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

Brock Netter, Staff Writer

One regional champion, five 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.

George Arnett | Valley | Senior | Pitcher

Valley’s senior class will go down as one of the best in school history. Arnett is a huge part of that legacy and he saved his best season for his last. Helping the Indians to 19 wins and a third district championship, he finished 9-1 on the mound with a 0.93 ERA, tossing 68 innings and striking out 80 batters. He was named first-team SOC II, first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio. 

Landon Barnett | Whiteoak | Senior | Utility

His talents are endless, his game is smooth and he was the engine of a team that won 27 games and made a regional final appearance. On the mound, he went 7-1 with a 1.02 ERA in 43 innings, striking out 76 batters. At the dish, he hit .474 with a home run, seven triples, 11 doubles, 32 stolen bases, 37 RBIs and 45 runs scored. He was the SHAC Player of the Year, first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio.

Drew Brown | Ironton St. Joe | Junior | Catcher 

Whatever the Flyers needed, Brown was able to come through and deliver. Leading his team to 18 wins as well as a share of the SOC I crown and a sectional title — alongside a district final appearance — he finished the season batting .433 with two triples, nine doubles, 23 stolen bases, 36 runs scored and 38 RBIs. He was named the SOC I Player of the Year and was a first-team all district honoree.

Luke Cassidy | Notre Dame | Freshman | Pitcher

It’s rare when a freshman walks onto a varsity team and becomes their top player. But that’s exactly what Cassidy did, and it propelled the Titans to a share of the SOC I title and a sectional championship. On the bump, the rising star struck out 71 batters in 40 innings of work. At the dish, he hit .443 with three triples, five doubles, 23 runs scored and 25 RBIs. He was named the SOC I Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-district. 

Caden Conn | Wheelersburg | Junior | Pitcher

Wheelersburg made its return to greatness this season, and Conn was a huge part of that resurgence. Of the 22 wins the Pirates racked up, he was responsible for half of them, going 11-1 on the mound with a 0.32 ERA in 74 2/3 innings, striking out 74 batters. But he was dangerous with the bat as well, hitting .371 with 25 runs scored and 30 RBIs. He was named first-team SOC II and first-team all-district. 

Jace Copley | Valley | Junior | Catcher

On the baseball diamond, Copley has never known what it’s like to not play in a Sweet 16. And his bat helped extend that streak this season. He finished the season hitting .429 from the dish with a triple, three doubles, 17 runs scored and 13 RBIs. He was named first-team SOC II, first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio. 

D.J. Crocker | Huntington | Junior | Catcher

Crocker embodies what the Township is all about. His play on the field backs that up. Helping the Huntsmen to 19 wins and a sectional final appearance, the junior finished the season batting .478 with a home run, nine doubles, 13 stolen bases and 29 runs scored. He was named first-team SVC and first-team all-district. 

Carson Cronin | Minford | Junior | Outfielder

Cronin’s game is built on speed. He can track down a fly ball no matter where it is and once he’s on the base paths, there is no getting him out. A big part of Minford winning 17 games and a sectional championship, the junior batted .540 with a pair of doubles, eight RBIs and 32 runs scored. He was named first-team SOC II, first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio. 

Tate DeBord | Circleville | Senior | Infielder

When big No. 47 stepped to the dish, opposing pitchers knew a battle was approaching. With intelligence at the dish, DeBord showed patience and when he got his pitch, he made the most of it. A big part of Circleville winning a sectional title, the senior batted .453 with a home run, seven doubles, 15 runs scored and 22 RBIs. He was named all-MSL, first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio. 

Tyler Duncan | Portsmouth | Senior | Infielder

He was a wizard with the glove, but even more dangerous with the bat in his hands. Duncan was the engine behind the Trojans winning 24 games as he carved out a first-team All-Ohio spot after batting .523 with a pair of triples, eight doubles, 21 stolen bases, 24 RBIs and 31 runs scored. He was also all-OVC and a first-team all-district selection. 

Noah Ernst | Jackson | Sophomore | Catcher 

Replacing a second-team All-Ohio catcher is never a small task, but Ernst made it look relatively easy and that was a welcome sight for Jackson. On top of throwing runners out left and right, he additionally hit .346 from the dish with a home run, eight doubles and 21 RBIs. He was named all-FAC and first-team all-district. 

Gabe Fouch | Fairfield | Junior | Utility

Anytime Fouch took the mound, it was game over. But truthfully, it’s a tough debate whether he was more dangerous with his arm or bat. He was 7-3 on the hill with a 1.15 ERA in 60 2/3 innings, striking out 100 batters. At the dish, he hit .357 with four home runs, two triples, six doubles, 26 RBIs and 28 runs scored. He was named first-team SHAC and first-team all-district. 

Micah Geise | Unioto | Senior | Outfielder

Geise has been a staple of Unioto’s baseball program since his freshman year, and he’s only gotten better. After an All-Ohio season last year, he led his Shermans to SVC and sectional titles as he batted .411 with five doubles, six triples, 19 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and 43 runs scored. He was named first-team SVC, first-team all-district and honorable mention All-Ohio. 

