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Ohio Diamond Notes: April 13-19

April 22, 2026
Bruce Hefflinger
Prep Baseball Ohio Senior Writer

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Ohio Diamond Notes: April 13-19

Ben Kubicz has been the sparkplug for Maumee, which is off to a 7-2 start to the season after a 3-0 week.

The 24th-rated senior left-handed pitcher in Ohio tossed a one-hitter with 10 strikeouts and one walk in a win over Genoa. The Findlay commit now has 24 Ks and four walks in 18 innings on the mound with a 1.17 ERA.

But it was at the plate where the right-handed hitting outfielder and pitcher really excelled, going 9-10 in beating Fostoria and Rossford in addition to Genoa. Kubicz hit four doubles, a triple and a home run, driving in a dozen with seven runs scored and three stolen bases.

The 352nd-rated 2026 in the state is now batting .625 on the campaign with seven doubles, two triples, two home runs, 13 runs scored and 17 RBIs for the 18th-rated Division III Panthers.

The lone losses of the season for Maumee have been by one run, 2-1 to Division II 12th-ranked Clay and 8-7 against 16-1 Raceland Worthington, Ky., whose only defeat was 10-9 against Lakewood St. Edward, the No. 7 team in Ohio in Division I.

STRONG ON THE HILL

The 14th-ranked senior right-handed pitcher in the state is living up to the recognition he so well deserves.

Caleb Driessen fired a no-hitter to lead Badin to a 5-0 win over Chaminade-Julienne. The 35th-rated 2026 in Ohio needed just 68 pitches in his masterpiece performance. The Miami of Ohio signee fanned 10 and did not walk a batter in going all seven innings. A first inning error was wiped out with a double play and nobody else reached base against Driessen.

For the season, the 6-3 208-pound RHP is 2-1 with 25 strikeouts and four walks in 19 innings, allowing 13 hits and three earned runs for the No. 2 team in Division II.

- Troy earned a doubleheader split with Vandalia Butler thanks to the pitching of Jake Reinhardt.

The 41st-ranked 2027 right-handed pitcher in Ohio fired a three-hit shutout at the No. 1 team in the state in Division III during a 3-0 win. The Troy junior struck out 10 and did not walk a batter, hitting two for the No. 4 team in the state in Division II, which had lost a day earlier to Butler 9-5. Reinhardt is now 4-0 on the season for the 10-1 Trojans, fanning 26 and walking just one in 21 innings on the year with a 1.00 ERA and 0.762 WHIP.

- Izayah Clift did not allow an earned run in pitching Whiteoak past Peebles for sole possession of first place in the Southern Hills Athletic Conference Division 2. The junior southpaw fanned 12 and walked three during his four-hitter. Clift, who stands at 3-1, is yet to permit an earned run on the season and has a 0.92 WHIP, striking out 40 in 26 innings on the hill, giving up 13 hits and 11 free passes.

- Only 83 pitches were needed in a one-hit performance by Russell Masetta in pitching Holy Name past defending Division IV state champion Lake Catholic. The senior right-hander struck out four and walked two in going all seven innings to beat the 18th-rated team in the state in D-IV.

TWO-WAY PRODUCERS

Tanner Corn had quite a productive week for Symees Valley.

The senior SS/pitcher drove in an astounding 13 runs in 15 plate appearances, going 9-14 with six doubles and a walk. Corn also scored six times and swiped three bases and now has a .552 average on the season at 16-29. On the mound, the 2027 RHP struck out 11 and allowed just two hits and one walk in 4.1 innings, picking up a win while surrendering no earned runs.

For the year, Corn has a 3-1 record with 39 Ks in 19.2 frames, giving up eight hits and just one earned run.

- Carsen Lemons reached base in 10 of 11 plate appearances for No. 9 Division V Swanton. The 114th-ranked 2026 outfielder in the state, who plays on the left side of the infield and pitches for the Bulldogs, produced eight RBIs and scored five runs to go along with five walks, two doubles and two triples in a 5-11 week. The senior, who is batting .478 overall, also fanned five in two no-hit frames and now has 10 strikeouts in 6.1 innings on the year, giving up one earned run.

