NORTHEAST OHIO CONFERENCE

Elyria Pioneers

Coach: Steve Sunagel
2007 Record: 14-14
Returning letterwinners (11): Brenton Brada, sr., P-OF; Cameron Bate, sr. 3B; Jacob Dorow, sr., P-DH; Stephen Howard, sr., P; Tyler Robinson, sr., P-OF; Victor Stewart, sr., C; Mike Sito, sr., P-OF; Seth Harshberger, jr., P-1B; John Koepf, jr., P-SS; Nolan Neuschaefer jr., OF; Dan Poskocil, jr., 2B-P.
Newcomers: Ryan Craycraft, sr.; OF; Steve Morales, sr., 3B-C; David Daggett, jr., P-1B; D.J. Hallauer jr., OF; Kyle Hodgeman, jr., OF; Nick Toney, jr., C; Kyle Salyan, so., P-2B.
How they will beat you: Starting pitching and experience, especially from a good junior class.
How you can beat them: Hitting, particularly in clutch situations, is a question mark so far.
Outlook: The Northeast Ohio Conference has put Elyria in the division with Brunswick, Lakewood, Medina, North Royalton and Strongsville. Sunagel believes the Pioneers can contend for a title, but also realizes his team will need to be on its toes at all times. Howard (3-2, 2.63 ERA) and Harshberger (2-1, 2.19) are the leading returning pitchers. Koepf (.346), Stewart (.322) and Neuschaefer (.318, 16 RBIs) bring muscle to the plate.  
The coach says: “Our new conference is tough. There will be no games off, and I’m not sure anyone will run away with it. But this team has some of the best attitudes I’ve seen in a long time. The players are giving me a total team effort.”

NORTH COAST LEAGUE

Elyria Catholic Panthers

Coach: Tom Kubuski
2007 Record: 12-11 (6-7 NCL)
Returning letterwinners (9): Edwin Cruz, sr., SS; Joe Fitch, sr., P-1B; Brian Hart, sr., P-3B; Jacob Julio, sr., OF-C; Kyle Koberna, sr., P-OF; Drew Spinney, sr., Jake Suetta, sr., OF; Mike Norton, jr., 2B; Andrew Kubuski, so., P-OF.
Newcomers: Ben Inman, sr., IF; Nick Stock, sr., OF; Paul Kubuski, jr., P-IF; Craig Wiehe, jr., P-OF.
How they will beat you: By not making errors.
How you can beat them: EC wasn’t good at holding slim leads going into seventh innings. Unless their pitchers find a way to slam the door late in a game they’re vulnerable.
Outlook: Some inflated earned-run averages on the pitching staff are misleading. The Panthers blew too many leads after strong pitching performances in the early innings and that must change if they want to improve. There is good hitting with Suetta (.343), Julio (.344) and Koberna (.326, 16 RBIs). Norton was elevated from the junior varsity and hit .500 with 10 RBIs in seven games. Kubuski also came up from the JV and batted .348 with two home runs in seven games. Fitch (2-2, 1.89 ERA) is the top returning pitcher.
The coach says: “We lost six games by one run and two games by two runs when we got to the seventh with a lead. That means a lot when your team has a 12-11 record. Holding leads becomes a confidence thing. The pitchers have to find ways to bear down when we have a chance to win.”

PATRIOT ATHLETIC CONFERENCE

STARS DIVISION

Black River Pirates

Coach: Rob Johnson, 1st year
2007 Record: 8-13 (PAC record not available)
Returning letterwinners (4): Tim Twining, sr., P-1B; David Gentry, jr., SS; Nate Joppeck, jr., C-P; Jake Wright, so., C-3B.
Newcomers: Ryan Siwicki, sr., P-2B; Chase Smith, sr.,
OF-P; Ryan Coleman, jr., OF-P; Anthony O’Connor, jr., OF; Jacob O’Connor, fr., OF; Jon Sas, fr., P.
How they will beat you: Speed on the basepaths and in the outfield, solid defense, decent hitting for average and power.
How you can beat them: Take advantage of a lot of inexperienced pitching.
Outlook: The Pirates’ four returning starters are all strong hitters. Twining batted .333 in ’07 with three homers and a team-leading 18 runs batted in. Wright (.385), Joppeck (.316) and Gentry (302, 10 stolen bases) swung goods bats last year. Three from a conference-champion junior varsity hit better than .370 in ’07. Pitching is a concern, as seven of the Pirates’ eight victories have graduated. Joppeck was 1-1 with a 2.80 ERA in ’07 and Siwick had a 1.25 ERA on the JV. Smith is expected to provide plenty of athletic ability in center field.
The coach says: “We have a very fast team and play a strong defense. Our junior class is very talented. We just have a way to go with our pitching. It’ll all come down to pitching this year.”

