High School baseball at a glance

INTER TRI-COUNTY LEAUGE

MINERAL RIDGE

Division IV

Coach: Andrew Barker, second year at Ridge, 66-46 career record.

2012: 10-15, 6-8 in ITCL.

Projected starters: Dan Ferguson, C, senior (.556 average, 25 RBI, 36 runs in 2012); Greg Strohmeyer, P/SS, junior (3.88 ERA); Nick Ferguson, P/IF, sophomore (4-3 record); Mike White, P/IF, senior (.307 average, 21 runs); Brandon Bukofchan, IF/OF, senior; Darren Colon, OF, sophomore; Christian Young, OF, junior; Aaron Frantz, IF/P, freshman; Mac White, IF/OF/P, freshman.

Other varsity players: Collin Cameron, IF/OF/C/P, sophomore; Kyle Barnett, IF, sophomore; Angel Wilson, IF, sophomore; Albert Alli, IF/P, freshman; Jared Gherardi, IF/P, freshman; Ted Stevens, IF, freshman; Mike Weimer, OF, freshman.

Coach’s outlook: Strengths for Mineral Ridge include senior leadership, a strong work ethic, an improved defense, and the return of the top two hitters, Dan Ferguson and Mike White, and the top two pitchers, Greg Strohmeyer and Nick Ferguson. The Rams are for the most part inexperienced and will miss starting CF John Thomas from last year.

McDONALD

Division IV

Coach: Matt Vukovic, first year.

2012: 18-6, 10-4 in ITCL.

Projected starters: Mike Raschilla, IF, senior; Christian Rusinowski, IF/OF, senior; Tommy Rebraca, C, junior; Mike Schuller, IF, junior; Matt Manna, OF, junior; Brian Kelzer, OF/C, junior; Cameron Ifft, OF, sophomore; Mike Soots, IF, sophomore; Garrett Mulrooney, 1B, freshman; Ben Carkido, 1B/OF, freshman.

Other varsity players: Alex Dickson, IF/OF, sophomore; Bill Wolfrom, 1B, sophomore; Braden Parker, OF, sophomore; Josh Butryn, IF, junior; Jake Billock, 1B, sophomore.

Coach’s outlook: Coming off a successful 2012 the Blue Devils have a large chunk of the team back with great leadership from our two seniors. Expectations are high and the team is intense in practice. Our greatest strength is the players’ ability to play anywhere we ask them. Our greatet weakness will be replacing the senior pitching we lost.

COLUMBIANA - Division III

Coach: Scott Knox, 83-61 in 5 years at Columbiana; 236-133 career record.

2012: 8-19.

Projected starters: Nate Garofalo, SS, junior (18 runs in 2012); Garrett Patrick, 2B, senior (16 RBI); Bryce Franken, CF, junior; Steve Kurilla, DH, junior; Richie Fitch, P, senior (3-3 record); Devin Rice, 3B, sophomore (15 RBI), Austin Mines, LF, senior (3.44 ERA); Drew Cyrus, RF, sophomore; Tisen Martin, C, junior; Kane Kyle, 1B, senior (.304 average); Austin Saverko, 3B, sophomore; Zach Martin, OF, freshman; Nate Armstrong, C, freshman; Chase Green, OF, junior; Reid Flerson, OF, senior; Matt Weidner, IF, sophomore.

Coach’s outlook: The Clippers strength is overall experience with depth at all positions. Pitching and team defense will be the keys for succes in a very balanced ITCL Tier Two.

CRESTVIEW

Division III

Coach: Matt Strank, fourth year, 48-29 career record.

2012: 16-10, 8-6 in ITCL.

Projected starters: Anthony Marnejon, CF/P, senior (.455 average in 2012, 15 SB, 27 runs, 17 RBI); Austin Eskra, SS/P, senior (.362 average, 18 runs, 2.30 ERA, 43 Ks, 3 shutouts); Brandon Jayne, 3B/P, senior (.314 average, 16 runs, 16 RBI); Andrew Batchelor, 2B/P, senior (.304 average, 19 runs); Zach Thompson, C, senior (.321 average); Derek Bable, 1B/P, senior (.357 average); Evan Nentwick, LF, senior; Jake Ferris, RF/P, junior; Dylan Hart, IF/P, junior.

Other varsity players: Nick Rizdon, 1B/P, junior; Josh Desalvo, IF/P, junior; Austin Oates, IF/C, senior; Josh McCoogan, C/IF, sophomore; Mike McDonough, OF/P, freshman; Spencer Desalvo, OF/P, freshman.

