As the 2026 spring sports season comes to an end for area teams, it’s time to vote for The Times-Reporter players of the year.
Fans can vote for a baseball, softball and track and field athlete who you think deserves the honor.
The polls will run until Monday, June 15 at 5 p.m.
Throughout the spring season, fans voted for athletes of the week here are those winners:
March 30 – April 4: Nolan Rosneck, New Philadelphia track and field and Maddie Minnis, Dover track and field.
April 6 – 11: Tyler Shuss, Dover track and field and Brooklyn Davis, Sandy Valley softball.
April 13 – 18: Javen Johnshon, Carrollton baseball and True Tango, Garaway softball.
April 20 – 25: Caleb Crowthers, New Philadelphia baseball and Emilee Shepherd, Carrollton softball.
April 27 – May 2: Jace Witham, Carrollton baseball and Kiera Mason, New Philadelphia softball.
May 4 – 9: Austin McCreey, Indian Valley baseball and Lexus Blair, Claymont softball.
May 11 – 16: Cohen Winters, New Philadelphia baseball and Hallie Argabrite, Strasburg softball
May 18-23: Ethan Flair, Claymont baseball and Maddie Minnis, Dover track and field
May 25-30: Tanner Ulmer, New Phila baseball and Maddie Minnis Dover track and field
Now let’s meet the candidates for player of the year.
Baseball
Strasburg’s Brody Baughman
He was named the Inter-Valley Conference’s player of the year in the Northern Division and a First Team selection; he batted .404 over 29 games, totaling 36 hits, 34 runs scored, 18 RBIs and 10 extra-base hits. His success did not stop at the plate; he held a 10-1 record on the mound, striking out 100 batters over 70.1 innings and supporting a 1.09 ERA.
Claymont’s Nolan McMorrow
He was named to the First Team in the IVC’s Southern Division. The senior batted .410 over 25 games, notching 32 hits, 20 runs scored, 14 RBIs and nine extra base hits.
Strasburg’s Drew Lancaster
He was named to the IVC’s Northern Divisions First Team. The senior pitcher/shortstop batted .379 over 29 games, totaling 33 hits, 39 runs scored, 13 RBIs and nine extra base hits. On the mound, he struck out 72 batters over 56 innings, allowing 28 hits while holding a 3.00 ERA.
New Phila’s Owen Courtney
The senior pitcher/third basemen was named the Ohio Cardinal Conference player of year and first team, leading the Quakers to a conference title and a district championship.
New Phila’s Caleb Crowthers
The junior center fielder was awarded first team in the OCC, leading the Quakers to a conference title and a district championship.
Softball
Tusky Valley’s Brennen Reichman
The junior pitcher and Ohio State commit led the Trojans to a regional championship game. She was named Player of the Year in the IVC’s Southern Division. She pitched 133.1 innings, struck out 297 batters, held a 0.42 ERA and was 18-2 on the mound. At the plate, she batted .489, hitting 13 home runs, 46 total hits, 42 RBIs, and 34 runs scored.
Strasburg’s Olivia Spidell
Spidell was named Player of the Year in the IVC’s Northern Division. She batted .513, totaled 40 hits, 32 RBIs, 39 runs scored and eight home runs.
Conotton Valley’s Maddi Kelley
Kelley led her team to a district championship and on the mound; she went 13-5 with a 1.39 ERA over 121 innings and notching 192 strikeouts. At the plate, she batted .514, driving in 39 runs, smacking 38 hits, 35 runs scored and 15 home runs.
Garaway’s True Tango
The sophomore batted .473 with 43 hits, 31 runs scored, driving in 31 runs and smacking six home runs. Tango saw her Pirates win a district championship. She was named First Team in the IVC’s Southern Division.
Garaway’s Audrey Miller
Miller, who was named to the IVC’s Southern Division First Team, dominated at the plate and mound over the season. Batting .402, recording 35 hits, 34 runs scored, 30 RBIs and six home runs. On the mound, she was 3-0 over 13 appearances, striking out 52 batters over 44.2 innings supporting a 1.72 ERA,
Tusky Valley’s Elli Wallick
The junior third basemen was named First Team of the IVC’s Southern Division and batted .460 during the season with 49 runs scored, 46 hits, 36 RBIs and nine home runs.
Dover’s Kara Lint
The senior pitcher and Ohio University commit was named the OCC’s Pitcher of the Year. She struck out 170 batters over 75.1 innings, having a 10-0 record and a 0.85 ERA.
Dover’s Ariana Immel
The sophomore was named First Team in the OCC and batted .444 over 25 games, notching 36 hits, 31 RBIs, 29 runs scored and 20 extra base hits.
Track and field
New Phila’s Wyatt Lendon
Lendon stood along at the top of the podium, winning the state championship in the 1600-meter run with a time of 4:11.56. During his senior season his personal best time was 4:11.21.
New Phila’s Marcus Adelman
Adelman was named the OCC’s Runner of the Year and at the state meet his claimed gold, winning the 3200-meter race with a time of 8:58.66. A week prior in the regional meet, he ran a personal best time of 8:57.47.
Indian Valley’s Carsen Hostetler
The junior was named Player of the Year in the IVC and at the state meet he won a state championship in the 300-meter hurdles with a time of 37.01. He also placed third in the state meet in the 110-meter hurdles with a personal best time of 14.16.
Fairless’ Brice Fuller
The sophomore placed first in the 1600-meter race, winning a state championship with a personal best time of 4:12.69 and was a part of the state championship 4×800-meter relay team.
Fairless’ Bradlee Keehn
The senior was a state champion in the 800-meter run, finishing with a time of 1:55.77 and was a member of the state champion 4×800-meter team.
Strasburg’s Kylie McKenzie
McKenzie was named the girls Player of the Year in the IVC and at the IVC Championship meet, she set a personal best in the 1600-meter with a time of 5:13.62 and in the 3200-meter with a time of 11:28.34.
Dover’s Maddie Minnis
The freshman thrower landed on the podium twice at the state meet. She placed fourth in the shot put with a distance of 40-feet 5.50-inches — a new school record — and sixth in the discus with a distance of 123-feet 2-inches.
Sandy Valley’s Taliana Tozzi
The freshman stood on the podium at the state meet after placing third in the high jump as she tied a personal best height of 5-feet 4-inches. During the season, Tozzi racked up 10 first place finishes in the event.
Jshondel@usatodayco.com; X: @JacoBShondeL
This article originally appeared on The Times-Reporter: Vote now | The Times-Reporter’s 2026 Spring Sports Players of the Year
Reporting by Jacob Shondel, The Times-Reporter / The Times-Reporter
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Jacob Shondel, The Times-Reporter | USA TODAY Network