Brookside Cardinals

Coach: Dan Zagorsky
2007 Record: 12-9 (7-6 PAC)
Returning letterwinners (8): Josh Doehring, sr., C-OF; Carl Fitzer, sr., SS-P; Ronnie Gunter, sr., 1B; Tony Pyles, sr., OF; Jared Ramirez, sr., P-3B; Zack Upton, sr., P-2B; Paul Gratton, jr., C-3B; Chris Prankunis, jr., P-OF.
Newcomers: Kyle Stevens, sr., OF; Steve Craig, jr., IF; Stephan Moody, so., 1B-OF; Rocky Radeff, so., C-OF.
How they will beat you: Hitting and speed.
How you can beat them: Get past the top two pitchers — Upton and Ramirez — and you have a shot.
Outlook: This is a veteran team that should produce another winning record and a good postseason run. Pyles (.400, 15 stolen bases in 2007), Ramirez (.377, 14 RBIs), Upton (.368, 20 RBIs) and Fitzer (.303, 13 RBIs) are solid. Gunter batted .324 in limited time. If a third starter emerges to complement Upton (4-2, 1.42 ERA) and Ramirez (3-2, 3.16 ERA) the Cardinals should be a team to watch.
The coach says: “We have two guys who are four-year lettermen (Gunter, Upton) and a few three-year guys. They should be patient and be able to handle pressure real well. We went to a regional two years ago, so they all ought to know what to expect and be able to handle themselves this year.”

Keystone Wildcats

Coach: Mark Clement
2007 Record: 24-7 (12-1 PAC, Division II district champion)
Returning letterwinners (6): Kyle Shaw, sr., P-OF; Steve Wirth, sr., P-OF; Tim Giesel, jr., C-IF; Tyler Minnich, jr., P-OF; Andrew Pearce, jr., IF; Jim Reid, so., IF.
How they will beat you: Outstanding left-handed pitching and solid hitting.
How you can beat them: Do not give Shaw a pitch he can drive over the fence. Keep the younger hitters in the back of the lineup in check.
Outlook: Expect another strong season. Shaw and Wirth were all-district and all-county in 2007. Shaw hit .439 with 43 hits, five home runs and 21 runs batted in. Giesel (.388), Reid (.339) and Wirth (.311) are strong hitters. Wirth, Shaw and Minnich were a combined 15-5 with 167 strikeouts in 134 innings last season.
The coach says: “We return three of our four left-handed starting pitchers, but we lost a lot of good bats to graduation. We need to find bats to fill in for the Class of 2007. Also, our defense needs to improve.”

Wellington Dukes

Coach: Roger Sasack
2007 Record: 13-14 (7-6 PAC)
Returning letterwinners (6): Michael Gray, sr., C; Kull McClurg, sr., P-3B; Erick Saunders, sr., P-OF; Tim Seabold, sr., 2B; Blake Sword, sr., SS; Donovan Moroney, jr., P-OF.
Newcomers: Zach Sudyam, sr., P; Aaron Grimmett, jr.,
P-1B; Daniel Hrnchar, jr., OF; Michael Whitney, jr., OF.
How they will beat you: Scoring a lot of runs.
How you can beat them: Scoring even more runs, as the Dukes’ pitchers gave as much as they got in 2007.
Outlook: Good hitting is in great supply. The Dukes are led by All-Ohio candidate McClurg (.458, 10 doubles, 13 stolen bases, 21 RBIs in 2007), Moroney (.376, 23 RBIs), Gray (.342, seven home runs, 27 RBIs), Seabold (.342) and Sword (.320). The pitching is the question mark. The Dukes squandered many big leads in ’07 and lost a lot of close games.
The coach says: “I’m not worried about our hitting. We have a lot of pop in our bats. The middle of the lineup is very powerful. If I can find a leadoff hitter, we’ll be in good shape this year.”

