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

Brock Netter, Editor

Two regional champions, eight district champions and a number of school history books being rewritten 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 40 area players who were at their best throughout the spring season.

Eddie Abele | Senior | Catcher | Oak Hill

Rain and its after-effects ruined Oak Hill’s season, limiting the Oaks to just 16 games. But that’s all Abele needed to make his mark. He was a tough out at the dish with power for days, hitting .558 with two triples, six doubles, 21 runs scored and 22 RBIs, leading the Oaks to nine wins. He was the SOC II Player of the Year and a first-team all-district selection.

Benaiah Andrews | Junior | Pitcher | South Webster

Opponents knew they were in for a long day at the office whenever Andrews took the mound. In 72 innings of work on the year, he went 9-2, carried a slim 1.45 ERA and struck out 55 batters, helping his Jeeps win a school-record 21 games, including their first conference championship since 1981. He was the SOC III’s co-Pitcher of the Year and a first-team All-Ohio honoree.

Hunter Barnard | Junior | Shortstop | South Webster

Speed kills, and Barnard has plenty to spare, and then some. A three-sport athlete with winning intangibles, he was a key cog in the Jeeps’ third district championship in school history as he batted .414 with three doubles, three triples, 19 RBIs and 21 runs. He was named  the SOC III’s co-Player of the Year and returns as part of a reloaded team next season.

Thomas Barnhart | Sophomore | Utility | Manchester

Manchester found not just a diamond in the rough in Barnhart, but possibly the mitochondria of its team for the next two seasons. Barnhart finished the year batting .417 with four home runs, eight doubles, 16 runs scored and 29 RBIs, guiding the Greyhounds to 15 wins and a SHAC II championship. He was named first-team SHAC and first-team All-Ohio. 

Justin Bennett | Senior | Utility | Athens

Bennett is a silent assassin with an arm that was nearly untouchable. He had an arsenal of pitches that made batters’ knees buckle. Bennett helped the Bulldogs win 20 games and a TVC championship and was 4-0 on the mound, allowing just two earned runs in 38 innings of work alongside 52 strikeouts. That was enough to earn himself TVC Defensive Player of the Year and first-team all-district honors.

Kelton Bennington | Junior | Shortstop | Logan Elm

The Braves caught lightning in a bottle when the final weeks of the season arrived, winning four of their five total games in May. But Bennington was on fire from his very first at-bat. He hit .480 with a home run, 12 doubles, 17 runs scored and 23 RBIs, helping LE earn a tournament upset win over Fairfield Union. He was named first-team MSL and first-team all-district. 

Glavine Bigam | Sophomore | Second Base | Circleville

Circleville has been knocking at the door of a district title throughout the last seven seasons.Bigam helped the Tigers kick it in this spring. He batted .409 with three doubles, three triples, 18 RBIs and 41 runs scored, helping the Tigers win their first district championship since 2018 and make a regional final appearance to boot. You’ll be reading his name a lot over the next two seasons. 

Derrick Bloomfield | Junior | Third Base | Coal Grove

There’s nothing super flashy about Bloomfield’s game. He’s just pure production in the highest form, and that’s all you can want from a player. He protects the hot corner, brings his lunch pail to work every day and leaves it all on the field. He finished the season batting .511 with eight doubles and knocking in 15 RBIs. He was named first-team OVC and first-team All-Ohio.

Trevin Brooks | Junior | Catcher | Portsmouth

He’s no longer the future. Brooks is now the present of Portsmouth’s baseball program and his stock continues to rise. The junior backstop finished the season for the 18-win Trojans batting .500 with 12 doubles, 16 runs scored and 32 RBIs, helping his team make another district final appearance. He was the OVC Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan.

Mason Brown | Senior | Utility | Chillicothe

General. Leader. Captain. When Brown speaks, his teammates listen, and he backs up his vocals with his actions on the diamond. He’s a fighter at the dish, tough to hit when he’s on the bump, and virtually impossible to catch on the base paths. He hit .388 on the season with two triples, four doubles and 10 RBIs, earning himself all-FAC and all-district honors.

