ThisWeek Community Newspapers Olentangy
Page C2
June 16, 2011
Football
Area players preparing for Cap City contest By JARROD ULREY ThisWeek Community Newspapers
Grove City High School graduate Luke Smurthwaite hasn’t forgotten his previous experience with Briggs football coach Derek Katris. The year before Katris took over the Bruins in 2009, he served as an assistant with the Dawgs junior varsity team and worked with Smurthwaite and the rest of the team’s offense. Over the next two seasons, Smurthwaite developed into one of central Ohio’s top quarterbacks. He helped Grove City Christian to a Division VI state semifinal in 2009 when Grove City didn’t have fall sports and passed for more than 2,300 yards last fall in the Dawgs’ return season. He signed in February to play for Kent State. Smurthwaite is expected to see significant time at quarterback Saturday, June 18, at Westerville Central as a member of the West all-stars, which will be coached by Katris in the second Cap City Senior Bowl presented by Capcitypreps.com. “My sophomore year, (Katris) took care of the j.v. team and he completely ran the offense,” Smurthwaite said.
“We ran a whole bunch of crazy formations, but at the same time, he wouldn’t do it if it didn’t work.” Smurthwaite is expected to be one of four players from Grove City who will be reunited with Katris, along with Bobby Brown (OL), Ken Reichle (LB) and his brother, Christian Smurthwaite (WR/DB). Luke Smurthwaite also played in the Ohio North-South All-Star Classic on April 22. Others listed on the West roster include Hilliard Davidson’s Logan Backstrom (OL) and Isa Tate (LB), Ready’s Demetrius Clark (RB), Columbus West’s Garryt Abfalter-Scott (WR), Dublin Scioto’s Jerry Miles (LB), Grandview’s Dan Satterthwaite (OL/DL) and Whetstone’s Jordan Mitchell (RB/DB). In college, Miles will play for Villanova, Backstrom will play for Kentucky Christian, Clark will play for Ashland and Mitchell and Tate will play for Urbana. Mitchell, who scored 21 touchdowns and rushed for more than 1,800 yards, and Abfalter-Scott, who had 57 catches for 821 yards, were two of the City League’s top offensive players last season. “I’m really excited about it,” Katris
At a glance •What: Cap City Senior Bowl •When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 18 •Where: Westerville Central High School •Cost: $6 pre-sale, $8 at the gate. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Autism Speaks (www.autismspeaks.org). •Coaches: East all-stars — Jeff Pharion, St. Charles; West all-stars — Derek Katris, Briggs
said. “I’ve got a couple coaches from the Briggs staff who are going to help me, and it’s an opportunity to do something I haven’t done before. I’ll be working with some of the kids from Grove City that I worked with when I was an assistant there. Jordan Mitchell ran for 250 yards when (Whetstone) played against us (in a 27-21 overtime win by Briggs last season). Demetrius Clark lives right down the road.” The West all-stars lost to the East team 22-0 in last year’s game. The event originally was formed as the City League All-Star game in 2008 but was expanded to include players from throughout central Ohio and had its name changed last summer. In addition to having players who
live in the eastern portion of Columbus, the East all-star roster will have two players from Ashland High School who have plans to play in college. Marcus Fuller was the quarterback last season for Ashland, which lost to Marion-Franklin 12-7 in Week 3 of the regular season but went on to make the Division II, Region 5 playoffs. His father, Dan Fuller, is an assistant at Ashland and an acquaintance of game director Anthony Murphy. Marcus Fuller will play football for Brown University and prep teammate Cody Hickey (OL) will play for Mount Union. Others expected to compete for the East all-stars who have committed to play in college include Westerville South’s Jayshon Jackson (RB, Grand Rapids Community College), Marion-Franklin’s Jeremy McCoy (WR/DB, Kent State), Groveport’s Anthony Pruitt (OL/DL, Kent State), New Albany’s Vinnie Cordova (OL, Eastern Illinois) and Westerville Central’s Miles Fisher (DB, Air Force). St. Charles coach Jeff Pharion will lead the East all-stars. “We’re going to keep it real simple offensively, but simple doesn’t mean
