Cerha And Ohio University Connected Quickly
January 3, 2023
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Cerha And Ohio University Connected Quickly
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Jimmy Cerha
Class of 2024 / RHP
Rankings
StateRank: 32 / POS: 14
Player Information
-
Graduating Class: 2024
-
Primary Position: RHPSecondary Position: 3B
-
High School: KenstonState: OH
- Summer Team: Ohio Elite Young 2024
-
Height: 6-3Weight: 200lbs
- Bat/Throw: R/R
Statistics
Pitching
91
Max FB
(07/23/23)
88 - 91
FB
(07/23/23)
68 - 71
CB
(02/20/22)
75 - 78
CH
(02/20/22)
73 - 76
SL
(07/19/22)
Position
7.46
60-yard
(02/11/23)
87
INF Velo
(07/19/22)
99
Exit Velo
(02/20/22)
Power Speed Score
(02/20/22)
Trackman - Fastball
91.5
Velocity (max)
(02/10/24)
90.0 - 91.1
Velo Range
(02/10/24)
90.3
Eff Velocity (avg)
(02/11/23)
2150
Spin Rate (max)
(02/11/23)
2089
Spin Rate (avg)
(02/20/22)
IVB (max)
(06/01/21)
IVB (avg)
(02/14/21)
HM (max)
(06/15/21)
HM (avg)
(06/15/21)
Extension (avg)
(02/11/23)
Release Ht (avg)
(06/13/22)
Spin Score (max)
(06/01/21)
Zone %
(02/14/21)
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
(02/10/24)
2024 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 10, 2024
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
91.5
Velo Range
90 - 91.1
Eff Velocity (avg)
89.1
Spin Rate (max)
2110
Spin Rate (avg)
1975
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
2023 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 11, 2023
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
89.2
Velo Range
87.8 - 89
Eff Velocity (avg)
90.3
Spin Rate (max)
2150
Spin Rate (avg)
2044
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
2022 Ohio State Games - Upperclass (Invite Only)
Oct 8, 2022
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
87.2
Velo Range
84.6 - 86.7
Eff Velocity (avg)
84.5
Spin Rate (max)
2143
Spin Rate (avg)
2026
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2022 Central Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 19, 2022
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
87.4
Velo Range
84.8 - 87.1
Eff Velocity (avg)
83.4
Spin Rate (max)
1979
Spin Rate (avg)
1833
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2022 Ohio Top Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jun 13, 2022
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
85.6
Velo Range
83.4 - 85.1
Eff Velocity (avg)
83.5
Spin Rate (max)
1954
Spin Rate (avg)
1852
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2022 Northern Ohio Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 20, 2022
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
84.5
Velo Range
82.5 - 84.4
Eff Velocity (avg)
83
Spin Rate (max)
2149
Spin Rate (avg)
2089
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2021 Northern Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jun 15, 2021
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
83.9
Velo Range
80.8 - 82.9
Eff Velocity (avg)
80.7
Spin Rate (max)
2048
Spin Rate (avg)
1900
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2021 Northern Ohio TPG Trials (Invite Only)
Jun 1, 2021
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
81.3
Velo Range
77.3 - 80
Eff Velocity (avg)
77.4
Spin Rate (max)
2042
Spin Rate (avg)
1930
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2021 Stark/Summit Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 14, 2021
Trackman - Fastball
Velocity (max)
81
Velo Range
77.7 - 81
Eff Velocity (avg)
78.7
Spin Rate (max)
2015
Spin Rate (avg)
1940
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Trackman - Curveball
77.6
Velocity (max)
(02/11/23)
72.8 - 77.2
Velo Range
(02/11/23)
75.5
Eff Velocity (avg)
(02/11/23)
2818
Spin Rate (max)
(02/11/23)
2663
Spin Rate (avg)
(02/11/23)
IVB (max)
(02/11/23)
IVB (avg)
(02/10/24)
HM (max)
(02/10/24)
HM (avg)
(02/10/24)
Extension (avg)
(02/11/23)
Release Ht (avg)
(10/08/22)
Spin Score (max)
(02/11/23)
Zone %
(10/08/22)
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
(02/10/24)
2024 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 10, 2024
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
77.5
Velo Range
