Six area Hot Stove teams travel to Butler Rodman Park in Alliance this weekend with hopes of winning a state championship.
The six teams — one each in Classes H, G, F and E; and two in Class EE — will play in semifinals today. The two Class EE teams are in different brackets, meaning they could face each other for a state championship Sunday.
State championship games for all five classes are scheduled for Sunday. No area team won a state championship in 2008.
Here is a capsule look at each of the six area teams who will be vying for a state title.

Class H (ages 9-10)

Vermilion Aramys (42-5) manager Dwayne Jarrell is a veteran when it comes to appearances in Alliance. He’s been a Hot Stove manager for 11 years, with this being the fifth team that he has managed to a Final Four appearance — the first time he has done so as a Class H manager.
“We’re going down to Alliance to have some fun,” said Jarrell. “We want to build some memories that will stick with our team for a lifetime and hopefully will bring home a state championship.”
Tristan Mayer, Nick Ragnoni, Niklas Barkdull and Caleb Waller have been the team’s leading pitchers, while Waller, Mayer and Barkdull are joined by Ian McKinney as the team’s top hitters.
“We have 11 players and they all can hit and play well,” said Jarrell. “We say we have no heroes or superstars.
“I’m obviously happy when the boys buy into what I teach them. Whatever comes after that is up to them.”

Class G (ages 11-12)

The North Ridgeville Rockers (25-1) have had a return trip to the Final Four as a goal for two years. They were the state runners-up in Class H in 2007.
“We’ve definitely wanted to get back to Alliance,” said Rockers manager Will Dowell. “We lost a one-run game in 2007’s championship game and have had a goal of returning for two years.”
Shayne Erny and Chad Kisel have been the team’s top two pitchers. Erny has 2.92 ERA with 76 strikeouts and 27 walks. Kisel has a 1.78 ERA with 30 strikeouts and nine walks.
Erny also is the Rockers leading hitter, having a .519 batting average and a team-leading five home runs. Ben Rankin is batting .447 with 12 doubles and has struck out only three times this season in 90 plate appearances (76 at-bats).
Leadoff hitter Logan Armaro is batting .416 and also has 12 doubles, along with 58 stolen bases. Tristan Clark is batting .375, while the Rockers have a team batting average of .360.
“In addition to our pitching and hitting, our overall team speed has been a real key for us this season,” said Dowell. “I look for Shayne and Chad to perform well in Alliance. If they and the rest of the boys do, we’ll achieve our goal of a state championship.”

Class F (ages 13-14)

“I feel very confident that we can win a state championship,” said Belden Amish Swings & Things (23-4) manager Tony Smith about his team’s appearance in Alliance. “I told our boys to have fun and that they have nothing to lose. We’ve avenged each of our losses and have withstood a lot of pressure to get where we’re at.”
Evan Branzel and Branden Tomes have been Belden’s top pitchers, and Smith said that everyone in his lineup has contributed hitting-wise.
A final all-important key to the team’s success has been its defense.
“We practice our defense an awful lot,” said Smith. “I’ve coached most of these boys since they were six years old. I tell them that good defense wins championships.”

Class EE (ages 15-16)

The Lorain Saints, under the guidance of retired Southview High coach Dan Ternes, made history Sunday when they became what is believed to be the first team from the city of Lorain to make it to the Final Four.
The Saints (19-5) earned their berth at Alliance in a dramatic fashion as they came up with a 9-8 come-from-behind win over Wellington American Legion Post 8. Antoine Edwards’ two-run single to left-center drove home Adrian Castro and Dominic Diaz with the tying and winning runs.
“I’m not overly worried about our offense,” said Ternes. “We’ve been hitting the ball very well most of the season.”
Marcel Guice, Alec Nieto and Dylan Hazzard have been the leading pitchers for the Saints, while Edwards and Nieto have been the team’s top hitters.
“We’re excited to be going to Alliance,” said Ternes. “Our boys have done well. Our pitchers have been throwing strikes. We’ve shored up our defense and played well defensively, something that you need to do well no matter what level you’re playing at.”
Midview North T & T Mortgage (23-3) is the other area team to make it to the Final Four in Class EE after the team trounced the Medina Snappers 17-3 in their regional championship game.
“J.J. Manning, Justin Morris and Joey Stoll have been our top pitchers,” said T & T manager George Simkovich. “They’ve thrown a lot of strikes and haven’t given up too many walks.
“Justin Hobart, Michael Snoddy and Josh Deitz are our best hitters. They’re disciplined as they know very well how to put the ball in play.
“Overall, we’re a very balanced team. Any one of our players can hit the ball. We’ve gotten home runs from seven different players this season. Our biggest loss was by two runs. So, we’ve really been in every game.
“We plan to stay with what has gotten us this far. Hopefully, it works for two more games.”

Class E (ages 15-18)

Manager Mark Stavole and his Vermilion Sharpnack Chevrolet team (19-1) look to continue what has been a turnaround season for them.
Cory Schmidt and Tyler Koch have been Vermilion’s top pitchers this season and both also have been very good contributors with their bats.
In addition to Schmidt and Koch, Tyler Mazzei — an Admiral King star — and catcher Kale Divers have shone in the batter’s box. Kevin Knight, Stephon Taylor and Joel Turner — a Vermilion High star — join the others as hitting leaders.
“We’re pretty solid all the way through our lineup,” said Stavole. “Our pitchers have thrown well. We’ve hit the ball pretty hard. This has been a very nice team to manage. I think we have a great chance to win a state championship.”
Contact Jerry Henson at 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.

OHIO HOT STOVE STATE FINALS

SATURDAY’S SEMIFINALS
CLASS H (AGES 9-10)
(ALL GAMES ON DIAMOND 4)
(WINNERS MEET SUNDAY AT 12:30)

Vermilion Aramys vs. Ellet Orioles (3:30)
Fusion Ceramic vs. Champion Buckeyes (12:30)

CLASS G (AGES 11-12)
(ALL GAMES ON DIAMOND 3)
(WINNERS MEET SUNDAY AT 1:30)

North Ridgeville Rockers vs. North Akron Nationals (2:30)
Christopher Columbus vs. Crestwood Cardinals (11:30)

CLASS F (AGES 13-14)
(ALL GAMES ON DIAMOND 2)
(WINNERS MEET SUNDAY AT 1)

Belden Amish Swings & Things vs. Firestone Park Sox (2)
Massillon Transmission vs. Ravenna Braves (11)

CLASS EE (AGES 15-16)
(ALL GAMES ON DIAMOND 1)
(WINNERS MEET SUNDAY AT 3)

Lorain Saints vs. Garfield Mets (3)
Midview North T & T Mortgage vs. William Penn (6)

CLASS E (AGES 15-18)
(ALL GAMES ON DIAMOND 1)
(WINNERS MEET SUNDAY AT NOON)

Massillon Eagles Aerie 190 vs. Kenmore Cardinals (9)
Tasker Bulldogs vs. Vermilion Sharpnack Chevrolet (noon)

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