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Stark County-area high school baseball league races | Who's in contention?

josh weir, canton repository
·3 min read

May is just around the corner and high school baseball league races are getting interesting around the Stark County area.

Let's take a look at who's in the lead and who's in contention in the Federal League, Eastern Buckeye Conference, Portage Trail Conference, PAC-7 and Inter Valley Conference.

GlenOak's Quincy Mazeke blasts a double during the sixth inning of the Golden Eagles' 13-2 high school baseball win at Green on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.
GlenOak's Quincy Mazeke blasts a double during the sixth inning of the Golden Eagles' 13-2 high school baseball win at Green on Tuesday, April 16, 2024.

GlenOak, Hoover and Jackson at top of Federal League

It's tight at the top in the Federal League standings, and it could be a while before the race is decided. League-leading GlenOak (5-1, .833) still has two games left with second-place Hoover (6-2, .750) and one with third-place Jackson (5-2, .714). GlenOak and Jackson shared the league title last year. It was Jackson's second straight league title and eighth in the last nine seasons (not counting the lost COVID year). It was GlenOak's first since 2011.

Alliance catcher Ryan Bruni tags out Marlinton's Dylan Heatherington stealing home in the fifth inning, Friday, March 5, 2023.
Alliance catcher Ryan Bruni tags out Marlinton's Dylan Heatherington stealing home in the fifth inning, Friday, March 5, 2023.

Two straight for Alliance in EBC

Speaking of droughts, Alliance had waited 14 years for a league title when it won the outright EBC championship last season. The Aviators and reigning league player of the year Ryan Bruni won't have to wait long for their next trophy. Alliance already has clinched a share of this season's EBC title and can win it outright with one win in its final league series of the season. It faces rival Marlington this week on the road Tuesday and at home on Wednesday. The Dukes (5-3) have plenty to play for. A sweep of Alliance (7-1) will gain them a share of the league title. They are tied for second in the standings with West Branch, which needs a Marlington sweep of Alliance and its own sweep of Salem to gain a piece and create a three-way tie for the title.

Lake Center Christian's Dylan Maninga delivers a pitch against Tiffin Calvert in the second inning of a Division IV baseball regional semifinal, Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Louisville.
Lake Center Christian's Dylan Maninga delivers a pitch against Tiffin Calvert in the second inning of a Division IV baseball regional semifinal, Thursday, June 1, 2023, at Louisville.

Lake Center Christian rolling along in PTC

It's been a special year so far for Lake Center Christian, which won its first 14 games before losing to Hiland last week. The Tigers lead the Portage Trail Conference at 6-0 and have a two-game set with second-place Mogadore (5-1) this week, on the road Monday and at home on Tuesday. Lake Center won last year's PTC championship, the program's first league title of any kind. The Division IV Tigers also won the area's only district championship last year.

CVCA in command in PAC-7

Canton South had a chance move into a first-place tie in the PAC-7 with CVCA on Thursday, but the Royals made a statement with an 8-0 win at South. CVCA is 7-0 in the league, with South second at 5-2 and Manchester third at 5-3.

Buckeye Trail and Tusky Valley setting the pace in IVC

Buckeye Trail (5-0) and Tusky Valley (6-1) currently lead the the IVC North and South divisions, respectively. East Canton (5-3) is tied for third in the North. Hiland (5-1) is just a half game back of Tusky Valley in the South. Sandy Valley is third at 5-4.

Reach Josh at josh.weir@cantonrep.com 

On X: @jweirREP 

This article originally appeared on The Repository: High school baseball league races around Greater Canton, Massillon