The Lake Flyers have won more Northern Buckeye Conference titles than any other program, and that is expected to continue this spring.

Lake, the defending conference champion, has captured five NBC titles since the league's inception in 2012. The Flyers won in 2024, 2021, 2019, 2014, and 2012.

Last season, Lake parlayed its regular-season success into a trip to the Division III state title game. The Flyers went 28-5 and finished as state runner-up after a 3-1 loss to Heath in the state final.

Lake earned six of eight first-place votes in a preseason coaches poll to get the nod as the favorite in 2025.

“I've always been a believer that preseason polls don't mean much, as you still have to go out and play games,” Lake coach Casey Witt said. “But it does show a level of respect to our program. We preach about finding a way to get better every day. We just want to simplify things for our guys so they can get better while allowing them to be athletes and play freely.”

Eastwood, which has won four NBC titles including back-to-back in 2022 and 2023, was picked to finish second. Oak Harbor is predicted to finish third followed by Maumee, Otsego, Genoa, Rossford, and Fostoria.

Lake has three players back that earned All-Ohio recognition: senior pitcher Drew Tajblik (first-team all-state), junior catcher Gavin Kohlhofer (honorable mention), and senior third baseman/pitcher Jay Blazevich (honorable mention).

“The NBC always has good baseball players and really good arms,” Witt said. “Seeing good arms three times a week in league play prepares you for the structure of the OHSAA tournament.”

Witt said the deep tournament run should carry over into this season.

“The ability to compete against really good competition and be in close games that are meaningful was important,” he said. “We can lean on those experiences this spring.”

Eastwood, Maumee, Oak Harbor, and Otsego also all won sectional titles.

This postseason, Maumee will compete in Division IV. The other seven NBC teams will all be in Division V.

Here's a look at the NBC in predicted order of finish:

Lake (28-5 overall, 11-3 NBC) has eight letter winners returning. Witt said the players in the Flyers program have worked hard in the months leading up to this season.

“I think we are ready to use all of that momentum as an advantage in 2025,” Witt said.

Tajblik (P/SS), a three-year starter, batted .369 with 23 runs batted in, while Blazevich (2B/P) had a .345 average with 28 RBIs.

Kohlhofer (C) is a two-year starter, junior Jack Sobczak (IF/P) batted .358 with 22 RBIs. Sophomore Kaiden Cousino (CF) started every game as a freshman. Other top returning players for the Flyers include senior Korbin Adkins (OF), sophomore Jaxson Rymers (OF/P), and senior Zaiden Kohlenberg (U/P).

“Our players and coaches are confident in each other and understand what it takes to have success from March through early June,” Witt said. “Now, it is about little things, like getting better each day and maximizing our opportunities, while enjoying the journey along the way.”

Eastwood (21-5, 10-4) has seven starters back under veteran coach Kevin Leady, who has a career record of 227-91. The Eagles reached the D-III district semis last year.

“We have many athletes going above and beyond to prepare,” Leady said. “We have a great core returning and are excited to see how we gel. Expectations are high for this group, but we understand the work needed to be successful.”

Senior Drew Kachmarik (1B/P; .372, 12 2Bs, 26 RBIs, 3-1 record, 2.00 ERA) will play at Defiance College.

Other top returning starters include senior Connor Norton (C/INF; .324, 4 2B, 15 RBIs, 19 R, 8 SB), senior Kadyn Donnell (OF/P; .321, 4 2B, 15 RBIs, 23 runs, 14 SB, 5-0, 0.98 ERA), senior Colton Woodward (SS; .314, 8 2B, 15 RBIs, 37 R, 21 SB), and senior Paul Lautzenheiser (P/1B/DH; .311, 4 2B, 16 RBIs, 19 R, 7-2, 2.00 ERA).

“We have great arms and we are going to count on them,” Leady said. “The league will be a challenge this season. There will not be a day off. I believe the league will prepare us for tournament time.”

Oak Harbor (19-7, 9-5) looks to continue to build on back-to-back solid seasons under coach Nick Lance, who enters his 10th season. The Rockets reached the D-III district final last spring.