STRIPES DIVISION

Clearview Clippers

Coach: Al Stacey
2007 Record: 5-15 (2-10 PAC)
Returning letterwinners (7): Ben Cline, sr., IF; Anthony Henson, sr., OF; Mike Pearson, jr., IF-P; John Rosser, jr., C-IF; James Washington, jr., P-OF; Josh Weber, jr., IF-P; Lucas Wright, jr., OF.
Newcomers: Alex Zsigrey, jr., OF; Kyle Baughman, so.,
C-P; Eric Thompson, so., P-OF; Ian Mezlak, fr., IF-OF.
How they will beat you: Depth and athletic ability.
How you can beat them: Take advantage of Clearview’s youth and overall inexperience.
Outlook: More than five victories for the Clippers this year looks like a good bet. The junior and sophomore classes are talented. Still, Clearview might be a season away from seriously challenging the PAC’s best programs. Henson and Rosser were all-conference picks in 2007.
The coach says: “Not having the people to move around and not having enough arms to put out on the mound has been Clearview’s Achilles’ heel. On the strength of two big classes, sophomore and junior, that’s changed. We have some versatility.”

Columbia Raiders

Coach: Ed Piazza
2007 Record: 18-9 (10-3 PAC)
Returning letterwinners (4): Tony Riolo, sr., SS-P; Matt Traut, sr., OF; Matt Popiel, jr., C-P; A.J. DiDonato, jr., OF-C.
Newcomers: Nick Pallendino, sr., IF; Elliot Koncos, jr., C; Mitch Hengst, so., UT; John Kurowski, so., P; C.J. Shope, so., 2B-P; Tommy Petrus, fr., IF-OF.
How they will beat you: Strength up the middle with Popiel, Riolo and Traut.
How you can beat them: For the first time in a long time, Columbia has an inexperienced team.
Outlook: A bunch of youngsters will be expected to contribute if the Raiders want a third straight Stripes Division championship. Riolo (.412) was first team All-PAC in 2007 and has been switched from second in the batting order to third. Traut (.283), according to his coach, is the best center fielder in the conference. Popiel hit .302 in ’07.
The coach says: “We always want to contend for a conference title, but because we are so young we want to get better with each game.”

Lutheran West Longhorns

Coach: Dave Sellke
2007 Record: 7-13 (5-7 PAC)
Returning letterwinners (8): Matt Bekebrede, sr., P-1B; Andrew Thomas, sr., P-SS; Dan Tomola, sr., P-C; Adam Moses, jr., 3B; Caleb O’Hara, jr., OF; Ryan Jones, so., OF; Cal Thomay, so., P-SS; Billy Valletto, so., C-P.
Newcomers: Rodney Bassett, so., 2B; Justin Chislow, so., P-SS; Mike Holick, so., OF.
How they will beat you: Youthful enthusiasm, coupled with good pitching and excellent speed.
How you will beat them: The Longhorns’ ability to hit with consistently is uncertain.
Outlook: A lot is new on Linden Avenue. Sellke returns to coach the program he started 21 years ago. There’s some returning talent, particularly the hitting of Jones (.393), who made All-PAC as a freshman. Sellke believes newcomers Chislow, possibly the best all-around talent, and super-fast Holick have given the program a shot in the arm. Thomay went 3-2 with a 1.50 ERA as a freshman. Moses (.328), Tomola (.333) and Bekebrede (.300) could make the Longhorns a formidable hitting team.
The coach says: “I think we’re headed in the right direction. We scrimmaged Lakewood and shut them down, so I’m hoping to be competitive in the conference. We have a nice mix of youngsters and veterans. The team chemistry is good.”     

Oberlin Phoenix

Coach: Phil Kuchta
2007 Record: 0-23 (0-13 PAC)
Returning letterwinners (4): Tyler Gerber, sr., P-OF; Steve Kilgore Jr., sr., OF; Dylan Rogers, sr., C-P; Shwuan Stevenson, sr., 1B.
Newcomers: Zach Robey, jr., C-OF; Jaron Hicks, so., P-3B; Erikson Andrews, fr., IF; Ryan Broski, fr., P-SS; Aiden McNulty, fr., 2B-OF; Zack Walsh, fr., P-IF.
How they will beat you: Take them lightly and they could.
How you will beat them: Oberlin is still a young team.
Outlook: Things are looking up at Oberlin. Second-year coach Kuchta has an offseason conditioning program and had a two-week workout for pitchers and catchers, something the Phoenix didn’t have in 2007. Freshman must contribute, but Kuchta likes the batting of McNulty and the pitching of Walsh. Andrews is another talented freshman who is also a member of the tennis team.
The coach says: “We’re hoping to win a few. We weren’t competitive last year. We had lots of five-inning games, but that wasn’t all the kids’ faults. We now have a core of 12-15 kids who are serious about baseball.”

