UTICA – Last March, Utica had a new baseball coach and a team that promised to challenge for the Licking County League title and go a long way in postseason.
A year later, Utica looks back on a season lost to the COVID-19 pandemic, but they bring back virtually the same team and the same high hopes for 2021.
The Redskins lost only two seniors to graduation: Ethan Adams and Brandon Piper. Although they come back with most of their players, the loss of the season still stings.
”I think it makes everyone want to succeed more this year,” four-year starting catcher Hunter Billman said. “There’s a quote that (Utica) Coach (Michael) Sandman said during our first scrimmage with Newark: 'If you feel cold, just remember last year when we had our season literally ripped away from us.’ So that’s going to be a big motivating factor for us.”
Utica will have no shortage of right-handed pitching in 2021. Senior Josh Dillon has been pitching on the varsity since he was a freshman. He and fellow senior Brock Pfister will be the two main hurlers for Utica.
“We have very high expectations this year,” Dillon said, “We’re excited. I think we can be really good. Thankfully, we have 10 seniors, so it isn’t going to be much of a problem to find a leader.”
Senior Logan Brokaw has a lot of experience on the mound and so does senior Mason Grant. Also, expect to see seniors Lincoln Valentine, Colin McCullough and Nolan Bennett, as well as junior Jordan Riley on the mound. The Redskins’ one lefty is freshman Roman Gamble.
“I think he’s got a really bright future,” Sandman said of his young southpaw. “I think we’re also going to get some good things out of another freshman, Tyler Collura.”
Third base is still in open competition between Grant and Collura, which could just come down to game-by-game or who’s hot. Gamble and Riley will add depth to the outfield and can rotate to any of those spots depending on who is going to be pitching.
The Redskins are very strong up the middle, led by Billman and the athletic McCullough at shortstop. When McCullough is on the mound, sophomore Jay Williamson will play short. A transplant from Crooksville, Williamson is a good athlete and is expected to contribute meaningfully.
Second base will feature the always tough Valentine. With his solid bat and great speed, he will lead off. Valentine and McCullough will be heading to Muskingum University to play football next year, along with Redskins senior first baseman and cleanup hitter Tanner Parsons. In 2019, Parsons was first team All-LCL.
Dillon will patrol centerfield when he isn’t pitching. He and Valentine will be the Redskins’ one-two punch at the top of the lineup. Senior Nolan Bennett will start in left field and Brokaw will be the right fielder. With Brokaw’s combination of power and speed, he will join Parsons in the middle of the batting lineup.
The Redskins will need Billman, McCullough and others to step up because Sandman entered the hospital on Thursday, March 25, to undergo surgery on his lung to remove a tumor. Sandman, who took over the team in 2020, has yet to manage a game, but he expects to be back in charge near the end of the regular season. Assistant coach Don Carter is running the show while Sandman recovers.
“I got really lucky and I have a lot of people praying for me,” Sandman said. “I don’t have to do chemo or anything. They’re going to be able to remove the tumor from my lung. Luckily, they discovered it really early on.”
Preview Capsules
CENTERBURG
Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference
Division: 3
Head Coach: Joe Smith, 22nd season.
Assistants: Brad Beeler, Brandon Harry, Mike Kuhn and John Rings.
2019 overall (league) record: 12-9 overall (8-6 KMAC)
2019 postseason: Lost in Division IV second round to Berne Union; defeated Granville Christian.
Returning letter winners: Dalton Hall, junior; Tyler Harry, senior; Brock Hurtt, senior; Trey Kendrick, senior; Jarred Rings, junior; and Joe Tepper, senior.
Key losses: Sam Bassett.
Top newcomers: Ian Arny, senior; Dakota Baer, junior; Ross Boyd, senior; Griffin Collins, junior; Reed Compton, junior; Sam Hansen, senior; Brayden Lama, senior; Hunter Parker, junior; and Isaiah Reynolds, junior.
Strengths: Leadership.
Weaknesses: Missing last season.
Outlook: Expecting to show up prepared to compete and be successful in another loaded KMAC baseball league.
DANVILLE
Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference
Division: 4
Head Coach: Brian Bratton, 12th season
2019 overall (league) record: 2-18 (0-14)
2019 postseason: Lost to Sugar Grove Berne Union in first round of Division IV district tournament.
