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The 2024 PBR Ohio High School Invitational

March 20, 2024
Dylan Hefflinger
Editor in Chief/Scout

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The 2024 PBR Ohio High School Invitational

The High School Invitational is designed to bring together eight of the top teams in the state to square off in a single-elimination bracket-play event. This event will test a team's depth and also add a bracket-play format that typically doesn't exist until the OHSAA State Playoffs for most teams. PBR Ohio's full Scout and Media team will be on hand to provide world-class coverage of the event. 

Before we get to the 2024 schedule, let's take a look back at what the first two years of the HS Invite had in store for the teams, players and fans.

The Schedule

Schedule Day Time Location Team 1 Team 2
GM 1 Saturday 10:00AM Badin HS Badin Trinity (KY)
GM 2
 Saturday 9:45AM Moeller HS Archbishop Moeller St. Edward
GM 3 Saturday 10:00AM Legacy Field Northville (MI) Massillon Jackson
GM 4 Saturday 12:45PM Moeller HS Saint Xavier (KY) Saint Ignatius
GM 5 Saturday 1:00PM Badin HS WGM1 WGM3
GM 6 Saturday 3:15PM Moeller HS WGM2 WGM4
GM 7 Saturday 1:00PM Legacy Field LGM1 LGM3
GM 8 Saturday 4:00PM Legacy Field LGM2 LGM4
GM 9 Sunday 10:00AM Legacy Field* WGM7 WGM8
GM 10 Sunday 1:00PM Legacy Field LGM7 LGM8
GM 11 Sunday 1:00PM Moeller HS WGM5 WGM6
GM 12 Sunday 1:00PM Badin HS LGM6 LGM6

Team Previews

Archbishop Moeller

Team Name: Archbishop Moeller Crusaders
Head Coach: Tim Held
Division: I
2023 Record: 31-3
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 1/5

Coach Outlook: "The 2024 team will be anchored by its strong pitching staff. We return a lot of talented and experienced arms from our 2023 state championship team. Our defense will be athletic and our offense will be good, it just needs reps to get in to a groove."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • Starting Pitching
  • Defense
  • Offense

Top Returning Players:

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2026 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2027 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Badin

Team Name: Badin Rams
Head Coach: Brion Treadway
Division: I
2023 Record: 29-2
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/4

Coach Outlook: "The bar is raised with every graduating senior class. The kids in our program understand the expectations of a varsity player in our program. Our returning players have an incredible responsibility to pass the torch and coach new players on expectations and standards. We return enough quality players and leaders that will blend with some very talented younger players that will be new to varsity. Fortunately, our younger players play high level summer baseball that has prepared them for varsity competition."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • Speed
  • Defense
  • Starting Pitching

Top Returning Players:

  • Matty Helms, RHP, 2024, 6'4"/215 pounds, 3-year varsity, Northern Kentucky University Commit. Last Year Stats-2-0, 1 Save, 2.86 ERA, 21 K's, 14.2 IP
  • Ian Price, RHP, 2024, 6'4"/224 pounds. Last Year Stats- 5-0, 17 IP, 15 K's, 1.65 ERA
  • Tyler Verdin, RHP, 2024, 6'2/175 pounds. 3-year varsity, Heidelberg University Commit. Last Year Stats- 1-0, 15.2 IP, 18 K's, 1.79 ERA
  • Grant Wissman, RHP, 2024, 6'7"/200 pounds. Last Year Stats- 2-0, 15 IP, 13 K's, 1.87 ERA
  • Kade Bowling, 3B, 2025, 6'0"/195 pounds. Last Year Stats- .313 Avg, 26 H, 6 2B, 26 RBI, 14 SB
  • Kyle Anderson, C, 2025, 5'10"/180 pounds. Last Year Stats- .300 Avg, 22 H, 9 SB
  • Chase Luebbe, OF, 2025, 6'0"/170 pounds. Last Year Stats- .347 Avg, 17 H, 1 3B, 1 HR
  • Chandler Taylor, OF, 2026, 6'2"/170 pounds. Last Year Stats- .422 Avg, 35 H, 4 2B, 3 3B, 30 R, 36 RBI, 16 SB
  • Austin Buckle, INF, 2024, 5'9"/165 pounds. Last Year Stats- .308 Avg 

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2026 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2027 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Massillon Jackson