SOUTHWESTERN CONFERENCE

Amherst Comets

Coach: Al McConihe
2007 Record: 20-7 (10-4, 2nd in SWC)
Returning letterwinners (9): Jon Block, sr., P; Logan Bruce, sr., P; Mark Coughlin, sr. P; Aaron Gregg, sr., C-DH; Ryan Rua, sr., SS-P; Brett Szakats, sr., OF; Ryan Bartizal, jr., 1B-DH; Andrew Eliopoulos, jr., IF; Connor Weir, so., C.   
Newcomers: Josh Gonzalez, jr., OF; Marcus Rivera, jr., IF; Seth Rosario, jr., P-OF.
How they will beat you: Experience and depth, especially on the mound.
How you can beat them: Easier said than done. Amherst has to be considered among the favorites to win the SWC.
Outlook: Szakats was first team Division I All-Ohio in 2007 after hitting .441 with three home runs, 13 doubles, 30 runs scored and 35 runs batted in. But pitching will likely be the star with starters Bruce (4-2, 1.44 ERA in ’07), Block (4-1, 1.54) and Coughlin (2-1, 1.91) in the rotation.
The coach says: “We have high hopes for this team. We like our first three pitchers a lot, and Brett hit a ton for us. We tied a school record (20 victories) last year and that should motivate these guys.”

Avon Lake Shoremen

Coach: Jeff Stratton
2007 Record: 7-14 (5-9 SWC)
Returning letterwinners (9): Bryce Alurovic, sr., OF; Peyton Armbrecht, sr., OF; Mike Dillon, sr., C; Nick Hamilton, sr., P-IF; Joe Janicek, sr., P-1B; Scott Shaffer, sr., OF; Don Weimer, sr., IF; Jesse Campo, jr., P; Peter Hart, jr., P.
Newcomers: Dan Outcalt, sr., P; Joe Latsko, jr., UT; Kevin Morissette, so., C-IF; Ben O’Connor, so., P.
How they will beat you: Experience, especially on the pitching staff.
How you can beat them: Smart pitching and good fielding. The Shoremen don’t have a great deal of power, nor is speed a strong suit.
Outlook: Avon Lake is looking to bounce back after a rebuilding year in 2007. Chances are it can be done. The starting pitching, led by junior Hart, looks potent. The Shoremen will need good production at the plate from Hamilton (.345 in 2007), Shaffer (.322) and Armbrecht (.317).
The coach says: “I hope the rust has been knocked off from last year. Most of these guys got their feet wet, and they did play better towards the end of the season. They shouldn’t be surprised by anything they see on the field this spring.”

North Olmsted Eagles

Coach: Tim Murphy
2007 Record: 13-15 (7-7 SWC)
Returning letterwinners (7): Tim Barrack, sr., P-OF; Logan Beach, sr., 2B-OF; Marshall Murphy, sr., P-3B; Joe Tominc, sr., P-SS; Kyle Drake, jr., 3B; Chad Murphy, jr., C-OF; Kevin Tominc, so., P-OF.
Newcomers: Matt Konyesni, sr., 1B; Dom Fragapane, jr., 2B; Dan Kitko, jr., P; Doug Scott, jr., P-SS; Christian Klinek, so., C.
How they will beat you: Good hitting. Chad Murphy is a Division I college prospect who has the most power and the most speed on the team.
How you can beat them: Depth at pitching is a concern.
Outlook: The team’s personality could depend on where in the lineup first team All-SWC star Chad Murphy (.385, 12 doubles, 22 RBIs) will bat. He is the Eagles’ best power hitter as well as the fastest player on the club, so he could lead off or hit No. 3. If leadoff does not go to Murphy, it will likely go to Kevin Tominc. Both he and brother Joe look to be ready to give North Olmsted good offensive production and be 1-2 in the pitching rotation.   
The coach says: “If we get a few guys who can pitch beyond our first two starters (Kevin Tominc, Joe Tominc), we’ll be OK. We’re very strong at catcher. Klinek is good enough now that I can put Chad in the outfield when Kevin pitches.”

