A look at the top high school baseball players to watch in each Southwest Ohio League

Opening Day for Southwest Ohio high school baseball is Saturday. Here is a look at the top returning players in each Cincinnati league.

Cincinnati Hills League

Daniel Bronson, Mariemont – The senior was 5-2 with a 0.74 ERA and 32 strikeouts, and was first-team all-league.

Jonathan Copfer, Indian Hill – The senior hit .411 (2^nd in the league) with 24 runs scored, a homer, 17 RBI and 13 steals. He was 3-2 with a 2.46 ERA. He was first-team all-league.

Jackson Cunningham, Madeira – The senior was 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA and hit .313 with 26 runs scored, and was first-team all-league.

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Connor Davis, Reading – The junior was 6-2 with a 1.24 ERA and 56 strikeouts (2^nd in the CHL), posting three shutouts. He hit .343 with 32 runs, 19 RBI and 16 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Cameron Gilreath, Deer Park – The senior had three of the team’s four wins on the mound and a 3.38 ERA with a CHL-high 60 strikeouts. He was second-team all-league.

Charlie Hess, Reading – The junior hit .385 with 16 runs and 22 RBI, and went 3-0 with a 1.47 ERA. He was second-team all-league.

Trent Hartman, Indian Hill – The senior hit .397 with 29 runs, 15 RBI and 14 steals. He was first-team all-league.

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Ben Liebel, Indian Hill – The senior was 4-0 with a scoreless ERA and 36 strikeouts. He had 21 runs scored, and 14 steals, and 23 RBI which is the most among returning players. He was second-team all-league.

Aiden Melvin, Wyoming – The senior hit .397 with 20 runs scored, 19 RBI and 15 steals. He was first-team all-league.

John Paul Neufarth, Wyoming – The senior hit .324 with 23 runs, 15 RBI and 17 steals, and was 5-2 with a 2.31 ERA and 31 strikeouts. He was first-team all-league.

Aiden Pippin, Wyoming – The senior hit .359 with 15 RBI. He was second-team all-league.

Nick Rinala, Indian Hill – The senior is the 2023 CHL Player of the Year for the Braves, who were league champs at 14-0. He was 6-1 with a 0.53 ERA and 52 strikeouts. He hit .361 with 25 runs scored and 11 steals.

Matthew Smith, Madeira – The senior was third in the league in hitting at .403 with 20 runs scored. He was second-team all-league.

Cincinnati Metro Athletic Conference

Thomas Fleming, Western Hills – The senior hit .373 with 17 runs scored, a league-high 16 RBI and eight steals. He was 4-4 with a 3.09 ERA and 54 strikeouts.

Eastern Cincinnati Conference

Joey Buchanan, Milford – The junior hit .373 with 14 runs scored and 13 RBI. He was second-team all-ECC.

T.J. Buckman, Winton Woods – The senior hit .379 with 25 runs scored and 19 steals. He was second-team all-ECC.

Ace Cocklin, Walnut Hills – The senior hit .395 with 13 runs scored and 11 RBI, and had 2.10 ERA in 26 innings. He was second-team all-ECC.

Michael Kirk, Milford – The senior hit .408 with 19 runs scored and 19 RBI. He was second-team all-ECC.

Kyle Koch, Lebanon – The senior hit .283 with 33 runs scored, 30 steals and 12 RBI for the Warriors, who were co-champions last year. He was first-team all-ECC.

Joe Lafkas, Turpin – The junior was 2-3 with a 1.36 in 28 strikeouts. He was first-team all-ECC.

Ryan Land, Lebanon – The senior hit .305 with 17 runs and 16 RBI, plus nine steals. He was first-team all-ECC.

Charlie McGuinness, Little Miami – The senior hit .371 with 19 runs scored, 17 RBI and 18 steals. He had a 4.78 ERA in 33 innings. He was second-team all-ECC.

Jacob Montemore, Turpin – The senior was 3-1 with a 1.78 ERA. He was second-team all-ECC.

