PHOTO BY JACOB KESSLER / THE VILLAGE REPORTER
LEAGUE CONTENDERS … Swanton’s Luke Marlow (above) hits a single in a game against Wauseon last year. After winning District Player of the Year last season, Marlow leads a strong group of returners for the Bulldogs as they look to knock Archbold from the top spot in the league.
By: Nate Calvin
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
sports@thevillagereporter.com
Fourteen letterwinners return for defending league co-champion Archbold and third-year head coach Jeff Brunswick.
The Streaks, who shared the title with Evergreen last season, will have a strong contingent of starting pitchers to fill the void left by the graduation of NWOAL Player of the Year Zach Short.
After a fourth-place finish in the NWOAL last season, the Swanton Bulldogs figure to be a major challenger to Archbold.
Veteran coach Josh Siewert’s club will be fronted by the return of Carsen Lemons (1st Team All-Ohio, 1st Team NWOAL, 1st Team All District) and Luke Marlow (District Player of the Year, 1st Team NWOAL).
The league will have three first-year coaches with Josh Drain at Liberty Center, Christian Petersen at Patrick Henry, and Dylan Leu at Wauseon, who takes over for longtime coach Trent Thomas.
Below are team-by-team previews for this season, obtained from information provided by the coaches, in order of last season’s league standings with last year’s record in parentheses.
T1. Archbold (13-12, 6-1 NWOAL; Lost in Division V district semifinals to Ottawa Hills, 10-0)
HEAD COACH: Jeff Brunswick (third season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST SEASON: Kurt Krueger (P), Broden Piercefield (INF), Zach Short (P)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: SENIORS – CJ Arroyo-Thompson (OF), .304 avg.; Max Burrowes (OF); Jace Castillo (P/INF), 34 IP, 2.24 ERA, 38 Ks; Joe Williams (INF); JUNIORS – Carter King (OF); Isaiahs Gracia (INF/P); Aranjer Krieger (P/INF/OF); SOPHOMORES – Anderson Bentley (OF), .265 avg.; Jace Bernath (C/INF); Ethan Bowman (P/INF/OF) 27 IP, 2.59 ERA, 35 Ks; Wyatt Cline (P/INF/OF), 13 IP, 16 Ks; Tripp Langenderfer (C/INF), .457 avg.; Collin Short (OF/INF) .356 avg., 15 RBIs; Harrison Wyse (P/INF)
STRENGTHS: starting pitching, hitting, dedication
WEAKNESSES: replacing players lost to graduation
SEASON OUTLOOK: “We are looking forward to the season. We need to stay healthy and improve every day. As always, our league is very strong and competitive.”
T1. Evergreen (16-10, 6-1 NWOAL; Lost in Division VI regional finals to Elmwood, 8-1)
HEAD COACH: Chris Owens (second season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST SEASON: Colton Robertson, Layne Vance, John Herdman, Sean Rafferty
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Troy Manz, Bryce Bolger, Austin Burghardt, Zach Kruzel, JJ Johnson, Nolan Hudik, Brendan Holman, Blake Boucher, Chris Shrader
NEWCOMERS: Jake Farley, Owen Dohrmann, Mariano Esqueda, Weston Placzkiewicz
STRENGTHS: “We are fortunate to have a smart, talented group of seniors whose leadership will help guide us through the highs and lows of the season. “Our underclassmen bring a lot of experience, and we’ll rely on them to step up and make big plays when it matters most.”
WEAKNESSES: “We must stay focused on the little things because they make the biggest difference.
“Our challenge is to work as hard as we can for as long as it takes, even when the outcome is not certain. Failures should be treated as opportunities to learn as we continue building a growth mindset.”
SEASON OUTLOOK: “We are entering the season with optimism, returning several key starters from last year’s roster.
“Pitching depth and steady infield defense are expected to be our strengths, giving the team a solid foundation early in the year.
“While the lineup will need to replace a few graduated seniors, the combination of experienced leaders and emerging younger players could make this group a strong contender. If the team finds consistency at the plate, it has the potential to compete for a conference title and make a run in the postseason.”
LEAGUE OUTLOOK: “The NWOAL remains one of the most historic and competitive leagues in the state. Every game matters, and you know you’re always getting every opponent’s best effort. We know we have to be playing our best baseball by the time league play begins.”
