BASEBALL: Take a look at SOSA’s All-Area Team

Brock Netter, Staff Writer

One regional champion, six district champions and a plethora of sectional title winners made this past baseball season well worth covering.

But those were just the highlights. To really understand how special the season was, you’d have to look back on every career-defining moment, every big-moment pitch, and every at-bat that ended with jubilation.

Southern Ohio Sports Authority was right there every step of the way, covering individual milestones, improbable feats and wins that changed history.

After a fun-filled spring, take a look at our All-Area Team, which consists of 35 area players who were at their best throughout the spring season.

Evan Balstera | Ironton St. Joe | Outfielder | Senior

There’s really not much Balstera can’t do … no matter what sport. A tough out and with power for days, he was the driving force behind the Flyers’ district final appearance. He hit .444 with two home runs, four triples, 10 doubles, 41 RBIs and 44 runs scored. He was a first-team All-Ohio selection.

Trevin Brooks | Portsmouth | Catcher | Sophomore

Portsmouth’s future is incredibly bright with a slew of young talent, which is led by Brooks. A feared hitter that got better by the day, Brooks finished the season batting .398 with three home runs, 11 doubles, 24 runs scored and a staggering 46 RBIs, helping his team claim a district title. He was named all-OVC and all-district. 

Mason Brown | Chillicothe | Utility | Junior

Put Brown on the field in any sport — even table tennis — and he’ll get the job done. It’s what he does best. He’s a tough out at the dish, tougher to hit when he’s on the mound, and virtually impossible to get out once he’s reached base. He hit over .300 on the season, earning himself all-FAC and all-district selections. 

Luke Cassidy | Notre Dame | Utility | Sophomore

Cassidy put himself on the radar after a dazzling freshman year. As a sophomore? He became a household name and the Titans rode him to 14 wins alongside a sectional final appearance. His presence at the dish struck fear in opposing pitchers, often resulting in base knocks, followed by runs. He was the SOC I Player of the Year and earned all-district honors. 

Caden Conn | Wheelersburg | Pitcher | Senior

The Pirates came into the season with a lot of promise, especially in their pitching rotation, one led by Conn. The senior southpaw led the Pirates to an SOC III title and a district final appearance with his performance on the mound, going 7-0 with a 1.51 ERA in 60 innings while striking out 59 batters. He was the SOC III Pitcher of the Year and a second-team All-Ohio honoree.

Ashton Crace | Unioto | Utility | Senior

The numbers Crace put up this season were absolutely ridiculous. On the mound, he was literally untouchable as he went 6-0 with a 0.00 ERA and struck out 54 batters. At the dish, he hit .509 with eight doubles, 17 RBIs and 32 runs scored. Once again, ridiculous. He was named first-team SVC and all-district. 

D.J. Crocker | Huntington | Utility | Senior

Crocker has gotten better every year and he truly saved his best season for last. He finished the year hitting .514 alongside three home runs, eight doubles, 30 runs scored and 34 RBIs — guiding the Huntsmen to a school-record 20 wins and a district final appearance. He was the SVC Player of the Year and first-team All-Ohio. 

Carson Cronin | Minford | Outfielder | Senior

Speed kills, and Cronin had plenty to spare — and then some. He followed last year’s All-Ohio campaign with another one, batting .435 with four doubles, 11 RBIs, 25 runs and 29 stolen bases, leading his Falcons to 22 wins and district and regional titles. He was named second-team SOC III and second-team All-Ohio.

Cooper Enochs | Miami Trace | Outfield | Sophomore

The present and future of Miami Trace is very bright. Enochs is a huge reason why. Showcasing he’s a force to be reckoned with, he finished the year batting .527 with two home runs, eight doubles, 24 runs scored and 25 RBIs, leading the Panthers to a district final appearance. He was named All-FAC and first-team All-Ohio. 

Noah Ernst | Jackson | Catcher | Junior

It’s safe to call Ernst one of, if not the, best catchers in Ohio. He’s lethal with a bat in his hands and acts as a wall behind the dish. The Ohio University-commit was a major factor to Jackson winning 23 games … its fourth-straight season of 20 wins or more. He earned all-FAC and all-district honors. 

Connor Estep | Wheelersburg | Infielder | Senior

There’s never a shortage of outstanding players to don the Wheelersburg black and orange, and Estep was right at the top of the list. A staple in the Pirates’ lineup, he ended his last season with a .365 batting average to go alongside nine doubles, 21 RBIs and 22 runs scored. That helped his team win the SOC III. He was named all-SOC and all-district. 

Gabe Fouch | Fairfield | Pitcher | Senior

An argument could be made that Fairfield had the best 1-2 pitching punch in the area, and Fouch was half of that pairing. He finished 5-2 on the hill, sporting a 0.48 ERA in 46 innings while striking out 80 batters as part of the Lions’ run to the Elite 8. He was named All-SHAC and honorable mention All-Ohio. 

