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Ohio Diamond Notes: May 18-24

May 26, 2026
Bruce Hefflinger
Prep Baseball Ohio Senior Writer

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Previous Diamond Notes:

Ohio Diamond Notes: May 18-24

With the regular season coming to a completion, the weekly Diamond Notes will take a look at this week’s district tournament in addition to recognizing impressive performances by players submitted by coaches across the state.

DISTRICTS

DIVISION I

Region 1

Northeast 1: Perrysburg’s quest for a third-straight trip to state could get a big test against No. 6 Medina in the finals. The Jackets beat Medina 3-2 in the regional finals last year.

Northeast 3: GlenOak is seeking back-to-back regional appearances.

Northeast 4: Saint Ignatius beat St. Edward 3-0 a month ago. A rematch could await in the finals.

Northeast 2: Ninth-ranked Massillon Jackson is on a nine-game winning streak.

Region 2

Central 4: No. 5 Olentangy Liberty is the big favorite.

Central 1: Of eight losses for Dublin Coffman, five have come to Olentangy teams. Lancaster and Newark have split two matchups.

Central 2: Olentangy Orange is on a roll.

Central 3: Defending state champ Olentangy looking to get back to regionals.

Region 3

Central 6: Olentangy Berlin seeks third-consecutive regional berth.

Southwest 6: Moeller odds-on favorite to win district.

Southwest 5: Lakota East nearly beat last season’s state runners-up Springboro in districts a year ago, losing 9-8. Centerville could be this year’s opponent.

Central 5: Delaware Hayes has won 10 of last 11.

Region 4

Southwest 1: St. Xavier winners of 14 out of its last 15 games.

Southwest 4: Can Elder add to its storied history?

Southwest 3: Mason may need to beat Fairfield for the third time.

Southwest 2: Potential district finalists Springboro and Oak Hills nearly met in regional finals a year ago. 

DIVISION II

Region 5

Northeast 4: North Royalton came up one run short of making regionals in 2025.

Northeast 2: Unbeaten Lakewood looks to continue its magical season.

Northeast 1: Medina Highland only team with a winning record.

Northeast 3: Walsh Jesuit vs Mayfield would be an interesting finals. Mayfield won 3-2 back on May 2.

Region 6

Northeast 5: A third regional in a row is within reach for North Canton Hoover.

Northeast 8: Can Hudson return to the Sweet 16?

Northeast 7: Amherst Steele will be tough to beat.

Northeast 6: Underdogs (based on records) Avon and Twinsburg can not be overlooked.

Region 7

Northwest 1: Four of the top 16 teams in the state in this division are in this district.

Central 3: Big Walnut is playing well.

Central 1: New Albany has visions of getting back to state.

Central 2: Three 11-loss teams expected to battle it out for trip to regionals

Region 8

Southwest 2: Can Edgewood make it back to regionals?

Southwest 1: Loveland has already defeated Kings twice. A third meeting could happen in the district finals.

Central 4: Wide open district with Watkins Memorial the only Top 25 team. 

Southwest 3: A special season on the line for Troy.

DIVISION III

Region 9

Northeast 1: CVCA has been to regionals two years in a row.

Northeast 3: Wooster motivated to keep the season going.

Northeast 2: Traditional power Hoban will be hard to beat.

Northeast 4: Semifinal between Gilmour and Hawken should be a dandy.

Region 10

Northwest 2: Are Maumee and Defiance on a collision course?

Northeast 5: University School has sights set on a return trip to Akron.

Northwest 1: This one is wide open with Wapak the only ranked team.

Northwest 6: Padua playing like a team on a mission.

Region 11

Central 1: Watterson trying to get back to state for first time in a decade.

Southeast 1: Lone team rated in this field is Jackson.

Central 2: Hartley slight favorite in even district.

East 1: Indian Creek vs New Philadelphia in finals if records mean anything.

Region 12

Southwest 4: Bellbrook already owns two wins over Franklin.

Southwest 3: Butler beat LaSalle 2-0 in district finals last season. Is a rematch coming?

Southwest 1: Can anyone beat No. 1 Badin? 

Southwest 2: Tippecanoe and McNicholas favored to win in the semis.

DIVISION IV

Region 13

Northeast 2: Cardinal Mooney looking strong.

Northeast 1: Pitching strong district with Orrville and Norton ranked teams in the field. 

Northeast 3: Defending state champ Lake Catholic has a tough route to get out of districts.

Northeast 4: Elyria Catholic and Marlington a potential district final matchup.

