Perkins graduate Kyle Hallock was named the Mid-American Conference Pitcher of the Year.

Hallock wins MAC Pitcher of the Year honors for the first time on the wings of a solid senior campaign and the best of the southpaw’s four-year career wearing the blue and gold.

"It’s exciting," Hallock said. "I’m glad I was able to overcome some obstacles and get on a roll. This is for the team and the university. It’s nice to be acknowledged and to be a part of this program."

Hallock, a 2010 MLB Draft selection of the Philadelphia Phillies, posted a MAC-best nine wins, which ranks among the top 20 in the nation and ties him for fifth on the school’s single-season records list. His 1.63 earned run average is tops in the conference and currently ranks as the fifth-best in school history.

Hallock anchors a Kent State pitching staff that leads the conference and is among the country’s best with a 2.62 team ERA. Hallock has struck out 80 while allowing just 17 earned runs over 94.0 innings and 14 starts. He has won seven of his last eight starts, posting an 0.62 ERA with 53 strikeouts while allowing just four earned runs.

He ranks second in school history with 229 career strikeouts, third with 284.2 innings pitched, tied for seventh with 21 career victories and tied for seventh with 65 career appearances.

"Kyle is very deserving, and he’s had a great year," said Kent State coach Scott Stricklin, who was named the MAC’s Coach of the Year. "He’s been consistent the whole year, and I thought it was very fitting that, with him being a senior and a captain, he earned Pitcher of the Year."

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Lorain High's Amon Willis has signed his letter of intent, choosing to try and play football and wrestling at Hastings College, which is located in Nebraska.

Willis was a standout defensive lineman for the Titans last season. As a wrestler, he was a state placer in the 215-pound weight class.

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Lorain High's Nate McNeal signed his letter of intent to continue his football career, choosing Lake Erie College.

McNeal, a defensive back, was also the Titans' long snapper last season and held a 3.5 GPA.

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Amherst's Kyle Hagerich has signed his letter of intent to continue his baseball career at Mercyhurst College in Erie Pennsylvania next season.

Hagerich was an All-Lorain County First Team selection, along with being an All-Southwestern Conference First Teamer.

Hagerich was the team's Co-MVP this season, sharing it with teammate Tyler Bires.

Following the most successful season in program history, the Lake Erie College baseball team placed five players on the 2011 All-Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Team, including Amherst’s Ryan Rua, who is considered the fourth-ranked draftable player in Division II, according to Baseball America.

Rua was named to the All-GLIAC First Team while junior outfielder and Admiral King graduate Matt Toth was a second-team selection.

Rua started all 47 games and batted an even .400 with a Lake Erie College single-season record and GLIAC-leading 68 hits in 170 at bats. He led the league in doubles with 16 and total bases with 101 while ranking second in home runs (five) and stolen bases (19) and third in RBIs (44) and runs scored (42). Rua also pitched in six games, going 1-0 with a 3.18 ERA and two saves while striking out nine in just 5 2/3 innings.

In addition to setting the school record with 25 walks this year, Toth also batted .400 which tied Rua for third in the GLIAC. He went 62-for-155 at the plate with 41 runs scored, a home run and 21 RBIs. The Storm’s leadoff hitter also banged out 13 doubles and stole 13 bases while committing just one error in right field along with five outfield assists. Toth led the team in on-base percentage and did not hit into a double play all season.

Lake Erie finished with a 21-26 overall record and was 14-20 in the GLIAC. The Storm finished sixth in the league and was in contention for a playoff spot until the next-to-last day of the season.

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For the second time in two seasons, Elyria’s Tess Sito, a Cleveland State sophomore, has been named the Horizon League Softball Player of the Year. Sito was also named to the all-league first team.

Sito also was voted player of the year in 2010, making her only the second person in conference history to be earn the honor as a freshman and sophomore.
Sito is the sixth player in conference history to earn multiple player of the year awards and the fifth to earn the distinction in consecutive seasons.

