By Chris Webb

At Prep Baseball Report's July Top Prospect Showcase, junior-to-be infielder Austin Rieman stood-out as one of the event's top infielders. This fall, another junior infielder, TJ Nichting, is competing and holding his own against the region's best as a member of the esteemed Midland Braves, the Royals Scout team coached by Brian Hiler.

The two form one of the state's top infield duo, and as such, it should come as no surprise such prowess can be found taking the field for state power Hamilton Badin.

Badin, the ten-time State Tournament participant, and two-time state champion, fell in the Kings Mill District final to fell southwest power Cincinnati Madeira, falling short of making a third-consecutive state appearance.

But as Reiman and Nicthing enter their upperclassmen years, Badin should be expected to again be at the doorstop of States.

Ranked as the 22nd player in the class of 2013, Rieman, who was named named second-team all-Greater Catholic League, says a handful of schools have shown interest. The 6-foot, 180-pound middle infielder batted .370 with 20 RBI, two home runs, five triples, and four doubles in 2011, showing off his sub-7 60-yard speed and a quick compact swing with pop on the way.

Nichting, a current player on the cusp of being ranked, batted .437 with eight doubles and four triples as he struck out at the plate only once during his sophomore season. Nichting, who is 5-foot-10, 150-pounds, picked up where he left off during his freshman year when he led the team in hitting as a freshman on the state-advancing team. During his sophomore campaign, he took home Badin's Silver Slugger award.

Success at the team level is not new to Nichting. In 2007, he played in the Little League World Series. The spotlight that immersed upon Nichting and his talent in Williamsport, has transitioned to the recruiting process. As the fall season begins to wind down, Nichting mentions Wake Forest, Maryland, Louisville, Cincinnati, Miami Ohio, Xavier, and Ohio State as schools showing interest. Nitching has his sights set on a school with a good Computer Science program in addition to a quality baseball program.

For Rieman, who spent his summer playing for the Cincinnati Flames U16 team, his most memorable moment is playing on the same high school team as older brother Alex who is playing collegiately for Wabash.

Unlike Nichting, Rieman does not play fall baseball as he is a member of Badin's football team. That does not stop him from his pursuit of getting better. Rieman states he is focusing on the mental side of baseball as becomes a more consistent player, a focus that he hopes will help reach his goal of an understanding, upon entering his senior year, of where he will have an opportunity to continue his dream of playing college baseball.

Rieman would like to be a member of a college program he can feel at home and comfortable, at contributing in a good conference,  that goes against good competition, with good coaching and good academics.

Though Nichting is unsure yet if he will participate in December's junior and sophomore PBR invite event, Rieman says it is a great opportunity and that he definitely is attending.