we can’t have some fun with it,” Pharion said. “I know we’re getting a kid from Ashland who is going to play football for Brown University.” “I’m just excited about getting a chance to play football again with some kids I know and guys I played against,” Fisher said. “It’ll also be like a warm-up for when I go to Air Force.” •BIG 33 ALL-STARS — Also on Saturday, June 18, the 54th annual Big 33 Game will be held in Hershey Park Stadium in Hershey, Pa., and will feature all-stars from Ohio against allstars from Pennsylvania. Listed on the Ohio roster from central Ohio are Hartley’s Noah Key (RB), Davidson’s J.D. Detmer (K/P) and Keith Heitzman (DL), Westerville Central’s Nick Vannett (TE) and Worthington Kilbourne’s Matt Skura (OL). Detmer and Key will play for Toledo, Heitzman will play for Michigan, Skura will play for Duke and Vannett will play for Ohio State. Last season, Marion-Franklin’s Verlon Reed was named team MVP as Ohio beat Pennsylvania 18-15. julrey@thisweeknews.com www.ThisWeekSPORTS.com
Baseball
Four area players taken in Major League draft By KURTIS ADAMS ThisWeek Community Newspapers
with current Rangers pitcher and Newark native Derek Holland. “I’m very excited about the opportunity I have to play professional baseball,” Eisenbach said. “I’m ready to get started on the career I’ve always wanted.” King, who has one year of eligibility remaining at Kansas State, said that he expects to forego his final collegiate season and sign with the Tigers. “I’m still in shock,” said King, who missed the 2010 season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on his right elbow in October 2009. “I can’t believe it. After everything I went through with my arm and not even playing last year, it’s honestly a dream come true. I couldn’t possibly ask for anything more. I felt that I was going to get picked, but most of the stuff I was hearing, it was like sixth, seventh, eighth round, but to go in the fourth round is an honor.” King led Kansas State in average (.326), home runs (10) and RBI (59) this season. “Jason has so much God-given talent,” Jerome coach Chris Huesman said. “You just knew it was inevitable.” Klein recently completed his Youngstown State career with a 13-12 record and 5.21 ERA in 59 appearances, which included 40 starts. As a senior this spring, he made a program-record 15 starts and went 5-5 with a 3.61 ERA in 92 1/3 innings. His 105 strikeouts were the second-highest season total in program history. Thomas was named the Atlantic 10 Conference’s Player of the Year after batting .350 with 15 home runs and 56 RBI as a senior this spring at Xavier. Thomas, who began his college career as a pitcher, left Xavier with a program-record 44 home runs.
Four players who competed in high school baseball in central Ohio were selected in the Major League Baseball draft on June 6-8. R.L. Eisenbach, a 2006 Newark Catholic graduate, was taken in the 23rd round by the San Diego Padres with the 713th pick. A 6-foot, 180-pound left-handed pitcher, Eisenbach played on Division IV state championship teams at Newark Catholic in 2004 and 2006. Jason King, a 2007 Dublin Jerome graduate, was selected in the fourth round by the Detroit Tigers with the 137th selection. A third baseman, King also was picked by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 48th round in 2007, but he opted to attend Kansas State. Phil Klein, a 2007 Gahanna graduate, was taken in the 30th round (924th overall) by the defending American League champion Texas Rangers. The 6-7, 230-pound right-hander had been pitching at Youngstown State. Ben Thomas, a 2007 Westerville Central graduate, was drafted by the World Series champion San Francisco Giants in the 34th round (1,047th overall). The 6-1, 240-pound first baseman had been playing at Xavier. Eisenbach, who originally made a college commitment to Buffalo, posted a 14-2 record and 1.48 ERA this spring as a senior at Faulkner University in Montgomery, Ala. He led the nation in victories, limiting opponents to a .165 batting average as the Eagles advanced to the NAIA World Series for the first time. Eisenbach, who also played at Grayson County (Texas) Community College and Lubbock (Texas) Christian, was named the Southern States Athletic Conference’s Pitcher of the Year. Eisenbach is the first player from Newark Frank DiRenna contributed to this story. Catholic to be drafted since Doug Wollenburg and Mark Mesewicz were picked in 1992. Eisen- kadams@thisweeknews.com bach played Little League and Babe Ruth ball www.ThisWeekSPORTS.com