Olmsted Falls Bulldogs

Coach: Richard Szalay
2007 Record: 14-14 (6-8 SWC)
Returning letterwinners (10): Brent Edmonds, sr., IF-P; Buddy Gerus, sr., 1B; Shane Smith, sr., OF; Ryan Evans, sr., OF; Jason Kolar, sr., DH; Mike Abraham, sr., IF; Zack Bridge, sr., C; Matt Halata, sr., OF; Chad Sanford, jr., IF-OF; Brett Lyzen, jr., 2B; John Czechowski, jr., 1B-P.
Newcomers: Chuck Reimer, sr., 3B; Charlie Trefny, jr.,
P-SS; Mitch Saunders, jr., 3B; Matt Ballinger, jr., P; Scott Kimmey, jr., P; Chaz McGrain, so., C.
How they will beat you: The Bulldogs are strong on the corners and in the outfield.
How you can beat them: The middle infield is not set and there is a lack of experience on the mound.
Outlook: A lot of production returns for the Bulldogs, powered by Gerus (.400, 29 RBIs), Edmonds (.352, 18 RBIs), Evans (.329, 13 RBIs), Lyzen (.314, 14 RBIs) and Sanford (.306, 14 RBIs). Edmonds (5-1 in 2007) is the only experienced starting pitcher. If Falls finds a couple of capable starters, the Bulldogs could generate some heat in the SWC.
The coach says: “If these young pitchers can keep the ball around the plate and if we find a middle-infield combination we should be better than last year. If we can play decent defense and score some runs, which I think we can, we’ll be fine.”

Westlake Demons

Coach: Jeff Short
2007 Record: 19-8 (10-4 SWC)
Returning letterwinners (10): Jamal Abed, sr., DH; Marcus Alomar, sr., OF; James DiBiasio, sr., SS; Alex Kanareff, sr., OF-P; Tommy Missig, sr., 3B; Shawn O’Meara, sr., P; Alex Shear, sr., P; Kyle Speicher, sr., P-C; Kevin Adamczyk, jr., P-2B; Nick DeMoss, jr., P-3B.
Newcomers: Kam Abed, jr., 3B; Mike Conley, jr., OF; David Goldense, jr., OF; Matt Kelley, jr., 1B; Danny Krauss, jr., C-P; Nick Lowe, jr., 3B-2B; Alex Pandrangi, jr., OF; Will Shortreed, jr., 2B-3B.
How they will beat you: Lots of capable pitching and a better-than-average hitting team.
How you can beat them: There are a lot of Demons having to play new positions.
Outlook: On paper, Westlake looks pretty good with deep pitching and tough hitters like DiBiasio (.418, 41 runs in 2007) and Jamal Abed (.449). But only one regular from last season is returning to the position he played in ’07. A shoulder injury to Abed has made him a designated hitter (he was at third base last year). A similar injury to Alomar could limit his time in the outfield. DiBiasio takes over shortstop after three seasons at second base.
The coach says: “We feel good about our pitching depth. For the first time in a long time I can have a quick hook. If a pitcher isn’t getting it done I won’t hesitate to take him out and put in someone just as good.”  

WEST SHORE CONFERENCE

Avon Eagles

Coach: Frank DeSmit
2007 Record: 10-14 (6-8 WSC)
Returning letterwinners (8): John Harrison, sr., 1B-P; Aaron Ruschau, sr., C-P; Kyle Gregory, sr., OF-P; Andy Vielhabar, sr., UT; Matt Mentler, sr., 2B-P Matt Logan, jr. OF; Garrett Gronowski, jr., OF-P; Ryan O’Rourke, jr., 3B-P.
Newcomers: Gus Long, sr., SS-P; Logan Furnas, jr., IF; Tyler Guthrie, jr., UT; Colin Moran, jr., C-IF; Jake Raider, jr., C-OF; Erik Stump, jr., IF-P; Josh Pierce, so., 1B-3B.
How they will beat you: Athletic ability and versatility.
How you can beat them: The Eagles lost their two best pitchers from 2007. Hitters need to show more discipline at the plate.
Outlook: With a veteran crew returning, Avon should be an improved team. Most of the sophomores on the 2007 team were regulars. Gregory was All-WSC first team. Ruschau and Harrison were second-team selections. There are a lot of players who can pitch, but new coach DeSmit needs to find those who will show consistency. 
The coach says: “Our experience is going to help. We played a lot of young players last year to get them that experience. From what I’ve seen we need to be better at situational hitting. It’s difficult for high school guys to not swing for the fences or not swing at bad pitches. As far as pitching goes, we’re a little unproven.”

