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Northview’s Garrett Zimmermann delivers a pitch during a high school baseball game between Anthony Wayne and Northview at Anthony Wayne High School in Whitehouse on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.
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Baseball postseason preview: Northview set to begin defense of state championship

THE BLADE/KURT STEISS

Baseball postseason preview: Northview set to begin defense of state championship

The Ohio high school baseball tournament got underway Monday, and with it comes a chance for area teams to chase sectional, district, and regional titles, and the ultimate goal of winning a state championship.

Over the years, few northwest Ohio teams have experienced that pinnacle. But, one that did — Northview — surprised many a year ago with an unlikely run to the Division I state crown.

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The Wildcats of former head coach Greg Szparka closed a 26-8 season by beating Grove City 6-1 in the June 11 state final in Akron.

That win capped a memorable ride for a program that still has never captured a league championship and, before 2022, had never won a district crown.

The league-title drought likely will continue this year, as Northview stands at 18-5 overall and 10-2 in Northern Lakes League play under first-year head coach Aaron Tullis, who had previously been a Wildcats assistant for 16 seasons.

The two league losses came against preseason NLL favorite Anthony Wayne (19-4, 12-0) — 5-3 on April 14 and 2-1 in a walk-off defeat at AW on May 3.

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“It's kind of like any other year for us,” Tullis said of the tourney mindset. “We turned the page on the state championship — as special as it was — on January 1. This team is trying to stamp out their own identity.

“We're going to get ready to play a very good Lima Senior team in our opening round and, if we take care of our business there, then we'll worry about what's the next step. Like any other year, we're just going to try to go step by step.”

Northview has won seven in a row and 13 of its past 14 games entering Tuesday’s NLL matchup at Maumee and Wednesday's D-I tourney opener, a home sectional final versus Lima Senior. The Wildcats enter their defense of their 2022 state championship as the No. 3 overall D-I seed in the two northwest Ohio district brackets.

Leading the offensive attack have been four seniors who played significant roles in the 2022 state run: Alex Dupree (.500 batting average, 24 RBIs), Benny Seals (.440, 25 runs, 17 RBIs), Riley Ames (.358, 31 runs, 14 RBIs), and Garrett Zimmermann (.343, 21 RBIs).

The mound staff is led by Vin Bentley (6-1 record, 0.83 Earned run average, 46 strikeouts), Roman McKarus (5-0, 1.79 ERA), and No. 1 starter Zimmermann (3-3, 2.66 ERA, 55 strikeouts).

“We played on the biggest stage last year,” Tullis said. “Winning a league title, a district title, a regional title, and eventually a state title is everybody's goal. Coach Szparka used to start every single year in his parent meeting with, 'My goal is to win a state title,' and every year people laughed at him.

“That's just something we truly believed — we were doing things the right way, had a great coaching staff, and had great kids who played together in the same community since they were little. Truly, our guys believe in what we do, and that can create a special thing.

“Were we the most talented team last year? I don't think so. But we had a bunch of kids who just weren't OK with losing, and I'll take that every day of the week.”

Here is a look at what might lie ahead for area teams as the tournament unfolds in all four divisions over the next three weeks.

DIVISION I

Anthony Wayne earned the top seed under second-year coach Ryan Donley and would be considered a district-title favorite. Last season, despite an 8-6 NLL finish (14-12 overall), the Generals reached a D-I regional semifinal before falling to Northview.

This year, AW has been led at the plate by Mitch Harder (.403 average, 17 RBIs), Bryce Anderson (.373), and Jack Behnfeldt (.338, 16 RBIs). In limited at bats, Drew Pfundt (11 for 21) tops the team at .524.

On the mound, Brayden Weis is 8-0 with a 1.08 earned run average with 70 strikeouts in 45⅓ innings, and Braden Curry is 5-1 with a 2.03 ERA.

The Generals open tourney play Wednesday at home against the winner of a Monday sectional semifinal between No. 12 seed Ashland and No. 14 Start. A win there would pit AW against the winner of a sectional final between two teams from the bottom half of the Three Rivers Athletic Conference — No. 8 Whitmer and No. 11 Fremont Ross — in a May 24 district semifinal at Bowling Green's Carter Park.

Provided Anthony Wayne avoids an upset, it would most likely meet TRAC contender and No. 4 seed St. Francis de Sales (16-5, 8-2) in a May 26 district final at Carter Park.

On the other side of the local Division I district bracket at Liberty-Benton, TRAC contender St. John's Jesuit (14-5-1, 9-2) is favored as the No. 2 overall seed.

The Titans, who advanced to the D-I state semifinals in 2021, look for another strong tourney run under third-year coach Sam Fischer. They begin their trail Wednesday at home against the winner of a sectional semifinal between No. 15 seed Norwalk and No. 16 Bowsher.

St. John's next test would likely be against perennial NLL power Perrysburg, which is seeded No. 7, in a May 24 district semi at L-B.

On the bottom half of the Liberty-Benton district bracket, Northview figures to match up against two-time defending TRAC champion and current conference contender Clay (14-7, 7-3), which is the No. 4 seed. Last season, the Eagles took a 1-0 lead in the top of the eighth inning of a district semi at L-B against Northview, only to see the Wildcats walk off with a 2-1 win in the bottom of the eighth.