74.8 - 76.7
Eff Velocity (avg)
73.9
Spin Rate (max)
2665
Spin Rate (avg)
2590
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
2023 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 11, 2023
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
77.6
Velo Range
72.8 - 77.2
Eff Velocity (avg)
75.5
Spin Rate (max)
2818
Spin Rate (avg)
2663
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
2022 Ohio State Games - Upperclass (Invite Only)
Oct 8, 2022
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
73.4
Velo Range
69.9 - 73
Eff Velocity (avg)
69
Spin Rate (max)
2468
Spin Rate (avg)
2378
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2022 Northern Ohio Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 20, 2022
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
71.8
Velo Range
68.8 - 71.3
Eff Velocity (avg)
68.2
Spin Rate (max)
2350
Spin Rate (avg)
2242
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
2021 Northern Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jun 15, 2021
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
71.3
Velo Range
67.1 - 70.4
Eff Velocity (avg)
66.6
Spin Rate (max)
2370
Spin Rate (avg)
2167
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2021 Northern Ohio TPG Trials (Invite Only)
Jun 1, 2021
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
64.7
Velo Range
64.5 - 64.7
Eff Velocity (avg)
63.4
Spin Rate (max)
2225
Spin Rate (avg)
2104
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2021 Stark/Summit Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 14, 2021
Trackman - Curveball
Velocity (max)
62.1
Velo Range
60.1 - 62.1
Eff Velocity (avg)
59.5
Spin Rate (max)
1883
Spin Rate (avg)
1860
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Trackman - Slider
80.8
Velocity (max)
(02/10/24)
78.0 - 80.8
Velo Range
(02/10/24)
76.9
Eff Velocity (avg)
(02/10/24)
2755
Spin Rate (max)
(02/10/24)
2743
Spin Rate (avg)
(02/11/23)
IVB (max)
(02/11/23)
IVB (avg)
(02/10/24)
HM (max)
(02/10/24)
HM (avg)
(02/10/24)
Extension (avg)
(02/11/23)
Release Ht (avg)
(06/13/22)
Spin Score (max)
(02/11/23)
Zone %
(07/19/22)
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
(02/10/24)
2024 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 10, 2024
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
80.8
Velo Range
78 - 80.8
Eff Velocity (avg)
76.9
Spin Rate (max)
2755
Spin Rate (avg)
2601
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
2023 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 11, 2023
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
76.4
Eff Velocity (avg)
76.3
Spin Rate (max)
2743
Spin Rate (avg)
2743
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Spin Efficiency % (avg)
2022 Ohio State Games - Upperclass (Invite Only)
Oct 8, 2022
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
76.3
Velo Range
74.8 - 75.7
Eff Velocity (avg)
72.9
Spin Rate (max)
2544
Spin Rate (avg)
2412
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2022 Central Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 19, 2022
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
75.6
Velo Range
72.5 - 74.8
Eff Velocity (avg)
70.5
Spin Rate (max)
2124
Spin Rate (avg)
2065
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2022 Ohio Top Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jun 13, 2022
Trackman - Slider
Velocity (max)
73.3
Velo Range
71.5 - 73.2
Eff Velocity (avg)
70.2
Spin Rate (max)
2107
Spin Rate (avg)
2010
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
Trackman - ChangeUp
78.3
Velocity (max)
(02/20/22)
75.5 - 78.3
Velo Range
(02/20/22)
72.8
Eff Velocity (avg)
(07/19/22)
1762
Spin Rate (max)
(02/14/21)
1685
Spin Rate (avg)
(02/14/21)
IVB (max)
(02/14/21)
IVB (avg)
(02/14/21)
HM (max)
(06/15/21)
HM (avg)
(06/15/21)
Extension (avg)
(02/14/21)
Release Ht (avg)
(02/14/21)
Spin Score (max)
(02/14/21)
Zone %
(06/15/21)
2022 Central Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 19, 2022
Trackman - ChangeUp
Velocity (max)
76.1
Velo Range
74.6 - 76.1
Eff Velocity (avg)
72.8
Spin Rate (max)
1393
Spin Rate (avg)
1355
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2022 Northern Ohio Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 20, 2022