Dylan Grubbs | Unioto | Infielder | Junior

Year in and year out, the Shermans continuously have one player who makes a huge name for himself. This year, it was Grubbs. The junior infielder hit .430 with a home run, eight doubles, 21 runs and 25 RBIs for the 21-win Tanks. He was named second-team SVC and second-team All-Ohio. 

Wyatt Haupt | Eastern Brown | Utility | Senior

It was tough to think that Haupt could get better, considering how good he already was. But as they say, he’s ’built different’. He hit .540 with five home runs, 10 doubles, 29 runs and 39 RBIs. He also went 10-0 on the mound with a 0.71 ERA in 49 innings of work, striking out 85 hitters as the Warriors won SHAC and sectional titles. He was the SHAC Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Ohio honors. 

Brycen Hunt | Fairland | Infielder | Senior

Hunt’s talents on the football field are widely known. But it’s the baseball diamond where he truly showed what type of a player and leader he is. Despite winning just 10 regular season games, the senior ace led his team on a magical tournament run, winning a district title in the process. He was the OVC Player of the Year and a first-team all-district selection.

Jase Hurd | Waverly | Infielder | Senior

Already the school’s all-time leading rusher in football, Hurd’s legacy was set. But it went to another level this year. Leading the Tigers to their first district title since 2016 and an Elite 8 appearance, he finished with a .333 batting average to go along with 14 doubles, 23 RBIs and 30 runs scored. Those numbers helped him earn second-team All-Ohio honors. 

Gaven Jones | Jackson | Pitcher | Junior 

Jackson played with a different level of confidence when Jones was on the hill. He was untouchable as he went 9-0 with a 0.45 ERA in 52 1/3 innings of work, striking out 92 batters and allowing just three earned runs. He led the Ironmen to 23 wins, an FAC title and a district final appearance. He was the FAC Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohio honoree.

LT Jordan | Waverly | Infielder | Senior

A four-year staple of the Tigers’ lineup, Jordan has routinely showcased himself to be a leader in the dugout. A wizard in the infield and productive at the dish, he finished the season batting .420 with eight doubles, 20 RBIs and 27 runs. He led the Tigers to an Elite 8 appearance and was named all-SOC and all-district. 

Jon Knapp | Green | Utility | Sophomore 

Green enjoyed a lot of success this season and Knapp was at the forefront of that movement. The sophomore standout was a two-way star, going 7-3 on the hill with a 2.85 ERA and striking out 106 batters. He also batted .471 with eight doubles, 19 runs scored and 24 RBIs, leading his teammates to the SOC I title. He was named the conference’s Pitcher of the Year. 

Evan Lynch | Washington | Infielder | Senior

Lynch understood he had to take his game to the next level if Washington wanted success. He did just that and the Blue Lions won 17 games. The senior finished the season batting .371 with three triples, five doubles, 14 RBIs and 22 runs, helping his team win a third-straight district crown. He was named all-FAC and all-district.

Logan Martin | Wellston | Utility | Senior 

Since Martin put on a Rocket uniform, it was clear that he was a special talent in waiting. What followed was a four-year run of excellence on the diamond, highlighted by numerous awards that included a Defensive Player of the Year nod in the TVC. He helped Wellston win a sectional title and was an all-district selection.

Carson McWhorter | Southeastern | Pitcher | Sophomore

With a fastball that steams and a curveball that bites, McWhorter is one of the area’s best young flame throwers. That was on display throughout the 2024 season. Just a sophomore, McWhorter posted over 70 strikeouts and was the unquestioned ace for the Panthers’ pitching staff. He’s a name to keep tabs on.

Cade Miller | Fairfield | Utility | Senior

Miller was the other part of Fairfield’s 1-2 pitching punch, but he was just as dangerous at the dish as he was with his arm. He went 6-1 on the bump with a 0.71 ERA in 49 innings, fanning 75 batters. At the plate, he hit .471 with a home run, eight doubles, 19 RBIs and 24 runs, helping the Lions win their first district title since 2002. He was named All-SHAC and honorable mention All-Ohio. 

Will Miller | Washington | Pitcher | Junior

Miller went from a solid arm in last year’s rotation to the ace of the staff this season, and virtually nothing changed. Washington was highly successful, teams barely scored off of Miller and the southpaw had no issues racking up the strikeouts at a high rate, leading the Blue Lions to a third straight district championship and a Sweet 16 appearance. 

Andrew Oyer | Huntington | Pitcher | Sophomore

Oyer doesn’t get the chance to bat, but his arm is as dangerous as they come. The ace of the Huntington’s staff, he faced the best teams and usually it resulted in No. 42 earning the win. Of the Huntsmen’s 20 wins on the season, the sophomore won 10 to set a new school record and lead them to a district championship appearance. He’s got the goods. 