3. Patrick Henry (10-15, 4-3 NWOAL; Lost in Division VI district semifinals to Lincolnview, 7-1)
HEAD COACH: Christian Petersen (first season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST SEASON: Lane Jackson (P/OF), 37 IP, 33 Ks; Ian Schwab (P/1B/OF) .261 avg., 18.2 IP, 17 Ks; Jaden Bishop (UTIL), .263 avg., 3 doubles, 10 RBIs
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: SENIORS – Mason Jardine (SS), .313 avg., 26 hits, 5 doubles, 21 RBIs; Grant Schwab (2B/3B), .263 avg., 21 hits, 15 runs; Cal Schroeder (OF/P), .256 avg., 22 hits, 22 runs; Lane Biederstedt (C); Mack Hieber (P/INF/OF) .319 avg., 6 doubles, 2 HR, 15 RBIs, 52 IP, 5-2, 89 Ks, 5 walks, 1.07 ERA, 0.69 WHIP; JUNIOR – Grady McKee (1B), .189 avg., 8 RBIs; SOPHOMORES – Jackson Meienburg, .303 avg., 20 hits, 3 doubles, 7 RBIs, 12.1 IP; Henry Gibson, .259 avg., 7 hits, 4 RBIs, 11.1 IP, 2-1, 8 Ks
NEWCOMERS: Aden Biederstedt (freshman, P/INF), Tristen Rosebrook (junior, P)
STRENGTHS: Experience – “Eight returning varsity lettermen and having five seniors that will be earning their third-year letter or better plays as a huge strength for us.”
WEAKNESSES: Hitting – “Still unproven in some areas. Some of this year’s seniors had down years as juniors offensively. We will need them to produce more for us this year. Younger guys will also be taking on larger roles both defensively and in the lineup.”
SEASON OUTLOOK: “We have a talented roster, but executing the small things is something we must take ownership of. Pitchers need to be more efficient and effective in the strike zone compared to last year to help keep momentum on our side.
“Offensively, if we can execute timely hits and be smart yet aggressive on the base paths, we can find ourselves in a lot more opportunities to succeed.”
T4. Swanton (19-9, 3-4 NWOAL; Lost in Division V district semifinals to Eastwood, 12-2)
HEAD COACH: Josh Siewert (seventh season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST SEASON: Adam Lemon, Drake Harris, Isaiah Bolyard, Evan Smigelski, Vinnie Fanelli
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Carsen Lemons (1st Team All-Ohio, 1st Team NWOAL, 1st Team All District), Luke Marlow (District Player of the Year, 1st Team NWOAL), Brendan Upham (HM NWOAL, HM All District), Carson Bond (HM NWOAL), Brady O’Shea, Drew Koder, Drew LaPoint, Evan Reinhard
STRENGTHS: pitching, defense, leadership
WEAKNESSES: consistent offense
SEASON OUTLOOK: “We like where this team is at. We’ve built a strong foundation, the kids have bought in, and expectations are high.
“We believe we can compete for a league title and put ourselves in a position to make a run in the tournament.”
LEAGUE OUTLOOK: “We play in one of the toughest leagues in the area. Every league game is a battle.”
T4. Bryan (9-16, 3-4 NWOAL; Lost in Division IV sectional finals to Ottawa-Glandorf, 11-1)
HEAD COACH: Corey Walker (fifth season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST SEASON: Carter Dominique (INF/P), Landon Bassett (P), Masen Welling (OF), Dameon Wolfe (Utility), Gavin Pittman (P/OF), Elijah Fry (OF/P), Hunter Muehlfeld (Utility), Kole Batt (INF)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: SENIORS – Cade Carlin (P/OF), .296 avg., 24 hits, 12 RBIs, 34.1 IP, 3-3, 3.02 ERA, 40 Ks; Jaymison Longoria (INF/P), 22.2 IP, 1-2, 7.20 ERA, 20 Ks; Tucker Miller (INF/P), .207 avg., 6 hits, 4 RBIs; Carter Luce (1B), .289 avg., 18 RBIs, 7 doubles; JUNIORS – Camden Bukowski (C/P), .275 avg., 4 doubles, 12 RBIs, 19.2 IP, 1-1, 3.20 ERA, 17 Ks; Jacob Uran (INF/P), .213 avg., 1 HR, 4 RBIs; SOPHOMORES – Hunter Watson (INF), .247 avg., 18 hits; Bryce Welling (OF/P), .308 avg.
NEWCOMERS: SENIORS – John Dalrymple (C), Jess Hendricks (OF); JUNIOR – Andrew Slagle (INF); SOPHOMORES – Easton Kerr (OF/P), Cole Carlin (INF/P), Quinn Green (OF/P); FRESHMAN – Jake Arnold (INF/OF/P), Ethan Longoria (INF/P)
STRENGTHS: pitching depth, defensive versatility, team speed
WEAKNESSES: power bats, innings experience
SEASON OUTLOOK: “With seven returning letterwinners and new underclassmen, there will be great competition for playing time. Our focus is on the daily tasks and competing every day to get better. If we can do this, we can compete with anyone on our schedule.