- Junior southpaw Eli Hermes fired a no-hitter with 15 strikeouts in pitching Milan Edison past Huron. The 2027 lefty has now fanned 23 in 12 innings, giving up just three hits for the year. Hermes also had two home runs, five RBIs and three runs scored during the week, and now has hit four long balls while driving home 15 on the season for the 11th-rated Division V team in the state.

- Drew Lancaster scored his 100th career run for Strasburg-Franklin. The senior shortstop was 7-15 on the week with a double, touching home plate eight times while also stealing two bases. Lancaster, who is batting .414 on the season with 12 runs scored, also picked up a pair of pitching wins, including a complete-game victory over Claymont. For the week, the RHP gave up two earned runs with seven Ks in eight innings to improve to 4-1 on the year with 21 strikeouts in 21 frames.

- Nate Paolucci and Nic Aho have been a one-two punch at catcher and pitcher for Lakeview. Paolucci had three doubles, three RBIs and three stolen bases with a 1.082 OPS for the week and now has a .423 batting average with a 1.170 OPS, .654 slugging percentage and 11 runs scored. The senior also fanned 10 in six innings during a two-hit win, allowing just one earned run. Aho had a 1.069 OPS and .625 slugging percentage during the week while also not permitting an earned run in six innings, giving up two hits while fanning seven.

- The RBI total on the season is now at 20 for Brady Haught after the Richmond Edison senior drove in nine during a 5-11 week that included two doubles. The West Liberty University commit also struck out four in four innings to pick up a win, moving to 3-0 with 17 Ks in 14 innings and a 1.286 ERA.

- Cam Pesch had five hits and five strong innings on the mound for Olmsted Falls. The 37th-ranked junior RHP in Ohio retired six on strikes while giving up six hits and two earned runs for the No. 20 Division II Bulldogs. At the dish, the 6-0 190-pound senior was 5-11 with three RBIs, three walks, two runs and a double while stealing seven bases.

- Braydon Wood did not allow an earned run in a three-hitter with eight Ks and two walks in helping Minerva beat Salem. The uncommitted 6-3 senior right-hander, who has a 3-1 record, has now struck out 32 in 25 innings and given up one earned run for a 0.28 ERA. Wood also had two doubles, a home run, a single and two walks at the plate with three runs scored and two steals.

- A monster game against East Canton helped Caleb Shelly move his batting average to .409 on the year. The 29th-ranked junior shortstop in the state went 3-3 with all three hits home runs, driving in four for Lake Center Christian, the No. 2 team in Division VI. Shelly also picked up a win with 10 Ks in five innings and added a save, and now has a 3-0 overall record with 24 strikeouts in 14 innings, allowing just one earned run.

- Lucasville Valley’s Nolan Barnett fired a five-hit shutout in a 6-0 victory over previously unbeaten Minford, fanning four and not walking a batter. The senior RHP, who is 4-0 on the year with a 1.105 ERA, also came up big at the dish reaching base on five of 11 plate appearances with a single, double, home run and two base on balls to go along with four RBIs, three runs and a SB.

- Tippecanoe’s Ethan Harney now has a season slash of .459/.596/.892 after an 8-11 week that included two home runs and 10 RBIs. The 18th-rated junior shortstop in Ohio, who has four home runs, 15 runs and 19 RBIs on the year, also fanned two in one no-hit inning on the mound and has 11 Ks in seven innings for the season for the No. 12 D-III team in the state.

- A .500 batting mark for the week included five runs and five RBIs for Columbiana’s Avery Young. The junior shortstop was 8-16 with three doubles and two steals, and now has 13 runs scored, 11 stolen bases and a .524 average. Young also surrendered just two earned runs in 8.1 innings on the mound during the week with five strikeouts.

- Nate Hyland slashed .778/.857/1.444 last week, going 7-9 with two doubles, two triples, five walks, nine runs and five RBIs. The Madeira junior also picked up a win throwing two no-run, two-hit frames with five Ks. For the year Hyland is batting .516 with 16 runs scored.

- Owen Courtney had eight RBIs while going 6-14 at the plate with two doubles and four runs scored for 10-1 New Philadelphia. The Tri-C commit has driven in a dozen runs on the season for the No. 17 D-III squad. The 15th-ranked senior outfielder in Ohio has also shined on the mound, picking up a win this week with 11 Ks in a complete game outing. For the year, the right-hander is 3-0 with a 0.42 ERA, fanning 23 in 16.2 frames.