"The more we play, the more it is apparent that Tess is quite simply the best all-around athlete in the league," CSU head coach Angie Nicholson, also an Elyria native, said. "To be chosen as the player of the year again shows the respect that the league has for her."

Sito has made 44 appearances, which include 36 starts. She leads the Horizon League in strikeouts (293), wins (24) and innings pitched (272 2/3). One of the Vikings’ top offensive threats, she’s the Vikings’ leader in hits (58), doubles (11), stolen bases (18) and runs scored (30) and has the second best batting average (.369) in the league. In 75 at-bats against league opponents, she has only struck out five times, posting an OPS of 1.023.

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Perkins graduate Amy Schlessman, along with three teammates highlighted the 2011 All-North Coast Athletic Conference women’s tennis selections, after her outstanding season at Kenyon College.

Schlessman, who played mainly at No. 2 singles for the Ladies, racked up a season record of 18-7. The first-team honor was her second, one year after earning the same position and being named the NCAC Newcomer of the Year.

Prita Kidder joined Schlessman as Kenyon’s No. 1 doubles pairing after posting a 19-6 record and achieving an Intercollegiate Tennis Association regional ranking as high as No. 6.

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Vermilion graduate Adam Beach was named the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference (GLIAC) Pitcher of the Week.

Beach pitched arguably the best game of his career last Saturday in a 2-1 win over Wayne State University at Classic Park. He held the Warriors to just one run and one hit in the complete game victory. Beach worked his way around five walks by matching his career high with nine strikeouts.

On the season, Beach leads the Storm staff in games started, innings pitched, wins and strikeouts for the second straight year. In 11 games, including 10 starts, he is 4-4 with a 5.51 ERA and has pitched three complete games.

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Southview graduate Danielle Reddinger and the Hiram College softball team will face Alma (Mich.) College in its first game of the NCAA Division III Tournament which begins Thursday on the campus of Adrian College in Adrian, Mich.

Reddinger, a sophomore, has earned her way to the starting second base position and has been playing outstanding defense. She is also the team’s backup catcher.

The Terriers will be the seventh seed in the bracket and will enter the tournament with a 25-12 overall record after capturing their second North Coast Athletic Conference Tournament Championship over the weekend. It will mark the second appearance for Hiram in the NCAA Tournament after making its first ever trip to the NCAA postseason in 2009.

Hiram will square off against Alma for the third time this season as the Terriers hosted the Scots earlier this season at Myrtis E. Herndon Field. Alma ended up winning both games of the doubleheader, 6-1 and 14-1, back on Mar. 20. The rematch against Alma in this year’s tournament is scheduled for 4 p.m. on Thursday.

Other teams in the regional bracket include DePauw (Ind.) University, D’Youville (N.Y.) College, Trine (Ind.), Ohio Northern University, Baldwin-Wallace College and Bethany (W.Va.) College.

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Amherst graduate Shawn Chrapczynski had a great meet for Oberlin College at the NCAC Outdoor Track and Field Championships.

Chrapczynski won the long jump and 200 meters. He was also fourth in 100 meters and part of the second place 4x400 relay and third place on the 4x100 relay.

Chrapczynski won the 200 meters in 22.33. His time in his fourth-place finish in the 100-meter dash was 11.25. In the 4x100 relay, he ran the anchor leg to help the team finish third overall.

The Yeomen concluded the amazing weekend by finishing second in the 4x400-meter relay as they pushed conference-leading OWU from start to finish. Senior Solomon Turner led things off and was followed by Morris, Hull and Chrapczynski as they combined to finish the race in 3:21.26, just slightly back of OWU (3:19.93).

The Yeomen finished in third place with 135 points.

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Left to right: Phil Brua, Max Phinney, Ben Puterbaugh

Avon graduate Phil Brua, Oberlin graduate Max Phinney, along with teammate Ben Puterbaugh earned North Coast Athletic Conference honors, the league office announced on Thursday.

