Vote for the Greater Columbus high school baseball regular season player of the year
Frank DiRennaThe OHSAA baseball playoffs start Monday, so it’s time to determine who has been the top Columbus-area player for the regular season by voting for your choice.
Here are the 11 candidates from central Ohio. The deadline is 4 p.m. Wednesday.
In addition, keep an eye out for the annual All-Metro teams for spring sports in the days following the Central Ohio High School Sports Awards show, which is June 20 at Mershon Auditorium.
Daniel Barreca, Olentangy Berlin
Considered the team’s best defensive outfielder by coach Mike Weaver, the senior is batting .348 with 24 runs scored, three triples, one home run, 10 stolen bases and a .484 on-base percentage. He has committed to Anderson University. The Bears are the top seed in the Division I district tournament.
Keegan Holmstrom, Grove City
The Ohio State commit is a standout for the Greyhounds on the mound and at the plate. The senior pitcher, first baseman and outfielder is 7-0 and has a 0.77 ERA with 41 strikeouts, 11 walks and one save in 36 ⅓ innings. He is batting .456 with 13 RBIs and 23 runs scored.
Bryce Kyees, Dublin Scioto
The senior pitcher and first baseman is batting .415 with six doubles, 21 RBIs and 14 runs scored. On the mound, the Capital commit is 3-3 with a 2.39 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 41 innings.
Gavin Lawler, Grove City
The junior pitcher and center fielder is another key contributor to the Greyhounds’ success as he is 6-0 with a 0.95 ERA, 51 strikeouts and eight walks in 37 innings. He is batting .478 with 15 RBIs and 30 runs scored. Grove City won its fourth consecutive OCC-Ohio title and is seeded second in the Division I district tournament.
Charlie Marando, Dublin Scioto
The senior catcher is batting .440 with 14 RBIs, 33 runs scored and 20 stolen bases. Behind the plate, the Wittenberg commit has thrown out 19 of 25 runners attempting to steal.
Ashton Martin, Jonathan Alder
The junior pitcher and shortstop is batting .516 with 12 doubles, one home run, 28 runs scored, 25 RBIs and 20 stolen bases. On the mound, the Ohio State commit is 5-0 with a 0.82 ERA. He has 40 strikeouts and three walks in 34 innings.
A.J. McAninch, Watterson
The senior pitcher and infielder is 6-0 and has a 0.32 ERA with 56 strikeouts and six walks in 43 ⅓ innings. He will play at Marshall. The Eagles are the top seed in the Division II district tournament.
Parker McDaniels, Olentangy Berlin
The senior catcher is batting .358 with 27 RBIs and 20 runs scored. Weaver calls the Cincinnati commit the leader of the team and the best catcher he’s ever coached.
Jaxson Stried, Buckeye Valley
The senior pitcher and catcher is 5-0 and has a 1.10 ERA with 62 strikeouts in 41 ⅓ innings. The Ohio Dominican commit also is batting .417 with 20 RBIs.
Nick Weiss, Big Walnut
The junior pitcher is 6-0 and has a 0.47 ERA with 44 strikeouts and six walks in 45 innings. He helped the Golden Eagles win the OCC-Capital title.
Josh Woods, Hamilton Township
The senior pitcher and catcher is a standout on the mound and at the plate. He is batting .492 with eight doubles, 21 RBIs, 20 runs scored and 19 stolen bases. On the mound, he is 5-2 and has a 2.30 ERA with 57 strikeouts and seven walks in 45 ⅔ innings.