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Release-Edwards’ Offense Dominates En Route to 18U Tim Lally Memorial Diamond League Tournament Title: Full Championships Recap

Lakewood, OH- According to head coach Jaret Edwards, Release Baseball is an organization that plays the sport “the right way.” That brand of America’s pastime was more than enough to secure Release Edwards’ first tournament win of 2025 as they knocked off #2 Ohio Mavericks 11-2 and #4 NMC Reitenbach 12-0 in the championship game.

In the first semi-finals, #1 Ohio Elite had the task of taking down #NMC Reitenbach. The odds were stacked against Reitenbach to even make it to the field of four. Heading into the final pool play game, they were sitting fifth with a record of 1-1-1. NMC Carevic held down the final spot with a 2-1-1 record. The tie breaker in pool play is the number of runs allowed. Carevic had allowed 22 through their four games, while Reitenbach had allowed 19 heading into their final game against the Midwest Stars. However, Reitenbach was able to get the job done as they took down the Stars 16-1. With two fewer runs allowed, Reitenbach made the final four.

Ohio Elite had their own adversity to face entering the final four. Only three of their actual players were available for the championship rounds. Carrollton stars Hunter Allison, Landon James, Garrett Broadwater, and Issac Husted all had their end-of-season banquet. Some of the pitchers, including Dom Marchett, were not available to pitch again. Add in injuries to the mix, and Aaron Moses still being in the state tournament with University School, the rampage of the lineup is complete. Braeden Deutsch, Spencer Siedlecki, and AJ Likowski were the three OEB 18U players who played. Brady Bowen, formerly of Wooster and Akron baseball commit, stepped in from the start this weekend, who could be classified as a fourth member of the crew.

Players from OEB Andrews and OEB Aukerman got the call-up from the 16U/17U division for the semi-finals to fill out the numbers. Additionally, siblings Chase Deutsch (Hudson ’28), and Brock Bowen (Wooster ’27) helped OEB out with some solid innings starting in left field and third base, respectively.

In the first inning, Braylon McBride of NMC was called out due to interference as he clipped Siedlecki’s outstretched glove. Initially, the decision was an error that gave McBride second base. Luca Reyes left less to the imagination as he struck out the two-hitter Owen Courtney. Back-to-back walks put two runners on for Quinton Albert. The power hitter wasted no time, hitting a two-run double. Ryan Wilkinson would bring Albert in from second with an RBI single in the following at-bat. Reyes was able to settle things down in the end as he struck out Izaak Matthews to end the top of the first.

Ohio Elite was able to get their leadoff man on by way of a second base error by McBride. B. Deutsch lined out to second, and B. Bowen hit into a fielder’s choice. With two down, Siedlecki drew a walk to keep the inning going. However, NMC’s starting pitcher Luka Pagura was able to strike out 1st team all-Ohio selection Tucker Webb to retire the side. Through one, NMC Reitenbach led 3-0.

NMC would load the bases to begin the second inning with three different methods. Brady Eckert reached on an error, Murphy Kelley walked, and Faris Thabata hit a bunt single. McBride would hit a sac fly to make it 4-0 while Courtney hit an RBI single. Just like the first go around, Pagura and Ja’Von Clayton walked back-to-back. This time, Clayton’s walk brought in the sixth run. One final sacrifice fly, this time by Wilkinson, would score the seventh run of the game for OEB. At the bottom of the inning, Pagura retired the #1 seed in order.

Reitenbach was not done yet by any stretch, as the bases would be loaded with one out after a leadoff strikeout. Courtney would walk to bring in the eighth run. Ohio Elite was able to get the final two outs with a strikeout and a lineout. However, a passed ball saw the ninth run score. After Pagura struck out C. Deutsch, he was pulled to save his arm for the championship game. Matthews came in and retired Br. Bowen and Likowski to retire the side.

Just like the prior two innings, NMC would load the bases quickly with a pair of walks and a single. Eckert brought in the 10th run for NMC on a sacrifice. Kelley walked to load the bases again for Thabata. He was able to bring in the 11th run as he reached on an E5. McBride would hit his second sac fly of the game to bring in the 12th run. Courtney added a second RBI single to score the 13th run. To end the game, OEB went in order again. This sealed the 13-0 win for #4 NMC Reitenbach. What makes this win more impressive is that Pagura and Matthews combined for a four-inning no-hitter. Additionally, including pinch hitters, all 12 players that hit for NMC would reach safely at least once.