Team Name: Massillon Jackson Polar Bears
Head Coach: Bill Gamble
Division: I
2023 Record: 21-8
2023 Tourney Finish: District Semifinals loss to Massillon Washington
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 8/4

Coach Outlook: "Jackson returns a multitude of starters and a very seasoned pitching staff. The Polar Bears return 75% of their innings and 17 of their 21 wins from 2023 including Sweetnich (5-1), Thiel (5-0), Pastorius (Walsh U) (3-1), & Doll (Marshall U) (2-0). The offense is led by 3 four year starters in Carter Mottice (BGSU), Wyatt Fether (Clarion), Eric Freetage (2x 2nd Team All Fed) & a host of returning starters. The 2024 Polar Bears will rely on an expirenced pitching staff and roster as they navigate a demanding non-league schedule and the very competitive Federal League."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • Work Ethic
  • Pitching Experience
  • Catching Experience

Top Returning Players:

  • Wyatt Fether, C Signed Clarion Transfer Lake Center HS (Portage Trail PoY). 4-Year Letterman 
  • Eric Freetage, OF 2x 2nd Team All Federal League .347 BA 20 RBI. 4-Year Letterman 
  • Carter Mottice, OF Signed BGSU 1st Team All Federal League 2nd Team ALL NEO District .363 BA 15 SB 16 RBI. 4-Year Letterman 
  • Carson Pastorius, 3B/1B/RHP Signed Walsh University 3-1 1.65 ERA .293 BA 14 RBI. 3-Year Letterman
  • Jake Sweetnich, 3B/RHP 2nd Team All Fed: 6-1 1.67 ERA .355 BA. 3-Year Letterman
  • Kyle Carey, C 3 year starting catcher. 3-Year Letterman
  • Kyle Benson, OF Signed Walsh University .297 BA 16 SB .417 RiSP. 2-Year Letterman
  • Jaden Metcalf, 2B Signed Tri-C. 2-Year Letterman 
  • AJ Wertz, RHP Signed Walsh University 1-0. 2-Year Letterman 
  • Landon Doll, LHP Committed Marshall U 2-0 0.57 ERA 2-Year Letterman 
  • Landon Thiel, LHP Soph 2nd Team All League 5-0 1.66 ERA. 2-Year Letterman 

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2026 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Northville (MI)

Team Name: Northville Mustangs
Head Coach: Dan Cimini
Division: I
2023 Record: 32-5
2023 Tourney Finish: District Finals loss to Novi
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/4

Coach Outlook: "They’re buying into my philosophy. I want to bring my style. I expect to win. I’m really competitive. I want to try to bring the best out of my players. Expectations are to win every time we step on the field. Nothing is better than being No. 1 and everybody shooting for you. The kids rally around that. We have three that can hit 90, and the rest are mid-to-high-80s. They throw strikes and pound the zone. Defense will be a strength and we also have good speed going for us. Run, run, run, bunt, slash, squeeze … offensively we want to put a lot of pressure on the other team."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • Defense
  • Arms
  • Athletes
  • Camaraderie
  • Talent

Top Returning Players:

  • Dante Nori, OF - 37-113, .327 AVG, 5 2B, 8 3B, 1 HR, 49 R, 22 RBI, 28 BB, 4 HBP, 26 SB (Mississippi State commit)
  • Joey Broughton, LHP - 46 IP, 8-0, 0.45 ERA, 77 K | .333 AVG, 5 HR, 37 RBI (Pittsburgh commit)
  • Caden Besco, RHP - 41.2 IP, 5-0, 5 SV, 1.00 ERA, 50 K (Lansing CC commit)
  • Dominic Minghine, RHP - 55.1 IP, 7-2, 1.50 ERA, 62 K (Illinois Chicago commit)
  • Justin Brown, RHP - 25 IP, 5-0, 1.12 ERA, 30 K (Michigan commit)
  • Evan Deak, OF- .355 AVG | 3-1, 1 SV, 1.90 ERA
  • Carter Jurcisin, OF - 3-0, 1 SV, 2.00 ERA | .316 AVG
  • Luke Dieringer, 3B - .340 AVG

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Saint Ignatius

Team Name: Saint Ignatius Wildcats
Head Coach: Brad Ganor
Division: I
2023 Record: 24-6
2023 Tourney Finish: District Finals loss to Wooster
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 2/5

Coach Outlook: "We are in a unique position where we do not have many starters returning. We are talented but inexperienced. That is something that we don't come across very often. I am excited for the season to see what these young guys are capable of."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • Without question, this has been the most fruitful offseason in all my years coaching here. The kids were ultra committed in the weight room with our newly created position for Coach King as our Head of Strength and Conditioning for Baseball. It was so fun to watch them work hard TOGETHER!