Firelands Falcons

Coach: Ted Busch
2007 Record: 7-18 (4-10 WSC)
Returning letterwinners (9): Travis Beckett, sr., OF-P; Dominic Gentile, sr., C; Adam Spears, sr., OF-P; Brad Tansey, sr., 1B; Matt Deichler, jr., 3B-P; Justin Morell, jr.,
OF-P; Ryan Pettry, jr., 2B-P; Nick Simonovich, jr., SS-P; Ethan Zurcher, jr., C-DH.
Newcomers: D.J. Simonovich, jr., 1B; Jake Danko, so., 2B; Brandon Proy, so., 3B-P.
How they will beat you: With speed and aggressive baserunning.
How you can beat them: Keep the fast guys, Gentile and Simonovich, off the bases, or don’t let their teammates drive them home.
Outlook: If Firelands can improve its hitting from top to bottom, Gentile (.463, 20 stolen bases in ’07) and Simonovich (.455, 18 SB) could really pile up big numbers in both hits and runs. The Falcons also need a few more strong pitchers to complement Simonovich (3-6, 2.05 ERA, 55 strikeouts in 52 innings).
The coach says: “We need to develop depth in our pitching staff. I think I see improvement in our hitting. The guys who struck out a lot last year have been hitting well in the cages, so I hope they can continue that against live pitching. We’re trying to get the guys to become opposite-field hitters to take advantage of our speed.”

Midview Middies

Coach: Terry Hawke
2007 Record: 9-16 (7-7 WSC)
Returning letterwinners (8): Kevin Allen sr., OF; Dan Brattoli, sr., SS; Jake Loczi, jr., C; Nick Miller, jr., P; Jay Overy, sr., P-DH; Jordan Szpak, sr., OF; Mike Quintiliano, sr., 3B-P; Dann Zaun, sr., OF.
Newcomers: John Pulito, so., 1B; Kyle Koubek, jr., C-OF; Nick Clark, so., P-OF; Justin Casselle, jr., 2B; Cody Gunselman, jr., P.
How they will beat you: Pitching depth. The Middies have five strong arms on the roster.
How you can beat them: If Midview’s pitching is slow to develop, opponents can have an upper hand. The Middies’ batters might not bury rivals with hits.
Outlook: Offense by both veterans and newcomers needs to improve. Zaun (.310), Loczi (.300), Allen (.284) and Brattoli (11 RBIs, tied for team lead) are the top returning hitters. Miller (3-3, 2.69 ERA) and Overy (2-2, 1.62) will carry the pitching load, although good things are also expected from hard-throwing, 6-foot-5 sophomore Clark. The 2007 junior varsity was 21-1.
The coach says: “We are young. We have only two or three experienced pitchers, but we expect the new guys to help us out. The hitters look good in the batting cages, but if they can adjust to varsity pitching we’ll be all right. We’re also looking for leadership. This is a quiet group and we need senior veterans to lead us.”

North Ridgeville Rangers

Coach: Mike McMillan
2007 Record: 16-12 (11-3 WSC)
Returning letterwinners (8): Caleb Baldwin, sr., SS-3B; Kyle Beaune, sr., 2B; Sean Harnish, sr., C-P; Joe Humphrey, sr., P-3B; Joe Rodriguez, sr., C-1B; Devan White, sr., P-OF; Matt Murphy, sr., P-OF; Matt McGinty, jr., 1B-P.
Newcomers: Jeff Hammond, sr., 1B-OF; Andy Hammett, jr., UT; Chris Newton, jr., IF-P; Alex Rios, jr., P-UT; Dan Zett, jr., IF-P; Nick Penner, so., OF.
How they will beat you: There’s no shortage of pitchers and the coach thinks he has both quality and quantity.
How you can beat them: The Rangers lost a lot of power from ‘07. If they don’t string a bunch of hits together, they can be beaten.
Outlook: The program made a giant leap in 2007, with double-digit victories for the first time in 10 years. In addition to depth at pitching there’s good contact hitting. Humphrey (.391), Murphy (.375, 25 steals), Baldwin (.375) and Harnish (.305, four homers, 17 RBIs) are a challenge for any pitching staff. The Rangers are a serious contender for the WSC title.
The coach says: “We have the pieces for a 20-victory season. I’m not going to run out of pitching. I have kids who can start, kids who can close, kids who can pitch middle relief. Pitching is our strength. We just have no lefties.”   