- Lakewood senior Nick Hart showed off his power this week going 6-11 with a 1.629 OPS and 1.091 slugging percentage, belting two home runs and driving home 10 with five runs scored. The 29th-ranked 2026 RHP in the state also earned a win with three innings of one-hit shutout pitching, fanning seven. For the season, the Marietta recruit is 2-0 with 13 strikeouts in 9.1 frames. 

- Grady Evans produced big numbers in five games for Greenon, going 8-16 with a .706 OBP. The junior center fielder had a home run and double with eight runs scored, seven RBIs and seven stolen bases and now has 13 swipes on the year. The 64th-rated 2027 outfielder in Ohio also did his part on the mound going the distance for a win, allowing one earned run, and now has 24 Ks in 15.1 frames for the season.

- McComb junior left-handed hitting third baseman Jace Wartgow went 6-11 with three walks, three runs and three stolen bases. A right-handed pitcher in addition to a third baseman for McComb, Wartgow had nine strikeouts in six innings on the hill to pick up a win.

HOT AT THE PLATE

Joey Johnson continues to put up enormous numbers at the plate for Medina.

The fourth-rated senior outfielder in the state drove in seven runs and touched home seven times in a 5-9 week that included a home run, double, walk and HBP.

The Northern Kentucky commit is now batting .619 on the season with a .690 OBP, 1.095 slugging percentage and 1.785 OPS with 15 runs scored.

- The bats have been producing for Lakeview with junior Eli Gough and seniors Brandon Toot, Brandon Cash and Hayden Newton playing major roles. Gough had a .955 OPS for the week with three RBIs, three runs and a double while Toot scored six times with four hits and six walks with a .750 OBP and 1.375 OPS. Cash drove in five runs and scored three with a .928 OPS while Newton had a 1.083 OPS and .583 slugging percentage with a single, double, triple and home run along with three walks.

- Jake Schwieterman brought home five runs and scored five helping St. Henry to a split in MAC play with Coldwater (D-V No. 4) and Minster (D-VII No. 9). The senior 1B/RHP had two home runs and a double in a 4-8 week and is now carrying a .412 batting average for the sixth-rated D-VI team in Ohio.

- Strong play behind the plate is not the only attribute for Cole Potridge. The junior catcher for Woodmore was 5-11 with a triple and home run this week, scoring five runs, driving in three, walking twice and stealing a pair of bases. Porridge now has seven two-base hits, three triples and three homers on the campaign with 17 RBIs, 12 runs, 10 walks and seven stolen bases.

- Landon Arnold boosted his season average to .487 by going 9-15 with a home run, three doubles and six RBIs last week. The fifth-ranked junior third baseman in Ohio now has eight two-base hits and 11 RBIs on the year for Olentangy Berlin, the eighth-rated team in Division I.

- Christian Mullet scored eight runs and pounded out eight hits for D-VI No. 1 Hiland this week. The junior CF/LHP went 8-14 with a double and three walks, adding five RBIs and four steals. Mullet now has 14 runs, 12 RBIs and seven stolen bases on the year.

- Brennan Shaffer scorched the ball to the tune of 8-12 with a double, two home runs and five walks for Kenton Ridge, scoring eight runs and bringing home five. The fourth-rated junior first baseman in Ohio now has hit three long balls and scored 18 runs, batting .500 with a .627 OBP.

- Seth Goeller was on base 11 times in 16 plate appearances, going 6-11 with a double, two triples, three walks and two HBP. The Marietta junior shortstop is now carrying a .568 average, .730 slugging percentage and .630 OBP, scoring 15 runs, stealing 14 bases and driving in 12. Goeller has only struck out once in 45 at-bats.

- Vincent Hinderman was up to playing three games against ranked opponents this week. The Cloverleaf junior went 10-15 with two home runs, facing Field (No. 13 D-IV) twice and Tuslaw (No. 16 D-V) once, producing nine RBIs, scoring six runs and stealing two bases while adding a sacrifice.  

- Wheelersburg left-handed hitting senior catcher Brady Doss was 7-10 with a home run, a pair of doubles, six runs, five RBIs and four stolen bases. Doss is the 52nd-ranked 2026 catcher in the state.

