The month of May has roared into Licking County, and it brought plenty of intrigue to the Ohio High School Athletic Association baseball season.
League championships are far from decided, and teams are a week away from setting their postseason path. Here is what The Advocate is watching this month.
Magic number is 20
Newark has set its sights on 20 victories all spring, and this season has appropriately been 20 years in the making. The Wildcats, who enter the week tied for first with Lancaster in the Ohio Capital Conference-Buckeye Division, have many similarities to the team that won an OCC-Ohio championship before making a run to a Division I regional final in 2006.
At shortstop and pitcher, current coach Michael Wheeler was contributing to stellar pitching and defense as a senior, and the Wildcats are again using that formula. They have allowed three runs or fewer in 10 of their last 11 wins, and they have not allowed more than five runs since April 2.
Senior Moses Crane is a standout two-way player in the same positions as his coach. Sophomore Brody Randall, in the middle of the order and on the mound, is bringing back visions of a left-handed throwing version of star Ryan Dunlap. Multi-sport senior standouts Bodie Smith and Brody Driskel add the competitive fire and swing hot bats.
LCL-Cardinal too close to call
The Licking County League-Cardinal Division is becoming a war of attrition as Heath, Newark Catholic and Northridge enter the week in a three-way tie at 7-4. Five games remain, and due to the recent rain, three will come in consecutive days beginning May 4.
Northridge visits Heath on May 4. Heath then visits Newark Catholic the following day.
Pitching depth will be tested as junior Hal Gillespie has emerged as a strong No. 2 behind senior Owen Przymierski for NC. Seniors Quentin Sunkle and Jamison Walsh have been a reliable one-two punch for Heath, and junior Kash Reeves and sophomore Collin Matheson lead a Northridge staff recently reduced by injury and transfer regulations.
Valley still stingy
Nobody expected Licking Valley pitchers to duplicate the exploits of the graduated duo of Evan Lichtenauer and Evan Roberts, but through strength in numbers, the Panthers are still proving difficult for opposing hitters.
Senior Adam West threw a six-hitter in a May 1 victory against Zanesville after several impressive relief outings, and he has had plenty of help. Senior Grayson Snow, sophomore Brody Sforza and freshman Jett Vanover have been the main contributors to a staff that has held opponents to two runs or fewer eight times.
Watkins always on move
It has been a staple of coach Donald Schone’s tenure of more than two decades at Watkins Memorial: The Warriors are never afraid to push the action with small ball and keep their base runners on the move.
Senior Cam Burt has been the perfect igniter at the top of the order, hitting .442 and setting the table for classmates Dylan Gray and Jax Dotson and junior Kaden Barrows, who have combined for 40 RBIs. The defense must be on its toes with a runner at third base as the Warriors have laid down multiple squeeze bunts, including one to beat Granville on April 17.
Pocket aces
As the postseason nears, do not let records fool as team across Licking County have an ace up their sleeve that can make quick work of an opponent. Utica senior Braxton Fisher, Johnstown junior Conner Sullivan, Lakewood sophomore Evan Moore, Licking Heights freshman Stone Fenton, Granville junior Jackson McMillan and Granville Christian senior Aiden Geiger all recently shut down higher-ranked foes.
This article originally appeared on Newark Advocate: 5 Licking County baseball storylines as May begins
Reporting by Kurt Snyder, Newark Advocate / Newark Advocate
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
