By Dylan Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer/Northwest Scout

No. 21 Marysville High School

Marysville and 1st year head coach Mark Brunswick have high hopes for the 2014 season. In 2013, the Monarchs finished 22-8, 9-5 Ohio Capital Conference, bowing out in the regional semifinals to Gahanna Lincoln.

The Monarchs return six starters, and talented starters they are. Coach Brunswick will look to an experienced team to take charge and have a long run come tournament time.

The Monarchs projected lineup looks like this:

St. Xavier and 1st year head coach Bob Sherlock are looking to improve on a 16-12 record in 2013, falling to the eventual state champions Moeller in the district semifinals. The Bombers are a perennial power in division one and with the return of seven starters and four pitchers have the Bombers looking to climb the mountain in the difficult Greater Catholic League.

The Bombers will be led by one of the top players in the state, Jordan McDonough, who is committed to The Ohio State University, ranked number six in Ohio and 63rd overall in the 2014 class, pictured left.

Other top players for the Bombers include:

• Nate Chipman 6' 1" 190, unsigned senior whose fastball is in the mid-80s, but could pick up some velocity with further coaching and development. 
• Nick Tensing 6' 5" 200 lbs. LHP/1B outstanding baseball player; will probably play football in college  
• Eric Jaun 6' 1" 180 lbs. Bats: R Throws: R - very athletic, will compete for a spot at shortstop or in the outfield
• Spencer Helwig 6' 0" 175 lbs. outstanding athlete - backup catcher - started at 3B last year as a sophomore, pictured right
• Alex Kenner 6' 1" 225 RHP will be counted on to make significant contributions as a starting pitcher in 2014
• Andrew Fisher 6' 2" 170 lbs. LHP great frame, still raw but developing

A few other underclassmen to look out for in the future include:

• Noah Mehrle 6' 1" 165 Bats: R Throws: R excellent throwing arm; will compete for spot at shortstop or in the outfield
• JP Bitzenhofer 6' 1" 170 Bats: R Throws: R could be second best catcher in program next to McDonough; 7.2 60 yd. dash; strong offensively as well
• Ben Elsen 6' 0" 175 RHP/OF/INF velocity in low-to-mid 80s; repeats motion well; will also see time in field at shortstop or third base, pictured right

No. 23 Pickerington North High School

Head coach Tim Thomas and the Pickerington North Panthers had an entertaining 2013 season, finishing 25-5. The Panthers fell to Hilliard Darby in the district finals by a final score of 2-0.

The Panthers return just four starters, but look to reload in the 2014 season and make a run come tournament time.

Pickerington North's top players include a mix of upper and lower classmen:

• Justin Childers - Sr- 6'2 190 r/r - INF & P, Northern Kentucky commit, ranked number 85 in 2014 class.
  
• Hayden Ballog - Sr - 5'9 150 r/r INF
• Logan Giddings - Jr 6'1 185 l/r INF/OF/P, ranked number 32 in Ohio and 225 overall in the 2015 class, pictured above.
  
• Brendan Green - Jr - 5'9 160
• Trezden Johnson - Soph 5'11 175 r/r, OF/P, ranked number 37 in 2016 class, pictured right.
  
• Jake Edwards - P/INF
• Colin Anderson - C/P
• Derek Herd - INF/P
• Kobe Rush - P/INF

No. 24 Hudson High School 

The Hudson Explorers and head coach Buddy Dice finished 2013 with an impressive 24-6, 9-1 NOC Valley record. The Explorers fell to Brunswick in the district finals last season.

In 2014, coach Dice and the Explorers return five starters and six pitchers from a 24 win team. The Explorers have a nice mix of upper and lower classmen who have their eyes geared toward a league championship and long tournament run:

The upper classmen include:

• Joey Cahill, OF/1B/P, sr, 5'8 175. L/L, Hit 333 last year w/ 9 doubles & 1 HR & .439 as sophomore. 4.2 GPA & 31 ACT- looking at Northwestern, ranked number 252 in 2014 class, pictured above to left.
• Nanak Saran, P/1B, sr, 6'2" 170, R/R, 2-2 2.23 era - batted in middle of order hitting 369 with 10 doubles, looking to continue baseball & academics at Wooster or Marietta, ranked number 151 in 2014 class, pictured right.
• Kevin Zullo, P/1B, sr, 6'3" 195, R/R, 7-0 & 1 save. .662 era - bigger & stronger tan last year, looking to continue baseball & academics at Ohio Weslyn or John Carrol, ranked number 281 in 2014 class
  
• Travis Wood - OF/C jr. - 6'1" 185lbs, R/R, brother coaches at Kenyon - has grown into frame & will compete for starting position
• Jake Stuursma - SS, jr. 5'10" 160, R/R, smooth hands with good range, lettered as sophomore
• Dean Miller, OF, jr. 5'8" 160lbs, R/R, starting tailback on football team - FAST with some pop.

A few underclassmen that look to contribute down the line include:

• Ian Swan. RHP, soph, 6'2" 195, R/R
• Jackson Hickert, RHP, soph. 6'2" 190, R/R
• Mac Schoenman, OF, soph. 5'7" 140.

 

No. 25 Loveland High School

Head coach Ken Reed and the Loveland Tigers finished 2013 with a 20-7, 9-3 Eastern Cincinnati Conference record. The Tigers fell to Lakota East 4-3 in the district semifinals.

The Tigers return lots of talent from the 20 win team, including seven returning starters and four pitchers. The Tigers look to have a very experienced senior laden team in 2014. Some of the top seniors include:

• Brian Bullock RHP SR 5'11 185 R-R, 5-3 1.89 ERA 33K 1st Team All-ECC, Lake Erie College commit, ranked number 69 in 2014 class, pictured above left.
• Darren Sackett C SR 5'10 185 L-R, .312 BA, 32 RBI, 1st Team All-ECC, Lake Erie College commit, ranked number 126 in 2014 class, pictured right.
• Reid Waddell SS SR 5'10 165 R-R, .36 BA, 26 RBI, 1st Team All-ECC
• Trevor Simon LHP SR 6'1 190 L-L; Transfer from Amelia
• Jacob Wagoner RHP SR 6'1 185 R-R, 2-0 1.50 ERA 3 Saves, ranked number 266 in the 2014 class.
  
• Nathan Dickerson 2B 5'8 165 R-R, .359 BA 8 SB

Some of the top underclassmen include: