2026 News-Herald high school baseball all-stars

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Deacon Nelon

Senior, University

Every program needs a staple, and Deacon Nelson was just that for four years. Before he took to the diamond for the team, the Preppers had been to the regional round twice. In his four years, Nelson has led the Preppers to three regional appearances and three finals, with a state runner-up finish a season ago. The Auburn signee was an impact player in every part of the game from shortstop to the mound. On the season, he hit .424 with a pair of home runs, drove in an area-high 30 runs with five doubles, two triples and 16 stolen bases. Also had a pair of wins and 12 strikeouts.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Michael Sweeney

Chagrin Falls

After two losing seasons and a young team coming into this year, Sweeney wasn't sure what to expect. With five seniors, it was going to be a chance for the underclassmen to flash what they could do. And they thrived. The Tigers won 20 games, took the CVC Valley title and advanced to the regional round for the first time since 2022. Players including Leo Calabrese and Will Murray will get a full season under their belts next year, and a healthy Chagrin Falls team could be on the doorstep of the first state trip in school history.

First Team

P Crew Bellan, Sr., University

Another strong arm to come out of the Preppers program. Picked up five wins, a 0.86 ERA and 45 strikeouts.

C Patrick Brancel, Sr., Berkshire

Played the season behind the plate despite a torn UCL for a growing Badgers program. Hit .444 with an area-high four home runs, 22 runs and five doubles. Tri-C signee

C/P Tanner Brandt, So., Hawken

Became a strong bat in the middle of the order for a young Hawks team. Hit .387 with a home run, 29 runs, eight doubles and three triples. Also racked up five wins, 46 strikeouts and a 2.12 ERA.

C Lucci Cantini, Jr., Kirtland

His voice behind the plate helped lead Kirtland back to the regional round for a second year in a row. Hit .444 with a pair of home runs, 14 runs and six doubles.

C Tyler Fink, Sr., West Geauga

Helped lead the charge for an improvement of the program from the box and on the mound. Hit .500 with a pair of home runs, 13 runs, four doubles and 13 stolen bases. Picked up four wins, a 2.48 ERA and 43 strikeouts. Otterbein signee.

P Eddy G'Vora, Sr., Madison

The leader for the Blue Streaks over the last four seasons. Finished with a .396 batting average with three home runs, 14 runs and four doubles with five wins, 59 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA. Lakeland signee.

P/OF Tyler Hribar, Sr., Lake Catholic

Continued to improve from the box and the mound after leading the Cougars to the state title a season ago. Hit .412 with a pair of home runs, 10 runs and four doubles. Picked up five wins, two saves, 35 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA.

P Christian Kerner, Sr., Gilmour

The lead pitcher for the Lancers who settled into his role as the season progressed. Picked up five wins with a 1.98 ERA and 42 strikeouts.

3B Brayden Mann, Jr., Lake Catholic

Became the lead bat for the Cougars. Hit .456 with 14 runs and 10 doubles. Served as a good early in the order bat.

1B Trent Taylor, Sr., Perry

His bat in the middle of the order helped propel the Pirates to a district final. Hit .324 with 26 runs and six doubles.

INF/P Cole Twardokus, Jr., Hawken

Hit .371 with four home runs, 28 runs, seven doubles and 11 stolen bases. Also picked up three wins with a 1.89 ERA and 45 strikeouts.

1B Bryce Vidovic, Sr., West Geauga

A middle-of-the-order game changer. Hit .338 with a pair of home runs, 26 runs, seven doubles and a triple. Also had a pair of wins and 38 strikeouts.

INF/P Jack Watson, Sr., Chagrin Falls

The ace of the Tigers in their return to the regional round. Hit .246 with eight runs but dominated from the mound, racking up seven wins with a 1.36 ERA, 79 strikeouts and two saves.

Second Team

CF/P Ethan Baker, Sr., Riverside: A difference-maker in the outfield for the Beavers. Hit .382 with a pair of home runs, 24 runs, seven doubles and three triples. Lake Erie signee.

C Bobby Berglund, Jr., University: Took over behind the plate for the regional finalists. Hit .429 with 23 runs, seven doubles and two triples.

C/UTL Graysen Bischoff, Sr., Kenston: Senior leader who hit .410 with a pair of home runs and 19 runs, all of which led the team. Findlay signee.

UTL Frankie Bucar, Sr., Wickliffe: Set the record for hits and runs in a career for the Blue Devils and helped the young team learn through the season. Hit .419 with 10 doubles and a home run while picking up 54 punch outs. West Liberty signee.

C Jayden Buth, Sr., Chardon: Took command of a deep Chardon squad to the regional round. Hit .397 with a home run, 21 runs, eight doubles and 10 stolen bases.

OF/P Henry Cimperman, Sr., Chagrin Falls: Makes an impact in the box and in the field. Hit .370 with a pair of home runs, 24 runs, seven doubles, two triples and 19 stolen bases. John Carroll signee.

P/3B Connor D'Astolfo, Sr., Perry: The leader of a deep pitching staff. Racked up five wins, a 2.63 ERA and 29 strikeouts.

P Ryan Higginbotham, Sr., Riverside: Headlined a strong senior Beavers team. Picked up an area high seven wins with 35 strikeouts and a 1.73 ERA. Lorain County CC signee.

C Ash Martin, Jr., Chagrin Falls: Emerged as a strong voice behind the plate for the Tigers. Hit .316 with a pair of home runs, 24 runs and four doubles.

3B Sean Pitrone, Sr., Gilmour: Went from the pitcher to the lead bat. Hit .412 with three home runs, 20 runs and five doubles. John Carroll signee.

SS CJ Santagata, Sr., Gilmour: A strong bat for a young Lancers program. Hit .320 with seven runs and doubles while also picking up a pair of wins and 20 strikeouts. Marietta signee

P/UTL Chase Sivon, Jr., Perry: An aggressive player on the base paths. Recorded an area high 28 steals to go with a .384 average, 16 runs, two doubles and a triple.

Third Team

OF Joey Artale, Sr., Kenston: The lead bat for a deep Bombers squad. Hit .406 with two home runs, 17 runs and eight doubles.

P/SS Ryland Besco, Jr., Geneva: A solid all-around player from both the mound and box. Hit .395 with 11 runs, eight doubles and nine stolen bases with 42 strikeouts added.

CF Aiden Englehart, Sr., Harvey: A senior leader in every sense of the phrase. Hit .500 with five runs and three doubles.

INF/P Henry Gonakis, Jr., VASJ: The voice for a young team. Hit .500 with a home run, 10 runs, six doubles, five triples and 10 stolen bases.

RF Ethan Grinstead, Sr., North: The leader for a senior-deep squad. Hit .458 with 20 runs, both of which led the team. Adrian signee

P/SS Elijah Harless, Sr., Fairport: A leader for a resurgent program. Racked up three wins, a 3.16 ERA, 52 strikeouts while also hitting .396 with 12 runs. Thiel signee

CF Ben Koret, Jr., Mayfield: A very strong top of the order bat for the Wildcats. Hit .390 with 14 runs, nine doubles and a triple.

P/3B Gavi Lappen, Sr., Beachwood: Took over the lead in the rotation for the Bison. Picked up six wins with a 1.34 ERA and 51 strikeouts.

SS Kannon Strever, So., Cardinal: The leader for a young Huskies squad. Hit .564 with three home runs, 15 runs, 11 doubles and three triples.

C James Ozinga, Sr., Riverside: A strong middle-of-the-order-bat. Hit .414 with a pair of home runs, 23 runs and eight doubles. Messiah University signee.

P Landyn Rossi, Jr., Andrews Osborne: Emerged as the lead pitcher for the district runner-up. Recorded six wins with a 1.25 ERA and 63 strikeouts.

Honor Roll

Andrews Osborne: Marco Zheng; Beachwood: Ethan Malek, Highley Devine; Benedictine: Ben Scheer; Berkshire: Chris Brancel; Brush: Deshawn Dammons; Cardinal: Evan Jones; Chagrin Falls: Eric Nemuaitis; Chardon: Tim Roberton, JB Burton; Cornerstone: Tommy Weybrecht; Euclid: Mike Kalinowski; Fairport: Chase McCloud; Geneva: Nick Kustala; Gilmour: Rex Waggle; Harvey: Ryan Delaney; Hawken: Kevin Oster, Ethan Gipson; Kenston: Jack Latz; Kirtland: Chase Gron, Sebastian Becker; Lake Catholic: Micah Nyetrar; Madison: Daniel Schultz; Mayfield: JD Sega, Ethan Claflin; Mentor: Tyler Black; North: Brady Pennza, Braylon Rolf; NDCL: Jack Montague; Perry: Carter Hopkins, Justin Costello; Richmond Heights: Ryan Spates; Riverside: Austin Kalb; South: Luke Jensen; University: Jack Nelson, James Bucci; VASJ: Frankie Oriani; West Geauga: Mitchell Mikolay, Jackson Remaley; Wickliffe: Alex Aheimer

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