Trackman - ChangeUp
Velocity (max)
78.3
Velo Range
75.5 - 78.3
Spin Rate (max)
1743
Spin Rate (avg)
1677
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
2021 Northern Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jun 15, 2021
Trackman - ChangeUp
Velocity (max)
73.8
Velo Range
72.3 - 73.8
Eff Velocity (avg)
72.2
Spin Rate (max)
1650
Spin Rate (avg)
1559
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Zone %
2021 Stark/Summit Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 14, 2021
Trackman - ChangeUp
Velocity (max)
70.9
Velo Range
65.5 - 70.9
Eff Velocity (avg)
67.9
Spin Rate (max)
1762
Spin Rate (avg)
1685
IVB (max)
IVB (avg)
HM (max)
HM (avg)
Extension (avg)
Release Ht (avg)
Spin Score (max)
Trackman - Hitting
98.5
Exit Velocity (max)
(02/20/22)
92.2
Exit Velocity (avg)
(02/20/22)
265
Distance (avg)
(07/19/22)
380
Distance (max)
(02/20/22)
Hard Hit %
(02/20/22)
Barrel %
(02/20/22)
Sweet Spot %
(06/01/21)
Line Drive %
(06/01/21)
Fly Ball %
(07/19/22)
Ground Ball %
(02/14/21)
2024 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 10, 2024
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
96.4
Exit Velocity (avg)
87.3
Distance (avg)
204
Distance (max)
361
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
2023 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 11, 2023
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
96.2
Exit Velocity (avg)
85.4
Distance (avg)
182
Distance (max)
367
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
2022 Ohio State Games - Upperclass (Invite Only)
Oct 8, 2022
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
95.2
Exit Velocity (avg)
85.4
Distance (avg)
149
Distance (max)
297
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
2022 Central Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 19, 2022
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
95.1
Exit Velocity (avg)
79.5
Distance (avg)
265
Distance (max)
365
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
2022 Northern Ohio Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 20, 2022
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
98.5
Exit Velocity (avg)
92.2
Distance (avg)
167
Distance (max)
380
Hard Hit %
Barrel %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
2021 Northern Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jun 15, 2021
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
92.1
Exit Velocity (avg)
78.9
Distance (avg)
251
Distance (max)
321
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
2021 Northern Ohio TPG Trials (Invite Only)
Jun 1, 2021
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
94.9
Exit Velocity (avg)
86.5
Distance (avg)
253
Distance (max)
332
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
2021 Southern Ohio Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 21, 2021
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
91.1
Exit Velocity (avg)
83.2
Distance (avg)
140
Distance (max)
200
Hard Hit %
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Fly Ball %
Ground Ball %
2021 Stark/Summit Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 14, 2021
Trackman - Hitting
Exit Velocity (max)
85.6
Exit Velocity (avg)
80.3
Distance (avg)
83
Distance (max)
218
Sweet Spot %
Line Drive %
Ground Ball %
Blast - Hitting
24.3
Hand Speed (max)
(02/11/23)
23.4
Hand Speed (avg)
(02/20/22)
85.7
Bat Speed (max)
(07/19/22)
74.1
Bat Speed (avg)
(07/19/22)
Rot. Acc (max)
(07/19/22)
Rot. Acc (avg)
(07/19/22)
On Plane Eff (avg)
(02/21/21)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
(02/11/23)
2023 Ohio ProCase (Invite Only)
Feb 11, 2023
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
24.3
Hand Speed (avg)
23.4
Bat Speed (max)
75.6
Bat Speed (avg)
73.3
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
2022 Ohio State Games - Upperclass (Invite Only)
Oct 8, 2022
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
23.1
Hand Speed (avg)
21.6
Bat Speed (max)
69.8
Bat Speed (avg)
67.5
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
2022 Central Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jul 19, 2022