Josiah Burns | Senior | Outfielder | Lynchburg-Clay 

In a lineup jam-packed with elite talent, Burns proved time and time again why he was one of the Mustangs’ most consistent bats. He finished the season with a .441 batting average to go with a home run, eight doubles, 17 RBIs and 33 runs scored, playing his part on a 24-win team that brought home a Gold Ball.

Luke Cassidy | Junior | Utility | Notre Dame

Cassidy might be the most underrated player in Southeast Ohio, yet he’s one of the most productive players in the state. A base hit and RBI waiting to happen, he helped his Titans to 11 wins as he batted .590 at the dish with four triples, eight doubles, 27 RBIs and 31 runs scored. He was the SOC I’s co-Player of the Year and earned first-team All-Ohio honors.

Gage Cheadle | Junior | Shortstop | Southeastern

As a staple in the Panthers’ lineup, Cheadle 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 .402 with a home run, three doubles, 15 RBIs and 28 scores. Those numbers helped lead the Panthers to a district crown and the program’s first-ever Elite 8 appearance.

Brady Doss | Senior | Infielder | Wheelersburg

Power for days, and the ability to hit the ball into any gap. That’s what Doss brought to Wheelerburg’s lineup, as his bat was always a welcome sight. He finished the season with a .347 batting average, a home run, seven doubles, 13 RBIs and 23 runs scored, leading the Pirates to a district final appearance and earning him first-team SOC III accolades.

Ethan Edwards | Junior | Infielder | Eastern Meigs

Eastern Meigs has been lucky enough to have plenty of elite talent play over the past few years, and Edwards is the latest example. He finished the season batting .394 with six doubles, 18 RBIs and 36 runs scored, helping the Eagles to 18 wins and a second straight district title. Those numbers earned himself first-team all-league and second-team All-Ohio honors.

Noah Ernst | Senior | Catcher | Jackson

In three years with Ernst as its backstop, Jackson compiled a 68-13 record with three FAC titles and two district final appearances. There’s a reason Ohio University wanted him after his sophomore year, and he put together a career-best senior campaign. Batting .362, hitting two home runs, six doubles, scoring 13 times and knocking in 24 RBIs, he earned all-FAC and first-team All-Ohio honors. 

Rowhan Gilmore | Senior | First Base | Eastern Meigs

Gilmore has been a fixture in the Eagles’ lineup, and he saved his best season for last. The first baseman batted .402 to go alongside a home run, 10 doubles, 19 runs scored, 25 RBIs and 33 hits, bringing back a second district title to Reedsville. He ends his career as the TVC-Hocking Offensive Player of the Year and as a first-team all-district selection.

Ian Ginger | Senior | Utility | Ironton

Ginger was the engine that made the Tigers’ car go. A nightmare for opposing teams on the mound and at the dish, he routinely tore the cover off the ball as he batted .576 to go alongside a home run, three doubles, four triples, 18 stolen bases, 17 RBIs and 30 runs scored. Ginger guided Ironton to its first district title since 2003 and was named the OVC Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan.

Braden Hawley | Senior | First Base | Meigs

Year in and year out, Meigs continuously has one player who makes a huge name for himself. This year, it was Hawley’s turn to put himself on the map. The senior infielder hit .361 with three doubles and 13 RBIs for the nine-win Marauders. He was the TVC-Ohio Offensive Player of the Year and a first-team all-district nod.

Zavier Heiss | Senior | Third Base | Waterford 

When people talk about hitting the cover off the ball, they’re referencing Heiss’ bat and the damage it causes. The senior helped the Wildcats win 16 contests and make a district final, hitting .371 alongside four home runs, eight doubles, 25 RBIs and scoring 30 runs. He was a first-team all-district selection and a second-team All-Ohio honoree. 

Jacob Hughes | Freshman | Catcher | Ironton

The present, and future, of Ironton’s program is bright, and Hughes is a huge reason why. Brand new to the varsity scene, he showcased himself as a force to be reckoned with by finishing the year batting .446 with two triples, nine doubles, 18 runs scored and 23 RBIs, leading the Tigers to an OVC championship. He was named first-team OVC. Remember his name. 

