Intelligencer's 43rd ANNUAL ALL OHIO VALLEY TEAM

[Ironmike]

LINK TO STORY AND BIO'S:

http://www.news-register.net/page/content.detail/id/538695.html?nav=523

First Team

IF - Alex Stephens, Linsly

IF - Darby Waller, Union Local

IF - Anthony Pierro, Steubenville

IF - Leighton Gibson, Linsly

OF - Tyler Hardesty, Cambridge

OF - Chris Eloi, Weirton Madonna

OF - P.J. Ratcliffe, Wheeling Central

UT - Brock Grafton, East Liverpool

UT - Max Nogay, Weirton Madonna (C)

UT - Mike Garman, Toronto

UT - Corey Walter, Wheeling Park

UT - Andrew Smith, Bishop Donahue

UT - Chris Bittinger, Weir

P - Justin Fox, Magnolia (C)

P - Matt Smith, Linsly

P - Dan Slavik, St. Clairsville (C)

P - Dave Porter, Toronto

C - Nick Breen, Brooke

C - Tyler Butler, Toronto

C - Garrett Lemasters, Weir

Second Team

IF - Mitchel French, Cameron

IF - Mason Rine, Magnolia

IF - Justin Teramana, Steub. Catholic

IF - Jarrod Falasca, Edison

OF - Tim Mirandy, Wheeling Central

OF - Josh Mamula, Steubenville

OF - Alan Hastwell, Indian Creek

OF - JoJo Pierro, Steubenville

UT - Wyatt Persinger, John Marshall

UT - David Alward, Brooke

UT - Logan Linder, Weirton Madonna

UT - Chris King, Wheeling Park

UT - Mackenzie Koehler, St. Clairsville

UT - Kyle Wales, Brooke

P - Chad Stengel, Fort Frye

P - Eddie Nogay, Weirton Madonna

P - Ben Weimer, Linsly

P- Michael Roach, Martins Ferry

C - Lou Comis, Weirton Madonna

C - Mark Dodd, Linsly

Third Team

IF - Malakai Anderson, Paden City

IF - Scott Castilow, Wheeling Park

IF - Dustin Freshwater, Indian Creek

IF - Dakota Ginn, Shenandoah

OF - Patrick O'Donnell, Shadyside

OF - Craig Davis, Caldwell

OF - Brandon Grimes, Tyler Consolidated

OF - Mitch Ludewig, Toronto

UT - Jon-Michael Brunner, Linsly

UT - Nick Pelegreen, Harrison Central

UT - Adam Young, Indian Creek

UT - Korey Piatt, Monroe Central

UT - Logan Patrick, John Marshall

UT - Levi Crozier, Bellaire

P - Tyler Kurtz, Barnesville

P - Shane Paesano, Brooke

P - Brad Hughes, Buckeye Local

P- Josh Bennett, Paden City

C - Jarod Mellinger, Beallsville

C - Jason Troy, John Marshall

Honorable Mentions

Bellaire - Bobby Bennett, Anthony Rocchio

Bishop Donahue - Zach Whitfield, Kyle Gillis, Wylie Koontz

Bridgeport - Zach Blamey, Jimmy Gessler, Zach Liddle

Buckeye Local - Josh Malesky

Caldwell - Craig Davis

Cambridge - Dakota Taylor

Cameron - Jimmy Higginson, Ryan Hughes

East Liverpool - Kyle Weyand, Jordan Atkins

Edison - Greg Stagani, Dom Contraguerra, Sean Connolly

Fort Frye - Donald Hilverding, Colton Skinner

John Marshall - Logan Patrick

Linsly - Derek Miller

Magnolia - Chuck McElaney, Seth Pay

Martins Ferry - Josh Nagel

Monroe Central - Korey Piatt, Adam Masters

Oak Glen - Steven Barr

Paden City - Zach Yost

River - Devon Potts, Blake Price

Shenandoah - Marcus Wise, Brandon Starr

St. Clairsville - T.J. Sliva, Zack Kinnick

St. John - Brennan Binni

Steubenville - Caleb Westlake

Steub. Catholic - Mickey Bednar, Ryan Dittmar

Toronto - Chase Takacs, J.J. Miclea

Tyler Consolidated - Brody Northcraft, Zack Minger

Union Local - Michael Michelli, Tyler McGary

Valley - Cody Scott, Alex Henderson

Weir - Cody Harmon, Cameron Rauch

Weirton Madonna - Connor Mogan, Austin Pitchok

Wheeling Central - Jack Weishar

Wheeling Park-Taylor Laird

[Ironmike]

INTELLIGENCER'S 43RD ANNUAL ALL-VALLEY TEAM
(Selected from the 48 big and small schools in the OVAC)
June 12, 2010

Tri-Captain

Max Nogay

Senior, Madonna

Headed to WVU in the fall, Nogay was the driving force behind Madonna's first state baseball crown. A returning selection, Nogay hit .454 (45-for-99), and tied for the valley lead in home runs with 11. He added eight doubles, a triple, drove in 48 runs and stole 14 bases in 15 attempts. He saved his best work for the state tournament, where he hit .625 with three runs and drove in two.