Region 14

Central 1: Top-ranked Alder in a different region this year in search of regional trip.

Northwest 1: Somebody not in the Top 25 will make it to regionals.

Northwest 3: Perkins has hopes of getting back to state.

Northwest 2: Lima Bath beat Van Wert during regular season, Wauseon edged Bryan 15-14.

Region 15

East 1: Pitching has carried Richmond Edison.

East 2: Carrollton looking to get back to regionals with better results this time around.

Southeast 2: Fairfield Union and Gallia Academy winner will head to regional.

Southeast 1: Wheelersburg and Logan Elm tied in a scrimmage. District final game has much more at stake.

Region 16

Southwest 1: Young Urbana team has talent, but Fenwick has regional experience from last season.

Central 2: D-III state champs last year, Licking Valley looking to do it in D-IV this time.

Southwest 2: Four teams at districts all threw shutouts to win sectional finals.

Southwest 3: Indian Hill trying to get back to state after semifinal loss a year ago.

DIVISION V

Region 17

Northeast 2: Lakeview and Triway favorites in the semis.

Northeast 1: Semifinal opponents meet again. South Range beat Poland Seminary 4-3 in the regular season. 

Northeast 4: Nobody wants to play defending champ Waynedale.

Northeast 3: Teams with best records play in semis when Chagrin Falls meets Tuslaw.

Region 18

Northwest 3: Coldwater knows how to win when it’s tournament time.

Central 1: Centerburg has aspirations to get back to regionals.

Northwest 2: The route to state is tougher for Fairview after moving up from D-VI.

Northwest 1: No. 3 Archbold leads an impressive district field.

Region 19

Southeast 2: Minford has only lost once in May.

Southeast 1: Lynchburg-Clay nipped Lucasville Valley 4-3 in regional semis last season. The two could meet this time around in the district finals.

East 2: Harrison Central made D-III state finals in 2023, now looking to make a run in Division V.

East 1: Wide open field. 

Region 20

Central 2: No team in the Top 25 in the district.

Southwest 1: Can Arcanum live up to high ranking?

Southwest 2: Anna and Indian Lake meet again. Anna won the first meeting, 8-7. 

Southwest 3: Fairfield Christian beat Madeira 4-0 in sectionals last season. Now they meet in districts. 

DIVISION VI

Region 21

Northeast 3: Independence trying to get back to regionals

Northeast 2: Lake Center Christian huge favorites.

Northeast 4: Coin flip in this district.

Northeast 1: Is district final rematch ahead between Kirtland and Hillsdale?

Region 22

Northwest 3: Carey seeking third win over Seneca East this year.

Northwest 2: Marion Local beat Columbus Grove 6-5 in district semis last season.

Northwest 4: Can Mack Hieber lead Patrick Henry to regionals?

Northwest 1: St. Henry is looking to continue an outstanding season.

Region 23

Southeast 1: Southeastern trying to defeat Huntington for the third time in 2026.

Central 1: Mechanicsburg doesn’t want special season to end.

Southeast 2: Reedsville Eastern has won two over Waterford to date.

East 1: Hiland in search of fourth straight appearance at state.

Region 24

Southwest 2: Two regional teams from last season - Fort Recovery and Country Day - could meet in district finals

Southwest 1: No obvious favorite in this group.

Southwest 3: Riverside only team in the Top 25.

Central 2: Top-ranked West Jefferson the team to beat.

DIVISION VII

Region 25

Northwest 5: District title the next quest for top-ranked Tiffin Calvert.

Northeast 1: Maplewood the only team in this field that made it to district finals a year ago.

Northeast 2: Warren JFK is looking to make more noise in the tournament.

Northeast 3: McDonald lost to Tiffin Calvert in the regionals in 2025. Can they get there again?

Region 26

Northwest 3: A year ago New Riegel lost to eventual state champ Minster 9-8 in the regional semis.

Northwest 2: Leipsic defeated Kalida 6-5 in game four this year and North Central nipped Edgerton 2-1.

Northwest 1: Minster blanked Montpelier in the regional finals last season en route to a state title.

Northwest 4: Miller City tries to get back to regionals.

Region 27

Central 1: Newark Catholic continues to show its one of best programs in Ohio.

Southeast 2: South Webster reached regional finals a year ago.

Southeast 1: Franklin Furnace Green another regional participant in 2025.

East 1: Strasburg Franklin one win away from a return to the Sweet 16.

Region 28

Southwest 2: Can Russia get to state for the fifth-straight season?