Brua was named to the All-NCAC Second-Team, while Phinney and Puterbaugh were tabbed as honorable-mention selections.

Brua, who split time between the bullpen and starting rotation, finished the season with five saves (third in the NCAC) and three wins. He led the team in appearances (20), innings pitched (51.2) and strikeouts (36). Hitters batted just .213 (second in the NCAC) against the native of nearby Avon, Ohio, who also averaged 6.31 strikeouts per nine innings. He leaves Oberlin as the all-time leader in saves (11) and appearances (65) and is second all-time in wins (15).

Phinney led the Yeomen by hitting .357. He also paced the team in slugging (.470) and RBI’s (28) to go along with three outfield assists. Phinney was second on the team in hits (41), total bases (54) and doubles (8). Furthermore, he set a school record with five sacrifice flies. He departs Oberlin with 101 career hits.

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Elyria’s Tess Sito, a sophomore pitcher at Cleveland State, has been named to the Capital One Academic All-District IV team in a voting of the membership of the College Sports Information Directors of America (CoSIDA).

Sito, who owns a 3.72 grade point average majoring in communication, is the top all-around player in the Horizon League this year, owning a 24-14 record and 1.58 ERA with 278 strikeouts as a pitcher while ranking among the league leaders with a .364 batting average.

"It is a honor that Tess received this award because it shows the balance that she has in her every day life, being able to excel on the softball diamond and in the class room at the same time," CSU head coach Angie Nicholson said. "She plays on a team that is filled with championship caliber student-athletes who are also committed to performing at the highest level in the class room as well. This honor means a lot to our team."

Sito was the 2010 Horizon League Player of the Year after hitting .409 with a school record 18 home runs, 51 runs scored and 45 RBIs. She has taken on the additional role as the No. 1 pitcher on the squad, becoming just the fourth player in school history to win 20 games in a season. She currently leads the Horizon League in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched (260 2/3).

The Academic All-America program honors male and female student-athletes annually who have succeeded at the highest level on the playing field and in the classroom. Individuals are selected through voting by CoSIDA, a 2,000 member organization consisting of sports public relations professionals for colleges and universities in the United States and Canada.

To be eligible, a student-athlete must be a varsity starter or key reserve, maintain a cumulative grade point average of at least 3.30 on a scale of 4.00, have reached at least sophomore athletic and academic standing at his/her current institution and be nominated by his/her sports information director. District IV consists of the states of Alabama, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and Tennessee.

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EATON TWP. — Two talented Midview athletes signed their letters of intent on Wednesday as softball player Sydney Mencke and volleyball player Kelsey Dombrowski chose Wheeling Jesuit and Slippery Rock, respectively.

Dombrowski came to Midview after starting her high school career at Columbia. She said she was nervous at first about the move but was quickly welcomed into the Middie family, where she helped her team advance to the district semifinals in the Division I state tournament and finish second in the West Shore Conference.

"I thought being the new girl would be difficult at first, but the people here have been awesome," Dombrowski said.

Playing college volleyball was always a hope for Dombrowski, and Wednesday she was excited to make it a reality.

"It’s really exciting. I’m so blessed to be able to do this," she said. "I never thought I’d get this far."

Slippery Rock made an early impression, and even when she made other visits, the comparisons always went back to the school in Western Pennsylvania.

"The moment I stepped on campus and from then on, looking at all the other colleges, it pretty much just went back to Slippery Rock," Dombrowski said.

Being moderately close to home didn’t hurt, either.

"It’s the prefect distance," Dombrowksi said. "It’s not too far but it’s not close enough to where you can come home every weekend."

Mencke and the Middies are in the middle of another West Shore Conference title run on the softball field. Her decision was finalized some time over the winter but making it official took some pressure off nonetheless.

"During the fall I was so nervous about picking my college," Mencke said. "It was a lot of relief."

Mencke said she started to think college was a possibility when she had a good freshman season.