You can watch Game 1 by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/YImyaSxytIQ?si=6xvDSMEv805RfMqE

In the second game, the Ohio Mavericks were able to strike first as back-to-back errors brought in their leadoff hitter, Ty Roediger, who began the bottom of the first with a walk. Despite the tough start, Release would quickly steal the spotlight. Write State commit Grant Lashutka, Bo Davis, and Jack Laux walked while Reece Stillings hit a sacrifice fly to score Lashutka. With the score 1-1, Zander Triplett destroyed a baseball by sending it well over the left field fence. In one swing of the bat, Release took a strong 4-1 lead. Jackson Anthony followed up the three-run shot with a solo shot of his own. Heading into the bottom of the second, Release led 5-1.

The Mavericks responded by applying some pressure to the Release defense by loading the bases as Casey Robinson singled while CJ Santagata and Charlie Capretta walked. However, Davis made up for the error he committed in the first inning and recorded a routine putout to retire the side. Through two innings, Release led 5-1.

In the third inning, Release’s leadoff man, Dan Miller, reached by way of a walk. With one down, Lashutka flew out to left field, but Miller was too far off the bag at second to get back in time. Thus, the 7-4 double play retired the side. In a more traditional fashion, the Mavericks went in order. The fourth inning had slightly more substance with Laux singling for Release, but the other six batters were retired with ease.

In the fifth, Release was able to slam the door shut on the #2 seed. Triplett began the frame with a leadoff double. Anthony reached by way of a walk to put two on for Grady Falkenstein. He was able to barrel a baseball into the outfield to put two more runs on the board. This two-RBI double was followed up by a routine flyout for the first out of the inning. Ryan Stoops singled in the following at-bat, placing runners at the corners. Stoops drew a throw over from Robinson. This pickoff move gave Falkenstein the time to take home. He was also helped out by a high throw to second from first. Stoops was able to cruise into third as a result. Lashutka brought in the final run of the inning on a sacrifice fly, making it 9-1. The Mavericks’ offense came up empty in the bottom of the frame, thus, they needed some runs in the sixth to avoid the run rule.

Release was given another break in the basepath as a failed fielder’s choice put runners at second and third. The bases would load as Stillings got hit by a pitch. Triplett would put Release into double figures with a sacrifice fly. The #3 seed would score their 11th and final run of the game on a wild throw into the outfield. With two outs, the Mavericks were able to score their second run of the game on a single that turned into an outfield error. Finally, relief pitcher Luke Doss forced a popout to Lashutka at shortstop, ending the game with Release getting the 11-2 win. Jack DeGeeter threw six great innings for Release, striking out 5 batters and allowing a few hits, depending on which scorebook is the most accurate.

You can watch Game 2 by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/Br_5Sqq7ch4?si=0e7rTg5VKKvFDOqu

The championship game featured the two lower seeds in #3 Release and #4 NMC Reitenbach. As expected, Pagura would get the start for Reitenbach again. This was a chance for redemption for NMC as they lost to a different release squad a year ago in the 16U Tim Lally Memorial Diamond League Tournament Championship Game at Hudson. Courtney hit an early double, but that would be NMC’s only hit of the game. They had two other base runners due to hard 90’s.

Release’s offense found a whole host of creative ways to score. Overall, they would score 13 runs on six hits. However, past balls, free passes, and two perfectly executed squeeze plays in a row in the third did the damage. On the mound, Nick Hart got the start, throwing two innings while recording three strikeouts. Lashutka would come on to close the game out, getting two innings of work with one strikeout under his belt. Overall, this was the definition of a true team win by Release as they took home the title 12-0.

You can watch Game 3 by clicking this link: https://www.youtube.com/live/8NjtvaCP2ek?si=D1Ul7zC7LBteKNYy

After the game, Triplett said,

“It feels good (to win). We just played good, played really hard, did the little things right, and didn’t have any bad innings.”

The rising senior at Louisville had a total statline of 5 Hits, 2 Doubles, 1 3 Run HR, 1 Walk, 6 RBI’s across the two games. This is nothing new for the Triplett name as Zander’s father was a standout player for Canton Central Catholic a while back.