JoJo Overbeek, Anderson – The senior is one of the top pitchers in the city. He was 0-7 last year but had 41 strikeouts in 28 innings. He hit .308 with two home runs and 18 RBI. He was first-team all-ECC.

Austin Randolph, West Clermont – The senior hit .294 with seven steals for the ECC co-champion Wolves and was named second-team all-league.

Alex Rathje, Turpin – The junior hit .317 with 24 runs scored, 14 RBI and 13 steals. He was first-team all-ECC.

Anthony Robinson, Kings – The senior is ranked the 28^th best pitcher in Ohio by Prep Baseball Report. He was 3-1 with a 1.89 ERA last season.

Gavin Speranza, West Clermont – The junior hit .361 with 18 runs scored and 28 RBI for the Wolves, who were co-champions of the league. He was first-team all-ECC.

Greater Catholic League-Coed

Tristan Bezold, Fenwick – The senior hit .341 with 25 runs, 18 RBI and six steals. He was first-team all-league.

Kade Bowling, Badin – The junior hit .313 with 18 runs scored, 26 RBI and 14 steals. He was second-team all-league.

A.J. Gundler, McNicholas – The junior was second-team all-league after hitting .319 with 23 runs scored, 10 RBI and 14 steals.

Carson Sova, Fenwick – The senior was 4-3 with a 2.83 ERA and 56 strikeouts in 47 innings. He was second-team all-league.

Chandler Taylor, Badin – The sophomore hit .422 with 30 runs scored, 36 RBI and 16 steals for the Rams. He was first-team all-league.

Greater Catholic League-South

Carter Christenson, Moeller – The junior Ohio State commit hit .300 with 14 runs scored and 14 RBI last season.

Brayden Curlis, Elder – The senior is the team’s top returning leader in runs scored (19), RBI (15) and steals (13).

Kellen Klosterman, Moeller – The right-hand senior pitcher and Notre Dame commit has been ranked the No. 3 player in Ohio’s Class of 2024 by PBR. He was 4-1 with a 2.42 ERA and 53 strikeouts.

Jack Lonneman, La Salle – The senior was second team all-league after hitting .305 with 19 runs scored and 15 RBI.

Will McCullough, Moeller – The senior is ranked the No. 8 senior outfielder in Ohio by Prep Baseball Report.

Mick O’Connor, La Salle – The senior was first team all-league.

Luke Pappano, Moeller – The Mississippi commit was 6-0 with a 0.90 ERA last year with 47 strikeouts.

Billy Porotsky, St. Xavier – The senior was second-team all-league after scoring 23 runs with nine steals.

Dylan Ruhe, La Salle – The senior was second-team all-league after hitting .291 with 18 runs and 13 RBI.

Jack Ryan, St. Xavier – The sophomore was 5-3 with 3.05 ERA and 45 strikeouts, and hit .354 with 16 runs scored and 12 RBI.

Zion Theophilus, Moeller – The junior is ranked the top player in Ohio for the class of 2025 and led the Greater Catholic League-South in strikeouts with 61. He was 7-0 with a 1.36 ERA last season.

Greater Miami Conference

Michael Bilo, Mason – The senior was 5-1 with a 0.82 ERA and 33 strikeouts in 34 innings last season. He was first-team all-league.

Jacob Boland, Fairfield – The senior was 2-1 with a 0.85 ERA and 43 strikeouts in 33 innings. He was second-team all-league.

Bryce Brannon, Mason – The senior was 5-1 with a 2.46 ERA and 36 strikeouts. He was first-team all-league.

Josh Davis, Princeton – The sophomore was first-team all-league after hitting .274 with 19 runs scored, 14 steals and 11 RBI.

Casey Doner, Mason – The senior hit .340 with 18 runs scored and six steals. He was second-team all-league.

Aaron England, Fairfield - The senior pitcher was DI first-team All-Ohio in 2023 with a 6-2 record and 0.63 ERA in nine games. He had 93 strikeouts, four earned runs and 26 walks. He has committed to Louisville. He was GMC pitcher of the year.

Jake Hanley, Mason – One of the state’s top seniors, he has signed with Indiana University. He hit .393 with 22 RBI and 11 extra-base hits last season. On the mound, he was 7-1 with 0.98 ERA.