- Elyria Catholic had an unbeaten week and Ryan White was a big reason. The junior catcher was 6-13 with four doubles and a home run, scoring four times and driving in six. For the season, White is 11-22 at the plate.

- Utica 2027 third baseman Elijah Bland pounded out three doubles and a home run during an 8-14 week, scoring a pair of runs while bringing home three.

GREAT FUTURE

The hit tool continues to be on for Wooster sophomore Nick Rader.

The 2028 left-handed hitting outfielder went 9-10 with two doubles and six runs scored during a 2-1 week for the No. 9 team in Ohio in Division III. Rader walked once, had three RBIs and swiped three bases.

For the season, Rader is batting .650 with 12 runs scored and seven stolen bases, striking out just once.

- Division V eighth-rated Lynchburg-Clay won three more games this week to move to 10-2 and 10th-grader Kristian Beachy was more than a key player. The sophomore corner infielder and pitcher went 5-10 with four RBIs, three runs and a double while stealing three bases. The RHP also won once on the mound, not allowing an earned run or hit while walking one and fanning nine in three innings. For the year, Beachy has 19 RBIs, 12 runs and eight steals while standing 3-0 pitching with 24 Ks in 14.2 innings, giving up just two hits and one earned run.

- Carter Strong is getting the job done on the mound for Vincent Warren. The freshman did not permit an earned run in picking up wins against Logan and Caldwell, pitching 15 innings and allowing 13 hits with 13 Ks and four walks. The 2029 right-hander is 3-1 on the season with 35 strikeouts and eight walks in 29.2 innings, posting a 0.472 ERA.

- Beckett Wilson had seven hits and scored seven runs to improve his batting average to .447 on the campaign. The Columbiana sophomore utility player was 7-13 with a double and triple, walking three times while producing three RBIs and three steals.

- Lakeview ninth grader Blake Swinning had a .917 OPS with four RBIs during a 5-12 week. The 6-2 175-pound freshman left-hander also went seven innings to pick up a win, not allowing an earned run or walk while fanning four. For the year, the southpaw is 2-1 with a 1.46 ERA.

- Luke Kern had six hits and scored six runs for McComb with a pair of doubles and three walks. The sophomore OF/1B also had three RBIs and swiped seven bases to push his season total to 13 to go along with 15 runs scored, a .441 batting average and a .537 OBP.

- CVCA sophomore right-hander Peyton Drabick threw a one-hitter to beat Berea-Midpark. The 10th-ranked 2028 in Ohio put 13 batters down on strikes and walked just one.

TEAMS ROLLING

It was a slow start to the season but Greenon is now on a roll with a 5-0 week moving the Knights to 6-6 on the year.

In the five wins, Greenon slashed .397/.503/1.044 and scored 72 runs with 16 extra-base hits. In addition, the Knights were 52 out of 54 on stolen base attempts in beating Southeastern twice, Catholic Central, Northeastern and Preble Shawnee.

- After beginning the year 1-2 on a trip to Tennessee, Strasburg-Franklin has rolled off seven consecutive victories, including four this week with two wins over Claymont and one each against Ridgewood and Coshocton. The streak has S-F moving up from 20th to eight in the Division VII rankings.

- Richmond Edison scored 38 runs in a 3-0 week and like Strasburg-Franklin, also stands at 8-2 on the campaign. The ninth-ranked team in Division IV defeated Weir, W. Va, Buckeye Local and Minerva.

- Lakewood outpointed the opposition 59-10 in four victories for the week to improve to 10-0 on the year. The Rangers, ranked second in the state in Division II and eighth in the Upper Division Power Rankings, defeated Valley Forge 19-0 and 26-8, Normandy 7-1 and Solon 4-1.

- Division V No.14 Madeira stands at 9-2 after winning four games versus opponents from four different divisions this past week. Victories came against D-IV Reading 16-6, D-III Hamilton Ross 7-6, D-VI Deer Park 16-0 and D-I Middletown 22-2. 

- Four nice wins helped Elyria Catholic improve to 8-2 on the season. The No. 13 team in the state in Division IV beat NDCL 7-4 and 5-2, Holy Name 13-11 and Bay 5-2 during a 4-0 week.

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