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Anthony Wayne received four of eight first-place votes in the preseason NLL voting. From left are Brock Nartker, Steve Haugh, Nick Schneider, Brady Theis, and Andrew Murphy.
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Anthony Wayne top pick in NLL baseball

THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH

Anthony Wayne top pick in NLL baseball

Southview, Northview also seen as contenders

With five returning starters from a team that finished 22-8 overall and reached the Division I district finals a year ago, Anthony Wayne is viewed as the team to beat this season in the always highly competitive Northern Lakes League baseball race.

The Generals of 18th-year coach Mark Nell received four of the eight first-place votes and 56 voting points to finish first in a preseason poll of league coaches.

Southview picked up three first-place votes and was second in the poll with 46 points, Northview got one first-place nod and was third at 44, and defending champion Bowling Green was fourth at 40.

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Perrysburg, which overcame a rough NLL finish to reach the Division I regionals, was fifth, D-II state semifinalist Maumee was voted sixth, and Springfield and Napoleon rounded out the poll standings, respectively.

As testament to their strength as a group, NLL teams eliminated seven of the eight Three Rivers Athletic Conference teams in tournament play last season.

Anthony Wayne (22-8, 9-5 NLL) was out of the league race late last season but seemed to be on a tournament roll before being upset 3-2 by Perrysburg in the district finals.

The Generals hope for a better start this season led by its five returning senior starters.

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Nick Schneider (outfielder, catcher, pitcher; .320 batting average, 21 RBIs, 16 stolen bases) and Steve Haugh (third base, shortstop, first base, P; .379, 23 RBIs), were each named second-team All-NLL.

They are joined by classmates Brock Nartker (P, second base, 3B; 4-1 record, 0.41 earned run average), Brady Theis (C, .329, 14 RBI), and Andrew Murphy (SS-P).

“We have five players who have a ton of varsity experience and with the versatility to play multiple positions,” said Nell, whose AW teams last won NLL titles in 2012 and 2014. “The ability to throw strikes from the mound, and the athleticism to play consistent defense, should give us a chance to be competitive this spring. As always, the NLL is a blast because of the great balance and well-coached teams.”

Southview (16-10, 8-6) should be in the chase for its first NLL title since 2010 with seven starters returning for third-year coach Brett Baumgartner, whose Cougars reached the district semifinals in tourney play before falling 8-5 to Perrysburg.

Back for Southview are seniors C.J. Leonard (P-1B-3B, .333; 6-1 record, 1.64 ERA), Kurt Hurley (3B-P, .379), and Ryan Kelly (2B-P); juniors Jakob Harshman (SS-P), Bailey Wietrzykowski (C-P, 20 runs), and Parker McClure (OF-P, .317); and sophomore Logan Danzeisen (P-OF, .305, 20 RBI; 4-5, 1.84 ERA).

Hurley was named first-team All-NLL and Leonard was a second-team selection.

“Our expectations are high, and we know there are no nights off in the NLL,” Baumgartner said. “I like the depth of pitching we have with Leonard and Danzeisen coming back. I have confidence in our lineup 1 through 9, and if we can push some runs across early in games, I think we have as good of a shot as any to compete for a league championship.”

Northview (23-6, 10-4) had its best season ever in terms of victories and was in the hunt for their first NLL title until fading down the stretch.

Back for sixth-year coach Greg Szparka are six starters plus two other letter winners.

Leading the way for the Wildcats will be seniors Jarrett Batanian (OF, .366, 2 HR, 25 RBIs), Ben Boyers (C, .358, 2 HR, 19 RBIs), Dylan Bush (P-1B, 3-1, 2.07 ERA), and David Mulligan (P, 6-2, 1.86 ERA), and juniors Cole Kwiatkowski (SS, .384, 16 RBIs) and Connor McCann (OF).

Batanian was a first-team All-NLL pick, and Kwiatkowski was named to the second team. The biggest graduation loss was that of NLL co-player of the year Nick Wyatt (8-1 pitching record, 2.24 ERA; .319).

“I expect to be competitive in every game,” Szparka said. “There’s no off-day in this league. It is so good, and anyone can beat anyone. If we can stay healthy, and our pitching and defense hold up, we will have a chance to win games, and hopefully we are in the mix come May.”

Bowling Green (19-5, 12-2) won its first NLL title since 2008 last season but will have to navigate through a transition period this season with former coach Bob Schultz stepping down, and just one healthy starter returning for new coach Jim Beaverson.

The biggest losses to graduation were NLL co-player of the year Dylan Dohanos, who was the league batting champion at .475, and Adam Furnas (1B, .382, 20 RBIs), who was named first-team NLL. Both players moved on to Bowling Green State University.

Beaverson will rely on senior Spencer Rader (P-1B, .415, 15 RBIs; 2.93 ERA), who was also a first-team All-NLL selection. Nick Jackson (OF, .281) was expected back, but may miss the season due to an injury sustained at the end of his Bobcats wrestling season.

Stepping into starting roles and being counted out in the transition will be senior Logan Bergeron (C-1B) and juniors Andrew Tucker (3B-P), Bryce Hoehner (OF-P), Joey Craig (C-IF-P), and Tucker Craft (P-2B, 1.78 ERA).

