Hopewell-Loudon's baseball team had two players named to the All-Ohio first team, and another named to second.
And the player named to the second team, pitcher/infielder Logan Sendelbach, had a perfect record and didn't allow an earned run all season.
So it goes for prep baseball pitchers in Ohio.
Catcher Alex Ratchen and infielder/pitcher Tyler Tyree were eached named to the first team for the Chieftains. They joined Buckeye Central outfielder Justin Herrnstein and utility man Justin Zeiter on the first team. In addition to that, H-L baseball coach Brian Rothrock was named the Division IV Coach of the Year.
Also honored on the second team was BC pitcher/infielder Tyler Erwin. Seneca East pitcher/outfielder Billy Diehm was named an honorable mention.
Ratchen just finished up a year in which he hit .472 at the plate, powering the Chieftains' offense with a league-leading eight homers and 36 RBIs.
"He's definitely come into his own the last couple years, and I'm glad he's recognized for that," Rothrock said.
Tyree led the Midland Athletic League with 43 runs batted in. He hit .511, stole 18 bases and added six homers. In addition to that, he also was a force on the hill, compiling an 8-1 record with a 1.19 earned run average.
"He's had a tremendous career, not many have a .440 career batting average," Rothrock said. "Taking nothing away from his pitching."
The H-L coach said Sendelbach's placement on second team likely has more to do with how much quality pitching there is in Division IV, and how much room is allowed on each team.
Sendelbach went 8-0 with a 0.00 earned run average. He struck out 99 batters while walking only 25. At the plate, he hit .365 with two homers and 27 RBIs.
"To be selected in one of the top six [pitchers in D-IV], he's done a great job and you can't get much better than how he performed," Rothrock said. "I voted this year (and the) stack of pitchers [nominated for All-Ohio] was about 25-30. That's a great honor."
As for his own honor, the coach played it down.
"I'm honored, " he said. "I'd give it back in a heartbeat if I could get Austin Kuhn on [the all-state list], but I'm honored. It's easy when you have those great kids."
Buckeye Central also had a three-some make the All-Ohio list. Zeiter was named to the utility spot on the first team, joined by teammate and outfielder Herrnstein. Tyler Erwin, an honorable mention selection in 2010, made the second team as an infielder.
"I'm very pleased. Those three are very well deserving of All-Ohio recognition and they worked extremely hard this year," Buckeye Central coach Chad Jensen said. "And in Division IV, it's quite an honor."
Zeiter hit .402 on the season, with a team-high 10 doubles and 40 RBI.
"I think he fits the utility role perfectly, played third base, first base and pitched for us," Jensen said. "He worked extremely hard in the offseason. He tried to build on the success in football. He put in a lot of extra time in in the offseason and it definitely paid off because he had a heck of season for us."
Herrnstein was wicked with the stick, hitting .445 with six triples and four home runs. He drove in 38 and stole nearly as many bags (33).
"He's really developed into a great baseball player. I think early in his career, he was a great athlete who played baseball," Jensen said. "Through hard work, he's developed into a great baseball player. He's very coachable. I think the success in football turned over into success in baseball."
Erwin led the team in homers with five, hit at a .423 clip and smoked nine triples to accompany his 20 steals.
"Infielder for Division IV is very competitive," Jensen said. "Tyler is the epitome of what we want our program to be: a four-year starter, a player who improved every year and what he's meant to the program has been immeasurable."
All three are headed to Tiffin University next year to play college athletics, with Zeiter signing his letter of intent Thursday to play baseball. He's slated to play first at the next level. His teammates will be found in the fall at Frost-Kalnow Stadium playing football.
"They're outstanding football players and they'll do well at that level," said Jensen, who added the two have the talent to play college baseball. "(Jacob) loves baseball. I think his best baseball is in front of him. I don't think he's reached that pinnacle. He's a tremendous first basemen and hitter."
Jensen said to have three on the All-Ohio squad is a credit to the program.
"It says that we have good players but also that our kids are respected across the state," he said. "It goes to show that hard work pays off. It's quite a win for our program and those three kids."
Billy Diehm of Seneca East was tabbed for the honorable mention list.
Seneca East coach Frank Lamoreaux said Diehm became a more complete player this year.
"This year he was an all-around player. He really came to light this year," Lamoreaux said. "He was 7-1. He hit consistently .350 or above all year. He had a great on-base percentage. He played really well on the defensive end in the outfield. He should be pleased and I am and the whole program is proud of him."
Diehm hit .350 on the year with 31 RBI and 13 stolen bases while scoring 28 runs. On the mound, he had 1.01 ERA, striking out 66 and walking 22.
"It's just a matter of not only physical maturation but also mental and psychologically; that he figured it all out and that's what worked out for him," Lamoreaux said of Diehm growth this year. "He had a great supporting cast behind him. He's such an easy going guy and the guys get along with him."
A-T sports staffers Aaron Korte and Zach Baker contributed to this story.