Gaven Jones | Senior | Pitcher | Jackson 

Jones brought a swagger that made Jackson invincible when he took the mound. He was untouchable, going 9-0 with a 0.98 ERA in 46 1/3 innings of work while striking out 54 batters, leading the Ironmen to 25 wins, an FAC title and a district final appearance. He also hit .441 with three home runs, 12 doubles and 34 RBIs to boot. He was the FAC Player of the Year and a second-team All-Ohioan.

Will Jones | Senior | Catcher | Symmes Valley

Since Jones put on a Viking uniform, he made it clear that he was a special talent. He followed last year’s All-Ohio campaign with another one, batting .422 with three triples, nine doubles, 31 RBIs and 31 runs, leading his Vikings to 16 wins. He was the SOC II Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-Ohio selection.

Jon Knapp | Junior | Pitcher | Green 

It seems like we’ve been writing Knapp’s name for more than three years. But then again, he is that good. Helping the Bobcats to 18 wins and a Sweet 16 appearance, the junior hurler went 7-2 on the hill in 66 1/3 innings of work alongside a 1.48 ERA and 114 strikeouts. He batted .333 with a home run, 10 doubles, 18 runs scored and 27 RBIs. He has one more year to continue causing havoc.

Landon Kimbler | Senior | Utility | Green

Kimbler combined with Knapp to form one of the best 1-2 pitching combos in the area. But his bat was just as good. Leading the Bobcats to an SOC I title and the team’s first district title since 2002, he batted .321 with six doubles, 22 RBIs and 24 runs scored. He was the SOC I’s co-Player of the Year and a first-team all-district selection, leaving a sizable hole to fill in the Bobcats’ lineup. 

Zane Matthews | Senior | Second Base | Fairfield

Fairfield may not have achieved the same level of success as its been used to in recent years, but Matthews was better than ever. He shouldered a major load for the Lions, and routinely delivered, batting an incredible .567 with a home run, two triples, seven doubles, 20 RBIs, 21 stolen bases and 27 runs scored. He was named first-team all-SHAC and second-team All-Ohio.

Gunnar McCullough | Junior | Utility | Zane Trace

McCullough’s game isn’t predicated on being flashy. It’s all about pure productivity. The scary part is he still has a year left after a monster junior season. Leading the Pioneers to 19 wins, he batted .437 with two triples, nine doubles, 20 stolen bases, 30 runs scored and 32 RBIs. He was named first-team all-SVC and honorable mention All-Ohio. 

Carson McWhorter | Junior | Pitcher | Southeastern

The OHSAA deciding to split the state’s baseball programs into seven divisions turned out to be a huge benefactor for Southeastern and McWhorter led the charge on the hill. The junior flamethrower finished the year with a 9-3 record in 78 1/3 innings of work, boasting a 1.43 ERA and striking out 118 batters, leading the Panthers to their first-ever district title. He was named first-team SVC and first-team all-district. 

K.B. Perkins | Senior | Pitcher | Unioto

The numbers Perkins put up this season are mind-blowing. On the mound, he was literally untouchable as he went 12-1 with a 0.89 ERA and struck out 115 batters. At the dish, he hit .386 with two home runs, 13 doubles, 22 runs scored and 30 RBIs, leading the Shermans to a regional title and a Final 4 appearance. He was the SVC Player of the Year and an honorable mention All-Ohioan. 

A.J. Pluta | Sophomore | Infielder | Westfall

Pluta understood he had to take his game to another level if Westfall wanted to have success. He did just that while the Mustangs won 14 games and made a district final appearance. The sophomore finished the season hitting .420 with three doubles, eight runs scored and 16 RBIs. He was named first-team all-SVC and is only going to get better over the next two years. 

Carson Powell | Junior | Pitcher | Valley

The Indians came into the season with a lot of promise, especially in its pitching rotation, which was led by Powell. The junior led the Indians to their fourth district title in five seasons, going 7-0 with a 0.65 ERA in 53 2/3 innings and struck out 84 batters. He was the SOC III co-Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-district. 

Jaekyn Ridout | Senior | Utility | Valley

If you look up the word ‘selfless’ in the dictionary, Ridout’s picture will be the first thing you see. He’ll play any position on the diamond and he’ll get the job done. It’s what he does best. He took over catching duties this year, and the Indians didn’t miss a beat as he helped them to 18 wins and a district title. He was the SOC III co-Player of the Year and first-team all-district.