If Northview can get past Clay and then prevail over its likely district semi foe, St. John's, a rematch of last year's regional semifinal could be in line against AW on June 1 at Bowling Green State University's Steller Field.

DIVISION II

It is no surprise that perennial state power Defiance is again the top seed for district play at Archbold. The four-time state-champion Bulldogs (19-4) of the Western Buckeye League are ranked No. 5 in the latest D-II state coaches poll.

In the bottom half of the Archbold bracket is No. 2 overall seed and TRAC contender Central Catholic (11-7, 7-3), which last reached a D-II regional in 2021.

Hindered by injuries lately, the Irish are paced at the plate by Jaxon Sanchez (.500), Kyle Wasserman (.358), Winston Delp (.333), and Bucky Bishop (.304).

On the hill, Central has been led by Cody Markus (3-0, 0.69 ERA, 41 strikeouts in 23 innings), Beau Gardner (1-3, 3.00 ERA), and Delp (3-0, 1.65 ERA).

The Irish open tourney play Friday with a sectional final against the winner of a first-round game between No. 6 seed Bowling Green and No. 10 Woodward. If they advance, awaiting will be the winner of a sectional final between No. 3 seed Rossford of the Northern Buckeye Conference and No. 5 seed Van Wert of the WBL in a May 25 district semifinal at Archbold.

In line for Central, or whichever team emerges, will most likely be Defiance in a May 27 district final at Archbold. The Bulldogs' top threat in the upper half of the bracket looks to be No. 4 seed Napoleon of the NLL in the May 25 semis.

DIVISION III

The overwhelming favorite in the D-III district at Elida is top-seeded and unbeaten Eastwood (23-0, 13-0 NBC), which is also Ohio's top-ranked team under 11th-year coach Kevin Leady (203-82 record).

The Eagles take nothing for granted following a disappointing end to their otherwise superb 26-2 season of 2022. Last year, Eastwood fell 5-1 to Ottawa Hills in a D-III regional semifinal at Elida.

Eastwood opens D-III tourney play Friday at home against either No. 11 seed Allen East and No. 12 Spencerville.

Provided Eastwood avoids the upset, likely will face third-seeded Wayne Trace team in a May 25 district semifinal at Elida before facing an expected big challenge in the May 27 district final.

Barring upsets, perennial state power and No. 2 seed Coldwater would likely face No. 3 seed Liberty-Benton, the Blanchard Valley Conference champion, in the other May 25 semifinal at Elida. Coldwater is ranked No. 6 in the state, and L-B No. 7.

Whichever team emerges from that highly competitive Elida district will advance to the Patrick Henry regional semifinal June 1 against the winner of the Shelby district. The top seed at Shelby is 2022 D-III state runner-up Milan Edison.

In the Defiance district, Tinora is the top overall seed. If the Rams prevail in the upper half of the bracket, their most likely district-final foe on May 27 would be either No. 2 seed Archbold of the Northwest Ohio Athletic League or No. 3 seed Otsego of the NBC.

DIVISION IV

Two area teams are seeded in the top two in their respective districts.

Toledo Area Athletic Conference champion Toledo Christian (15-4, 5-1) has played well against a beefed up schedule that includes mostly D-III opponents.

The top-seeded Eagles have been paced offensively by the senior quartet of Lukas Donawa (.453, 4 HR, 22 RBIs, 30 runs), Kyle Gebhart (.429, 25 runs), Malachi Beyer (.436, 22 RBIs, HR), and Charlie Duck (.344, 2 HR, 23 RBIs).

Pitching-wise, TC relies on the crafty, if not overpowering, 1-2 punch of Donawa (4-2, 1.21 ERA) and Gebhart (4-1, 2.01 ERA).

TC opens with a sectional final Wednesday at home against either No. 7 seed Hilltop and No. 9 Fayette. Then comes an immediate tough showdown with No. 4 seed Antwerp in a May 24 district semifinal at Bryan.

If the Eagles can get past that test, they would play a May 26 district final, most likely against either No. 2 seed Edgerton or No. 3 Montpelier.

In its district field at home, second-seeded NWOAL co-champion Patrick Henry (16-5, 6-1) would open with a sectional final against the winner of a first-round game between No. 7 seed Leipsic and No. 9 Holgate.

The Patriots would then advance to their home-site district semifinal, most likely against No. 3 seed Kalida on May 24. If the Pats prevail there, their likely foe in the May 26 final would likely be either No. 1 seed Van Wert Lincolnview or No. 4 Delphos St. John's.

First Published May 15, 2023, 10:23 p.m.

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Northview’s Garrett Zimmermann delivers a pitch during a high school baseball game between Anthony Wayne and Northview at Anthony Wayne High School in Whitehouse on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
Northview’s Gabe Peace runs to first during a high school baseball game between Anthony Wayne and Northview at Anthony Wayne High School in Whitehouse on Wednesday, May 3, 2023.  (THE BLADE/KURT STEISS)  Buy Image
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