Returning letter winners: Preston Brady, senior; Bryce Colopy, sophomore; Darren Mickley, junior; Logan Neitzelt, senior; Trevor Sturgeon, senior; Gavin Vickers, senior; and Wyatt Weckesser, junior.
Key losses: Zane Risser and Garran Wills.
Top newcomers: Dustin Beckett, sophomore; Kendall Carter, freshman; Noah James, senior; Gavyn Lepley, freshman; Levi Lyons, sophomore; Aaron Mezie, sophomore; Joey Mickley, sophomore; and Walker Weckesser, freshman.
Strengths: We have numbers for the first time in 10 years. We have a total of 24 kids. From top to bottom there is not much drop off. We have six seniors on the team.
Weaknesses: Other then our six seniors, we have a lot of freshmen and sophomores. With not having baseball last year, we have a lot of catching up to do.
Outlook: This is the first year Danville will have a JV team, we have a great group of teams that are eager to learn and show case their skills. This team is built around six seniors with a great group of underclassmen. Taking a year off from baseball put us behind the eight-ball, but this group comes in everyday ready to learn and help the upperclassmen. This season will be a big learning curve for the underclassmen, but it will help in the long run. The senior class is a great group of kids and really helping bring along the youth of the program. Being in a very completive league will help down the road when tournaments come.
EAST KNOX
Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference
Division: 4
Head Coach: Randy Baugher, fifth season.
Assistants: Ron Fannin, Nathan Johnson, Chuck Melick, Josh Moss and Dennis Skeen.
2019 overall (league) record: 20-7 (11-3)
Postseason: Lost to Fredericktown in Division III district final; defeated Utica and Liberty Union.
Returning letter winners: Shane Knepp, junior; Peyton Lester, junior; and Weston Melick, senior.
Key losses: Andrew Allman, Dawson David, Caleb Gallwitz, Kal Gallwitz, Cade Leach, Kadden Lester, Nate Friel and Gage Steinmetz.
Top newcomers: Logan Adams, senior; Blake Bonham, junior; Clay Bristow, senior; Cole DeLaughder, freshman; Derrick Field, freshman; Nick Hornsby, junior; Bryar Householder, freshman; Gavin Layne, freshman; Ryan Morton, sophomore; Sam Printz, senior; Teddy Sears, sophomore; Michael Smith, junior; Landon Spearman, sophomore; Carson Steinmetz, sophomore; Ashton Tarrh, freshman; and Mitch Williams, sophomore.
Strengths: All-Ohioan Weston Melick returns, and we have a lot of really good two- and three-sport athletes on the roster. Also, we have a very experienced and dedicated group of assistant coaches who are true difference-makers.
Weaknesses: Lack of experience overall.
Outlook: We plan to be competitive in a tough KMAC and gain the experience that will benefit us in the tournament.
FREDERICKTOWN
Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference
Division: 3
Head Coach: Ryan Hathaway, sixth season.
Assistants: Nash Cunningham (JV), JP Hatfield and Chris Sipes.
2019 overall (league) record: 20-8 (12-2)
2019 postseason: Lost to Coldwater in Division III regional semifinal; defeated Amanda-Clearcreek, Johnstown and East Knox.
Returning letter winners: Lincoln Cunningham, senior; Ty Hatfield, senior; Caleb Sheriff, senior; and Zach Vogelsang, senior.
Key losses: N/A
Top newcomers: Luke Bean, sophomore; Kaid Carpenter, sophomore; Reece Cassetto, senior; Luke Currier, senior; Trevor Jobes, freshman; Brady Lester, sophomore; Xavier Mullins, sophomore; Evan Rine, senior; and Brayden Sapp, sophomore.
Strengths: Eight seniors, good team speed and depth defensively.
Weaknesses: Three returning starters from 2019.
Outlook: Excited to compete in our tough conference and play some hard non-league games in hopes of playing our best baseball at tournament time.
HIGHLAND
Conference: Knox Morrow Athletic Conference
Division: 2
Head Coach: Donovan Kline, seventh season.
Assistants: Tom Johnson, Garrett Ulrey, Andrew Westbrook and Chad Williams.