“He’s been a big part of my life, just helping me out,” Triplett remarked. “He’s my hitting coach and taught me how to play baseball.”

Coach Edwards shared the same sentiment as Triplett as he said,

“These guys played really hard. We’re at our best baseball when we throw a lot of strikes, we play good defense, and we run hard.”

Edwards is an assistant coach at Lakewood High School during the Spring and has been able to grow under Grant Graves, the Rangers’ head coach. Lakewood won their first district title since 1992 this season as they defeated Warren G Harding 1-0. In the end, they bowed out in the Regional Finals 7-0.

Release-Andrews (5-1) is back in action this weekend for their second tournament at Denison University in Granville, Ohio. They have matchups with Team Elite Midwest 17U, Marucci Spikes Showcase 17U, and USA Prime Indiana-Indy 17U in pool play. These games can be followed along on GameChanger by searching for Release 17U (Edwards).

NMC Reitenbach (3-2-1) has four scheduled games this coming weekend. First off, it’s a Friday morning battle with Bo Jackson Elite- 17U Harris in Hilliard, Ohio. Bo Jackson Elite-17U Follina, Golden Gloves Elite 17U, and Bo Jackson Elite-18U Withrow, round out the weekend with all games taking place at Hilliard Darby High School.

The Ohio Mavericks (3-1-1) have Michigan MR, 17U Tripletown Aces, Chronister 17U, and Indy Titans Caplinger 17U in Sandusky at Sports Force Park this weekend. Finally, Ohio Elite (4-1) has a tournament this weekend against opponents to be determined.

Lakewood Baseball Stuns St Edward’s 4-2 Under the Lights

Lakewood, OH- For the first time in a long while, Lakewood baseball has beaten their cross-town rivals St Edward’s by a final score of 4-2. This win comes after years of close matchups that always favored the Eagles.

St Ed’s had a solid start to the ballgame. After Luca Reyes grounded out, Langston Lucas and Robert Anderson drew walks. With two on and one down, Grant Lashutka flew out to center field. This would be the first of many putouts recorded by Lakewood’s Luke Legato in the outfield. With two down, the Eagles tried getting creative. As the Rangers’ starting pitcher–Leo Soneson– came set, they attempted to take third. However, Lakewood’s defense called it out in time for Soneson to get Lucas trying to take third.

In the bottom of the first, the Rangers would score the first two runs of the game. After a leadoff walk from Cooper Russell, Legato smoked a ball over Karlo Hepp in left field. This resulted in an RBI double. Next, Drew Jones was able to score Legato on a sacrifice fly. The twist on this play was that Jones was a former Eagle. In fact, he transferred to Lakewood after last season. Soneson followed this up with a one-out single. However, Nick Hart would ground into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning with the Rangers up 2-0.

St Edward’s came out in the second ready to respond. After a long battle, Hepp was able to single up the gut. Soneson regathered himself by striking out the Eagles’ catcher, Jack Laux. Hunter Mayville was able to score Hepp from second on the following at-bat as he singled down the right field line. Brady Page would walk following a Cam Fuehrer groundout, putting two runners on base again for St Ed’s. Just like last inning, the Lakewood defense worked out of the game, forcing Reyes to ground out to Riley Verderber at first. This kept the score at 2-1 in favor of the Rangers.

In the home half of the second, St Edward’s starting pitcher Peyton Beck was able to hold down the fort, retiring Lakewood in order. This set the stage for the Eagles to take control of the game at the top of the third. However, no damage was done outside of a leadoff single from Lucas and a walk from Lashutka. This was helped in large part by Logan Ellis throwing out a runner stealing second. Defensively, Beck got the same result in the home half of the third as he did in the prior frame. Through three innings, Lakewood was hanging on up 2-1.

The top of the fourth inning saw St Edward’s first two batters retired. Still, the Eagles fought to put two runners on as Fuehrer singled and Page walked. Peter Checkett ended the frame with a ranging putout in right center. This would signal the end of Soneson’s day on the mound. After suffering an injury a while back, this was going to be a ‘rehab’ start of sorts for the Mount Union commit. Either way, he proved he still has it after a historic 2024 campaign, which saw him set the Lakewood record for lowest ERA (0.808) in a single season.

The bottom of the fourth inning saw the Rangers ground into their second double play of the night. This time, it was a 4-6-3 double play that retired Jones and Soneson. Hart would single with two down, but Verderber’s groundout to Lucas at first ended the inning. With three innings left to play, Lakewood still led 2-1.