“We return the majority of our lineup from the previous year and will be able to use our athleticism to our strengths. We are replacing some key players on the mound and will need younger guys to step up for competitive innings. We have a great group of seniors who we expect to be our leaders both on and off the field.”
LEAGUE OUTLOOK: “The NWOAL this year should be extremely competitive top to bottom. There is going to be great balance within the league, and many teams bring back strong arms on the mound. It will be a grind to win a league title, and we will need to play to the best of our abilities in every single league game.”
T6. Delta (7-13, 3-4 NWOAL; Lost in Division V sectional finals to Archbold, 5-2)
HEAD COACH: Dustin Stickley (third season)LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST SEASON: Gabe Cansky, Vincent Maurer, Brady Morr, Cody Stricker
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: SENIORS – Hayden Boulton, Nathan Elton, Wyatt Flickinger, Jadon Lohman, Jack Tedrick, Gary Valentine; JUNIORS – Carlos DeSantos, Lane Lopez, Carter Morr, Jackson Niner, Jacob Walter; SOPHOMORE – Emric Friess
STRENGTHS: experience, pitching depth, versatility
WEAKNESSES: pitching inexperience, players recovering from off-season injuries
SEASON OUTLOOK: “We have 12 returning lettermen from last year, most of whom have multiple years of varsity experience, which should help us get through the first couple of weeks while we wait for some expected starters to return from injuries.
“We have been building our program back the last couple of years to be respected in the area once again. A tough early-season schedule will test the work the players have put in over the off-season.”
LEAGUE OUTLOOK: “The NWOAL will once again be very strong from top to bottom. There are a lot of great individual players and great baseball programs throughout the league, so it should be very competitive. Evergreen, Archbold, Swanton, and Patrick Henry finished in the top half of the league last year, so we are all chasing them this year.”
T6. Wauseon (10-13, 3-4 NWOAL; Lost in Division IV district semifinals to Napoleon, 5-4)
HEAD COACH: Dylan Leu (first season)
LETTERWINNERS LOST FROM LAST SEASON: Braylon Miller, Max Russell, Caleb Kissel
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: SENIORS – Kahle Albright (P/OF), Jack Alstaetter (P/OF), Cedric Taylor (OF); JUNIORS – Cam Sherman (P), Thad Reckner (P/C/SS), Lane Schindler (OF), Rico Vazquez (P/1B); SOPHOMORE – Maddox Schneider (P/SS)
NEWCOMERS: SOPHOMORES – Ike Conrad (P/3B), Brady McGuire (OF); FRESHMAN – Logan Custard (C), Lane Wallischeck (P/INF)
STRENGTHS: pitching depth, experience, team chemistry
WEAKNESSES: infield play, power hitting
SEASON OUTLOOK: “We will look to be competitive in each game we play by throwing strikes and playing solid defense. We will lean on our upperclassmen to bring our underclassmen up to speed.”
LEAGUE OUTLOOK: “The NWOAL is such a competitive league. There are a lot of top arms this year, so anybody can beat anybody on any given night. Archbold looks to be the preseason favorite with their key returning players.
8. Liberty Center (8-11, 0-7 NWOAL; Lost in Division V sectional semifinal to Paulding, 4-2)
HEAD COACH: Josh Drain (first season)
RETURNING LETTERWINNERS: Kaden Kreinbrink, Braxton Light, Lucas Navarre, Mason Smith, Max Perry, Mason Tallent, Drew Silveus, Tatum Murdock, Billy Kruger, Henry Fitzenreiter, Isaiah Badenhop
NEWCOMERS: Jack Badenhop, E.N. Bailey
STRENGTHS: “One of our biggest strengths is how willing these guys are to work. They’ve bought into what we’re trying to build — showing up, competing in practice, and being coachable.
“We’ve got a group that supports each other and a team-first mindset developing. We have multiple players who can play different positions and run the bases well, which gives us flexibility with lineups and game situations.”
WEAKNESSES: “We’re still growing in our approach at the plate — working counts and making adjustments. We also have some younger or less experienced guys in key spots.”
SEASON OUTLOOK: “Coming into this season, our focus is really on building a foundation for the program. We’ve got a mix of returning players and younger guys who are going to be asked to step into bigger roles, so a lot of our success is going to depend on how quickly we come together as a team.
“Early on, we’ll be learning a lot about ourselves, figuring out roles, building consistency on the mound, and tightening up defensively. As the season progresses, the goal is to be playing our best baseball at the end of the year.”
LEAGUE OUTLOOK: “Looking at our league this year, it’s going to be competitive top to bottom. A lot of programs are dealing with the same thing we are — some returning experience mixed with younger guys stepping into bigger roles.
“There are a few teams that will likely set the tone early — they’ve got returning pitching and older lineups — but overall, I don’t see many easy games on the schedule.”
