Spencer Marinac LHP / OF / St. Edwards, OH / 2019

AVON - Finding the right college fit is not just about yourself. Your family needs to be on board.

That was the case for Spencer Marinac after Furman showed an interest in the left-handed pitcher.

“They might have saw me online with PBR and then they came to an outing with my summer team during a round robin at Grand Park,” Marinac said about the Southern Conference school. “They liked how my arm works and that I had not been pitching long. I didn’t start going full on pitching until last October, so I have low mileage on my arm. They like that and they think they can make something happen. It was all relatively quick.”

A visit to the Greensville, S.C., campus with his father followed.

“I was interested in playing southern baseball but I didn’t know know anything about Furman,” the Lakewood St. Edward’s incoming senior said. “I went to Penn before that and I kind of wanted to go there.

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Christian Lothes LHP / OF / Lakewood Hebron, OH / 2019

HEBRON - Until this summer Christian Lothes had never been to the state of North Carolina. But soon it will be his home.

The top-rated unsigned 2019 in Ohio will be headed south after committing to play baseball at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte.

“I used to watch North Carolina and South Carolina play in the College World Series,” the Lakewood Hebron incoming senior said. “They were always good teams. Since then I’ve always want to go south to play. It’s different competition, and seeing better competition is what I want to do. It will help toward my biggest dream one day … major league baseball.”

Interest from the Conference USA school came at this year’s PBR Top Prospect Games.

“They saw me at the TPGs,” the 6-2 195-pound left-hander reflected about Charlotte, which this past season finished fourth in the 12-team conference won by Southern Miss. “I did pretty good with four strikeouts and (allowing) just one hit. I only had one 3-2 count.”

It was business as usual for Lothes at the event.

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Jacob Miller RHP / OF / Liberty Union, OH / 2022

BALTIMORE, Ohio - Just two months ago, Jacob Miller was finishing up his eighth grade year of school. But the young age has not stopped the incoming freshman at Liberty Union from looking toward the future.

This past week Miller became the first member of Ohio’s 2022 class to make a college commitment, announcing his decision to go to Louisville.

“It’s been my dream school for awhile,” said Miller, who went to a baseball camp at the university back in January.

The PBR Top Prospect Games helped give exposure to the hard-throwing right-hander, who has a curve, change, splitter and knuckleball in addition to a fastball that has touched 88.

“That was really good,” the 6-0 145-pounder said of the TPGs. “It got my name on the board to a lot of schools.”

There was plenty to learn from the experience.

“It challenged me,” Miller said. “It makes me better. I love those pressure situations. It’s my favorite thing about the game, being in a situation where everyone relies on you.”

Miller credits a pair of pitching coaches with helping him learn how to deal with that type of environment.

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Lawson Blackmore RHP / SS / Van Wert, OH / 2019

VAN WERT - Making a college commitment is not going to change Lawson Blackmore.

“It’s definitely a relief, but it was stressful toward the end,” the incoming Van Wert senior said about deciding on Miami as his school of choice for the future. “Other than that, I’m the same. I’m still going to work out every morning at 7 a.m. and keep working and growing my game.”

Electing to attend the Mid-American Conference college did not come without a lot of thought for the number three unsigned 2019 right-handed pitcher in the state.

“It was a long decision, something I’ve been thinking about for a long while,” Blackmore explained. “I took a visit there three times and loved it. I loved the campus, I loved the coaches and the feel of the team … I love it.

“The weight room and the facilities were amazing. What really stood out was that the coaches genuinely care about you growing, both as a person and as an athlete.”

There is a lot about the 46th-ranked player in Ohio’s senior class that stood out for Miami.

“They like my projectability. I’m almost 6-5 now and I can put on some weight,” noted the 205-pounder. “They’re excited to see me in the future and see me grow.”

But there is more than just size that is attractive with Blackmore.

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Joey Velazquez OF / LHP / Desales, OH / 2019

Ohio State baseball commit Joey Velazquez will no longer be wearing scarlet-and-gray, instead putting on the maize-and-blue of Michigan as a two-sport athlete.

“It’s always been a dream to play football in college, that’s always been my main goal,” Velazquez explained about his recent commitment change to the University of Michigan. “I was recruited in baseball, where you’re recruited a lot earlier now, and I thought committing to Ohio State was good at the time. Then football came around, and that’s always been my passion to play. They said I can do both at Michigan and they offered me a scholarship to do both.”

So the Columbus DeSales standout approached Ohio State about the same opportunity.

“I was talking to coach (Alex) Grinch (defensive coordinator/safeties coach) and he said they already have two committed safeties,” noted Velazquez, who originally committed to play baseball for the Buckeyes in September of 2016 after being seen at the PBR Top Prospect Games and then at a Cincinnati Flames tournament. “But they did invite me to go there and I went and they had me work out.”

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Cole Becker 2B / SS / Little Miami , OH / 2019

MORROW - A little size has taken Cole Becker a long way. In fact, all the way to Morehead State.

The Little Miami High School incoming senior - who has grown five inches and put on 15 pounds since October - has made a commitment to the Division I school in Kentucky that competes in the Ohio Valley Conference.

“They saw at Thomas More in a Cincinnati Flames tournament,” noted Becker. “I hit the ball well and they called that night. I spoke with coach (Mike) McGuire and scheduled a visit. They ended up giving me an offer.

“I really loved the coaches and the energy they brought to practice,” Becker continued. “The campus was beautiful. I just love the opportunities provided.”

The Top Prospect Games helped ignite the Becker’s recruitment.

“That helped a lot,” Becker related. “I had a couple of texts, but not a lot of big D-I schools, more smaller D-I schools along with Lake Erie, Denison and Tiffin.”

It was a good learning experience as well for the 98th-ranked player in Ohio’s 2019 class.