Wyatt Haupt | Eastern Brown | Junior | Utility 

Haupt was the straw that stirred the drink for the Warriors. Leading his team to their first district title since 2008, Haupt was a two-way star, going 8-0 on the hill with a 0.69 ERA in 61 innings, striking out 79 batters. He also hit .446 at the plate with a home run, seven doubles, seven triples, 24 runs scored and 27 RBIs. He was first-team SHAC, first-team all district and honorable mention All-Ohio.

Jase Hurd | Waverly | Junior | Infielder

There’s never a shortage of great players to come through Waverly, and Hurd put himself on that list this season. Always smooth with the glove, it was his offensive game that elevated him. He batted .359 for the 17-win Tigers, hitting a pair of home runs, three triples, seven doubles and scored 24 times with 31 RBIs. He was named second-team All-Ohio.

Lane Hutchinson | Wheelersburg | Senior | Infielder

Hutchinson shouldered a lot of responsibility, especially from a leadership standpoint as the only senior on his team. But he took it all in stride, and helped lift his Pirates to SOC II, sectional and district championships as he batted .412 with a home run, three doubles, 16 RBIs and 17 runs scored. He was named first-team SOC II and first-team all-district. 

Landen Jarrell | Zane Trace | Sophomore | Infielder

Consistency and productivity … two things you can always count on anytime Jarrell takes the field. Leading the Pioneers to 16 wins this season, the sophomore hit .402 from the dish with six doubles, 14 RBIs, 15 stolen bases and 25 runs scored. He was named first-team SVC, first-team all-district and honorable mention All-Ohio. 

L.T. Jordan | Waverly | Junior | Infielder

If it wasn’t Hurd on one side of the field corralling ground balls, it was Jordan. Either way, outs were racked up at a high rate. At the dish, Jordan elevated his game to a new level, hitting .420 on the season with four triples, seven doubles, 17 RBIs and 35 runs scored for the Tigers. He was named first-team SOC II and first-team all-district. 

Niko Kiritsy | Fairland | Senior | Infielder 

When Kiritsy came up to bat, teams often took a couple steps back. And even then, that often still wasn’t enough. With power for days, he finished the season batting .417 with a home run, 12 doubles, 26 RBIs and 30 runs scored, helping the Dragons to a district semifinal appearance. He was named first-team OVC and first-team all-district. 

Tanner Lemaster | Washington | Senior | Pitcher

Lemaster’s talents know no bounds. After successful seasons in football and basketball, he blazed a trail of dominance on the diamond unseen in Washington Court House in quite some time. He went 9-1 on the mound, hoisting a 0.73 ERA in 57 1/3 innings and struck out 77 batters. He was named all-FAC, second-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio. 

Vinnie Lonardo | Portsmouth | Senior | Pitcher

Every good team has a pitcher that is virtually untouchable. Lonardo was that guy, and much more for the Trojans. Undefeated on the season, he went 9-0 on the hill with a 1.20 ERA in 58 1/3 innings, striking out 92 batters and leading his team to a sectional title as well as a district final appearance. He was named all-OVC, first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio.

Titus Lotz | Washington | Senior | Utility

If it wasn’t Lemaster mowing lineups down, it was Lotz. Either way, teams stood no chance at the dish. He helped guide the Blue Lions to 27 wins and a regional championship with force on the mound and at the dish. He was 6-1 on the hill with a 0.86 ERA in 40 1/3 innings, striking out 74 batters. He also batted .405 with four home runs, four doubles, 28 RBIs and 30 runs scored. He was named the FAC Player of the Year and first-team all-district. 

Robert Martin | South Webster | Senior | Pitcher

Anytime Martin took the hill, teams had two options: strikeout swinging or strike out looking. Despite him finishing with a 6-6 record on the bump, his numbers are flat out insane. In 75 innings pitched, he carried a 0.65 ERA and struck out 114 batters. Even crazier, he allowed just seven walks. He was named the SOC II Pitcher of the Year and earned first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio selections.

Malachi Palmer | Fairfield Union | Senior | Outfielder

Power, power and more power. He sees his pitch, and he’s giving the ball the ride of a lifetime. Leading his Falcons to 14 wins and a sectional final appearance, the senior slugger batted .471 on the season, hitting six home runs, six triples, scored 21 times and drove in 30 runs. He was named first-team MSL, first-team all-district and first-team All-Ohio. 

Kaden Penwell | McClain | Junior | Shortstop

There’s no question that Penwell carried the Tigers this past spring. The first-team all-FAC and all-district shortstop hit .371 and paced a youth-laden McClain program to 10 victories. He also added 30 hits, seven doubles, 16 RBIs and 25 runs scored. As a senior, expect Penwell to not only be the Tigers’ leader, but for him to emerge as one of the best overall players in the district. He brings his A-game each time out.