Southwest 1: Fayetteville-Perry just 7-15 but two wins from another regional trip.

Northwest 6: Delphos St. John’s won the state basketball title. Is baseball next?

Southwest 3: Fort Loramie is always a contender.

TWO-WAY STANDOUTS

Caleb Shelly had a game to remember for Lake Center Christian.

The 30th-rated 2027 shortstop in Ohio threw a perfect game in the sectionals, striking out all 15 batters.

In the same game, the No. 218 junior in the state hit a single, triple and home run.

For the week, Shelly was 6-10 with 20 RBIs and two stolen bases. On the mound, the right-hander won two games with 16 Ks, no walks and one hit allowed in 6.1 innings.

For the season, Shelly has a .462 average with seven doubles, six homers, 36 RBIs, 30 runs and 11 steals. The 11th-grader is also 8-1 pitching with a 1.15 ERA and 0.709 WHIP, fanning 62 and walking seven in 36.2 innings.

- Strasburg-Franklin’s Brody Baughman tossed a one-hitter with 15 strikeouts and no walks in the sectional finals against Steubenville Central Catholic. The 28th-rated sophomore catcher in Ohio also went 1-1 with a double and two runs scored. For the year, the 10th-grader is 31-75 at the plate with 29 runs scored. Pitching-wise, Baughman is 8-0 with 89 Ks in 50.2 frames and a 1.10 ERA.

- Avery Young recorded his 100th career strikeout and now has 49 on the season in 39.1 innings. The Columbiana junior had six Ks in 2.1 frames during the week, not allowing a hit or earned run while walking two. The SS/RHP also went 5-8 with two doubles, five runs, three stolen bases and an RBI and is now batting .522 with 30 runs, 27 steals and nine two-base knocks.

HITTING LEADERS

Tyler Pozsgai went 4-4 to lead Gilmour Academy past Midview in sectional final action.

The sophomore shortstop finished the week 7-10 with two doubles, three walks, three RBIs and four runs.

For the season, Pozsgai is carrying a .352 batting average.

- Cooper Bingham now has a .486 batting mark for Amherst Steele after going 12-17 with 11 singles, a double, seven runs, two walks, three RBIs and four stolen bases. The 50th-ranked junior in Ohio has 39 runs and 30 RBIs on the year with 20 walks, 17 steals, three home runs and a 1.370 OPS, .606 OBP and .764 SLG.

- Eli Toyoda was 8-15 in helping Amherst Steele win all five games played. The 11th-rated 2027 second baseman in the state drove in eight runs and scored five, hitting three doubles and walking three times. The junior carries a .431 average, .526 OBP, .646 SLG and 1.172 OPS with 27 RBIs, 17 runs and eight doubles.

- Extra-base hits were at a premium with CVCA’s Connor McGough at the plate. The 10th-ranked senior shortstop in the state hit four doubles and a home run during an 8-12 week with nine runs, five RBIs and three walks while swiping five bags. The Davidson commit has six bombs and 13 doubles on the year with 42 runs, 31 RBIs, 21 steals and 11 walks with a .442 batting average.

- Ohio State signee Nathan Bryant continues to produce for Lake Center Christian, scoring five runs and bringing in three with two doubles in a 6-10 week that included a stolen base. The 18th-rated senior in Ohio is batting .418 with five doubles and three home runs to go along with 24 RBIs and 22 runs.

- Lakewood’s unbeaten season keeps going with Luke Legato playing a big role this past week going 3-5 with a 1.914 OPS and 1.200 SLG, hitting a double and triple, walking twice, scoring four runs and bringing in five. The junior outfielder has 25 RBIs on the season with 17 runs, three doubles and three triples.

- Dallen Maxson was 3-5 with a double and three RBIs for Olentangy Berlin. The 61st-rated senior shortstop in the state has now scored 20 runs and driven home 17 with a .363 batting average.

PITCHING STANDOUTS

A senior and a freshman came through to give their teams tournament wins to highlight top pitching performances for the week.

Brayden Vance tossed a shutout to lead Kettering Fairmont past West Clermont 2-0 in the Division I sectional finals. The 35th-rated senior RHP in Ohio gave up six hits on the week with eight shutout innings to go along with nine strikeouts. The Walsh University commit now has 50 Ks in 45 frames for the year.

Carter Strong was huge for Warren in a 6-1 upset of Miami Trace in Division III sectional play. The freshman right-hander scattered nine hits with two strikeouts in the victory and is now 6-3 on the year with a 0.836 ERA. The freshman has 53 Ks in 67 innings.

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