“I felt like the kids there were as good as me,” Becker said of the TPGs. “That pushes me to work to be a better player to try and pass those kids up.”

Getting bigger physically has benefited in that regard.

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Luke Williamson LHP / OF / Canal Winchester, OH / 2017

DAYTON - Luke Williamson had no idea when he was removed in the third inning of a NJCAA World Series game back in late May that it would be his last appearance in a Sinclair uniform.

The left-handed pitcher, who a week earlier had injured his foot in a dogpile after winning the regionals only to find out following his World Series outing that it was broken, has decided to forego his final year at Sinclair with a commitment to Division I Gardner-Webb.

“They had three guys drafted and two were left-handed pitchers,” the Sinclair freshman explained about G-W. “These were two key guys they valued.”

With the help of a teammate, Kyle Ruehlman, Gardner-Webb and Williamson hooked up.

“My buddy at Sinclair was going there and he sent them a text with my name and another’s name,” the 6-1 187-pounder said. “They contacted me and they seemed interested. I talked to my parents and said if the offer is what we want fine, if not I wanted to stay at Sinclar one more year and get my degree.”

The decision was soon made.

“The offer turned out to be way, way more than I expected,” Williamson admitted. “I decided this was the best opportunity for me. I’ve wanted to go south since I was seven or eight so I jumped on it.”

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Wyatt Hudepohl RHP / 1B / St Xavier, OH / 2020

CINCINNATI - As the top pitcher and the second-rated player overall in Ohio’s 2020 class, Wyatt Hudepohl has not had trouble finding college interest.

An impressive list of schools from North Carolina to Duke to Vanderbilt and Clemson were among those that have courted the 6-3 200-pound right-handed pitcher. And while going south is going to happen, in the end Hudepohl has decided to make a commitment to Kentucky.

“The coaching staff,” Hudepohl said about what in his eyes separated Kentucky from the rest. “I never talked to more genuine people. They are some of the best guys in the world and they want to make you better.”

Kentucky first saw the St. Xavier junior-to-be pitch a bullpen in March. A month ago, Hudepohl was seen pitching for the Midland 17U team in Kentucky.

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Payton Pennington SS / 2B / Hamilton, OH / 2019

HAMILTON - The desire to stay closer to home brought a change in plans for Payton Pennington.

The result is a commitment to Cincinnati for the incoming senior at Hamilton.

“I had a lot of discussion with my family,” explained Pennington, who six weeks ago decommitted from Charleston Southern. “I’m really family oriented and being 11 hours away, and they were not having the season I thought.”

West Virginia, Ohio U, Wright State and UAB all showed an interest, in addition to Cincinnati, in the 44th-rated player in Ohio’s 2019 class once the decommitment took place.

“My high school coach (Danny Reid) has good rapport with (Cincinnati head) coach (Scott) Googins,” Pennington said  “After I decommitted they started up contact.”

Cincinnati ended up being the lone visit the 5-10 155-pounder took during his second recruiting process.

“I really liked the coaching staff and how close they were to each other,” Pennington said of what stood out. “Being a family guy, I liked how it was only 30 minutes away. The campus was beautiful and the baseball facilities were nice. That was icing on top.”

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A.J. Gaich SS / 2B / Cleveland St. Ignatius, OH / 2019

CLEVELAND - “My parents raised me to be a very good student and a very good athlete, but always a student first.”

A.J. Gaich will continue to have the challenge that ideology brings in college after making a commitment to Yale.

“It means so much to be able to continue the mindset of that philosophy in college,” the St. Ignatius senior-to-be said about making the decision to attend an Ivy League school.

Ball State, St. Bonaventure and Case Western had all made offers to Gaich, while Columbia, Wolford and Evansville were others being considered by the 84th-rated player in Ohio’s 2019 class.

“Most saw me at the Top Prospect Games,” Gaich noted. “That’s when people decided to move on me.”

But it was a Head First Honor Camp last August in New York that sparked a connection between Gaich and Yale.

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Gage Schenk RHP / C / Wapakoneta, OH / 2018

WAPAKONETA - A little patience went a long way for Gage Schenk … all the way to a scholarship with Bowling Green.

The top-ranked unsigned 2018 pitcher in Ohio made a big enough impression at the state semifinals to get the interest he felt was long deserved and it turned into a Division I baseball scholarship.

“Up until the state semifinals, I had only talked to a bunch of Division II, Division III and NAIA schools,” noted the 6-1 175-pound right-hander. “They were great schools but they didn’t make it cheap enough for me and I wasn’t really interested in that.”

But in the state semis, Schenk did not allow an earned run in a five-hit 6-1 win for Wapakoneta, fanning 10 and walking just one while topping out at 90 on the radar gun.

“It hit me hard after the semis that it could be the last time competitively I step on the mound,” Schenk related. “I hadn’t thought much about that all season, I was just focused on the financial aspect of college, but after the game it hit me hard.”

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Jack Amendola OF / LHP / Chagrin Falls, OH / 2019

CHAGRIN FALLS - Finding the right mix of athletics and academics has been the goal for Jack Amendola and the senior-to-be at Chagrin Falls believes he has found it.

A commitment to Lafayette College has the 5-10 170-pounder looking forward to the challenges ahead at the Division I school that competes in the Patriot League along with the likes of Army, Navy and Bucknell.

“I’ve been looking for a school I can put myself in the best position to be successful in college and what follows after college,” noted Amendola, a 3.9 student who plans to major in either business or finance. “I singled out a couple schools in the midwest with higher academics I could see playing at.”

Yale, Cornell and Dayton were others showing interest in the right-handed hitting, left-handed throwing outfielder. But it was Lafayette, located in Easton, Pa. - six hours from Amendola’s home - that proved to be the perfect fit.

“I went to their camp in the winter,” Amendola reflected. “They came to see me at the (PBR) Ohio Elite showcase (Feb. 16) and I have been in communication with them a couple months.”