"We did so well since I was a freshman so that was when I started to hope so at least," Mencke said of playing in college.

And softball coach Mike Ives among others helped steer her in the right direction throughout her four years at Midview.

"It’s very exciting for me, all my life I’ve wanted to play in college so it is nice to have that opportunity," Mencke said.

Making her choice wasn’t difficult for Mencke, as Wheeling Jesuit just felt right.

"When I visited there I was very at home," she said. "I was very comfortable with the coach."

Mencke is 9-2 so far this season as the Middies try to build off last season’s regional appearance.

courtesy of Colin Wilson

LORAIN — It was an emotional ceremony for Pete Rufo at Lorain High School as he signed his National Letter of Intent to play football at Valparaiso on Thursday.

The multi-sport athlete has defined the term "student-athlete" during his time at Admiral King and Lorain High Schools and signed on to do the same thing at Valparaiso for the next four years.

"For my family to see me sign that letter, it makes me speechless," Rufo said. "For the city and the school, I’m trying to pave a path for future underclassmen to become seniors to see what I did and to see what it takes."

Rufo lettered in five different sports during high school and is a member of National Honors Society, Men of Honor and Friends of Rachel, he also volunteers at the Ireland Cancer Center among other community services.

He made a clear impression on his peers and his teachers and coaches.

"Pete Rufo has been a very important part of Lorain City Schools athletics over the last four years, not only the athletic program but the community as a whole," Lorain athletic director Bryan Koury said. "He’s been a tremendous contributor on the playing field and off the playing field and we’re very proud of him."

Rufo was a captain on the football team this season as the city merged Southview and Admiral King into one school at Lorain High.

Through basketball and track season, he’s seen a growing together of the high school, something he’ll carry with him.

"Seeing everyone from the beginning of the year in football season and now into track season, everyone is like brothers," Rufo said.

With numerous family members present, Rufo beamed with pride. He said choosing Valparaiso was solely based on academics, but he also felt comfortable.

"Everyone was so friendly there, it reminded me a lot of my family," Rufo said.

Rufo will major in mechanical engineering with a minor in biology. He’ll play slot receiver on the football team.

He said he has two seniors playing ahead of him so he will have an easier time learning second-year coach Dale Carlson’s schemes, something he’s glad for.

"It will give me a great opportunity to learn from them, they’ve been in the system for a year under the new coach," Rufo said.

That’s not a surprise to his coach last year, Todd Auvil, who said Rufo is all about helping his team first.

"Pete was never an individual. He always looked for the betterment of the team," Auvil said. "Some people in Lorain use courage, honor and commitment as catch phrases, but for Pete Rufo, that really is his credo."

courtesy of Colin Wilson

Elyria Catholic graduate Mike Haszto, who plays hockey for the University of Central Oklahoma of the American Collegiate Hockey Association, was named an Academic All-American.

Haszto, a senior, is majoring in Economics and was recently named Economist of the Year at the university.

Haszto is President of the Delta Mu Delta Academic Fraternity for the second year, as well as Student President of the Business College at UCO.

Haszto played four seasons at Central Oklahoma for the Bronchos, finishing among the tops in several categories at UCO. This past season, he was tied for third on the team in goals (10), and was second in power play goals (4). He finishes his career there with 38 goals (18 power play goals) and 22 assists for 60 points. He tallied 196 penalty minutes and was a leader each season in the +/- statistic.

The Bronchos, during Haszto's four seasons, reached the National Tournament (Top 16) twice, achieving the Final Four in 2009-2010, when they fell to the eventual champion. They finished that season ranked fourth nationally.

Haszto’s claim to fame at the school was scoring the first goal in the program’s history.

Haszto was a standout defenseman for the Elyria Catholic Panthers, under Coach Dave Phiel, attaining several awards through his high school career. He went on to play on the Junior level with the Queen City Cutthroats and Phoenix Polar Bears (where he played twice for national championships), as well as in the NAHL with the Helena Bighorns and Youngstown Phantoms.