Alex Koelling, Mason – The senior hit .342 with 20 runs scored, 21 RBI and 10 steals. He was second-team all-league.

Dylan Lloyd, Colerain – The senior was 3-4 with a 0.97 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 50 innings. He hit .319 with 12 RBI. He was first-team all-league.

Clint Moak, Hamilton – The senior had a 3-5 record, 2.38 ERA and 8 RBI. He was second-team all-league.

Erik Ronquist, Fairfield – The senior was 3-3 with a 1.98 ERA for the Indians. He was second-team all-league.

Wyatt Shaw, Princeton – The junior hit .342 with 14 runs scored, 14 RBI, six steals and seven extra-base hits. He was second-team all-league.

Jamarkis Shillingford, Middletown – The senior was 3-2 with a 1.79 ERA in 47 innings. He was second-team all-league.

Drew Stevens, Mason – The senior Ashland commit will step up to play second base and outfield this season.

Aiden Thomas, Oak Hills – The senior was 2-3 with a 1.11 ERA. He was first-team all-league.

Andrew Visconti, Mason – The junior pitcher has committed to Louisville.

Noah Wagster, Fairfield – The senior hit .329 with 27 runs scored, 12 RBI and 15 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Miami Valley Conference

Wes Brokamp, Summit Country Day – The senior hit .333 with 19 runs scored and 14 RBI.

Davis Campbell, Cincinnati Country Day – The senior hit .349 with 25 runs scored, 21 RBI and 17 steals.

Nick Cohen, Seven Hills – The senior hit .479 with 23 runs scored, 21 RBI and 11 steals.

Parker Corbin, Cincinnati Country Day – The senior hit .380 with three homers, 17 RBI and 14 steals last year for the Nighthawks. He was also 2-3 on the mound in 30 innings. He was first-team all-league.

Logan Davis, St. Bernard – The junior hit .370 with 16 RBI and 47 steals, and had a 2.10 ERA and 31 strikeouts.

Garvin Dixon, Clark Montessori – The junior hit .488 with 19 runs scored and 26 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Caleb Driessen, Summit Country Day – The sophomore was 5-1 with a 1.11 ERA and 41 strikeouts.

Jack Durand, MVCA – The senior hit .438 with 25 RBI, two homers, 15 steals and 32 runs scored. He was first-team all-league.

Jayden Egbert, Purcell Marian – The junior hit .375 with 16 runs, 17 RBI and seven steals. He was first-team all-league.

Ethan Ernst, Clark Montessori – The junior hit .434 with 16 RBI, 16 runs and 23 steals.

Gavin French, MVCA – The junior was 2-2 with a 1.95 ERA and hit .348 with 19 RBI, 19 runs scored and 11 steals.

David Haas, Seven Hills – The junior was 4-2 with a 1.24 ERA and 43 strikeouts, and hit .333. He was MVC-Gray Pitcher of the Year

R.J. Hudson, St. Bernard – He hit. 478 with 28 runs scored and 50 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Ethan Hyrne, MVCA – The senior hit .430 with 29 RBI, 14 steals and 30 runs scored. He was MVC-Gray player of the year.

Evan Lafferty, MVCA – The junior hit .347 with 18 RBI, 22 steals and 29 runs scored. He was first-team all-league.

Jeffrey Levin, CHCA – The senior was 6-1 with a 0.79 ERA and 64 strikeouts. He was first-team all-league.

A.J. Meyer, Roger Bacon – The senior hit .359 with 20 runs, 12 RBI and 15 steals

Jonathan Minton, Lockland – The junior was first-team all-league.

Timmy Nagel, Cincinnati Christian – The senior hit .388 with 23 RBI and 15 steals.

Nate Paumier, Cincinnati Country Day – The junior was 7-1 with a 2.68 ERA, and hit .311 with 23 runs, 15 RBI and 13 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Jack Philbaum, Summit Country Day – The sophomore was 3-2 with a 2.07 ERA and hit .322 with 19 runs, 17 RBI and 25 steals.