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Sam Seeker OF / LHP / Tallmadge, OH / 2019

TALLMADGE - For nine months, Sam Seeker has weighed a scholarship offer from the University of Toledo. With senior year approaching, the Tallmadge standout has decided a commitment to the Mid-American Conference school is right for his future.

“They called me last summer on Sept. 1 and coach (Cory) Mee said he saw me play and liked how I play,” the 6-2 195-pounder reflected. “I went up to campus later that month and after the visit they offered me right there.

“It was such a great offer, but I was deciding between football and baseball in college. I asked them for time, but it just seems so right. There are no negatives surrounding it at all.”

Toledo, which saw Seeker in 2017 at the high school state tournament and the PBR Top Prospect Games, again saw the 77th-ranked 2019 in Ohio at the 2018 state tourney and this year’s Top Prospect Games. Eastern Michigan and Eastern Kentucky were others that showed an interest in Seeker at the TPGs, with Dayton, Ohio U and Miami among more colleges that had been in conversation with the left-handed hitting outfielder.

“The only offer at this point was from Toledo,” noted Seeker, who was more than impressed with the Rockets throughout his recruitment. “The way Toledo handled the process, they were so personable with me. It just seemed the right place for me to play.”

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Brent Todys C / 3B / Westerville North, OH / 2016

WESTERVILLE - The outcome of the Major League Baseball Draft can even affect those not eligible to be selected.

Brent Todys found that out in a good way and the college junior will now be playing for his dream school.

After decommitting from Evansville in April, the 2016 Westerville North grad was looking for a future home to continue his baseball dream.

“I was having a better year than expected,” explained the Andrew College sophomore in reference to changing his mind about going Division I at Evansville. “At the time I thought it would be the best opportunity for me and didn’t think I would get other looks. It was hard to do that (decommit), but I was able to do it with confidence and support of my coaches and my parents. After I decommitted I kept doing better and better.”

So much so that an assistant coach at Andrew asked Todys if there was any place he was specifically interested in playing at after his second season concluded at the junior college.
“I said Ohio State,” Todys reflected. “He sent (assistant) coach (Chris) Holick a text and they responded back that they were not looking for a catcher. They had (Jacob) Barnwell and two incoming catchers (Keegan Fish and Mitchell Smith), so they thought they were set.”

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Dylan Swensen RHP / 3B / Gahanna Lincoln, OH / 2019

GAHANNA - A commitment to Miami of Ohio means college baseball will be big part of the future for Dylan Swensen.

It has the Gahanna Lincoln senior-to-be feeling pretty good these days.

“This means a lot,” Swensen said. “Growing up I’ve always wanted to play in college. To play Division I is surreal. I have a future in the game. It shows you can do whatever you want as long as you work hard enough.”

Dedication to improving certainly benefited the right-handed throwing Swensen, whose velo on the mound has shot up nearly 10 miles an hour in the past year. Interest from Miami followed, with Wright State and Dayton also in the mix to the end.

“I threw four no-hit innings and was up to 90,” Swensen said about a recent travel ball game with the Dayton Classics that got the attention of college coaches. “I’d been talking to Miami and Wright State, but Dayton was new. Miami was really pushing hard and I went to the campus a couple days later.”

That helped sell Swensen on his choice of college.

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Trevor House LHP / OF / Ross, OH / 2019

HAMILTON - There was never any pressure to follow in his brother’s footsteps but that will be the direction Trevor House takes in college. A commitment to Eastern Michigan assures that the Hamilton Ross left-hander will be part of the same program as Thomas House.

“He didn’t give any input, he wanted me to make my own decision,” the Hamilton Ross senior-to-be said of his brother, who just completed freshman year at EMU. “He said what he liked about the program and after that I felt it was the right fit for me.

“I really like the coach and the atmosphere there,” House continued. “I feel the program is going in the right direction.”

Interest in the younger house came through his older sibling.

“Last summer after Thomas committed they asked about me,” House said. “Then they came up to see me.”

Six PBR showcases including the Central Ohio Preseason Preview in February and the Top Prospect Games last June helped get his name out there for exposure.

“I had a couple other Division I schools contact me,” the 6-0 150-pounder said. “Once Eastern Michigan made me an offer I thought about it for awhile and decided to take that offer.”

EMU’s interest came about, in part, to similarities with his brother.

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Glen Richardson RHP / RHP / Massillon Jackson, OH / 2016

The Sinclair Community College sophomore has committed to play baseball at the University of Cincinnati.

“I reached out to them last fall,” explained the 6-1 1905-pound right-hander, who on Tuesday threw his first 100 percent bullpen session since surgery last Aug. 4. “I knew (Cincinnati assistant coach) JD (Heilmann) from my sophomore year in high school when I played for him in Jupiter. We kept talking as my bullpens got harder and harder and I made a visit on April 28.”

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Trent Jones RHP / OF / Jackson, OH / 2020

MASSILLON - “As soon as I walked on the campus I fell in love.”

The Thursday visit to Ohio State turned into a college commitment a day later for Trent Jones.

“Ohio State is the school I’ve always wanted to go to since I was little,” related the Jackson sophomore. “My family are die-hard Ohio State fans.”

The decision by Jones came after previously taking a visit to Wright State.

“I checked out the campus,” Jones reflected. “The coaches there were great guys that I so much respect. They gave me a great offer.”

But becoming a Buckeye was too much to pass up for Jones, who had also been in contact with Dayton and Kent State during a recruiting process that progressed quickly after strong performances at the Northern Ohio Prospect Games and The Buckeye Elite Tournament last year.

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Gavin Bruni LHP / OF / Alliance, OH / 2021

ALLIANCE - The PBR Future Games helped Gavin Bruni realize college baseball was in his future. An offer from Ohio State sealed the deal.

The end result was the Alliance freshman committing to play for the Buckeyes.

