Gibsonburg senior pitcher Nolan Hoover was first-team all-state last season with 114 strikeouts.
He has 325 strikeouts and 26 victories in his career. He's a key cog in the offense as well.
Oak Harbor senior Brayden Butzin is stellar on defense at catcher and he cranked a home run in consecutive games last season to help earn honorable mention all-state recognition. Hoover and Butzin highlight baseball players to watch in the area this year.
Junior infielder Chuy Rodriguez drove in 28 runs to lead the Golden Bears and senior outfielder Grant Dawson joined him first-team in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division.
Senior shortstop/pitcher Mike LaLonde and junior outfielder Cooper Schultz were first-team in the Northern Buckeye Conference last season for the Rockets.
Fremont Ross senior pitcher Braylon Schneider and junior outfielder Cameron Joseph are back.
Clyde sophomore Colt Flores pitched an advanced workload as a freshman and senior outfielder Kam Shortridge is a leader on offense.
Bellevue junior catcher Drew Dennings was first-team in the SBC Lake Division. He scored 16 runs, drove in 13 and stole 15 bases to lead the team.
Senior infielder/pitcher Ryan Adelsperger was first-team in the SBC River Division, with an impact at the plate and on the mound for Old Fort. Junior pitcher Caiden Swecker and senior outfielder Harry King return.
Junior pitcher Jack Widman, senior catcher Grant Bomer and sophomore outfielder Grant Scherger are back for Lakota.
Senior pitcher Trace Murphy, sophomore infielders Keil Almroth and Calvin Lipstraw, and junior outfielder Michael Seeger return for Woodmore.
Sophomore infielder Andrew Spieldenner, junior pitcher Cohen Stull and sophomore outfielder Cayden Wikel are back for St. Joseph Central Catholic.
Sophomore infielder Ike Brown and senior outfielder Kaden Cramer return for Bellevue.
Sophomore outfielder Zach Gray returns for Margaretta.
Junior pitcher Derek Abernathy is back for Port Clinton.
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: preseason OHSAA baseball