Andrew Reverman, Clark Montessori – The senior hit .431 with 22 runs scored and 30 steals.

T.J. Selvie, Cincinnati Christian – The senior had 26 runs, 19 RBI and 15 steals.

Southern Buckeye Athletic and Academic Conference

Nick Burke, Batavia – The senior hit .358 with 20 runs, 23 RBI and 14 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Timmy Carver, Williamsburg – The senior was 6-0 with a 0.79 ERA and 37 strikeouts, and three shutouts. He was first-team all-league for the SBAAC-National champions.

Zach Cope, Batavia – The senior hit .340 with 16 runs and 20 RBI, and was 4-3 with a 2.61 ERA and 47 strikeouts. He was first-team all-league.

Abe Crall, Western Brown – The senior hit .405 with 28 runs scored, nine doubles, 15 RBI and 10 steals. At the plate, he was 6-0 with a 0.64 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 44 innings. He was SBAAC-American player of the year for the league champions.

Austin Elkins, Williamsburg – The senior hit .312 with 18 RBI, two home runs and 19 steals.

Wes Embry, Batavia – The senior hit .347 with 22 runs scored and 31 RBI, and was 2-1 on the mound.  He was first-team all-league

Dom Hannah, Batavia – The senior hit. 377 with 35 runs scored and 35 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Ayden Holden, Williamsburg – The junior hit .375 with 24 runs scored, 32 RBI, one homer and eight steals.

Jack Ladd, Bethel-Tate – The junior hit .349 with 17 RBI and was 4-2 with a 2.53 ERA and 64 strikeouts in 38 innings. He was first-team all-league.

Tyler Miller, Blanchester – The junior hit .364 with 20 RBI, two home runs and nine steals. He was first-team all-league.

Sammy Roush, Blanchester – The junior hit .354 with 32 runs scored and 24 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Brayden Schmitou, Batavia – The sophomore hit .361 with 29 runs scored, 21 steals and 16 RBI, and was 2-2 with a 3.84 ERA. He was first-team all-league.

Jacob Sheppard, New Richmond – The senior hit .321 with 16 runs and 15 RBI.

Bryce Sipple, Blanchester – The senior hit .313 with 20 runs scored, 27 RBI and 14 steals.

Cameron Snider, Bethel-Tate – The senior hit .385 with 13 runs scored and five steals. He was first-team all-league.

Jake Stephens, Wilmington – The junior hit .426 with 16 runs scored, three home runs and 15 RBI. He was first-team all-league.

Miles Theetge, Clinton-Massie – The senior hit .296 with 12 runs scored. He was first-team all-league.

Connor Yeager, Clermont Northeastern – The junior hit .377 with 23 RBI and eight steals. He was first-team all-league.

Southwest Ohio Conference

Bruce Becker, Harrison – The senior hit .377 with 16 RBI.

Kelyn Dallio, Harrison – The senior was 5-2 with a 1.56 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 36 innings. He was SWOC pitcher of the year for the league champions.

Jack Geers, Harrison – The junior hit .425 with 25 runs, 28 RBI, 17 doubles, two homers and nine steals. He was first-team all-league.

Seth Green, Harrison – The junior hit .463 with 21 runs scored, 18 RBI and 16 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Eddie Tanner, Talawanda – The junior hit .409 with 26 runs scored, 19 RBI and 11 steals. He was first-team all-league.

Southwestern Buckeye League

Talan Smith, Edgewood – He hit .393 with 16 RBI and five steals, and was 3-5 on the mound with 42 strikeouts. He was second-team all-league in the Southwest Ohio Conference.

Nate LeBlanc, Waynesville – The junior was 5-1 with a 2.02 ERA and two shutouts. He was second-team all-league.

Austin Parker, Ross – The senior hit .394 with 18 runs scored and 10 steals. He was first-team all-league in the Southwest Ohio Conference.

Ben Voegele, Ross – The junior hit .368 with 26 runs scored and 31 steals. He was first-team all-league in the Southwest Ohio Conference.

This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: Who are the top high school baseball players in Southwest Ohio?