Top Returning Players:

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2026 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2027 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Saint Xavier (KY)

Team Name: Saint Xavier Tigers
Head Coach: Andy Porta
Division: I
2023 Record: 31-9
2023 Tourney Finish: Regional Finalist
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 2/4

Coach Outlook: "The 2024 Saint Xavier Tigers may very well be the youngest varsity squad the 9-time State Champions have fielded in decades.  The Tigers return two starters from last year’s Regional Runner-Up team and could potentially start five sophomores. Pitching and defense should be the strength of the 2024 Tigers. Leading the way on the mound will be seniors Ian Milliner (Lincoln Memorial), and Luke Wright (Maryville College), juniors Kaden Ford, Cooper Mattingly, and Donnie Sinkhorn, and sophomore Brodie Bennefield. Defensively, the Tigers will rely on strength up the middle with Ryan Comella (Charleston West Virginia) behind the plate, Wright at shortstop, and Kyle Krupp in center. Offensively, St. X will use their speed on the base paths and gap to gap power. The St. X recipe for success remains the same: play the most challenging schedule in the state, possibly experience some growing pains along the way, and in the end, be prepared to make a deep postseason run."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • Defense up the middle
  • Speed

Top Returning Players:

  • Ryan Comella 5’9” 155; C; signed with University of Charleston West Virginia; BA 300, OBA 366, 2B 5, RBI 19 
  • Ian Milliner 6’4” 215; RHP; committed to Lincoln Memorial University; 4-1, IP 28, K 15, ERA 2.5
  • Luke Wright 5’9” 155; INF, RHP; signed with Maryville College; BA 300, OBA 400, 2B 4, R 15; 1-0-1, IP 10.2, K 4, ERA 0.66 
  • Kyle Krupp 5’10”, 160; OF; offer from Troy University; BA 286, OBA 396, 2B 5, 3B 4, RBI 16, R 27, SB 17 
  • Kaden Ford 5’9” 170; LHP, OF; 4-2-1, IP 33, K 17, ERA 2.97

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Ryan Comella 5’9” 155; C; signed with University of Charleston West Virginia; BA 300, OBA 366, 2B 5, RBI 19 
  • Ian Milliner 6’4” 215; RHP; committed to Lincoln Memorial University; 4-1, IP 28, K 15, ERA 2.5
  • Luke Wright 5’9” 155; INF, RHP; signed with Maryville College; BA 300, OBA 400, 2B 4, R 15; 1-0-1, IP 10.2, K 4, ERA 0.66 

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Kyle Krupp 5’10”, 160; OF; offer from Troy University; BA 286, OBA 396, 2B 5, 3B 4, RBI 16, R 27, SB 17 
  • Kaden Ford 5’9” 170; LHP, OF; 4-2-1, IP 33, K 17, ERA 2.97
  • Donnie Sinkhorn 5’ 9” 155; RHP; 1-0, IP 25.1, K 7, ERA 0.55; JV Stats 2 – 0, IP 18.1, K 28, ERA 2.67, BA 268, OBA 434, 2B 2, 3B 1, RBI 12, R 11
  • Cooper Mattingly 5’ 11” 150; RHP; 1-0, IP 4, K 2, ERA 1.75; JV Stats 1 – 0, IP 29.1, K 21, ERA 1.67
  • Danny Jaso 5’ 11” 185; C; BA 319, OBA 365, 2B 4, RBI 10
  • Cameron Marks 5’ 11” 150; INF; BA 286, OBA 441, 2B 6, 3B1, HR 1, RBI 19, R 27, SB 10
  • Logan Ottman 5’ 7” 150; LHP, OF; BA 302, OBA 444, 2B 1, 3B 1, RBI 6, R 7, SB