Jones came onto the mound for the fifth inning after starting at third for the Rangers. In turn, Soneson moved to first base while Verderber went from first to third. Lucas opened the inning with a single. Anderson and Lashutka followed the hit up with a flyout and ground out, respectively. Still, St Edward’s didn’t go down without a fight. After Jones walked the next two batters, the bases were loaded for Mayville. He gave the ball a good ride into center field, but Legato was there to save the day for Lakewood.

The Rangers had to find a way to respond in the home half of the fifth. Ellis walked to get the frame going, but he was thrown out attempting to steal second by Laux. With a popout from Long and a strikeout from Checkett, the inning was over.

At long last, St Edward’s would tie the game up in the top of the sixth. Fuehrer walk was followed by a Page strikeout. With one down, Reyes stepped into the batter’s box and roped the ball deep to right center field. This double resulted in Fuehrer scoring. This made the score 2-2, the first tie since the bottom of the first. However, the following two batters were retired.

With the top of their order set to hit, it was now or never for Lakewood. Russell began the frame with a leadoff single. Legato followed this up with a walk. The stage was now set. Jones, the former Eagle, had two runners on with no outs. Then, it happened. Jones found his storybook play, an RBI double. With the score now 3-2, the Rangers wanted more. After Soneson struck out, Nick Hart hit an RBI double of his own, which scored Jones. Verderber would be struck out by Brandon Florjancic–who came on to pitch a few batters prior–thus ending the inning. In his short outing, Florjancic would record two punchouts.

Jones remained on the mound for Lakewood in the top of the seventh. After striking out Lashutka and forcing Hepp to ground out, history was one out away. Laux stood in the way of Jones’ fairytale ending as he put a ball in play. However, Brady Long was able to scoop up the grounder and hit Soneson at first. As this play was made, celebrations from the Lakewood faithful became louder than ever. This play sealed a historic 4-2 victory for the Rangers.

Lakewood now sits at 10-4 on the year with big clashes against Bay and Rocky River on the docket this coming week. As for St Edward’s, they fall to 7-9 with Walsh on deck today at the PBR Ohio High School Classic. This game truly was an instant classic. A tight battle throughout between cross-town rivals. In the end, Jones’ return was something straight out of a movie as he changed the Rangers’ fate. Lakewood, for this season at least, is back to being Purple and Yellow.

CrossFit Strongsville Player of the Game: Drew Jones

Watch the Full Game Here: https://www.youtube.com/live/rjmo7g4QPCA?si=uDuOVBhmubQ51X2g

The Battle for Lakewood Under the Lights

Lakewood, OH- Friday Night Under the Lights has become a beloved tradition for Lakewood baseball over the years. On May 2, this tradition will turn into a battleground as St Edward’s rolls in.

This game has the makings of an instant classic from the start. On one hand, the Rangers have home-field advantage along with a better record. On the other hand, the Eagles’ ability to win is almost unmatched in Northeast Ohio. As for state rankings via MaxPreps, this is as close as physically possible. Lakewood enters the night as the 143rd-ranked team in Ohio while St Ed’s sits at 144th. In regard to form, the Eagles are in control as they’ve won their last four, while the Rangers only have a one-game win streak.

While both sides have plenty of standout players, Cooper Russell (LKWD) and Leo Bartolone (SEHS) are two of the expected impact players in this ball game. Bartolone is committed to play college ball at John Carroll after this season. Speaking of the Blue Streaks’ rivals, Mount Union scooped up Logan Ellis and Leo Soneson from Lakewood. With the NCAC calling JCU, it remains to be seen if these three will face off in another rivalry game after this one.

First pitch is scheduled for 7 PM at Lakewood High School. In the past few years, Lakewood has completed its all-turf field with some renovations. With that being said, the Rangers have one of the best fields in all of NEO. You can watch the game live on the SmeeSports YouTube Channel. Nathan Smee will have the call beginning at 6:50 PM with the SmeeSports Pregame Show. The player of the game announced at the end of this broadcast will be presented by our friends over at CrossFit Strongsville.

Watch Lakewood Vs St Edward Baseball: https://www.youtube.com/live/rjmo7g4QPCA?si=w0kCJySwaEEoM5Mh