Derrick Webb

Derrick is SOSA's chief content coordinator and has worked for the Chillicothe Gazette, the Portsmouth Daily Times and Eleven Warriors. He's a 15-time award-winning journalist, a self-proclaimed baseball purist, a suffering Bengals fan and has never met a stranger.

BASEBALL: 15 players to watch for this spring

March 26, 2023
, 9:14 pm
, Features

These 15 players are poised for big years on the diamond.

Derrick Webb, Staff Writer

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

Believe it or not, the end of another school year is near, and that means baseball season is back in full swing — pun intended.

South Webster’s Robert Martin hurled 69 1/3 innings with a 0.80 ERA.
CREDIT: *Cory Hall/SOSA*

After a long winter, the boys of spring are ready to take the field once again and we expect big things from an array of clubs in Southern Ohio.

As we get reacquainted with the diamond, here’s a list of 15 players in our coverage area, and in no particular order, to keep an eye on this spring.

NOTE: This certainly does not mean there aren’t other players who will have great seasons. This is simply a list of 15 players we’ve randomly compiled.

Nate Price, Whiteoak

There’s a long-standing tradition of success at Whiteoak and players like Price are why. The catcher batted .385 as a junior alongside 10 doubles, 27 runs scored, 36 RBIs and 26 walks. That helped the Wildcats go 21-10 and win conference, sectional and district championships. Now a senior, he’ll be asked to be even better. Chances are he’ll answer that call.

Carter Nickel, Valley

The Indians’ success on the diamond in the recent past has been hard to match. Nickel has been at the center of that storm. But last season may have been his best yet as he piled up a 6-0 mark on the hill along with a 0.63 ERA and a .175 BAA in 44 innings of work. That’s simply dominant. Valley has huge plans for 2023 and Nickel is a key to reaching each of those goals.

Unioto’s Andrew Griffin posted a 0.91 ERA last season while hitting .438.
CREDIT: *Derrick Webb/SOSA*

Andrew Griffin, Unioto

You’ll be seeing Griffin do a little bit of everything … and he’ll be doing it well. At the plate, he hit .438 last season alongside 12 doubles, three triples, two home runs and 26 RBIs. He also won five games on the rubber and posted a 0.91 ERA. That helped the Shermans reach a district tournament and capture an SVC championship. You can expect more of the same this spring.

Robert Martin, South Webster

Every single time the left-handed hurler took the mound, he was in command. He enjoyed a junior season where he won six games and posted a pristine 0.80 ERA in 69 ⅓ innings. What’s more impressive? He struck out 110 batters while allowing just eight earned runs. He’s, without a question, one of the best arms in our area and will chase a second straight All-Ohio honor.

Rylan Sams, Oak Hill

The heart and soul of the Oaks. That’s how much Sams means to his team. Last season, as a junior, Sams hit .431 alongside 10 doubles, 20 RBIs and 19 runs scored. He also brought his lunch pail to work on the mound, going 5-3 with 1.43 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 53 ⅔ innings. If you’re wondering if he can be even better as a senior, the answer is yes. Keep an eye on him.

Titus Lotz, Washington

There’s a reason Lotz is going to be a Division I pitcher. Ask any opponent he threw against last spring. They know. Lotz brings an array of powerful pitches to the hill and helped his Blue Lions win a district championship last season — the program’s first since 2007. Washington is the early frontrunner to win the Frontier Athletic Conference title. Lotz is a huge reason why.

Washington’s Titus Lotz helped the program win its first district title since 2007 last season.
CREDIT: *Derrick Webb/SOSA*

Austen Ison, Zane Trace

Put simply, Ison was a menace at the plate all last spring. He hit .439, scored 28 times, drove in 35 runs and posted an on-base percentage of .524. Those numbers helped the Pioneers finish 24-4 and reach a district championship game. He’s the team’s best hitter returning to the lineup and looks to continue a long tradition of hitting the ball exceptionally well in Kinnikinnick.

David Magill, Adena

If you’re looking for a breakout star, Magill may just be your best bet. The senior posted a 2.11 ERA last spring while striking out 52 hitters during his work on the bump. Adena is filled to the brim with youth but there’s no doubting the team’s potential. Magill will be leading that charge alongside seniors Andrew Vickers and Mason Dyer. That’s a good sign of things to come.

Braylon Leach, Huntington

By all accounts, Leach was one of the SVC’s best young talents last spring. As a sophomore, he was a consistent threat on the base paths as he scored 35 times and stole 18 bases. He was also constantly hitting for contact, posting four triples and 11 doubles. He was a first-team all-district selection and there’s absolutely no reason he shouldn’t be again as a junior.

Alex Boles, Waverly

Altogether, Boles is one of the best all-around players in our area. The eye test proves that and so do his numbers. As a junior, he posted an 0.95 ERA with a 0.76 WHIP. Opponents hit just .176 when he was pitching. When he didn’t have the ball, he was busy terrorizing pitchers who did, pacing the Tigers to double-digit victories. Expect more of the same in 2023.

Blake Trevathan, Fairland

Fairland enjoyed quite the postseason run last spring and Trevathan was a big reason why. The Dragons went all the way to a regional championship game — winning the program’s fourth-ever district title in the process — before a loss to Liberty Union. This year’s team has the potential to repeat that feat and Trevathan, at the dish and on the bump, will assist it in doing so.

Fairfield’s Gabe Fouch did a bit of everything last season, hitting .373 and going 5-1 on the mound.
CREDIT: *Cory Hall/SOSA*

Gabe Fouch, Fairfield

Heading into the season, Fouch, without question, should be the most feared pitcher in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference. He’s earned that right. As a sophomore, he tossed 42 ⅓ innings, going 5-1 with a 0.50 ERA and a 70-15 strikeout-walk ratio. Throw in a .373 batting average, six doubles and 19 runs scored and you’ve got an absolute stud. That will continue.

Tyler Duncan, Portsmouth

Entering his fourth year as a starter for the Trojans, Duncan plays as advertised — which is exceptionally well. He helped Portsmouth finish 18-7 overall last season while posting a 6-0 mark on the mound with 0.56 ERA. At the dish, he was just as good, hitting .435 and swiping 36 stolen bases. He’ll be the driving force for a roster that brings back six starters.

Wyatt Haupt, Eastern Brown

It seems like Haupt is one of the area’s better kept secrets. But there’s no reason to sleep on this young man. He consistently delivers quality at-bats and has a ton of potential to grow into. If the Warriors are wanting to compete for conference, sectional and district titles — and we’re sure they are — Haupt is key to doing so. He’s flat-out special on a baseball diamond.

Tate DeBord, Circleville

He flat out hits. That’s what DeBord brings to an always-loaded Circleville lineup. The senior, sitting in the heart of that order, battled injury last spring but it didn’t keep him from hitting .379 with 11 RBIs on a team that reached a district championship game. He’s built a reputation on being an elite hitter and he’ll look to continue that trend while the Tigers search for a league title.