“On Feb. 4, I took my first visit there and knew then it felt like home,” explained Bruni, who had also made visits to Louisville and Kent State. “I went again this past Sunday (March 25) to watch a game and it really felt right. I felt comfortable with the staff, I liked how they talked and it made me buy into it. The staff was warm to me and my family and it just felt right.”

The Future Games played a big role in Bruni’s exposure.

“It’s always been a dream of mine,” the 6-3 185-pound left-hander said about the next level. “I’ve always wanted to play big-time college baseball in a Power Five conference. It’s been a dream of mine since I started watching it on TV and I looked forward to possibly doing it.

“When I was younger I realized I was more advanced than a lot of kids but I thought they might catch up,” Bruni continued. “I just had to keep working to advance my game and then last year I realized it could take me a long way. The PBR Future Games was a big stepping stone. It opened my eyes I could compete with those guys, that I could do it against anybody.”

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Dylan Stewart C / OF / Milford, OH / 2018

MILFORD - No more stressing out for Dylan Stewart. The Milford senior has found a future home to play baseball, committing to Purdue University Fort Wayne.

“My goal has been to go to a Division I school if I could,” Stewart said after being courted by a number of Division II and III schools before deciding to go D-I. “I was looking for a school that was bigger than my high school but not giant. It fit nicely.”

Three hours from home is ideal according to Stewart.

“The biggest thing I wanted was to stay close to home and this is great,” Stewart noted. “I liked the coaches a lot, they were nice and laid back. They made me feel at home. I also liked the facilities.”

There were two things that stood out about Stewart that attracted PFW.

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Alex Neff OF / Oakwood, OH / 2018

DAYTON - Family played a big part in the future change for Alex Neff.

The desire to stay near home and the chance to play baseball where his father once did resulted in a commitment as a preferred walk-on to Wright State following a decommitment from Kent State for Oakwood High School senior Alex Neff.

“One of the last days for signing I called coach (Jeff) Duncan and said that I was going to decommit,” Neff explained about letting the Kent State head coach know about his plan. “I wanted to stay close to home.”

It was not an easy thing to do, Neff admitted.

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Carson Nicodemo 1B / LHP / Lake, OH / 2020

The Uniontown Lake sophomore has accepted an offer to play for Nebraska after a recent visit to the Big 10 school.

“What stood out was the coaching staff,” Nicodemo said. “I was impressed with how they approached me and how they go about their business with their program and practices. And the facilities were amazing.”

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Jay Luikart LHP / OF / Hillsdale, OH / 2019

JEROMESVILLE - From a broken hand to a college commitment. Jay Luikart has come a long way since early in the summer.

“I broke my hand swinging the bat in our first tournament,” the Hillsdale junior said. “But it was my right hand and since I’m left-handed I played for three weeks just pitching.”

It did little to stop the interest Wright State had in Luikart and communication eventually ended in a commitment from the 75th-ranked player in Ohio’s 2019 class.

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Nate Stone OF / 1B / Granville, OH / 2019

GRANVILLE - When Nate Stone was in sixth grade the idea of playing baseball in college developed.

“I started going to high school games that year,” Stone related. “They had a real good team with a couple D-I commits and I liked to go watch them hit.”

Now the Granville junior will get his chance to hit in college after committing to Miami.

“The main reason I’m going to Miami is I wanted to stay in Ohio so my family could watch and enjoy the college experience,” Stone explained. “I went in the winter of my sophomore year to a camp there and followed it up with another camp this summer. Then they saw me in the summer. I really connected with coach (Danny) Hayden and (Justin) Dedman there. What they were teaching was eye opening.”

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Brock Mathis C / 3B / Fairfield, OH / 2017

NICEVILLE, Fla. - “It’s been a crazy ride for me.”

That is an understatement for Brock Mathis. After all, he has gone from ...

Fairfield High School …

to Louisville …

to Northwest Florida State …

to Wright State …

to LSU.

The 2017 high school graduate committed to the SEC school this week without even making a visit to the LSU campus.

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Sergio DeCello SS / C / Badin, OH / 2021

“I won’t beat him out at shortstop but I’d like to be up the middle or on the same side of the infield with him,” the younger DeCello said.

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Avery Fisher SS / 2B / Ontario, OH / 2019

MANSFIELD - In January of 2016 Avery Fisher participated in his first PBR event, the Miami Valley Showcase at Sinclair Community College. He ran a 7.7 60.

That number is now down to 6.84.

Improvement like that helped draw a lot of interest from colleges with offers coming from Cincinnati, Miami and Evansville.

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William Cook 3B / RHP / Miamisburg, OH / 2021

MIAMISBURG- When you are in eighth grade and playing on an 18U team there is obviously a lot of promise in your game.

Now a freshman at Miamisburg, Willie Cook has seen his game develop in the past year.

“I played 18U last year and didn’t get a hit,” explained Cook about his experience in fall baseball. “This year I was one of the top hitters on the team.”

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Brandon DeWitt LHP / OF / Beavercreek, OH / 2018

BEAVERCREEK - An offer from Lake Land Junior College was being considered by Brandon DeWitt. But playing Division I baseball has always been his dream.

Thus, the Beavercreek senior has decided Wright State is the place to be.

“For me, Division I has always been what I’ve worked for since day one,” the senior left-handed hurler said. “Now I have the opportunity and I’m grateful for it.”

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Jack Pacetti LHP / 1B / Moeller, OH / 2019

CINCINNATI - “You get what you put into it. It doesn’t matter where you are now, work day in and day out and you will succeed. They’ll find you. Stick with it and stay confident.”

That is the approach Jack Pacetti has used in his efforts to reach his ultimate goal of pitching in the major leagues.

The philosophy has helped the Cincinnati Moeller junior take the next step in that dream with a commitment to the University of Cincinnati.

