Brock Netter, Editor
Southern Ohio Sports Authority is presented by OhioHealth.
LYNCHBURG — If you’re looking for a complete five-tool player, there’s one in Lynchburg-Clay and his name is Cole Wells.
He made a name for himself when he led the Mustangs to their first district final appearance since 2012 last season, and has only continued to shine with every game he’s played.
En route to being the first All-Ohio honored player for the Mustangs since Drew Pitzer in 2019, the Thomas More University commit is batting a ridiculous .633 on the season with 31 hits, five home runs, five doubles, 23 runs scored and 29 RBIs.
Oh, he’s also undefeated on the mound at 8-0 and hasn’t given up a single earned run this season while striking out 77 batters in just 37 2/3 innings of work.
Wells and company will meet with Indian Hill on Monday and Fort Recovery on Thursday before beginning their tournament run — one that begins with a matchup against either Piketon or Meigs in a Division V district semifinal.
Before that happens, we caught up with the senior to discuss the team’s success, playing with his younger brother, Quin, and much more.
Question: You guys are playing baseball as well as anyone in Southeast Ohio. 17-3 on the season and the top seed in Division V. What makes this team so special?
Wells: What makes this team so special is the ability for us to feed our energy off of each other and put up big-run innings. Us being able to do this helped lead us to big wins this year in our league and non-league games.
Q: Individually, your numbers, pitching and batting, are unreal. It’s been the driving force of your team. What drives you to be the player you are and what has been key to your own success?
CW: I’ve worked all offseason with a couple guys in our facility always getting cuts in and throwing bullpens. I also have a pitching coach that helped me develop pitches, gain velocity and stay healthy throughout the season.
CREDIT: Raymond Gleadle/SOSA
Q: You’re one of nine seniors on the team. Describe the bond you guys have as a group and how it’s led to on-the-field success.
CW: All of the seniors on this team are best friends and know each other very well. Us knowing each other so well has helped us know how to pick each other up when things aren’t going well, as a team or individually. We’re able to regroup in-between innings and that usually leads into a big inning or cleaner innings in the field. Some of the guys are also huge in getting the energy up and picking people up as well.
Q: Alongside the seniors, you’re also playing with your younger brother, Quin. What’s it been like playing with him and watching him have success?
CW: I’ve always wanted to play with my brother, which is awesome to be able to. Him and I have always been working together in the cages, fielding and throwing. Both of us wanting to be better everyday and seeing all of the work translate onto the field is a great feeling. He’s also one of my best friends and we are able to give each other feedback since we know each other so well and how we play.
Q: You guys won the SHAC title this year, in Gold Ball fashion. What was that feeling like being conference champions?
CW: It was an awesome feeling, unfortunately it was my only one in my four years. But I’m very grateful to have a team as talented as us to come out on top to win the league and get the second Gold Ball in Lynchburg-Clay history.
Q: One championship down, and now your focus shifts towards the tournament. What is the postseason goal and what’s key to making it happen?
CW: Of course our post season goal is to win the first state championship in Lynchburg-Clay history. The key for us to do this is to keep doing what we’re doing by keeping the energy high, playing clean games, productful innings and having fun.
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