Sports
Ohio Baseball Adds Five New Recruits
By: Andrew Hines
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Head coach Rob Smith announced Friday that the Ohio baseball team claimed five new recruits to their roster during the early signing period.
The team added a few pitchers in Butch Baird, Derek Carr and Cole Shinsky, and a couple infielders in Tanner Piechnick and Tyler Smith.
Baird appeared in 14 games in relief at Louisville during the 2015 season, claiming a 1-0 record and 3.52 ERA. He played for West Holmes High School in Big Prairie, Ohio, where he was a letterman all four years. In 2014, the Prep Baseball Report ranked Baird the 12th best player in Ohio.
Another four year player, Carr helped lead his Licking Valley Panthers to the league title in 2014. He also ranked as the 37th best player in Ohio by Prep Baseball Report. He also has a brother who is a member of the Ohio Northern baseball squad.
Infielder Tanner Piechnick was named all-conference and all-section in 2015 and won two Western Pennsylvania Elite League Championships. Coach Smith added that Piechnick will be a solid addition to the middle of the lineup.
Shinsky comes out of Knoch High School where he went 10-0 as junior and led his Knights team to a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association title in 2015. He recorded 85 strikeouts, along with a 1.29 ERA.
The Bobcats final addition, Tyler Smith, has competed for five teams at the club level. He was selected to the Colorado Junior Sunbelt Team and the Mountain West Team in 2015. He is currently ranked in the top-five at shortstop in Colorado by Prep Baseball Report.
Coach Smith says the entire team is excited about the level of talent this class bring to the team.
The baseball season kicks off February 19th against UNC-Asheville where Ohio will look to build off of their second-winningest season in program history.