Anticipation At A Fever With Return Of High School Baseball
March 24, 2021
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To view the Preseason All-State Teams, click below (Coming Soon):
- Elite 25 | Division I | Division II | Division III | Division IV
To view the Preseason Team Rankings, click below (Coming Soon):
- Division I | Division II | Division III | Division IV
Anticipation At A Fever With Return Of High School Baseball
It’s baaaccckk.
After a one-year hiatus because of the coronavirus, high school baseball returns with the start of the season across the state of Ohio set for Saturday, March 27.
“Last year felt like the world was dead,” explained Hunter Kauser, a senior at Paulding High School. “You couldn’t go out on the field and didn’t have a chance to be kids anymore.”
But reality is back, at least to a degree, with spring sports in the state slated to begin on Saturday.
When the high school baseball scene last existed, Saint Ignatius, Chaminade-Julienne, Coldwater and Toronto were bringing home state championships back in June of 2019. Saint Ignatius needed 10 innings to outlast Mentor 4-2 for the Division I crown. C-J sent head coach Mike Barhorst into retirement with its second consecutive D-II title, beating Gilmour Academy 4-2 in the finals. Coldwater, in the title game for the second year in a row, defeated Ridgewood 1-0 in the D-III finals. Toronto knocked off top-ranked Hillsdale 3-1 to claim the Division IV championship, the second ever at the school.
Looking ahead, this year’s regular season features the inaugural PBR Ohio High School Spring Classics across the state. High school fields at Austintown Fitch, Defiance, Oregon Clay, Massillon Jackson, Gilmour Academy and Walsh Jesuit along with Frank Robinson Field at Ross Park in St. Bernard, Chillicothe’s VA Memorial Stadium and Mercy Field in Toledo will host weekend events beginning in April and running into early May.
The state tournament will be held at Akron’s Canal Park for the second time, the other in 2019, with postseason action starting May 15 with sectionals. District tournaments run May 24-29 with regionals slated June 3-4 before the state tourney on June 10-12.
The following is a small sampling of thoughts from players across the state about what the return of high school baseball means.
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Tommy Barth OF / LHP / Brecksville Broadview Heights, OH / 2021The Brecksville Broadview Heights senior is uncommitted. An outfielder/LHP, Barth has had an exit velocity of 100 while running a 6.82 time in the 60.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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Michael Conte RHP / 3B / Walnut Hills, OH / 2021The Walnut Hills senior is committed to play in the Mid-American Conference at Central Michigan. The 14th-rated 2021 right-handed pitcher in Ohio has a fastball that has topped out at 89.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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Matthew Giberti OF / C / Saint Ignatius, OH / 2021A Harvard commit and Saint Ignatius senior, the 30th-rated 2021 in the state is being counted on in the outfield for the defending (2019) Division I state champions. Giberti, who was formerly a catcher, has speed to burn with a 6.40 in the 60 at the PBR Ohio Procase in February, the fastest time at the event.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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Hunter Kauser C / RHP / Paulding, OH / 2021The senior at Paulding has started since his freshman year, helping the Panthers to the 2019 Northwest Conference championship. A catcher, pitcher and shortstop, Kauser - who bats in the leadoff position in the Paulding lineup - has committed to play baseball collegiately at Ohio Northern University. PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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Johnathan Kulich OF / RHP / Massillon Jackson, OH / 2021The Massillon Jackson senior is one of the top uncommitted players in Ohio. The 6-3 180-pound right-hander headlines a deep pitching staff for the perennial Division I state power this year. A three-sport athlete, Kulich is an outfielder when not on the mound.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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Austin Lichty RHP / 3B / Antwerp, OH / 2021The four-year starter at Antwerp is an uncommitted senior who was the starting pitcher in the 2019 Division IV state semifinal game against Toronto. A third baseman or shortstop when not pitching, Lichty did not permit an earned run until the state tourney his sophomore season. He is one of six returnees on the Archers this year.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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Bobby Perebzak LHP / OF / Walsh Jesuit, OH / 2021The Walsh Jesuit senior is an Ohio University commit. The southpaw had a 0.69 ERA as a sophomore for the Warriors, who this season are considered one of the top teams in all of Ohio with four Division I commits.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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Brady Shannon OF / 3B / Youngstown Ursuline, OH / 2022The Youngstown Ursuline junior, a three-year starter for the Fighting Irish, is “one of the hotter names on the recruiting scene” PBR National Crosschecker Nathan Rode said about Shannon prior to his recent commitment to Central Florida. The second-ranked 2022 outfielder in Ohio is also the starting quarterback on a football team that advanced to the Division IV Region 13 finals.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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TJ Takats LHP / 1B / Perrysburg, OH / 2023Only a sophomore, the third-rated left-handed pitcher in Ohio’s 2023 class has committed to Bowling Green. A left-handed hitter, Takats also plays in the outfield for a Perrysburg program that has advanced to the district finals or beyond the past four seasons played.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
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Connor Till C / 3B / Olentangy Orange, OH / 2021The senior catcher is one of six returning players, all college commits, who are back for Olentangy Orange, one of the Division I preseason favorites in Ohio. “Till is as accurate as they come behind the dish,” said Jordan Chiero, PBR Ohio Director of Scouting about the highly-regarded backstop, A three-year starter, Till is committed to King University, a Division II school in Tennessee.PBR: What does it mean to you to be able to be back playing high school ball this year? PBR: How difficult was it to miss playing in 2020 and what did you miss the most? PBR: What did you learn from not getting to play and is there a renewed excitement in the program now that playing this year is a reality? |
A Look Back At What Would've Been The 2020 Season:
To view each of the parts to the No 'Last Dance' Series, click below:To view the 2020 Team Previews, click here.
To view the 2020 Preseason All-State Teams, click here.
To view the 2020 Virtual Ohio High School State Tournament/Preseason Team Rankings, click here.
A Look Back At The Last Decade:
To view the Ohio High School All-Decade Team 2010-2019, click here.
A Look Back At The 2019 Season:
To view the 2019 Team Previews, click here.
To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.
To view the 2019 All-State Teams, click below.
To view the 2019 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.
A Look Back At The 2018 Season:
To view the 2018 Team Previews, click here.
To view the OHSAA Baseball Tournament Roundup, click below.
To view the 2018 All-State Teams, click below.
To view the 2018 Preseason All-State Teams, click below.
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.
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