Tri-Captain

Justin Fox

Junior, Magnolia

If it seems like this guy has been around forever, well, he has, and he's got another season left. Fox, nicknamed 'Tank,' was just that this season for the Blue Eagles, often coming in late to blow away the competition. He finished with a valley high-tying nine victories against one loss, and a miniscule 0.73 ERA (second in OV), while striking out 93 (second) in 57.1 innings. Fox also batted .457 with seven homers and seven doubles, while scoring 35 runs and driving in 33.

Tri-Captain

Dan Slavik

Senior, St. Clairsville

Slavik got his signing with Kent State out of the way early so he could concentrate on running through the OVAC, which he did. The right-hander compiled a perfect 6-0 record in nine appearances, which also included a pair of saves. He allowed 24 hits and 14 runs in 42.1 innings, racking up 68 strikeouts and a 1.65 ERA in helping lead the Red Devils to a conference title.

Alex Stephens

Sophomore, Linsly

One of the young guns for Coach Jay Cartwright's club, Stephens raked at a .414 clip and tied for eighth in the valley with 46 hits in 111 at-bats. Of those hits, 18 were doubles, and three triples. Stephens struck out just three times, drove in 35 runs, and scored 34 more. He was not caught in seven stolen-base attempts.

Anthony Pierro

Junior, Steubenville

The straw that pretty much stirred the drink for Big Red, he collected a team-leading 42 hits, nine doubles and four home runs on his way to a .403 average. The shortstop on Coach Fred Heatherington's club, Pierro also tripled twice while scoring 39 times and driving 30 runners home for the OVAC Class AAAA champions.

Darby Waller

Senior, Union Local

Left-handed hitting leadoff batter had a breakout season for a 20-victory, district-qualifying Jets team. Waller finished near the top of the Ohio Valley in several statistical categories, including a .527 batting average (third), 48 hits (tie for fourth), and 10 triples (first). He added six doubles and four homers while driving in 24 runs. Waller added 38 runs.

Leighton Gibson

Sophomore, Linsly

This first baseman burst onto the scene and led the Cadets through a dominating season that culminated in another OVAC title. Using a powerful swing, Gibson checks in with a .465 average (47 of 101), a slugging percentage of .713 and an on-base percentage just south of .500. He cracked six doubles, five home runs and two triples, while plating 39 runs and scoring 30 more.

Tyler Hardesty

Senior, Cambridge

One of four first-team returnees, Hardesty led the Ohio Valley with a .574 batting average from his familiar spot in the Bobcats outfield. Of his 31 hits, seven were doubles and four more left the field entirely. In addition, Hardesty raced home 28 times and drove in 22 teammates.

Chris Eloi

Junior, Madonna

The question isn't what did he do, but rather what didn't he? Eloi paced the OV with 53 hits and 49 runs scored on his way to a .491 average. He ripped nine doubles, three triples and a pair of home runs. Eloi drove in 29 runs, swiped 16 bases and was hit 10 times by pitches, helping his .571 on-base percentage.

P.J. Ratcliffe

Junior, Wheeling Central

Perhaps better known for his hockey exploits, Ratcliffe proved he can do it on the diamond as well, as his numbers attest. He batted a team-leading .478 with 43 hits. Among his total were four doubles, three triples and a pair of long balls. Ratcliffe, who saw action at a number of positions, scored 42 runs and produced 22 with his bat.

Brock Grafton

Senior, East Liverpool

A real masher, Grafton was also named first team All-OVAC and All-Eastern District, in part because of his 11 home runs, which tied for the top spot in the area. He played just about everywhere, but perhaps his most impressive stat was he threw out 60 percent of runners when catching. In addition, he accumulated 33 hits, five doubles, 36 RBI and a 1.044 slugging percentage.

Mike Garman

Senior, Toronto

In his final go with Coach Brian Perkins' 24-5 squad that finished ranked No. 1 in the final Ohio AP poll, a repeat honoree, Garman hit .402 with 37 hits, nine doubles, a triple and two homers. He finished second on the team in both RBI (38) and runs (35), and also swiped 15 bases. On the mound, he was 6-2 with 48 strikeouts in 38 innings.