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
23.2
Hand Speed (avg)
22.2
Bat Speed (max)
85.7
Bat Speed (avg)
74.1
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
2022 Northern Ohio Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 20, 2022
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
24.1
Hand Speed (avg)
23.4
Bat Speed (max)
73.5
Bat Speed (avg)
71.8
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
2021 Northern Ohio Prospect Games (Invite Only)
Jun 15, 2021
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
22.2
Hand Speed (avg)
21.2
Bat Speed (max)
78.8
Bat Speed (avg)
69.3
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
2021 Northern Ohio TPG Trials (Invite Only)
Jun 1, 2021
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
23.3
Hand Speed (avg)
22
Bat Speed (max)
79
Bat Speed (avg)
72.7
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
2021 Southern Ohio Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 21, 2021
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
23.8
Hand Speed (avg)
21.6
Bat Speed (max)
72.7
Bat Speed (avg)
67.5
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
2021 Stark/Summit Preseason All-State (Invite Only)
Feb 14, 2021
Blast - Hitting
Hand Speed (max)
22.5
Hand Speed (avg)
21.2
Bat Speed (max)
73.6
Bat Speed (avg)
64.6
Rot. Acc (max)
Rot. Acc (avg)
On Plane Eff (avg)
MaxOnPlaneEfficiency
Pitch_Scores
Pitch Scores - Fastball
Hop+
(02/10/24)
Rise+
(10/08/22)
Sink+
(02/10/24)
Pitch Scores - Curveball
Hammer+
(02/10/24)
Sweep+
(02/10/24)
Pitch Scores - Slider
Hammer+
(02/10/24)
Sweep+
(02/10/24)
Swift
Swift
1.92
10-yd
(10/08/22)
4.28
30-yd
(10/08/22)
7.39
60-yd
(02/10/24)
18.8
Run speed (max)
(10/08/22)
1.68
RSi (max)
(10/08/22)
1.68
RSi (avg)
(10/08/22)
1748
Jump Power (max)
(10/08/22)
25.5
Jump Height (max)
(10/08/22)
24.6
Jump Height (avg)
(10/08/22)
2022 Ohio State Games - Upperclass (Invite Only)
Oct 8, 2022
Swift
10-yd
1.92
30-yd
4.28
60-yd
7.55
Run speed (max)
18.8
RSi (max)
1.68
RSi (avg)
1.68
Jump Power (max)
1748
Jump Height (max)
25.5
Jump Height (avg)
24.6
Videos
(10/8/22)
(7/19/22)
Player News
- Players Show They Are Among Best In The State - Feb 20, 2024
- 2024 Ohio Procase Advanced Metrics: Hitting Leaderboard - Feb 12, 2024
- 2024 Ohio Procase Advanced Metrics: Trackman Analytics - Pitching Leaderboard - Feb 12, 2024
- Results From 2024 Ohio Procase - Feb 12, 2024
- Heff's Hits: 2023 Ohio ProCase Edition - Feb 20, 2023
- Top Players In The State Show Well At Ohio Procase - Feb 20, 2023
- 2023 Ohio ProCase: Trackman Analytics - Pitching Leaderboard - Feb 13, 2023
- 2023 Ohio ProCase Advanced Metrics: Hitting/Speed Leaderboard - Feb 13, 2023
- Results From 2023 Ohio ProCase - Feb 12, 2023
- Cerha And Ohio University Connected Quickly - Jan 3, 2023
- 2022 Ohio State Games: Upperclass - Quick Hits - Oct 12, 2022
- Results From 2022 Ohio State Games - Upperclass - Oct 10, 2022
- Results From 2022 Central Ohio Prospect Games - Jul 21, 2022
- Results From 2022 Top Prospect Games - Jun 15, 2022
- 2022 Top Prospect Games - Quick Hits - Jun 15, 2022
- 2022 Northern Ohio Preseason All-State - Quick Hits - Mar 8, 2022
- Results From 2022 Northern Ohio Preseason All-State - Feb 21, 2022
- On Deck Preview: 2022 Northern Ohio Preseason All-State Showcase - Feb 9, 2022
- Results From 2021 Northern Ohio Prospect Games - Jun 18, 2021
- 2021 Northern Ohio Prospect Games - Quick Hits - Jun 18, 2021
- 2021 Northern Ohio TPG Trials - Quick Hits - Jun 6, 2021
- Results From 2021 Northern Ohio TPG Trials - Jun 4, 2021
- 2021 Southern Ohio Preseason All-State - Quick Hits - Mar 10, 2021
- 2021 Stark/Summit Preseason All-State - Quick Hits - Mar 3, 2021
- Results From 2021 Southern Ohio Preseason All-State - Feb 23, 2021
- Results From 2021 Stark/Summit Preseason All-State - Feb 16, 2021
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Cerha And Ohio University Connected Quickly
CHAGRIN FALLS - Rarely does a process move so quickly. But that was the case for Jimmy Cerha, who talked with Ohio University on a Wednesday and four days later was committed to the Mid-American Conference school.