Class of 2026 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Brodie Benefield 6’ 3” 195; RHP, INF; 4-0, IP 26.2, K 23, ERA 1.05: JV Stats 2 – 0, IP 10, K 12, ERA 0.7, BA 500, OBA 651, 2B 6, 3B 4, HR 2, RBI 21, R 15
  • Wyatt Graven 5’ 10” 160; OF, INF; BA 333, OBA 467, 2B 7, 3B 3 RBI 10 R 18, SB 13
  • Connor Johnson 5’ 11” 180; C, RHP, 1B; BA 477, OBA 547, 2B 10, 3B 3, HR 1, RBI 27, R 13

St. Edward

Team Name: St. Edward Eagles
Head Coach: Jim Clark
Division: I
2023 Record: 11-14
2023 Tourney Finish: Sectional Finals Loss
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 4/7

Coach Outlook: "We return some outstanding pitching and a few position players. The younger players in our program are improving and we hope to be much better offensively and defensively."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • We have good senior leadership which is important. Our strength as a team is our pitching both the quality and depth. We need to improve offensively and defensively to have a great season and our team needs to continue to improve in all areas throughout the season.

Top Returning Players:

  • Max McClellan, RHP, 2024, 6-7/210 pounds, South Carolina commit. Last Year- Record 2-1 Saves 1, 46 strikeouts, 2.50 ERA
  • Henry Slaby, RHP, 2024, 6-2/205 pounds , Eastern Michigan commit. Last Year- Record 4-3, 64 strikeouts, 2.12 ERA
  • Danny Tome, C/SS/2B, 2024, 5-8/170 pounds, Otterbein commit, Last Year- .333 AVG, 23 Runs, .892 OPS
  • Neil Rogers, RHP, 2024, 5-8/175 pounds, Last Year- 3 Saves, 2.92 ERA
  • Brady Barker, RHP/OF, 2024, 6-4/220 pounds, Last Year- Record 1-1 , 10 strikeouts
  • Drew Mahle, OF, 2024, 6-2/205 pounds, Last Year 8 RBI
  • Vince Waters, RHP/OF, 2024, 5-9/160 pounds, Last Year .333 OPS, 9 RBI
  • Logan Zaremba, INF, 2024, 5-7/150 pounds
  • Leo Bartolone, LHP/OF, 2025, 6-0/170 pounds, Last Year - 3.00 ERA
  • Grant Lashutka, RHP/INF, 2026, 6-3/195 pounds, Last Year - 4.20 ERA, .609 OPS
  • Brayden Page, INF/RHP, 2025, 5-9/165 pounds, Last Year - .239 AVG, 8 runs.

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2026 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Class of 2027 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

Trinity (KY)

Team Name: Trinity Raiders
Head Coach: Rick Arnold
Division: I
2023 Record: 33-7
2023 Tourney Finish: Regional Semifinals loss
Returning Starters/Pitchers: 6/3

Coach Outlook: "We have a lot of experience and team speed returning in 2024. We will see top level pitching most every day and our ability to handle that challenge will determine our success."

2024 Team Strengths:

  • Experience
  • Team Speed

Top Returning Players:

  • Dane Morrow, 3B
  • Jake Schweitzer, SS
  • Colin Sander, 2B
  • Evan Boeckamnn, 1B/LHP
  • Kyle Campbell, CF
  • Ethan Dillon, LF
  • Jake Schweitzer, RHP
  • Colin Sander, MIF/RHP

Class of 2024 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Jake Schweitzer, SS
  • Kyle Campbell, CF
  • Dane Morrow, 3B
  • Evan Boeckamnn, 1B/LHP

Class of 2025 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Colten Cravens, RHP
  • Barrett Buckley, RHP
  • Colin Sander, MIF/RHP
  • Caleb Ricks, OF

Class of 2026 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Nolan Hosking, OF
  • Harper Haywood, C
  • Grayson Willoughby, RHP/3B
  • EJ Milliner, OF

Class of 2027 Prospects To Keep Eye On:

  • Gray Davis, RHP/MIF
  • Max Phillips, LHP/OF
  • Hudson Meredith, LHP
  • Jaxson Jett, OF
  • Carson Hailey, INF
  • Nathan Walters, CIF

A Closer Look At The HS Classics

To view the 2024 HS Classics, please click here.

2023 OHSAA Season Recap

2022 OHSAA Season Recap

2021 OHSAA Season Recap

2020 OHSAA Season Recap

2019 OHSAA Season Recap

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