“The conference, the facilities and I liked the environment,” Pacetti said about what swayed his decision after also getting offers following visits to Xavier and Wright State.

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Seth Logue RHP / SS / Moeller, OH / 2020

The 6-0 140-pound right-hander committed to play at the university where older sibling Zach played before being drafted by the Toronto Blue Jays in June.

“He had a little influence but he didn’t try to push me, he stayed out of it and let me make the decision,” Logue said about his brother. “I just felt it was where I wanted to go and was the best fit for me.

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Jack Steibel RHP / 3B / Moeller, OH / 2020

“To see that high-level of a program, I knew I wanted to go somewhere like that to be the best player I can be,” the Moeller sophomore pitcher said after getting an up-close view of one of the schools in the Atlantic Coast Conference.

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Evan Ulrich C / SS / Buckeye Valley, OH / 2020

DELAWARE - Talk about versatile. Evan Ulrich started out playing baseball as a left-handed shortstop but is now a right-handed catching recruit.

The Buckeye Valley sophomore is also a college commit after announcing his decision to attend George Washington University.

“I like the challenge there academically and in baseball,” Ulrich said of the Division I school located in Washington D.C.

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Mackenzie Wainwright OF / Saint Edward, OH / 2020

LAKEWOOD - Before ever playing a game in high school Mackenzie Wainwright had colleges showing an interest.

“I went to my first couple PBR events and before my first high school game my coach said Ohio State wanted to see me play,” Wainwright reflected. “I called them after and they wanted me to visit but they had a game-time change so they moved the visit to this year.”

Many other schools came calling on Wainwright over the next year, but the Lakewood St. Edward’s sophomore decided to make Ohio State his future home with a commitment to play for the Buckeyes.

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Brant Alazaus LHP / West Branch, OH / 2018

That ambition has been met by Brant Alazaus after a recent commitment to Walsh University.

“His influence has been great,” Alazaus said of his father Shawn, a 13th-round selection of the Yankees as a pitcher back in 1993. “We talk baseball all day. He’s helped me a lot with my pitching, especially my offspeed.”

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Garret Gray C / OF / Circleville, OH / 2019

CIRCLEVILLE - His father played minor league baseball while both grandfathers coached the sport, with one an umpire for 40 years.

The family affair with baseball will continue after Garret Gray made a commitment to play at Butler University.

“My dad and I are always watching games and with one grandpa I’m talking Reds and the other Cubs,” the Circleville High School junior said. “It’s awesome. Baseball is definitely a love in this family.”

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Jack Goonan RHP / Ayersville, OH / 2016

“Coming out of high school in my mind I was ready to play Division I but by going to Sinclair I was able to focus on developing myself to the point to be able to pitch at that level,” the 2016 Ayersville graduate said about the importance of going to junior college to prepare for the big bats he will have in the ACC. “I had a lot of success at Sinclair and was able to get a lot of exposure.”

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Warren Clarke OF / RHP / Badin, OH / 2018

“I took a visit to the campus and it was such a nice place,” the Hamilton Badin senior said. “I knew it was what I had to do to be a better player.”

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Griffin Kain OF / LHP / Oak Hills, OH / 2018

“Up until fifth or sixth grade I wanted to play football in college,” Kain said. “Then I learned how hard it is on the body and I loved playing baseball. That became my dream.”

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Adam Dearinger RHP / 1B / Northwest, OH / 2018

CINCINNATI - A big year of improvement on the mound not only has Adam Dearinger on the map of colleges but the Northwest High School senior has found a future home. The 6-2 195-pounder has committed to Wittenberg University.

“I did some research and feel coach (Brian) McGee can make a great impact for me,” Dearinger explained about the head coach of his choice. “I think I can make an impact there, too.”

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Vince Vannelle SS / RHP / Mason, OH / 2016

This summer Vannelle was named the Top Pitching Prospect in the Great Lakes League. While another year at school awaits in Florida, Vannelle’s ultimate future will be out west after committing to the University of Arizona.

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Seth Schroeder C / SS / West Branch, OH / 2018

“It started back in Little League,” Schroeder said about his position of choice. “We had no catcher and they said I could block the ball so they put me back there. Now I love it. I feel in control and feel like the captain on defense. I feel like I’m the man in charge.”

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Hunter Havekost 1B / OF / Medina, OH / 2018

MEDINA - Proving himself is nothing new to Hunter Havekost. It has also helped shape his game enough for Tiffin University to show interest in the Medina senior, who recently committed to play at the Division II school.

“It started a month ago with Chris Check, one of my summer coaches,” Havekost said. “He knows (Tiffin head) coach (Joe) Wilkins and contacted him. He saw me on a PBR video and offered me to come for a workout. They offered me on the spot.”

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Riley Feltner RHP / Walsh Jesuit, OH / 2019

CUYAHOGA FALLS - “Since I was five-years-old I’ve wanted to play in the majors. College is just a step along the way.”

Those are the words of Riley Feltner, who has decided where that step will take place. The Walsh Jesuit junior pitcher has committed to Kent State.

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Nate Stahl 3B / RHP / Walsh Jesuit, OH / 2019

The Walsh Jesuit junior has grown from a 5-11 180-pounder to 6-3 and 205 pounds.

Stahl has also gone from a corner infielder to a two-way player after becoming a pitching prospect.

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Daunte DeCello SS / 2B / Badin, OH / 2018

HAMILTON - It is a common theme when it comes to college recruits.

“You will know it when it is right for you.”

That happened to Daunte DeCello, who was seen playing in a Fall Ball game and invited to visit Indiana University Southeast by an assistant coach from the college.

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Connor Gerren OF / RHP / Big Walnut, OH / 2018

SUNBURY - Connor Gerren thrives on being a hard-nosed player. It got the Big Walnut senior notice at a University of Findlay camp.