“My summer coach Jeremy Young got me in touch with (assistant) coach (Justin) Sumner and that opened the door,” explained Cerha, who began playing travel ball for Ohio Elite this year. “He set me up with the pitching coach (Tim Brown) and we really connected. We talked on a Wednesday and he invited me to two camps, one that Sunday and one in January. I decided to go to the one on Sunday.
“After that he reached out to all my coaches and he really liked what he heard. I went on an unofficial visit on Saturday and really liked the campus, I liked the facilities and the downtown area. I threw well at the camp on Sunday and they offered. Two hours later I decided. It checked all the boxes for me and I said I think that’s where I want to be.
“It all happened so fast,” Cerha added. “I talked to the coach on Wednesday and committed on Sunday. Saturday was awesome. Not only do they have a good baseball program but they have good sport management and business programs.”
It brought an end to a recruiting process that picked up immensely in the fall.
“My coach reached out to college coaches and then I reached out after that,” the Kenston junior related. “Once I hit 90 on the radar the second week of November I started getting a lot more responses back and talking to more coaches. There was Lake Erie and Kent State before, then others after that. Akron, Ohio State, Xavier and Toledo.”
But it was Ohio U that proved to be right for the 19th-ranked 2024 right-handed pitcher in the state, a 3.75 high school student with aspirations to major in sport management in college.
“They really like my attitude and that I’m a very hard worker and a very coachable player,” Cerha said. “They really like my curveball and the way I attack hitters with my fastball.”
The ability to throw heat helped the cause for the 6-3 200-pounder, who this year transferred back to Kenston where he attended school through sixth grade.
“I was lifting really hard this offseason but I started losing velo so I worked on running more, getting faster, using med balls and doing more stretching to be a more mobile and faster athlete,” Cerha noted. “I worked on that in the fall and went from 84 during the high school season to 90 in November.”
In addition to coach Young, Cerha gave credit to his high school coach Joseph Hritz, who “shared some kind words with coach Brown and said I was hard working and would be willing to do what they taught me.” Mike Grady is another that played a major role “making me really strive to become the best player I can be.”
Even the quick process with OU was a surprise to his pitching coach.
“In talking to Mike Grady, he said I’d probably not get offered on Sunday but that they’d tell me they’d keep an eye on me,” Cerha reflected. “I went there and threw nice and easy and (head) coach (Craig) Moore said he wanted me and gave me an offer after that. I was surprised but very excited. I said I wanted to think about it, but in talking to my family in the car on the way home it checked the boxes so I told the coaches I want to be with them for the next four years.”
The idea of playing at the next level began early.
“In fourth grade I started taking pitching lessons,” the 51st-rated 2024 in Ohio said. “I worked with (Kent State pitching coach Mike) Birkbeck’s son when I was 10-years-old. I wasn’t getting really good yet, that came with maturity, but I really started to want to play college baseball in the sixth grade. When I was 14 I was a strike thrower throwing 78 miles an hour. In the fall of my freshman year I was up to 80 and that’s when I started taking it seriously and working hard to be the best player I can be.”
Exposure played a role at that point in time.
“PBR definitely helped get me out there,” Cerha related. “At the State Games I topped at 87. I struck out five of seven hitters and gave up no runs. College coaches definitely saw me there.
“In August/September I started emailing and texting coaches but wasn’t getting a lot of responses back and that was very stressful. So at the time I narrowed it down to a five-hour radius, I decided I wanted to stay close to my family. My coach and I started reaching out to schools in October and we talked to the recruiting coordinator at Ohio State and the same thing with Akron. But then Ohio came into the picture.”
Cerha is confident about what he can provide the program in Athens, which is three hours and 15 minutes from his home in Chagrin Falls.
“I’ll bring my winning attitude,” Cerha noted. “I want the team to win a MAC championship. There’s an empty shelf in the locker room and coach says that’s for the next championship. I want to bring my pitching and help the team the best I can. He expects me to pitch as a freshman. He expects that out of everyone that comes in. I want to do that and continue working hard and developing.”
It has the 17-year-old excited about a future once his days at Kenston come to an end.
“My focus right now is to win a state championship with my high school team this year, that was one of the reasons I came back,” Cerha concluded. “At Ohio I’m looking forward to winning a championship and bonding with teammates, walking around with my teammates in the downtown area and hanging out with them as much as I can. I’m also looking forward to going to church with coach Moore on Sunday’s and going to the coach’s house for cookouts.”