankings. Another sophomore is Daniel Mitri (C, 5-11, 176. pictured).

 

No. 15 Mentor Lake Catholic

The Cougars reached state last season, falling to the back-to-back state champions Columbus St. Francis DeSales... read story here. Lake Catholic finished 2012 with a 19-11 season.The Cougars will have to replace ten seniors from the 2012 team. Lake Catholic has reached regionals three years in a row.