2019 overall (league) record: 19-9 (12-2)
2019 postseason: Lost Granville in Division II district semifinal; defeated Buckeye Valley.
Returning letter winners: Randy Cain, senior; Zach Pinkerton, junior; Rider Minnick, junior; Owen Mott, senior; and Logan Shaffer, senior.
Key losses: Bailey Damron, Tyler DeWeese, Branton Howard, Gunner Oakley, Clay Schindley, Jack Weaver and Zach Wetzel.
Top newcomers: Luke Cain, junior; Dom Carter, senior; Brock Church, sophomore; Tyler Disbennett, senior; Wyatt Groves, senior; Jon Jensen, junior; Blake Jodrey, junior; Kadin Johnson, senior; Adi Karya, junior; Zach Liddle, junior; Cooper Merckling, junior; and Layton Shaffer, sophomore.
Strengths: Versatility: We have a number of players who play multiple positions as well as hit in different parts of our offensive lineup.
Weaknesses: Pitching: We have a number of strike throwers — but who wants the ball in pressure situations? Who is going to be the guy who gets the league starts? Lots of questions with the front end of our staff.
Outlook: Like many schools, we are not sure what we have. We graduated a lot of experience in 2019, so 2020 would have been an inexperienced team — which means our 2021 team is very inexperienced at the varsity level. Highland’s success will largely be determined by how quickly the guys can adjust to varsity baseball, as well as how effectively the staff can put the puzzle pieces together. The 2021 team is a confident group of guys who bring energy to the field every day. We are excited to see them compete and what type of culture they will create in the clubhouse.
The KMAC is very balanced this year and multiple schools will have a legitimate chance at winning the league title. Fredericktown is an experienced and talented team and should be considered the league favorite. East Knox, Cardington, Centerburg and Northmor all have the athletes to make some noise in the league, and Mount Gilead and Danville are young teams with some exciting athletes. If Highland can get the puzzle pieces to fit right, we should contend for the league title as well. It should be a fun year in the league in 2021.
MOUNT VERNON
Conference: Ohio Cardinal Conference
Division: 1
Head Coach: Nate Hunt, third season.
Assistants: Tony Franz, Caleb Fry, Drew Hedrick, Ben Severns, Dean Taylor and Kyle Theibert.
2019 overall (league) record: 15-12 (5-7)
2019 postseason: Lost to Newark in first round of Division I district tournament.
Returning letter winners: Trenton Kane-Sapp, senior; and Blake Meyer, senior.
Key losses: Caleb Fry, Tristan Taylor and Ryan Tiell.
Top newcomers: Jonny Askew, freshman; Marcus Bradley, junior; Konner Daugherity, freshman; and Logan Trace, sophomore.
Strengths: We will have live bats, an aggressive offensive approach and a lot of different guys who can pitch.
Weaknesses: Without actually having a season this year, some kids have not actually seen varsity speed before. So, our weakness is experience.
Outlook: Super-excited for the season. We have a lot of young talent, but at the same time we have a great senior class that has high expectations for the season.
UTICA
Conference: Licking County League - Cardinal
Division: 2
Head Coach: Michael Sandman, second season.
Assistants: Brian Beaver, Don Carter, Brandon Cochran and Bill Schultz.
2019 overall (league) record: 10-16 (5-9)
2019 postseason: Lost to East Knox in second round of Division III district tournament; defeated Bishop Ready.
Returning letter winners: Nolan Bennett, senior; Hunter Billman, senior; Logan Brokaw, senior; Josh Dillon, senior; Mason Grant, senior; Collin McCullough, senior; Tanner Parsons, senior; Brock Pfister, senior; and Lincoln Valentine, senior.
Key losses: Ethan Adams and Brandon Piper.
Top newcomers: Gavin Chinn, freshman; Tyler Collura, freshman; Avan Dunn, senior; Roman Gamble, freshman; Jordan Hartman, sophomore; Jordan Riley, junior; and Jacob Williamson, sophomore.
Strengths: Many guys who have played varsity over multiple years in multiple sports, (and) quality of guys to challenge for spots.
Weaknesses: Many unproven areas without having played last spring
Outlook: Expect us to be in the thick of things in the LCL — will go as our senior leaders go.
