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 29, 2025
, 3:54 pm
, Features

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

Derrick Webb, Managing Editor

Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.

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

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 baseball diamond, here’s a list of 15 players in our coverage area, and in no particular order, to keep an eye on this spring if they get the chance to compete.

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.

Mason Brown, Chillicothe

Brown is one of the area’s best ballplayers in general. The five-tool senior constantly provides the Cavs with quality at-bats and, if he gets on, it’s almost a given that he’s taking second. His work on the mound has given Chillicothe an elite arm as well. Nothing should change in 2025.

Gaven Jones, Jackson

If there was ever an ace on this list, it’s Jones. As a junior last year, Jones was nearly untouchable, posting a 0.45 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 52 ⅓ innings of work. He allowed three earned runs all year long. The reigning FAC Player of the Year will certainly be looking to repeat.

Seth Throckmorton, Huntington

Last season, Huntington won a school record 20 games. If this year’s group is going to come close to that number, Throckmorton will play a huge role in it doing so. He’s smooth with his glove and always finds a way to boost the offense with his speed. He’s fun to watch.

Huntington’s Seth Throckmorton will help the Huntsmen reach their goals this season.
CREDIT: *Derrick Webb/SOSA*

Kolton Layman, South Point

Layman spent his junior season leading the Pointers in hits with 31 while batting .341 alongside five doubles, 22 runs scored and 22 RBIs. Those numbers helped South Point win 14 games — a number they’re hoping to better this spring. Layman will undoubtedly lead that charge.

Cole Wells, Lynchburg-Clay

If you’ve watched any sort of SHAC baseball over the past four years, you know Wells’ name. The four-year starter will return for one final go-around, attempting to follow a year where he led the Mustangs to a district final appearance. The Mustangs’ success will largely depend on him.

Carson Free, Paint Valley

When you look at Paint Valley’s starting lineup, all of the sudden, the Bearcats have a ton of varsity experience. Free leads the group and will return for one final campaign, this time in Division VII. He’s always a threat to reach base safely and even more so a threat to score.

Carson Powell, Valley

There’s a tradition of success at Valley that is well-known. Powell fits right into that history. The right-handed flamethrower should be an ace this season with a fastball that reached 90-plus miles per hour and a devastating weaponry of offspeed pitches. Just a junior, he’s the real deal.

Keegan Snyder, Unioto

Snyder is one of the best backstops in the area and there’s no question about it. The senior catcher hit .417 last season with 10 doubles, 27 runs scored and 21 RBIs. If there are ducks on the pond and he’s at the dish, cash ‘em in. He’s delivered in plenty of clutch situations before.

Will Miller, Washington

The southpaw helped his Blue Lions win 16 games last spring and spent the entirety of the season as the team’s ace. Washington enters the year with three consecutive district championships. If a fourth is in the fold, Miller will have plenty of responsibility in winning it.

Zander Roades, Whiteoak

Everybody knows how elite Whiteoak’s program is each season. The Wildcats have expectations to meet again in ‘25 and Roades will be imperative in that happening. Last spring, he hit .403 with 31 base hits, 10 doubles and 28 stolen bases. Expect more of the same.

Hunter Hauck, Waverly

If you know nothing else about Hauck, know that he threw a two-hit shutout in the team’s regional semifinal win last spring. On the biggest stage of the team’s season, he shined the brightest. That’s how you’d define Hauck. He was 5-3 with a 1.83 ERA and hit .410 as a junior.

Ty Borland, Minford

If Borland can stay healthy, Minford will get a huge boost this spring … and that’s an understatement. That’s especially true if he can return to form on the hill. Borland helped the Falcons win 22 games last spring and take home a regional championship. He’s pivotal in ‘25.

Southeastern’s Carson McWhorter will lead the Panthers’ pitching staff this season.
CREDIT: *Derrick Webb/SOSA*

Carson McWhorter, Southeastern

It doesn’t matter who Southeastern is playing. When McWhorter is on the hill, the Panthers have a chance to collect a win. Last season, as a sophomore, McWhorter overpowered hitters with his fastball and fooled them with his offspeed stuff. He’ll assuredly be even better this season.

Ethan Wall, Fairland

The Dragons will look to defend their district championship trophy and Wall will lead the way. Last spring, he led the team with a .373 batting average alongside six doubles, two home runs and 16 RBIs. He also gave Fairland a quality pitching option. He’ll be a name to keep tabs on.

Cameron Conn, Wheelersburg

As a freshman, Conn hit .311 with a .443 on-base percentage alongside 23 base hits, 28 runs scored and 11 RBIs. You can bet your bottom dollar that the legend will only grow from there. The Pirates will once again look to be in the mix for a district title and Conn could be the key.