North’s young baseball team took strides last season and with six returning starters, the Rangers are hoping to compete for a Western Reserve Conference title this spring.
Last season, the Rangers finished 11-17 overall and 3-7 in WRC play, but if the bats show up early, the sky is the limit for the 2025 squad.
“If our hitting comes around in the early season, we believe we have an opportunity to be very competitive,” said North coach Mike Duncan. “We have a group of young players that got their first varsity experience last season and we have high expectations for them. Several newcomers look like they are ready to step up. We expect to be in the thick of the conference title chase and to make a run in the tournament.”
North’s season hinges on finding offensive success early in the season.
“The last couple of years, it has taken some time to get the bats going,” Duncan said. “We have changed our approach to preseason hitting so hopefully, it will enable us to hit well from the first game on.”
Duncan will rely on a talented pitching staff to keep the Rangers in the hunt.
Senior Jacob Breen was 1-1 last season with one save and a 3.12 earned run average, and senior Ty Leasure, and juniors Gavin Rieder and Nate Sagendorph also will chew up innings on the hill.
Breen and Leasure are two of the three Rangers who already have committed to play at Hiram College.
“We feel pitching will be our team strength this year,” Duncan said. “We have several pitchers throwing very well and we have a lot of pitching depth.”
Breen, who was named first-team All-Lake County, will play third when he isn’t pitching. Leasure, a second-team All-Lake County honoree, will DH, and junior Ethan Grinstead, a first-team All-Lake County and honorable mention All-WRC selection will play first. Junior Braylon Rolf, who earned first-team All-Lake County and All-WRC honors, will start at shortstop.
Rounding out the projected starting lineup are junior Brady Pennza behind the dish, senior Brady Trem at second, senior Patrick Keough in left field, senior Gerardo Torres in center, and junior Vinny Marsico in right.
Trem also will play at Hiram next season.
Juniors Gavin Reider, Kris Fuller, and Sagendorph are newcomers to the varsity squad who should make an immediate impact.
“We expect big things from (Reider) on the mound and at the plate,” Duncan said. “(Fuller) can play anywhere and will push for a starting role. (Sagendorph) will be able to help us on the mound and is solid in the field and at the plate.”