Vermilion Sailors

Coach: Jeff Keck
2007 Record: 20-8 (12-2, WSC)
Returning letterwinners (6): Adam Beach, sr., 3B-P; Bryan Fraley, sr., C-OF; Aaron Sooy, sr., OF; Tim Clark, jr., P; Don Greenleaf, jr., OF; Christian Gulish, jr., SS.
Newcomers: Tyler Rindfliesch, sr., 2B; John Hawkins, jr., IB; Joel Turner, jr., OF; Anthony Labondono, so., P-OF; Dan Oates, so., 2B; Wesley White, so., 1B; Madison Montgomery, fr., C.
How they will beat you: Count the ways, as Vermilion is blessed with strong pitching, hitting and speed.
How you can beat them: See neither Clark nor Beach on the mound or hope errors can open the door to a few runs.
Outlook: Vermilion returns a good cast from last season’s conference champion. Clark (6-2, 2.04 ERA, 58 strikeouts) and Beach (7-1, 2.16 ERA, 44 strikeouts) are a fantastic lefty-righty combination. Beach (.415, 24 RBIs), Greenleaf (.385, 15 steals) and Sooy (.385, 10 steals) will be tough to keep off the bases.
The coach says: “It was great to win the conference and it’s good to be in this league. I think this is a very strong conference and winning it will be a matter of who plays with the most consistency. We also want to get to the regional this season. Losing in the district semifinal left a bad taste.”

LAKE ERIE LEAGUE

Admiral King Admirals

Coach: John Akosi
2007 Record: 22-4 (11-0 LEL Erie Division)
Returning letterwinners (8): Cody Buckholz, sr., SS-P; Matt Comer, sr., P-IF; Tom Sigman, sr., OF; Matt Toth, sr., C-OF; Colin Wright, sr., P-3B; John Gerber, jr., C; Chad Hall, jr., OF; Cameron Szatala, jr., 1B.
Newcomers: Justin Brown, sr., IF; Cam Bryant, sr., 1B-3B; Brady Dickason, sr., IF; James Thomas, sr., IF; Dan Pierce, jr., P-1B; Tyler Mazzei, so., 2B-P.
How they will beat you: Veteran starting pitching, fielding.
How you can beat them: With a far more demanding schedule, it’s hard to predict how the hitting will hold up.
Outlook: The Admirals move up to the Lake Division of the LEL. Instead of playing smaller schools without strong baseball traditions, Admiral King has been thrown in with Mentor, Euclid, Shaker Heights and crosstown rival Southview.  Still, numbers from 2007 are impressive. Wright (.438, 26 RBI), Sigman (.429), Toth (.353, 37 runs) and Buckholz (.329) swing good bats. Bryant, a transfer from Southview, provides power. Pitching’s strong with Buckholz (4-1, 0.58), Wright (1-3 2.76) and Comer (4-0, 2.79).
The coach says: “Our schedule is pretty brutal, but I’m looking to be competitive and keep the program going in the right direction. It will be tough to top last year, but we hope to at least do better in the sectional (opening-game loss to Midview in ’07).”

Southview Saints

Coach: Brad Ternes
2007 Record: 18-8 (LEL record unavailable)
Returning letterwinners (7): Cameron Castro, sr., P; Chris Garcia, sr., OF-P; Justin Kozich, sr., IF; Kory Martinez, sr., IF-P; Evan Nieto, sr., P-OF; Mykel Rosario, sr., IF; Rey Carrion, jr., C-P.
Newcomers: Anthony Browning, jr., IF-P; Andrew Holland, jr., UT; Chad Boone, jr., IF; Ricardo Hoskin, jr., P-OF.
How they will beat you: Pitching depth.
How you can beat them: Baserunning mistakes have been their Achilles’ heel.
Outlook: The LEL Lake Division is mighty tough. The five members must tangle with their peers three times each. That includes Mentor, which posted a 28-4 record last year and reached the Division I championship. Rosario (.317, 15 RBIs) and Garcia (.308, 23 runs) are the top returning hitters. Martinez (4-0, 2.07 ERA) and Castro (3-3, 3.61) are the most experienced pitchers.
The coach says: “I think we’ll be OK with pitching. We have a lot of pitchers, although some haven’t had many innings at the varsity level. We have some talented arms coming out of that junior class.”  

INDEPENDENTS

Lake Ridge Lions

Coach: Bill McCleave
2007 Record: 7-12
Returning letterwinners (10): Diego Chadha, sr., 1B-OF; Jack Kirwin, sr., 1B-P; Alex Potoczak, jr., P-SS; Mike Rose, jr., C; Nick Roseletti, jr., OF; Adam Severs, jr., SS-OF; Evan Severs, jr., 2B; Dominic Velloze, jr., C; Ben Glor, so. OF; Aidan Mullaney, so., P-SS.
Newcomer: Matt Nathal, fr., 3B-OF.
How they will beat you: Bury you with hits.
How you can beat them: Hope their fielding can give you extra outs per inning.
Outlook: With almost the entire team and most offensive production returning from 2007, and with the addition of one talented freshman, it looks as if the Lions will post a winning record. Alex Potoczak hit .478 and was chosen All-Lorain County in 2007. Adam Severs, Chadha and Velloze also hit better than .300 last season.
The coach says: “We can hit the ball very well. We need to work on defense. There were too many errors last year. We should be better defensively. They were all sophomores in 2007 so they should have learned something in a year.”