Coach’s outlook: The Rebels have eight players who will be playing their second or third season at the varsity level. Though many have not been everyday players in the past, they will be relied on to make up for production lost to graduation. The league is expected to be much improved behind favorites Springfield and South Range.

EAST PALESTINE

Division III

Coach: Adam Fill, 2 years at East Palestine.

2012: 1-17.

Projected starters: Blaze Chamberlain, 3B, sophomore; Alec Dumbauld, C, junior; Justin Fristik, P/1B, junior; Nate Keylor, SS/P, senior; Hayden Moore, 2B, senior; Jaret Spratt 1B/3B/P, freshman; Drew Wilson, LF, junior; Ricky Telishak, CF, sophomore; Tyler Visnick, RF, senior.

Other varsity players: Andy Ellis, P/1B/OF, sophomore; Josh Fristik, SS/2B, freshman; Colin Reidy, SS/OF, sophomore; Jeremy Sodergren, 2B, senior; Sam Yarosz, SS/C/3B, freshman.

Coach’s outlook: The Bulldogs will look to be competitive as they rebuild the program. The upperclassmen are improving and the freshman group is very talented, the future is looking up. A strength will be experience as only one senior graduated and EP returns letter winners at all but one position.

NORTHEASTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

MATHEWS

Division IV

Coach: Jared Terlecky, first year.

2012: 15-11, 12-5 in NAC.

Projected starters: Nate Homan, P/1B, senior; Andy Morgan, P/C, senior; Aaron Suchanek, SS/P, senior; Alex Bagaglia, 3B/P, junior; Jeremy Forsythe, CF/P, junior; Dominic DiTommaso, 2B, junior; Matt Harries, OF, junior; Mike Kennedy, 1B/OF, sophomore; Bryan Leipply, SS/OF, freshman.

Other varsity players: Angelo Freed, C/OF, junior; Cobie Pratt, OF/2B, sophomore; Rob Helmick, OF, freshman.

Coach’s outlook: The Mustangs’ outlook is solid and they should be poised for a good season. Their strength is pitching as the three top starters from last year (Homan, Bagaglia, Forsythe) return. The key to a great season in a wide open NAC race is for the young players to grow up fast, contribute and fill the holes left from last year.

MAPLEWOOD

Division IV

Coach: Mark Trevelline, 12 years at Maplewood.

2012: 18-12.

Projected starters: All 15 players could be starters during a year to build on for the future.

Coach’s outlook: The Rockets are a young team with no seniors on the roster and three first-year players. It is a hard-working group that just needs to get out and play games.

BRISTOL

Division IV

Coach: Jeff Thompson, third year, 19-21.

2012: 12-12, 10-8 in the NAC.

Projected starters: Chad Oliver, 1B/P, senior; Brandon Lee, 2B, junior; Zeth Tomasiak, SS/P, sophomore (2.93 ERA in 2012); Aaron Wiebe, 3B/P, junior; Kevin Chirozzi, C, senior; Zach Dibell, OF/P, senior; Johnny Simcox, IF/OF, junior; Aaron Williams, OF, sophomore.

Other varsity players: Dursin Orr, OF, senior; Lucas Chapman, IF/C, junior; Tylor Markley, OF, junior; Jake Felicetty, C, sophomore; Brian Burggraf, IF, freshman.

Coach’s outlook: The Panthers have good overall team speed and athletic ability with 10 players from the undefeated basketball team. Some have not played baseball for a few years but are very athletic and know what it takes to win. Weaknesses included overall experience and a lack of power.

GRAND VALLEY

Division III

Coach: Russ Bell, 11th season, 118-124.

2012: 30-2, 18-0 in NAC, regional champion, lost state semifinal 2-0 to Lima Central Catholic.

Projected starters: Stanley Sirrine, C/P, senior (.532 average, 24 runs, 22 RBI); Nate Wengerd, SS/P, senior (.353 average, 21 runs); Kyle Orgovan, 3B/OF/C/P, senior (.367 average); Tim Steed, 3B/P, senior; Chandler Verhas, 1B/P, junior; Austin Wagner, 2B, senior; Heath Martin, OF/P, senior; Frankie Chudzik, OF/P, junior; Jimmy Lamar, OF, senior; Matt Larned, UTIL/P, freshman.

Other varsity players: Josh Kovats, OF/P, senior; Jack Scott, OF/DH, junior.

Coach’s outlook: The Mustangs lost all of the pitchers they used during their tournament run but expect solid mound performances from Wengerd, Orgovan and Steed. Sirrine is a strength at catcher and also will have to pitch. GV does not expect to approach the offensive production from last season and may look to find ways to manufacture runs. Grand Valley lost seven starters to graduation but the talent waiting in the wings may surprise some.

Staff report