Blake Phillips | Zane Trace | Catcher | Senior

Saving his best season for his last, Phillips helped his Pioneers capture 22 victories en route to an SVC championship. The backstop hit a timely .348 alongside 32 base hits, 24 RBIs, 24 runs and a .465 on-base percentage. He was the anchor in the middle of the team’s lineup and continuously provided an offensive surge.

Eli Roberts | Whiteoak | Infielder | Senior

Whiteoak may not have achieved its standard level of success, but Roberts continued to be better than ever. He shouldered a major load for the Wildcats, and routinely delivered, batting .347 with a pair of home runs, five doubles, 21 runs and 22 RBIs. He was named first-team SHAC and a first-team All-Ohio. 

Wylee Sawyers | Eastern Brown | Infielder | Senior

Eastern Brown has been lucky enough to have plenty of elite talent play over the past few years, and Sawyers is the latest example. He finished the season batting .481 with a home run, 12 doubles, 23 RBIs and 31 runs scored, helping the Warriors to 18 wins and a sectional title. He was named all-SHAC and earned all-district honors. 

Gaige Stuckey | Miami Trace | Utility | Junior

Stuckey is a silent assassin. He’s all business when he steps onto the diamond, and his talents are not to be messed with. The Ohio University commit went 5-2 on the mound for the 16-win Panthers, carrying a 2.12 ERA in 36 2/3 innings while striking out 65 batters. That was enough to earn all-FAC and second-team All-Ohio honors. 

Ethan Wall | Fairland | Infielder | Junior

Power for days, and the ability to hit the ball into any gap he finds … that’s what Wall brought to Fairland’s lineup. His bat was a very welcomed sight. He finished the season with a team-high .373 batting average, six doubles and two home runs, alongside 28 hits and 16 RBIs, helping his team to 14 wins and a district crown.

Cole Wells | Lynchburg-Clay | Pitcher | Junior

The Mustangs caught lightning in a bottle in the second half of the season, and so did Wells. On the mound, he went 6-1 in 52 2/3 innings of work, carrying a 1.19 ERA and striking out 76 batters. At the dish, he hit .534 with a home run, six doubles, 18 runs scored and 28 RBIs, leading his team to a district final appearance. He was named all-SHAC and all-district. 

Grant Wheeler | Minford | Infielder | Senior

Wheeler was part of a senior class that simply took over in the second half of the season. He pulled his weight with a .366 batting average alongside two home runs, three doubles, 21 runs scored and 23 RBIs, lifting the Falcons to their second regional title in school history. He was the SOC III Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-Ohio selection.

J.T. Williams | Portsmouth | Outfielder | Junior

Portsmouth has been knocking at the door for a while, but Williams helped kick it in this season. Taking his game to another level, he hit .476 with two doubles, 19 RBIs, scored 31 times and stole 29 bases, helping the Trojans win their first district championship since 1996 alongside a regional final appearance. He was named first-team All-Ohio.

Jon Wylie | Ironton | Infielder | Senior

Ironton had its ups and downs, but Wylie was as consistent as ever. The Xavier University signee showcased his Division I talent on a nightly basis, ending his season with a .388 average to go alongside eight doubles, 15 stolen bases, 22 runs scored and 23 RBIs for the 15-win and sectional champion Tigers. He was named all-OVC and all-district.

Josh Young | Zane Trace | Utility | Junior

There’s nothing flashy about Young’s game. He’s just pure production in the highest form. Leading the Pioneers to an SVC championship and a sectional title, he went 10-2 on the hill and struck out 62 batters while also hitting .404 with 11 doubles, 21 runs scored and 29 RBIs. He was named first-team SVC and honorable mention All-Ohio. 

Honorable Mention Selections 

Keegan Snyder, Unioto; Austin Magill, Adena; Landen Jarrell, Zane Trace; Brendan Tuttle, Westfall; Braylon Leach, Huntington; Boston Campbell, Jackson; Brady Armstrong, Miami Trace; John Wall, Washington; Kaden Penwell, McClain; Hunter Hauck, Waverly; Will Jones, Symmes Valley; Trevor Fike, West; Jake Darling, Wheelersburg; Cam Thacker, Minford; Hunter Barnard, South Webster; Mason Davis, Oak Hill; Carson Powell, Valley; Landon Rowe, Ironton St. Joe; DeAndre Berry, Portsmouth; Alex Morgan, Fairland; Zane Matthews, Fairfield; Kaden Moon-Stone, Whiteoak; Christian Flowers, Lynchburg-Clay; Austin Gray, Circleville; Easton Nuzum, Athens

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