Oak Harbor will be led by senior Michael Lalonde (P/SS), senior Brayden Butzin (C/P), senior Karson Lash (INF/P), junior Cooper Schultz (OF), junior Alex Rife (1B), and sophomore Nolan Bickelhaupt (P/INF). Lalonde and Butzin are both four-year starters.

“We look to continue to build on our success over the past two years,” Lance said. “The NBC is full of quality teams, and we look forward to competing against some of the top talent in the area. Our kids have been working hard in the off-season and have bought in. As a program, we are excited to see it pay off.”

Maumee (18-10, 10-4) looks to build on a productive season as the Panthers reached the Division II district semifinals and finished tied for second in the NBC.

Coach Todd Ery, who enters his fifth year, said juniors Ben and Will Kubicz will be key contributors once again. Ben Kubicz (P/OF; .452, 21 RBIs, 27 runs; 6-3 record, 1.76 ERA, 52 strikeouts) and Will Kubicz (INF; .333, 13 RBIs, 12 R) both are returning starters.

Other top returning players for the Panthers include senior Carter Koepfler (OF; .267, 11 RBIs, 21 R, 10 SB), senior Max Biernacki (P/1B; 3-2, 2.85, 33 strikeouts), and senior Gage Kessinger (OF/P).

“We are coming off of our most successful regular season in several years, but will have several new faces after graduating 12, including six starters,” Ery said. “As a program, we are eager to build on last year's results and remain competitive in a challenging NBC. We will rely on a balanced offense, good overall team speed, and emphasizing an 'attention to details' approach this spring.”

Otsego (17-11, 7-7) has a 170-125 record in 11 seasons under coach Chase Welker.

The Knights will be led by senior Bodde Simon (P/INF; .419, 31 RBI), senior Mason Roe (INF), senior Collin Wendt (INF/P), junior Cole Cryan (OF/P; 26 strikeouts, 2.55 ERA), and junior Keegan Mentrek (OF/P; 2.92).

“We are a very young but talented team,” Welker said. “We look to continue improving throughout the season.”

Genoa (9-18, 3-11) has a solid pitching staff, according to coach Gary Nissen, who has a 218-135 record in 14 seasons at the helm.

Senior Alex Spencer (SS; .341, 17 RBIs) is a four-year starter. Other top returning players for the Comets include junior Evan Millner (2B/P; three-year starter, .253, 5 2B, 14 RBIs), sophomore Jaxon Magnone (3B/C/P; two-year starter), sophomore Elijah Welling (OF/P; two-year starter, 1-1, 3.35 ERA), and senior Caleb Klatt (P; 2-3, 3.25 ERA).

“We look forward to competing each day and improving on our record from 2024,” Nissen said. “Our non-conference schedule is challenging, and the NBC will be very competitive in 2025. Pitching depth and athleticism will be our strengths.”

Rossford (9-14, 5-9) enters its third year under coach Marc Diels.

The Bulldogs top players include senior Jackson Yerkes (P; 51 strikeouts, 4.35 ERA), junior Landen Scherer (SS/C), senior Owen Swonger (1B), and senior Angel Selvera (3B/P).

“Our kids are working hard every day to get better,” Diels said. “They're a great group to be around.”

Fostoria (4-19, 1-13) is inexperienced but focused on improvement, according to coach Brad Bowser.

Senior Trent Smith (SS/P) is a four-year letter winner who has committed to play at Owens, while fellow senior and four-year letter winner Devon Miller (P/1B) will play at Heidelberg.

The Redmen's other top players are junior Emmanuel Jimenez-Reza (P/2B/3B; three-year letter winner), junior Blake Hernandez (1B/DH/P), sophomore Boston Trent (3B/P), sophomore Amarius Velazquez (P/IF/OF), sophomore Carter Breitigam (OF/2B), sophomore Barrett Hernandez (C), freshman Xzavier Willmarth (OF/C), and freshman Mason Cooley (C).

“We're a young team that strives to do things the right way,” Smith said. “We focus on 'doing simple better' than our opponent and doing all of the little things right. Our athleticism and desire to be good are going to guide us.”

First Published April 6, 2025, 11:08 p.m.