While he has invitations for professional tryouts at the minor league level, his current plans are to graduate and go on to graduate school at the University of Oklahoma.

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Sandusky junior Xavier Turner has verbally committed to continue his baseball career at The Ohio State University.

Turner, a three-sport star, transferred to Sandusky after playing a two years at Perkins.

Just a junior, Turner is in the middle of a memorable season which finds the Blue Streaks undefeated and on their way to a Greater Buckeye Conference championship. He is currently batting over .500 with 19 RBIs and 27 runs scored. He has hit five doubles, two triples and two home runs through 16 games.

Last season, as a sophomore, he was named All-Ohio, All-Northeast District First Team for the second straight year. He was also an All-Sandusky Bay Conference First Teamer for the second straight season.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Elyria Catholic’s Madison Hromada, a Lorain native, signed a National Letter of Intent to play tennis at West Virginia University.

Hromada played a successful season at Magnificat, before a controversy caused her dismissal right before sectional play. She then transferred to EC and followed her goal of getting a Division I tennis scholarship.

She plans on majoring in pre-med with possibly a minor in business.

swalker@MorningJournal.com

Western Reserve’s Andrew Chafin, a Kent State redshirt sophomore left-handed starting pitcher was named to the 60-man midseason Golden Spikes Award watch list, USA Baseball announced on Tuesday.

Chafin is the lone representative from a Mid-American Conference school on the list.

Chafin ranks sixth in the country in strikeouts (83), ninth in strikeouts per nine innings (11.80) and 14th in ERA (1.28), helping the Golden Flashes tie for 12th in team ERA (2.57) and 24th in team strikeouts per nine innings (8.2). He has allowed five or more hits in only three of his nine starts and 10 appearances, worked through the seventh inning in six of his starts And has tallied 10 or more strikeouts in four of his starts.

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Olmsted Falls right handed pitcher Denton Sagerman has verbally committed to continue his baseball career at the University of Dayton.

Denton, a two-year captain, has been the ace of the Bulldogs’ staff since he was a sophomore. As a sophomore, he was named All-SWC First Team. During his junior year, Denton started five games during the postseason that led Olmsted Falls to the school’s first ever State Tournament appearance, while garnering All-SWC Second Team honors.

Denton, who has a 4.1 GPA, is 13-5 in his career on the mound, and leads the Bulldogs with eight doubles at the plate. He was recently awarded the Southeastern Baseball Classic Scholarship in April, and is the school’s all-time leading tackler in football (All-SWC First Team).

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Vermilion graduate Tim Clark was named the Great Lakes Valley Conference Pitcher of the Week for baseball after pitching a complete game six-hitter with seven strikeouts for Northern Kentucky University last week.

Clark, a sophomore transfer from Cleveland State, got a series-clinching victory over Indianapolis on Sunday, scattering six hits in a 4-1 win.

Clark went the distance and the seven strikeouts were a career-high. He did not allow a runner past first base until the seventh inning and held Indianapolis scoreless through 8 2/3 innings.

It is Clark’s second win in league play, improving his record to 2-1 on the year. He also boasts a 1.63 earned run average with 15 strikeouts.

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Perkins graduate Kyle Hallock recorded another stellar pitching performance for Kent State as the Golden Flashes won their 30th game of the season in a 4-0, 9-1 doubleheader sweep of Ohio University.

Hallock struck out eight batters in 7 1/3 innings, allowing just one walk. Hallock won his fifth straight start and improved to 7-4. His 207 career strikeouts move him into sole possession of seventh place on Kent State’s all-time list.

Kent State improved to 30-12 and 15-3 in the Mid-American Conference.

Kent State has won 22 of its last 26 games and seven straight. The Flashes have won at least 30 games for the 13th straight season and 24th time in the last 28 years – including all seven seasons current head coach Scott Stricklin has been at the helm.

swalker@MorningJournal.com