It also got Gerren an offer and with it a commitment to college at the Division II school.

“Findlay wasn’t one of my options early on, I was leaning toward Ashland but then lost interest,” Gerren explained. “I was beginning to wonder, but then Findlay sent an email to me. They said they had a camp and if I did well they would offer me.

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Jackson Ottke RHP / 3B / Middletown Christian, OH / 2018

MIDDLETOWN - There was a change in high school as well as summer teams. There was also a change in how far from home Jackson Ottke wanted to play college baseball.

All had an impact on the Middletown Christian’s decision to commit to Mount Vernon Nazarene.

“They saw me a couple years ago at an Ohio Elite Camp,” the right-handed pitcher said. “They saw me throw and we stayed in touch.”

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Gavin Noble SS / RHP / Highland, OH / 2018

As it turns out there is no decision to make right now. The Highland senior will get the opportunity to do both after committing to Ashland.

“I definitely want to be a dual-position player,” Noble admitted. “I wanted to go where I would be given a chance to do both and Ashland said they will give me that the first two years.”

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Anthony Kyle LHP / OF / Perrysburg, OH / 2018

PERRYSBURG - Unlike most young ballplayers, Anthony Kyle was uncertain he could make it to the next level.

“As a little kid I thought it was a far-fetched dream,” Kyle admitted. “But as I got older I thought it was more reachable.”

Playing college baseball is no longer ‘a far-fetched dream’ but in fact reality after Kyle made a commitment to the University of Findlay.

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Owen Gast OF / 3B / Toledo Christian, OH / 2018

TOLEDO - The combination of athletics and academics was the selling point for Owen Gast and the Toledo Christian senior made a commitment to Ashland University.

“They’re excellent in both,” Gast said. “It shows you can have both sports and grades. They had a 3.2 GPA at Ashland last year. When it came down to it, their baseball was the right fit for me and my development.”

The 188th-rated player in the state attended a Senior Day Camp at the college and, obviously, things went well.

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Ryan Galanie SS / 2B / Moeller, OH / 2019

“Every place I’ve lived has had warm weather besides Ohio,” the Cincinnati Moeller junior said.

Galanie has looked for the chance to return to a warm-weather state and found it with a commitment to play baseball at Wofford College, a Division I institution located in Spartanburg, S.C.

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Mitchell Spencer RHP / OF / Defiance, OH / 2018

DEFIANCE - Lincoln Trail College has become a popular landing spot for Defiance High School baseball players. Four have gone there in the past decade including Justin Hancock, a promising pitcher with the AAA Iowa Cubs who was a ninth-round pick in the MLB Draft out of Lincoln Trail in 2011.

Make it five Defiance products that have made the college in Robinson, Ill., home after a recent commitment to play for the Statesmen by senior hurler Mitchell Spencer.

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Noah Reed C / 1B / Worthington Kilbourne, OH / 2018

WORTHINGTON - No matter the position played, Noah Reed seems to come away from each game with a dirty uniform.

The trait has proven to be a good thing for the Worthington Kilbourne senior, who recently committed to play college baseball at Lincoln Trail College.

“They like how I work hard and get my uniform dirty,” Reed said of Lincoln Trail. “They also like how I’m a leader of the team and how I swing the bat.”

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Zach Schone SS / 3B / Watkins Memorial, OH / 2018

PATASKALA - Baseball has been in Zach Schone’s blood for some time. That happens when your father has coached you since you first began playing the game.

Come next year, that will change when college baseball comes into the equation. Don Schone will get plenty of opportunity to see his son play after the Watkins Memorial senior committed to Ohio Dominican, just 25 miles from his home.

“I like the aspect it’s close to home,” the senior shortstop said. “I like the campus a lot. It’s beautiful with everything close together.”

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Ray Leugers C / 1B / Fairfield, OH / 2018

FAIRFIELD - It took a lot of patience but in the end it paid off for Ray Leugers and the Fairfield senior has committed to play college baseball at Ashland University.

“I had some friends go Division I,” Leugers explained about his recruiting process that involved D-II and D-III schools. “For awhile it seemed like only D-I guys were going. I was wondering why nobody was contacting me.

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Frank Ciacchi 3B / OF / Brunswick, OH / 2018

BRUNSWICK - In the summer of 2016, Toledo first became interested in Frank Ciacchi during the Top Prospect Games.

More than a year later, Ciacchi is a Rocket after recently committing to play at the Mid-American Conference school.

“It was last summer in June,” Ciacchi said of when he first began talking with Toledo. “It’s been going on for a year-and-a-half now.”

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Leighton Banjoff OF / SS / Elyria Catholic, OH / 2019

ELYRIA - The Future Games helped provide Leighton Banjoff the opportunity he has been looking for and the Elyria Catholic junior has decided that Nebraska is where he wants to go.

The 23rd-ranked player in Ohio’s 2019 class committed to play for the Cornhuskers after making a trip to the home state of the College World Series.

“I had been down south to Middle Tennessee this summer and in Georgia but I had not heard much from colleges prior to the Future Games,” Banjoff explained. “(Head) Coach (Darin) Erstad saw me at the Future Games and after that I talked to coach (Ted) Silva their recruiting coordinator. They called me on Sept. 1 and I went on a visit last Sunday (Sept. 24).”

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Zade Richardson C / 3B / New Richmond, OH / 2018

NEW RICHMOND - It has been a bit of a bumpy ride, but Zade Richardson has found a future college home with a commitment to Wabash Valley Junior College.

“I was stuck between a few colleges,” explained the New Richmond senior, who also had interest in Northwest Florida State and Spartanburg Methodist after decommitting from Trinidad State Junior College (Alamosa, Colorado) this summer. “The little things were the difference … the way the coach was, where it is and what I want to get out of the school. I asked players there for input and if it matched what I was looking for.”