Corey Walter

Senior, Wheeling Park

The OVAC Class AAAA Player of the Year, Walter was dangerous whether on the mound or at the dish. He batted .440 with 48 hits, 13 doubles (tied for fourth in valley) and four home runs, while driving in 25 and scoring 30. On the mound, the right-hander won eight against two losses, throwing seven complete games in eight starts, including four shutouts. Walter managed five saves and 85 punchouts, and allowed but 47 hits and 20 runs - 12 earned - in 63.1 innings.

Andrew Smith

Senior, Donahue

He made his final season one for the ages, finishing in the top 10 in the Ohio Valley in a number of statistical categories. Smith lit it up to the tune of a .459 batting average, which included 45 hits (tied for seventh-most in the area), 39 RBI (tie for sixth) and he scored 30 times. His 17 doubles were one off the valley-high, and he homered five times, swiped 23 bases and only struck out eight times.

Chris Bittinger

Senior, Weir

He made his biggest contribution as the team's ace pitcher, but he was far more than a one-trick pony. On the mound, the left-hander led Coach Bill Magnone's Red Riders with a 7-4 record and also registered three saves out of the bullpen. Additionally, he fanned 92, which was good for third in the Ohio Valley, in 71 innings. At the plate, Bittinger doubled seven times among his 30 hits and plated 18 runs.

Matt Smith

Sophomore, Linsly

A towering, 6-foot-5 left-hander, Smith was virtually untouchable as his 7-1 record indicates. In 42.1 innings, this youngster permitted a total of 14 runs, only 11 of which were earned. Smith's ERA sparkled at 1.82, and he completed seven of the 11 games he started, including three shutouts.

Dave Porter

Senior, Toronto

Another left-hander and the ace of the Red Knights staff, Porter is staying close to home next year to play for West Liberty University. In 58 innings, he struck out 91 (fourth in the Ohio Valley) and comes in with a 2.38 ERA. Porter also doubled eight times and had 24 RBI.

Nick Breen

Sophomore, Brooke

He's already making his second appearance on the squad, and if recent history is any indication he'll go down as one of the best in Bruins history. Only two players in the entire OVAC had more hits than Breen's 50 hits, and his eight home runs tied for the second-most. He drove in 40, scored 34, rapped 15 doubles and four triples, and he slugged .924.

Tyler Butler

Junior, Toronto

Came into his own as the backstop of the powerful Red Knights, driving in 45 runs which was good for third in the valley. Butler hit an even .400 with 36 hits, including six doubles, six home runs and a pair of triples. The cleanup hitter, he came around to score 31 times.

Garrett Lemasters

Senior, Weir

The second half of the Red Riders impressive battery, Lemasters collected 45 hits - tied for seventh - on his way to a .437 batting average. He homered once, ripped 13 doubles - tied for fourth - and
drove in 39 runs in addition to his duty behind the plate.

[Ironmike]

How loaded is Linsly for the next 2 years? Three sophomores on the First Team All-Valley.

[cas8043]

Logan Patrick from JM must be a heck of a player he was BOTH 3rd team and honorable mention. I wonder if that has ever happened before?

[ovmom]

Mark Dodd is not a catcher. He plays third base.

[ovmom]

IronMike,
Linsly will be totally loaded again next year!
The starting line up this year was 6 soph...2 jrs.....1sr.
Too bad we can't go to states....it would have been a good fight against
Madonna this year.

[cas8043]

And nobody but you will care about Linsly

[ferflog]

Am I to assume that if a school was not represented, the coach either didn't attend a meeting or send in his information?

[TGINFF]

There was no meeting and there was no info sheet to send in. The Intell makes phone calls.

[Ironmike]

ferflog wrote:

Am I to assume that if a school was not represented, the coach either didn't attend a meeting or send in his information?

I would think "sending in statistics" is a critical part of the selection process. How else would the Intelligencer staff access such info?

[Ironmike]

And nobody but you will care about Linsly

Wheeling Central will during the regular season and Steubenville Central will during the the OVAC "AA" playoffs.

[ovmom]

I know Cas. Sorry for replying to a public forum. Won't happen again.

[cas8043]

I didn't say they weren't any good, I just said nobody but Linsly people care about Linsly.

[TGINFF]

To try and answer ferflog and ironmike, the intelligencer calls the coach. The coach makes his nominations and gives the statistics for the players they nominate. The intell even asks if there are any opponents that stood out to you. And I know that all players you nominate don't always make the team.

[cas8043]

Does TGINFF stand for ThanK God It's Not a Football Friday?