• E-Edition
• Home
• News
• Sports
• AP
• Obituaries
• Classifieds
• Jobs
• Autos
• Homes
• Garage Sales
• Coupons
• Subscribe
• Archive
• Services
• Contribute
• Blogs

Four players earn first-team honors

Share Story:     E-mail Story    |    Print Story    |    Comments    |   

A host of local baseball standouts raked in more honors this week with the announcement of the 2008 all-Ohio baseball selections.

Defiance High School had a trio of honorees while Ayersville's Preston Zachrich and Fairview's Ryan Radcliff also garnered first-team selections.

The Bulldog duo of sophomore hurler Dace Kime, senior outfielder Adam Wagner grabbed first-team honors while DHS skipper Tom Held was tabbed Coach of the Year.

The trio helped DHS claim the Division II poll crown along with another Western Buckeye League crown with a perfect 9-0 league mark.

Kime went 10-1 in the spring season while striking out 65 in 53 innings and finished with a sterling .66 ERA. He also hit .389 at the plate while driving in 35 runs.

"Obviously I'm very proud of Dace and the season he had," lauded Held. "He was very deserving of the award."

Wagner recorded 37 hits in 84 journeys to the plate for a .440 batting average, scored 38 runs while adding seven two-baggers and two round-trippers. Wagner was also trouble for the opposition after getting on base and led the area with 30 stolen bases and also scored 38 runs.

"Snoop (Wagner) had a great senior year," lauded Held. "He was Player of the Year in the league (Western Buckeye League) and like Dace, I'm very proud of his season and he's very deserving of the award."

Zachrich, who was also a first-team all-state selection as a junior, was re-named to the first team in Division IV after a season that saw him go 7-0 on the hill for the state-ranked Pilots. Zachrich, who also boasted a perfect game during his senior season, posted a 1.16 ERA and recorded 102 strikeouts in just 62 innings.

For Zachrich, performing at an all-state level for a second year wasn't as easy as he made it appear.

"It feels pretty good," said Zachrich of the honor. "It was hard with my back injury it made it tougher and everyone was out to get me and aiming for me when we played them, so I knew I'd have to step it up."

But he was more than happy to share the mention with his teammates.

"My coaches helped me with pitching and hitting," recalled Zachrich, who will be pitching next season for the University of Findlay. "And my teammates helped me with the run support and their fielding. I'm really going to remember all of the players and the experiences we had together as a team."

Zachrich's teammate Mark Hagen was also honored.

Ayersville's first baseman hit for a .440 average with 30 RBI, 13 doubles and four home runs and was named to the second team in D-IV.

Radcliff added to his stash of athletic endeavors with a first-team selection in Division III as a pitcher. The Apache standout also claimed first-team All-Ohio honors on the gridiron last fall as a quarterback and was also named the Division V Co-Player of the Year in football with Youngstown Ursiline signal-caller Lamar McQueen. Radcliff helped power the Apaches to the Division III regional tournament and a GMC championship. He held a 10-3 pitching mark this spring while striking out 119 in 66 frames and sported a topflight .64 ERA. His .600 average, 48 RBI, 14 doubles and 11 homers led the Defiance six-county area.

Radcliff was recently drafted by the Colorado Rockies as a catcher and also has a scholarship offer to play football at Central Michigan University.

"Ryan and I just went fishing on Lake Erie yesterday (Thursday), so we had a lot of time to chat," remarked Fairview mentor Andy Singer. "I told him how proud of him I was that he got All-Ohio in two sports in the same season. I said that's extremely impressive as to what hard work and dedication can do.

"He's a student of the game no matter what game he play," added Singer. "He learns what has to be done and he does it to the best of his ability. Those abilities are far above what anybody could've hoped for. He does have a lot of God-given talent but a lot of that comes from hard work that he gives day-in and day-out."

Also earning All-Ohio honors from the area were Delta's Eric Vaughan in Division III. Vaughan was a honorable mention selection and held a .449 batting average while striking out 99 hitters in 752/3 innings.

Patrick Henry third baseman Kyle Reese (.475 batting average, 29 RBI, 35 runs scored, 10 doubles) also earned second team honors in D-IV as an infielder. He also fired a one-hitter in the Patriots' 10-0 shellacking of Berlin Hiland in the state championship two weeks ago.

Leipsic outfielder Nathan Schroeder also earned second team honors in D-IV.

Also being honored in D-IV was Edon hurler Jon Kessler (6-2, .98 ERA, 95 strikeouts, 57 innings) and Jordan Selhorst along with Austin Blaski of Pandora-Gilboa and Columbus Grove's Nate Bogart.