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Kasey Centeno OF / RHP / Perry, OH / 2019

MASSILLON - A year ago Kasey Centeno was a promising infielder hoping to get colleges to take notice. Now the Massillon Perry junior is a University of Cincinnati commit as both an outfielder and pitcher.

“I gave the outfield a shot and I began getting a lot more (college) attention,” explained Centeno. “I switched in the middle of my sophomore year. It wasn’t too rough. My speed aspect helped a lot, even if I got a bad jump on the ball. The line drives right at me or over my head took some getting used to and so did balls off the wall.”

But the strong arm that has made the right-hander a college pitching prospect also came into play.

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Brice Stultz 1B / LHP / Hilliard Darby , OH / 2018

While that may still be the case, the Hilliard Darby senior has also found a niche as a left-handed hitting first baseman. Stultz will have the opportunity to do at least that at the college level after committing to Ashland University.

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Kyle Westfall OF / 2B / Moeller, OH / 2019

But a summer to remember turned into an offer he could not pass up and a commitment to attend Texas Tech from the Big 12 Conference.

“At the beginning of the high school season I never imagined playing for the (Midland) Redskins, that was a blessing in itself,” Westfall reflected. “Then three months ago I went from the 16U to 18U team. The coaches helped a lot making me feel a part of the team and taking away any nervousness. They made me feel I belonged.”

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Owen Recker RHP / 1B / Kalida, OH / 2019

KALIDA - As one of the hardest throwers at the Future Games, it didn’t take college coaches long to discover Owen Recker.

A month later the Kalida junior has decided on a college destination with Kent State the beneficiary.

“Coach (Mike) Birkbeck sent a text to my coach and after the Future Games I gave him a call,”  said the 6-4 225-pounder in reference to Kent’s pitching coach. “It was just a normal conversation. He liked how I pitched and told me to get in contact with their head coach (Jeff Duncan) and he’d make me an offer.”

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Nick Renken C / 3B / St. Francis DeSales, OH / 2018

“I want to have fun,” the Columbus St. Francis DeSales senior said. “I don’t want to make the results be the end-all. I want to play like we did as kids.”

The left-handed hitting catcher will get the opportunity to continue to bring fun to the game at the next level after committing to play collegiately at Ohio Dominican.

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Jordan Stevens OF / 3B / St. Edward, OH / 2020

Jordan Stevens, who transferred from University School to Lakewood St. Edward after the 2016-17 school year, capped off a big summer by announcing his future plans to attend Kent State.

“I liked our conversations and felt connected with the staff,” Stevens reasoned about what attracted him to his future college home. “I enjoyed the visit, it had a great campus. I researched the academics and it’s a great fit for me.

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Zachary Boyd 3B / OF / Tallmadge, OH / 2018

Boyd committed to play baseball at the university located in the foothills of the Daniel Boone National Forest in Rowan County Kentucky, just beyond Ohio’s southern border.

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Joe Capretta C / 3B / Aurora, OH / 2018

Capretta committed to play baseball at Kent, following in the footsteps of his father John who played third base and right field for the Flashes back in the early ‘90s.

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Kenny Misik LHP / 1B / Austintown Fitch, OH / 2019

AUSTINTOWN - On the basketball court Kenny Misik calls himself a “bruiser.”

That type of mentality has also worked out well on the mound for the Austintown Fitch junior, who recently committed to play college baseball at Youngstown State.

“They like the heart and grit I have ... the idea that I won’t back down from anybody,” Misik said about what impressed Youngstown State about the left-handed pitcher. “I was brought up like that. Nothing was ever given to me.”

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Blake Benyo OF / 2B / IMG Academy, OH / 2018

The excitement proved memorable in more ways than one.

“It was crazy, I had never seen anything like it,” related Benyo. “The gas was all dried up, the Walmart shelf items were gone ... it was intense with the amount of panic the whole population had. I found the last ticket on a 6:10 a.m. flight from Orlando to Pittsburgh.”

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Brady Emerson OF / LHP / John Glenn, OH / 2020

Now Brady Emerson has a commitment to play college baseball at Ohio State to go with it.

“My dad (Jamie) played some at East Carolina and he really helped me,” the John Glenn sophomore said. “He’s meant a lot to me. He’s always pushed me to be the best I can be and not take anything for granted.”

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Brody Ware RHP / SS / North Canton Hoover , OH / 2019

“I heard their stadium and facilities were top of the line,” Ware said. “I didn’t know much else about it until I got on campus.”

That took place following Ware’s participation in the Future Games as part of Team Ontario.

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Trent Belli 1B / OF / Dublin Jerome, OH / 2019

The Dublin Jerome junior took the next step in that dream with a recent commitment to Ohio University.

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Cade Wendel SS / RHP / Ft. Recovery, OH / 2018

FORT RECOVERY - Excelling in three sports did not stop Cade Wendel from understanding where his future was at in athletics.

“Baseball has always been my favorite, I love it,” said the Fort Recovery senior, the starting quarterback in football this fall and a basketball standout in the winter. “I like the competitiveness and just being able to go at someone as a pitcher in a one-on-one type of thing. It’s the best on best going at each other.”

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Jamie Myers LHP / 1B / Midview , OH / 2018

The Grafton Midview senior took visits to seven different campuses while considering where his future would be after graduating high school. Unlike some, Myers was not concerned with the level of play as much as what fit him both on the field and in the classroom.

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Griffin Merritt 3B / 1B / Lasalle, OH / 2018

The Cincinnati LaSalle senior 3-sport athlete has made that decision, recently committing to play baseball at the University of Cincinnati.

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Jacob Greer RHP / OF / Hicksville, OH / 2018

But it didn’t stop the right-handed pitcher from finding a college to his liking, with the Hicksville senior recently committing to Sinclair Community College.

