SMCC looks for continued improvement in River

St. Mary Central Catholic has improved little by little in the Sandusky Bay Conference River Division. After going 9-18 overall and 5-11 in league play in 2023, the Panthers were 13-14-1 and 7-11 in 2024. Last year, SMCC pushed that to 16-12 and 8-10. With a quartet of really good seniors that have played a lot of baseball, the Panthers look to continue that trend this year. Danbury has also increased its win total each of the past few seasons. The league has run through Tiffin Calvert the past few seasons and that's no different this season. The preseason Division VII No. 1 team has a wealth of talent at many positions and will be the team to beat. The Firelands Conference was balanced last year. League champion South Central had four league losses. Where do St. Paul and Monroeville fit into the league race? The baseball season starts Friday. SBC River SMCC has been on the cusp of finishing in the top half of the River Division. The Panthers must replace the likes of Reid Wikel, who was 6-4 on the mound in a team-high 52 innings, and Austin Gill, who paced SMCC with 32 hits and 20 runs batted in. SMCC will look to seniors Blake Finneran (second base), Sam Lawrence (center field), Grant Swain (catcher), and Donovan Shafrath (outfield) for leadership. Toby Gibson, who had just eight walks in 31 innings last year, will top the pitching rotation. He will be joined by Cayden Wikel, Cullen Dillard and Leo Will. They will need to eat up innings that would have gone to Eli Dinsmore, who is out with an injury from the football season. "One area we need to improve upon is providing more run support for our pitchers," SMCC coach Ryan Myers said. "Even when we limit the number of runs given up, it is necessary for us to be opportunistic hitters and stop leaving runners on base, especially in scoring position. "Situational hitting and recognizing circumstances at the plate has been an emphasis early on for us in practice. Being more efficient offensively will be crucial to our success and achieving our goals this year." Danbury finished 7-18 overall and 2-16 in league play. Second-team league pick junior Logan Shepherd paced the Lakers with a .310 batting average. He had team-highs in runs scored (22), hits (22) and doubles (5). Senior Logan Lucas (18 hits, 13 runs) is back after leading the way with 16 runs batted in. Senior Danny Carroll, a honorable mention league selection, added 14 hits, 12 runs and 10 RBI. "We return nine letter winners from last year's team, so we are going into the season with some experience," Danbury coach Ben Stover said. "I have a very close knit hardworking group that wants to be successful. This group believes in what we are doing. I believe that we will be competitive in every game this season." Calvert, which was 27-4 and Division VII state semifinalists, returns five first-team league picks. Hopewell-Loudon and Gibsonburg each bring back a pair of first-team selections. Firelands Conference After years of being beat up on a near nightly basis, Monroeville finished 13-11 last year, going 8-6 in league play. The Eagles return first-team FC selection Colt Clark, as well as second-team pick Tristan Wise. Monroeville will also bring back honorable mention selection Reid Wasserman. "We have a young team, but they are experienced and great athletes," Eagles coach Don Clark said. "We bring back nine kids that were regular starters for us last year including our three top pitchers. This group is extremely coachable. They get along really well and compete at a high level day in and day out." St. Paul had an identical record to the Eagles. The Flyers found something special last year in Andrew Marsh, now a sophomore. On the mound, he was 8-2 with a 1.32 earned run average. Marsh struck out 88 in a team-high 69 innings of work. St. Paul also returns junior Nate Griffin (25 2/3 innings), senior Izaac Snyder (21 innings) and first-team league pick senior Landon Fries (2-1, 17 innings). Fries topped the Flyers with a .356 average, 26 base hits and 20 runs batted in. Jacob Zuccaro (.304, 21 hits) and Ben Blum (.274, 20 hits) must be replaced after graduating. "If we play to our potential, competing for a conference championship and making a deep tournament run are realistic goals," St. Paul coach Aaron Fries said. "I like the mental make up and leadership of this team. We have seasoned baseball kids who do a good job of lifting up their younger teammates." Elsewhere in the league, Plymouth returns the Pitcher of the Year, Jarrett Burrer from Plymouth. Crestview graduated the Player of the Year, Gavin Barker. South Central, which won the league with a 10-4 mark, brings back two first-team league picks in Wes June and Troy Ayers. Returning All-SBC River selections First team Pitcher: Logan Ritzler, Calvert; Kellen Frankart, Hopewell-Loudon Catcher: Connor Moyer, Calvert Infield: Cameron Moyer, Calvert; Chuy Rodriguez, Gibsonburg; Reece Walby, Gibsonburg Outfield: AJ Shoemaker, Calvert; Grant Scherger, Lakota; Jack Colatruglio, Hopewell-Loudon; Vincenzo Lyons, Calvert Second team Pitcher: Calvin Lipstraw, Woodmore; Brayden Schalk, New Riegel; Tucker Coleman, Calvert Infield: Logan Shepherd, Danbury; Robert Seeger, Woodmore; Graham Harmon, Lakota; Jack Widman, Lakota; Charlie Palm, Calvert; Jacob Hines, Lakota; Andrew Spieldenner, Fremont SJCC Outfield: Cayden Wikel, SMCC; Michael Seeger, Woodmore Honorable mention Pitcher: Brady Kern, Lakota Catcher: Cole Potridge, Woodmore Infield: Blake Finneran, SMCC Outfield: AJ Gosche, Lakota; Danny Carroll, Danbury Returning All-Firelands selections First team Jarrett Burrer, Plymouth; Wes June, South Central; Lex Grose, Plymouth; Landon Fries, St. Paul; Troy Ayers, South Central; Colt Clark, Monroeville; Oliver Harrison, New London; Kayn Patton, Crestview; Gabe Snyder, St. Paul Second team Bryan Chaffee, South Central; Cole Frankart, South Central; Lincoln Distl, Plymouth; Keegan Beverly, Plymouth; Landon Fulk, Crestview; Carson Keener, Crestview, Tristan Wise, Monroeville; Brody Sword, New London; Alex Marsh, St. Paul Honorable mention Reid Wasserman, Monroeville; Brayden Parrigan, Crestview; Alex Hamons, South Central; Bobby Bowman, Plymouth