Nate Price | Whiteoak | Senior | Catcher

Leadership by example. Price is a model teammate, leader in the field and has a knack for simply getting the job done. At the dish for the SHAC champion Wildcats, he batted .378 with a triple, two home runs, nine doubles, 21 stolen bases, 28 RBIs and 34 runs scored. He was named first-team SHAC, first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio. 

Luken Roades | Whiteoak | Senior | Infielder

A smooth operator in the field and at the dish, Roades is purely a gamer. A key cog for the district champion Wildcats, the senior finished the season with a .447 batting average alongside two home runs, three triples, eight doubles, 20 RBIs, 38 stolen bases and 41 runs scored. He was named first-team SHAC, first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio. 

Eli Roberts | Whiteoak | Junior | Infielder

Every player on Whiteoak’s roster elevated their game to another level, but none more so than Roberts. The junior infielder went from another solid player on the roster to a first-team All-Ohioan after batting .413 with three home runs, eight doubles, 20 stolen bases, 29 runs scored and 38 RBIs. He was also first-team SHAC and second-team all-district. 

Rylan Sams | Oak Hill | Senior | Utility

One of the most intense players in Southern Ohio, Sams was the emotional leader for the Oaks. Leading them to 19 wins and their first sectional title since 2013, the senior standout went 6-3 on the mound with a 1.20 ERA in 69 2/3 innings, striking out a school record 140 batters. He additionally hit .405 with three home runs, 11 doubles, 15 RBIs and 23 runs scored. He was named the SOC II Player of the Year and was a first-team all-district and second-team All-Ohio selection.

Logan Smith | Circleville | Senior | Utility

Circleville needed someone to step up with its top two pitchers gone from last season. That’s where Smith came into the mix. The southpaw kept hitters off-balance and helped the Tigers to a district final appearance, going 6-3 on the bump with a 2.07 ERA, striking out 51 batters in 50 2/3 innings. He also hit .303 with 20 RBIs and scored 26 times. He was named all-MSL and first-team all-district. 

Keegan Snyder | Unioto | Sophomore | Catcher

It was clear last season, just as a freshman, that Snyder was a special talent. Fast forward a year later with experience under his belt and he’s turned himself into a superstar. Feared at the dish, he hit .533 with a home run, nine doubles, 27 runs scored and 36 RBIs, leading the Shermans to 25 wins. He was named SVC Player of the Year, first-team all-district and honorable mention All-Ohio. 

Jakob Tipton | West | Junior | Catcher

Inside a very tough-to-play-in and highly competitive SOC II, Tipton was one of the toughest players and toughest outs in the league. Getting the Senators to 12 wins, the junior slugger finished the season hitting .524 with a home run, five triples, 13 doubles, 25 runs scored and 26 RBIs. He was named second-team SOC II and first-team all-district. 

Blake Trevathan | Fairland | Senior | Infielder

Fairland reigned atop the OVC last season, and Trevathan was a big reason why the Dragons remained atop the conference this spring. Helping the Dragons win 19 games and a sectional title, he hit .333 with four doubles, 17 RBIs and 22 runs scored. He was named OVC Player of the Year and first-team all-district. 

John Wall | Washington | Junior | Infielder 

Put Wall anywhere on the field, and he’ll make plays. Put him at the dish, and production is all you’re going to get from him. Helping the Blue Lions to a conference championship, he batted .464 from the plate with four doubles, 19 stolen bases, 28 RBIs and 39 runs scored. He was named all-FAC and first-team all-district. 

Ramey Wyant | Jackson | Junior | Utility

Wyant earned a little time last season, but really got his chance to break out this spring. He made the most of his opportunities. On the mound, he went 5-1 with a 1.20 ERA in 36 innings of work, striking out 48 batters. At the dish, he batted .386 with a home run, 10 doubles and 22 RBIs, helping Jackson win 20 games. He was named all-FAC and first-team all-district. 

Honorable Mention Selections 

A.J. Dallmayer, Washington; Jonah Waters, Washington; Gaven Jones, Jackson; Dillon Hyer, Miami Trace; Jacob Lemaster, Chillicothe; Coen Butler, Chillicothe; Andrew Potts, McClain; Korbin Adams, Hillsboro; Jaekyn Ridout, Valley; Carter Nickel, Valley; Alex Boles, Waverly;  Isaac Bockway, Wheelersburg; Trevor Fike, West; Grant Wheeler, Minford; Jaren Lower, South Webster; Trent Walters, Westfall; K.B. Perkins, Unioto; Josh Young, Zane Trace; Mason Dyer, Adena; Trent Walters, Westfall; Dalton Black, Huntington; Dax Estep, Paint Valley; Carson Emery, Whiteoak; Cade Miller, Fairfield; Pryce Murphy, Eastern Brown; Brandon Bailey, Eastern Brown; Logan Martin, Wellston; Brycen Hunt, Fairland; Ian Ginger, Ironton; Brayden Hanshaw, South Point

SPONSORED BY ROMAN FAMILY HEALTHCARE