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Sammy Sass C / 2B / Upper Arlington, OH / 2019

UPPER ARLINGTON - Sammy Sass found out there were plenty of advantages playing for Bo Jackson Elite this summer. Good competition, development as a player and … a commitment to play baseball in college.

The Upper Arlington junior has made the choice to further his education and athletic career at Wright State.

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Ethan McCarty RHP / SS / Edgewood, OH / 2018

The strategy paid off well for the upcoming senior at Edgewood High School, who this week committed to play college baseball at Ball State.

“You can't get looks if you're not in front of people,” McCarty said. “I went to a lot of big events. Every year I tried to show the scouts one more thing, be it a jump in velo or a better breaking ball.”

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Seth Klaiber RHP / 1B / Badin, OH / 2018

The decision came earlier this week.

“I had multiple options where I wanted to go but I had a lot of faith in the Xavier coaching staff more than the others,” noted Klaiber, who made his commitment to further his baseball career with the Musketeers. “That’s not a knock on the others, but I felt I would bust my butt 10 times more with them.

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Nathan Kappers RHP / 3B / St. Xavier , OH / 2018

Participating in the Top Prospect Games and following it up playing in the Tournament of Champions proved beneficial for Nathan Kappers.

A commitment to play for Indiana followed.

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Ryan Bergert 3B / RHP / GlenOak , OH / 2018

That changed in a big way and with it came Bergert’s recent commitment to West Virginia.

“My junior year my velo jumped 5 miles per hour in a 3-month span,” explained Bergert, an upcoming senior at Glen Oak. “I went from sitting 83-84 to 87-88 in a couple months and all the schools came calling.

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Bryce Roberts SS / RHP / Edison , OH / 2018

MILAN - Colleges started to take an interest in Bryce Roberts at the Top Prospect Games in June. A Brownlee Showcase followed and a commitment to the University of Dayton was the next step for the upcoming Milan Edison senior.

“I did pretty good there,” Roberts said of the TPG event to start the summer. “It gives you a good opportunity to play in front of scouts and be recognized. They’re all in one place, that’s what I like about it.”

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Ryan Callahan OF / RHP / Bexley, OH / 2019

COLUMBUS - When you have an older brother playing college baseball the aspirations to follow in those footsteps is a given.

Ryan Callahan has met those and more after making a commitment to play at Wright State.

“I always had a goal of playing at the collegiate level,” said the junior-to-be at Bexley, whose older brother Eric will be a sophomore at Millersville University in Pennsylvania. “I didn’t care what division. I just love the game.”

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Phillip Glasser SS / RHP / Tallmadge, OH / 2018

A member of the Tallmadge 2018 class, Glasser recently decided on Youngstown State as his college of choice with one more year playing for the Blue Devils up first.

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Andrew Russell RHP / SS / Champion , OH / 2019

The Champion High School senior, who threw a seven-hit shutout with eight strikeouts and two walks in the state finals against Berlin Hiland, made the decision last Friday.

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Michael Holdsworth SS / 2B / St Ignatius, OH / 2019

Now Holdsworth is going to make Nebraska his future home.

The St. Ignatius sophomore has committed to playing in the Big Ten for the University of Nebraska.

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Kyle LaCalameto LHP / 1B / Kings , OH / 2018

When one finally came, the Kings High School pitcher jumped at the opportunity and committed to play for the University of Dayton.

“A year ago I started getting recruited but this was the first Division I offer I got,” the left-handed hurler said.

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Jonathan Machamer LHP / 1B / Massillon Washington, OH / 2019

But a new school came into the picture at the Future Games and suddenly the choice became clear for the Massillon Washington standout. The left-handed pitcher was going to attend South Carolina.

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Jared Burick OF / RHP / Tallmadge, OH / 2018

“I made my decision that day,” the Tallmadge senior said. “I hit the ball really well and I did well defensively in the outfield. My numbers were pretty good."

“Coach Sogard asked me to stay after. He said they liked what they saw in me and made me an offer.”

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Will Pfennig RHP / 2B / Mason , OH / 2018

“My family has been a Buckeye our whole life,” noted Pfennig, whose sister attends OSU. “I like the coaches and the facilities and the campus.”

The recent decision to become a member of the Buckeyes capped a recruiting process that started two years ago.

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Ben Vore RHP / 3B / Lexington, OH / 2019

“It was the summer before my sophomore year and I was at a PBR event,” the Lexington junior pitcher said in reference to the Underclass Games. “I threw 85-86 and after that some colleges contacted me. It was then I realized how I compared with the rest of the kids and that I had a chance to play in college.

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Kurtis Reid SS / RHP / Hamilton , OH / 2021

Only three of those on hand to show college coaches what they could do were from the 2021 class, but at least one made an impression on Louisville. Kurtis Reid, an incoming freshman at Hamilton High School, has given a commitment to play collegiately for the Cardinals.

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Mitchel Megias RHP / Gahanna Lincoln, OH / 2018

NEW ALBANY – A whirlwind couple of months came to an exciting ending for Mitchel Megias with a commitment this week to play baseball at the University of Notre Dame.

“Everything changed quickly,” noted Megias, a senior-to-be at Gahanna Lincoln who had not received any college offers until this summer. “It's been great.”

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Kyle Jackson SS / OF / Bowling Green, OH / 2020

Kyle Jackson feels that way after committing to play baseball at Kent State on Wednesday.

“I had not heard from anyone else,” noted Jackson, a member of the 2020 class at Bowling Green High School. “They were the first college to talk to me.”

Jackson's 15U Ohio Elite squad was facing Release Baseball in a recent game at Kent State.

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Brock Nartker RHP / 2B / Anthony Wayne, OH / 2018

A month later Brock Nartker has found his future home after committing to play college baseball at Wright State on Monday.

“After the Top Prospect Games I had a lot of schools contact me,” noted Nartker, who sparkled at the event with big time arm talent according to the scouting report. “It really got hot after that.”

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