Jacob Roth | Junior | Shortstop | Portsmouth

There’s plenty of good reasons why Roth was named a Division V second-team All-Ohioan. As part of Portsmouth’s run to a district final appearance, he finished the season with a .432 batting average, six doubles, 19 stolen bases, 26 RBIs and 32 runs scored. The Trojans return a boatload of talent with Roth’s name towards the top of the list.

Keegan Snyder | Senior | Catcher | Unioto

Snyder’s name, and talents, has been well-known since he stepped onto the diamond. His four years as the starting catcher have resulted in a total record of 93-19. He saved his best season for last. The Findlay commit hit .425 with two home runs, eight doubles, 19 RBIs and 36 runs scored for the SVC and district-champion Shermans. He was named first-team SVC and second-team All-Ohio — and should’ve been a first-teamer.

Gaige Stuckey | Senior | Pitcher | Miami Trace

Miami Trace went as far as Stuckey could take them, and that led to another district final appearance. After a second-team All-Ohio season, he followed it up with a masterful season on the hill as he went 9-2 for the 17-win Panthers, carrying a 1.10 ERA and striking out 128 batters. That was plenty enough to earn himself all-FAC and first-team All-Ohio honors. 

Trent Smith | Senior | Pitcher | Circleville

The Tigers got hot at the right time, and Smith was the leader. On the mound, he went 8-2 on the year in 57 innings of work, carrying a 2.33 ERA and striking out 64 batters. At the dish, he batted .433 with a home run, 14 doubles, 26 RBIs and 45 runs scored, leading his team to a regional final appearance. He was the MSL Pitcher of the Year and first-team all-district. 

Ashton Waldrop | Junior | Third Base | Fairfield Union

Want to have a talk about speed? Waldrop has plenty of it, and it was a key component for the Falcons winning 16 games this season. He finished the year batting .382 with three doubles, nine RBIs, 23 stolen bases and 32 runs scored. He was named first-team all-MSL and first-team all-district.

Cole Wells | Senior | Pitcher | Lynchburg-Clay

Wells was unquestionably the best player in the area, and his numbers back it up. On the mound, he went 10-1 in 58 2/3 innings of work, carrying a 0.83 ERA and striking out 106 batters. At the dish, he batted .526 with five home runs, six doubles, 25 runs and 38 RBIs, leading his team to the Final 4. He was the SHAC Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan. Retire the jersey. 

Quin Wells | Freshman | Third Base | Lynchburg-Clay

Cole Wells might be graduated, but his younger brother, Quin, is just getting started. And he’s just as good, which is terrifying to think about. He handled third base duties like a veteran and brought a dangerous bat to the lineup as he hit .421 with three triples, five doubles, 18 stolen bases, 27 runs and 41 RBIs, helping the Mustangs win a Gold Ball and their first district title since 1997. Buy stock in him now.  

Jaxon Zickafoose | Junior | Shortstop | Unioto

Every great team needs a leadoff man who routinely gets on base and sets the tone out of the gates. Zickafoose did just that and it propelled the Shermans to their first Final 4 since 1994. He finished the season batting .317 with seven doubles, 13 RBIs, 22 stolen bases and 30 runs, earning himself second-team all-SVC honors. 

Honorable Mention Selections

Callaway Ratcliff, Unioto; Austin Magill, Adena; Joey Pfeifer, Southeastern; Lukas Oiler, Zane Trace; Noah Stonerock, Westfall; Brayden Elliott, Huntington; Tucker Williams, Jackson; Brody McBee, Miami Trace; Will Miller, Washington; Hunter Hauck, Waverly; Tate Queen, Valley; Jack Picklesimer, Wheelersburg; J.D. Matiz, Minford; Bryce McClintic, South Webster; Tanner Corn, Symmes Valley; J.T. Williams, Portsmouth; Tanner Kilenman, Ironton; Brayden Hanshaw, South Point; Logen Drummond, Gallia Academy; Luke Applegate, Manchester; Zander Roades, Whiteoak; Jackson Prine, Eastern Brown; Christian Flowers, Lynchburg-Clay; Braedon West, Lynchburg-Clay; Austin Gray, Circleville;  Easton Nuzum, Athens

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