“We are a very young team and lost 10 seniors from last year’s NLL championship team,” Beaverson said. “Five of those are currently playing at the collegiate level. That said, the coaching staff is very excited about 2018. We have many young players who have put in quality practice time and are ready to compete to the best of their abilities to defend their NLL championship.”

Perrysburg (17-15, 3-11) had an unusual trek through the 2017 season on the heels of winning four straight NLL titles.

The Yellow Jackets of 33rd-year coach Dave Hall, who surpassed 600 career wins last season, struggled in the league but went 14-4 in nonleague games, including four tournament wins during a surprising run to the Division I regionals.

Perrysburg returns just one regular starting position player plus three pitchers who logged significant innings last year.

Back are seniors Cameron Githens (OF-P), Payton Faris (1B-P, 3-1, 2.57 ERA), Griffin Parrill (P, 1-3, 2.42 ERA), and Anthony Kyle (P, 2-2, 3.50 ERA). Faris has signed to play at Wheeling Jesuit, Parriil at Bowling Green, and Kyle at Findlay.

“We have the most inexperienced team in my 33 years of coaching,” Hall said. “We have a good pitching staff and hope to get better every pitch and every inning all season.”

Maumee (22-10, 8-6) may have only tied for fourth place in the NLL standings last year, but the Panthers put everything together while enjoying a magical ride in Division II tournament play.

The Panthers topped Central Catholic and perennial power Bryan in sectional play, then toppled two-time defending state champion Defiance and No. 1-ranked Wapakoneta at the district level. Maumee then ousted Parma Padua Franciscan and Lexington at regionals before falling to eventual state champion Tallmadge by a 4-1 score in the state semifinals in Columbus.

Maumee returns six starters from that team for 17th-year coach Cam Coutcher, whose roster includes eight seniors.

Back for the Panthers are seniors Justin Studenka (P-IF, 6-3, 3.03 ERA, 40 strikeouts), Devon Cleghorn (OF-P), Devin Schiavone (P-3B, 2-2, 1.75), and Caleb Brown (OF, .342), junior Blake Adams (OF-P, .296), and sophomore Zach Marvin (IF).

“Our goal is to compete as hard as possible on every pitch,” Coutcher said. “We will focus on the fundamentals and playing the game the right way. Our players know they need to be team oriented and focus on our team to succeed.”

Springfield (12-15, 4-10) and 10th-year coach Dave Whitmire look to make a climb in the NLL standings with eight returning starters.

Back for the Blue Devils are seniors Alex Legeza (P-3B) and Adam Beale (OF); juniors Kyle Rhonehouse (P-1B, .333, 4-2, 3.50 ERA), Carter McGannon (C), Taylor Giesige (P, 4-1, 2.04 ERA), Anthony Duncan (OF). and Matt McDougle (P-2B); and sophomore Tristan Todorowski (P-SS-OF).

Last season the Devils were ousted from the tourney in the first round by Ashland.

“If we can manage all three phases — pitching, hitting and defense — we should be able to compete in this great league,” Whitmire said. “I like our defense a lot, but we need to give our pitchers some run support this year.

“Our goal doesn’t change. We are in search of the school’s first-ever league [baseball] championship.”

Napoleon (8-17, 2-12) hopes to improve its position in the league chase this season under third-year coach Jason Holubik, who will rely on leadership from five returning starters.

Those players include seniors Caleb Franz (2B), Evan Horner (1B, .308), and Dylan Unverferth (SS, .323), junior Mitchell Kruse (OF), and sophomore Landon Willeman (P-3B, 3-2, 3.49 ERA).

The biggest loss to graduation was that of Lane Good (OF-P), a first-team All-NLL selection who was second in the league in hitting at .446 and had a 2.94 ERA.

The Wildcats lost their tourney opener last year against Lima Shawnee.

“I really proud of the way my senior class attacked the first three weeks of practice,” Holubik said. “That group has really started to mature. That leadership has really impacted our pace of practice. We are much further along than my previous two seasons.”

Contact Steve Junga at sjunga@theblade.com419-724-6461, or on Twitter @JungaBlade.

First Published March 26, 2018, 6:36 p.m.

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Anthony Wayne received four of eight first-place votes in the preseason NLL voting. From left are Brock Nartker, Steve Haugh, Nick Schneider, Brady Theis, and Andrew Murphy.  (THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH)  Buy Image
Anthony Wayne catcher Brady Theis, back, batted .329 with 14 RBIs last season.  (THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH)  Buy Image
Anthony Wayne head coach Mark Nell, center, and the Generals are predicted to win the NLL this season.  (The Blade/Andy Morrison)  Buy Image
Maumee's Justin Studenka keyed the Panthers' tournament run a season ago all the way to the state semifinals.  (THE BLADE)  Buy Image
Northview third baseman Cole Kwiatkowski scores the game-winning run against Clay in a sectional game last year. Kwiatkowski hit .384 with 16 RBIs last year.  (THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH)  Buy Image
THE BLADE/JEREMY WADSWORTH
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