Open Door Patriots

Coach: Matt Loescher
2007 Record: 10-11
Returning letterwinners (10): Kyle Beiswenger, sr., P-1B; Tony D’Abato, sr., P-3B; Jake Dodd, sr., OF-1B; Jason Gwin, sr., 3B-C; T.J. Hopkins, sr., OF-P; Josh McLaughlin, sr., OF; Aaron Overs, sr., SS-P; Dan Wenzel, sr., OF; Adam Bollinger, jr., 1B-C; Kevin Squires, jr., 2B-P.
Newcomers: Paul Harding, sr., 2B; Garrett Mitchell, jr., OF; McClain Stoneburner, jr., P-OF; Zachary Eschweiler, so., C-P; Zachary Dixon, fr., C-OF; Eric Mann, fr., 2B.
How they will beat you: Great hitting, fine speed and the pitching of Beiswenger.
How you can beat them: Despite some gaudy batting statistics, the Patriots still struck out a lot last year.
Outlook: With eight starters returning, the Pats look to have a banner season. Gwin set a team record with 24 runs scored and hit .431. Overs (.421, 24 RBIs, 15 stolen bases) is nearing OD career records for hits, runs and RBIs. Bollinger (.455) and Dodd (.388, 24 RBIs, 16 SB) are dangerous hitters. Beiswenger set school records for strikeouts (48) and wins (6) in a season.
The coach says: “I’m really expecting to have a great year. We return our entire pitching staff (four starters). We batted .338 as a team last year and I expect that number to rise as they have a year under their belts. We are an exceptionally good baserunning team. We are focused on what we can control and what we can accomplish today.”

THE TOP TEAMS

AMHERST COMETS: The Comets are no shoo-in to win the Southwestern Conference, but they have every right to be the favorite.
VERMILION SAILORS: Pitching should give Vermilion the edge in the West Shore Conference.
WESTLAKE DEMONS: A veteran team should make the Demons a factor in the SWC race.
OLMSTED FALLS BULLDOGS: If the Bulldogs get even decent pitching to go with terrific hitting, a great season is on the horizon.
NORTH RIDGEVILLE RANGERS: The Rangers are deep enough on the mound and talented enough at the plate to make the WSC race interesting.
KEYSTONE WILDCATS:: Another trip to the regional tournament is not out of the question.

AREA DREAM TEAMS

Big schools

1B    Buddy Gerus, Olmsted Falls
2B    James DiBiasio, Westlake
SS    Kory Martinez, Southview
3B    Colin Wright, Admiral King
OF    Chad Murphy, North Olmsted
OF    Matt Murphy, North Ridgeville
OF    Brett Szakats, Amherst
C    Victor Stewart, Elyria
DH    Jamal Abed, Westlake
P    Adam Beach, Vermilion
P    Logan Bruce, Amherst
P    Tim Clark, Vermilion
P    Kyle Speicher, Westlake
P    Cody Buckholz, Admiral King

Small schools

1B    Tim Twining, Black River
2B    Zach Upton, Brookside
SS    Tony Riolo, Columbia
3B    Jared Ramirez, Brookside
OF    Jake Dodd, Open Door
OF    Ryan Jones, Lutheran West
OF    Nick Suetta, Elyria Catholic
C    Dominic Gentile, Firelands
DH    Michael Gray, Wellington
P    Kull McClurg, Wellington
P    Alex Potoczak, Lake Ridge
P    Kyle Shaw, Keystone
P    Nick Simonovich, Firelands
P    Steve Wirth, Keystone

DON’T MISS THESE GAMES

Elyria at Admiral King, April 24: This should be one of the season’s best non-conference matches.
Brecksville at Amherst, May 5: The defending SWC champion (Brecksville) against the 2008 favorite.
Wellington at Keystone, May 7: A good backyard rivalry between PAC Stars Division contenders.
North Ridgeville at Vermilion, May 8: The champion hosts the challenger in what could decide the WSC race.
Westlake at Amherst, May 12: Expect both SWC contenders to throw everything they have into this game.

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