Avon’s Phil Brua, who pitches at Oberlin College, was named to the Prospect League Second-Team All-Stars, announced last week.

Brua was simply dominant during his second season in the Prospect League, leading the league in appearances (30), tied for third in saves (10) and posted the third-best ERA (1.46).

He finished the year 4-2 in 49 1/3 innings of work, striking out 30 while walking just 10. His opposition batting average of .180 was also second best in the league. Overall, he allowed just eight earned runs and surrendered just 30 hits.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Brigette, second from right; Alecia, far right.

Brigette and Alecia Jones have decided to continue their education and their sports careers at Notre Dame College of Ohio.

Brigette has accepted a basketball scholarship, while Alecia accepted a soccer scholarship.

Brigette received plenty of accolades while playing basketball and volleyball at Elyria. In basketball, she was a four-year letter winner, along with All-Northeast Ohio for three-consecutive seasons and an All-Northeast District choice. In volleyball, she was All-NOC three times and All-Lorain County twice.

Alecia was a two-year letter winner in soccer at Elyria, along with All-NOC First Teamer twice. She was also named to the Lorain County Girls Soccer Coaches Association Division I First Team. In basketball, she was a two-year letter winner.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Keystone's Bryan Yeo made the Youngstown State University golf team's roster after a stellar high school career.

Yeo accepted a full-ride scholarship to continue his golf career, according to a press release received from Keystone golf coach Greg Morgan.

Yeo was a four-year letter winner at Keystone. He tied for first place at the L.C.A.A.A. golf tournament last season, but lost a tiebreaker to Firelands' Matt Gregory.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

It was no-brainer for Jake Neuschaefer.

It’s not often that you get the guarantee of starting in centerfield and batting leadoff for a Division I school.

So, before all the pressures of his senior season at Elyria High School on where he might attend college, he decided to avoid the burden, and verbally commit to play baseball at Kent State in the 2012 season.

"I had alot of weight on my shoulders with Ohio State wanting me to come down in a few weeks," Neuschaefer said. "I really didn’t want the scholarship to go away with Kent State, they have one of the top baseball programs in Ohio.

"I’ve worked hard to get to this point. I still have one more step in my goals and that’s playing at the Major League level."

Elyria head coach Mike Brandyberry feels he made the right choice.

"I think it’s a great decision for him, it’s a good school," Brandyberry said. "It’s something he’s worked hard at for a long time. I’m happy to see him achieving that goal and see him playing baseball for a long time now."

"I’m sure it’ll take some pressure off of him. He’s the kind of guys that puts distractions out of his way. I’m sure it was in the back of his mind, but if anybody that’s watched Jake play, knows he goes all out and gives it his all and lets the chips lay where they fall."

This past summer, Neuschaefer played for the North Coast Vipers after a stellar varsity season at Elyria.

He was an All-Morning Journal First Teamer, an All-Lorain County First Teamer, an All-Northeast Ohio First Teamer and was a NEOBCA First Team selection after hitting .428 with five home runs, 17 stolen bases and 31 RBIs.

Vipers teammate Sawyer Polen, who plays at Wooster Triway, also verbally committed to Kent State for the 2012 season. Other Vipers currently going to play college baseball are Elyria’s Kyle Salyan, who is going to Akron, and Brandon Grunda, who will play at Lake Erie College next season.

Jake’s brother Nolan Neuschaefer just finished a successful freshman season at Baldwin-Wallace, where he was named Outstanding Freshman and earned the Gold Glove Award.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Keystone's Bryan Yeo has accepted a scholarship and signed a letter to attend and play golf at Youngstown State University this fall.

Yeo graduated last year and was a four-year letter winner at Keystone.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Elyria's Jake Neuschaefer has verbally committed to play baseball at Kent State in the 2012 season. Neuschaefer will be entering his senior season at Elyria High.

This past summer, Neuschaefer played for the North Coast Vipers after a stellar varsity season at Elyria. He was an All-Morning Journal First Teamer, an All-Lorain County First Teamer, an All-Northeast Ohio First Teamer and was a NEOBCA First Team selection in just his junior year. He hit .428 on the season with five home runs, 17 stolen bases and 31 RBIs. He also drew 27 walks.

Vipers teammate Sawyer Polen, who plays at Wooster Triway, also verbally committed to Kent State for the 2012 season.

Jake's brother Nolan Neuschaefer just finished a successful freshman season at Baldwin-Wallace, where he was named Outstanding Freshman and earned the Gold Glove Award.

He batted .333 with 43 hits and an on-base percentage of .428 in 33 games from the leadoff spot. He led the team with 44 runs scored, four triples and 13 stolen bases.

Defensively, Neuschaefer was outstanding with a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage in 88 chances. He also led the outfield with 85 putouts, adding three assists, and was on the front end of three double plays.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Amherst’s Ryan Rua and the Hamilton Joes, in just their second year, captured the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League’s Championship on Saturday.

The Joes swept the best-of-three championship series against the regular-season champion Licking County Settlers, capping a 29-15 season record with their 7-5 win at Denison University.

Kyle Weldon, Kevin Park and Chris Pearson all had two hits and an RBI for the Joes, who turned three double plays. Park launched his only home run of the season, Curtin, Rua and Phil Bauer plated a run apiece, and Gerbus stole four bases.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

photo courtesy of Journal News

Kyle Weldon lined a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning, giving the Hamilton Joes a wild 9-8 victory over the Southern Ohio Copperheads to sweep the two-game GLSCL semifinal series Thursday night at Foundation Field.

The win advances the Joes to the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate League best-of-three championship series against top-seeded Licking County, which also swept its semifinal series.

Best-Of-Three Championship Series
Friday
Licking County at Hamilton, 7:05 p.m.
Saturday
Hamilton vs. Licking County at Denison University, time TBA
Sunday
Hamilton vs. Licking County at Denison University, time TBA (if necessary)

Mount Union's football team topped both Ohio Athletic Conference media and coaches preseason polls announced Wednesday at the conference football media day at Ohio Stadium on the campus of The Ohio State University in Columbus.

The Purple Raiders, the preseason No.1 pick in the nation by USA Today, went 14-1 last season, won the OAC championship and advanced to the Stagg Bowl, national championship game, for a fifth straight season. Mount Union has won the last 18-straight and 21 OAC football titles overall.

The football team reports back to campus on Aug. 18 and starts practice on Aug. 19 with the season opener Sept. 11 at 2 p.m. against The University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh in Wisconsin. The game will begin Larry Kehres' 25th season as Mount Union head coach and he has a 289-22-3 overall record.

OAC Preseason Coaches Poll
1. Mount Union (9) - 81
2. Ohio Northern - 71.5 (0.5)
3. Otterbein - 63.5 (0.5)
4. Capital - 56
5. Heidelberg - 43
6. Muskingum - 41
7. Baldwin-Wallace - 34
8. John Carroll - 31
9. Marietta - 19
10. Wilmington - 10

OAC Preseason Media Poll
1. Mount Union (34) - 340
2. Ohio Northern - 299
3. Otterbein - 274
4. Capital - 197
5. Heidelberg - 176
6. John Carroll - 158
7. Muskingum - 154
8. Baldwin-Wallace - 145
9. Marietta - 78
10. Wilmington - 49

First Place votes in parenthesis

courtesy of Leonard Reich, Sports Information Director