7 things to know about Portage baseball | Field and Garfield seek district encores

Here are seven things to know about Portage County high school baseball in 2024:

1. Field seeks another big year after first district title

Last year, the Falcons rode the stellar pitching duo of Braxton Baumberger and Caleb Gartner to the program's first district title.

Although Kayden Smith, the pitcher who got the final out at Bob Cene Park, is back, the Falcons have to replace Baumberger and Gartner, the so-called Blonde Bombers, amid a talented Class of 2023. The southpaw Smith (5-1, 2.10 ERA, 39 strikeouts in 30 innings last year) will certainly play a leading role after starting and relieving games last year. Watch for junior right-hander Landon Homan (1.61 ERA in 13 innings) and sophomore southpaw Caden Kolesar (1.23 ERA in 16⅓ innings) to step up alongside Smith.

Kolesar, who hit .329 last year, will also lead the way in an outfield that graduated brothers and starters Garit and Gavin Greene. Field's infield should be loaded, led by a slick middle of the infield featuring shortstop Grady Eader and second baseman Gavin Clapp. Eader (.318, 21 runs, 20 RBIs, nine doubles) "was flat-out sensational for us last season," said coach Joe Peterson, while Clapp himself is a "tremendous defensive infielder" who can excel at multiple positions. The Falcons also have plenty of power to put at first base, whether it's Smith (.381, 35 RBIs, 10 doubles) or Drexal McAmis, "a traditional power guy from the left side of the plate."

2. Coming off district runner-up finish, Garfield seeks continued success

Both the Falcons and G-Men made memories at Bob Cene Park last year.

At the same site where Field won its first district title, Garfield went on a run of its own, steamrolling Kirtland in the semifinals before falling to top-seeded Lakeview in the final. With seven returning letterwinners led by 2023 Mahoning Valley Athletic Conference Player of the Year Eric Geddes, the G-Men hope to make further waves in 2024.

Geddes, who went 9-1 with a 1.30 ERA last year, and Aidan Hill should give Garfield a staff that can compete with anybody. And Geddes (.456, 34 RBIs, 25 runs) and Hill (.365) will spearhead the G-Men's lineup as well, along with Brandyn Bogucki, who set a school record with a .520 average last year (along with 36 stolen bases).

3. Could this be Streetsboro's year?

There's a feeling around the Metro Athletic Conference that the Rockets could compete for their first league championship since 1984. Although Streetsboro went 7-7 in league play last year, six of those seven losses came by three runs or fewer.

The Rockets are strong up the middle, where great baseball typically begins. At catcher, Braden Craft hit .338 last year. Shortstop Jack Batten (.259) and second baseman Jack Pincoe (.279) are one of the area's top defensive duos. Tack on the way Scott Wilson (.341) and Jayden Coffie (.300) hit as freshmen and Streetsboro has as much lineup depth as ever.

The key is finding rotation depth alongside Pincoe (0.72 ERA, 49 Ks, 16 BBs). Batten (2.10 ERA) adds considerable command (eight walks in 20 innings last year). With talented young pitchers Craft, Coffie, Wilson and freshman Brady Long, the Rockets have the chance to compete with traditional Metro powers Cloverleaf, Norton, Field and Woodridge.

4. Aurora, Roosevelt chase Suburban title

The Suburban American is loaded as well — as always.

With preseason all-state pick Nate Fletcher on the mound, savvy three-year starter Dominic Trivisonno behind the plate and slick and experienced shortstop Jameson Embrescia, Aurora should compete for a second straight league title despite graduating a sizable senior class.

Watch for Zach Williams (2-0, 0.98 ERA, 22 Ks in 21⅓ innings) and Nate Albanese, who was injured for much of 2023 but is "expected to throw big innings" in 2024, per coach Trent Dalton, to create a really strong top three on the mound alongside Fletcher (4-2, 4.25 ERA, 39 Ks in 29⅔ IP).

Roosevelt, which finished just one game behind first-place Aurora and Highland a year ago, is in a similar place. Both the Greenmen (Ben Schecterman) and Rough Riders (Logan Poole) graduated an ace in sizable senior classes. Both return plenty of talent.

Roosevelt sophomore Teddy Maccarone will be a leader at the plate (.299 last year), on the mound (2.52 ERA) and at shortstop. Juniors Tristyn Page (4.27 ERA) and Ryan Sanders (4.45) also return to the mound after working double-digit innings a year ago. All will throw to solid, experienced catcher Ryan Schromm, and 1B/RF Scottie Spears (.284) and CF Sam Lanier (.271) add further experience.

5. Portage Trail Conference appears daunting

As one PTC coach put it, Lake Center "returns pretty much everyone from last year's league champion and should be considered the front-runner for the title." Another noted that Warren JFK "has been a power throughout the state for the last several years." A third said, "This league has always had a presence within the sport, but this season gives reason to believe that you will see some very good baseball and some extraordinary players within the PTC."

So, yes, this is an awfully tough small-school league, even with just six member schools.

Southeast will always be tough with Kent State commit Nate Muncy on the mound, senior Logan Lavigna ready to lead the outfield, junior Caleb Miller ready to do the same in the infield and an increasingly deep group of pitchers.

Mogadore returns nine letterwinners, including ace Ronnie Skye, who missed last year with a wrestling injury but was splendid as a sophomore, and all-league outfielder Devin Graham.

Rootstown was incredibly young last season and suffered a rare down year, but with 14 returning letterwinners, led by third baseman Tony Karp and outfielder Austin Biggin, the Rovers figure to be far better in 2024. They certainly have the plethora of young pitching talent necessary to get back to their winning ways.

6. Windham wields considerable hitting talent

Coming off a .500 season, the Bombers have the bats to wreak havoc in the Northeastern Athletic Conference, led by SS/1B/P Jack Eye (.524, 21 RBIs), C/P Dylan McCune (.458) and 3B Anthony Paolella (.342).

With just 14 players on the roster, Windham will need to find pitching depth to complement the experienced arms of Brian King and Eye, with coach Jake Eye noting "we will need some guys to step up and take on a larger pitching role for us to avoid arm trouble."

7. Around Portage County

Already nearing last year's win total, Crestwood has the chance to build a nice core given its mix of experience (10 returning letterwinners) and youth (no seniors). It helps that the Red Devils have experienced starting pitchers Wyatt Januska and Charlie Sommer to lead the way.

Ravenna is in a bit of a transition year, having graduated Gold Glove-caliber centerfielder Emmanuel Miller along with Ben Hatcher and Nate Joslyn, two of its three leading pitchers a year ago. Expect James Evans, Logan Hysell and Connor Welling to pitch a ton of innings.

With nine returning letterwinners against just two lost, Waterloo has experienced, solid hitters up and down the lineup. An outfield led by LF Kyle Werbeck (.328, 22 SBs), CF Landon McClain (.279, 20 SBs) and RF Trevor Simons (.339) could be one of the best around. Tack on SS Aric May's 42 steals (and .480 average) a year ago and the Vikings should wreak havoc on the basepaths, while Austin Hurst and Drew Flarida add further experienced bats to the Waterloo infield.

This article originally appeared on Record-Courier: 7 things to know about Portage County high school baseball