BRAVES Continued from page C1 (54) behind champion Thomas Worthington (87). They tied Gahanna for 23rd (13) in the regional meet May 25 and 27 at Pickerington North behind cochampions Thomas and Westerville North (37). The Braves will lose seniors Bryce Cheek, Josh Colan, Eric Cross, Joe Di Francesco, Tyler Foy, Barron Gilmore, Mbemba, Ian McShane, Maleke Mitchell, Stephen Ostrander, Jack Schlabig, Britton Troth and Allen White. Komenda will be looking to Perry as well as juniors Colin McShane (sprinter), Nick Schrader (pole vault) and Alex Shetler (thrower) to lead the Braves next spring. “It’s difficult to replace those seniors. Most of them have been with us for four years,” Komenda said. “We’re definitely going to miss what they brought every day in practice. “I’m looking forward to seeing how hard we work in the offseason. I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do next year.” •Coach Marty Hunt has a big task next year for the girls team. Not only does he have to replace senior Adaora Anunike, a threetime state qualifier, he is losing 10 other seniors from his squad. Anunike, who will compete for Miami University, was the team’s lone state representative this year. She finished ninth in the shot put (program-record 41-
College signings Olentangy Liberty High School student-athletes Jimmy Chickerella (left) and Frank Longhino signed to compete in college athletics during a ceremony attended by their parents, Kathy and Jim Chickerella (left) and Barb and Barry Longhino. Chickerella will play lacrosse at Queens University in Charlotte and Longhino will play basketball at Heidelberg University in Tiffin.
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At a glance •Finishes: Boys — Second in OCCCardinal, fifth in Division I, district 1, tied for 23rd at regional, tied for 53rd at state; Girls — Second in OCC-Cardinal, third in district 1, 12th at regional, didn’t score at state •Seniors lost: Boys — Bryce Cheek, Josh Colan, Eric Cross, Joe Di Francesco, Tyler Foy, Barron Gilmore, Claude Mbemba, Ian McShane, Maleke Mitchell, Stephen Ostrander, Jack Schlabig, Britton Troth and Allen
3 1/2) and 13th in the discus (118-4) as Olentangy failed to score as a team and Reynolsburg (47) won the title. In her previous trips to state, Anunike finished 15th in the shot put as both a junior (3411 1/4) and sophomore (36-9 3/4). In field events, the Braves also lose senior Brittney Simmons, who qualified for state in the high jump as a junior (ninth, 54). This season at regional, she tied for seventh in the high jump (4-10), finished 12th in the 100 hurdles (16.59) and placed 15th in the 300 hurdles (49.88). “We had so many seniors this year,” Hunt said. “The thing that stands out about them was their consistency. A lot of freshmen don’t make it all four years in track and field and that we had so many seniors who competed all four years really says something about our program.” The Braves placed second (116) in the OCC-Cardinal meet behind Scioto (150) and ahead of Westerville North (78), Westerville South (75.33), Liberty (73), Westerville Central (65.33), Jerome (56) and Marysville
White; Girls — Adaora Anunike, Elizabeth Bice, Hassantau Bongay, Embrye Cheek, Marissa Clark, Fadia Jallaq, Sydney Marino, Brittney Simmons, Christine Steinhaus, Tara Walker and Katherine White •Key returnees: Boys — Colin McShane, Joshua Perry, Nick Schrader and Alex Shetler; Girls — Ganiru Anunike, Marinice Bauman, Whitney Bice, Mara Nebraska, Courtney Simmons and Gabi Smith
(48.33). “Our whole season gears toward the OCC meet,” Hunt said. “How we do from beyond there is just icing on the cake.” The Braves placed third (77.5) in the district 1 meet behind Dublin Coffman (152) and Big Walnut (79) and finished 12th (17.5) in the regional meet behind champion Reynoldsburg (88). The Braves expect to return regional qualifiers in junior pole vaulters Whitney Bice (tied for sixth, 10-0) and Gabi Smith (ninth, 10-0). Also competing at regional was the 14th-place 800 relay (1:48.46) of freshmen Ganiru Anunike, Marinice Bauman and Alexandra Hubbard and sophomore Courtney Simmons. Bice cleared a program-record 11-1 in the pole vault in the Red Edwards Golden Eagle Relays on April 9 at Big Walnut. At district, the 800 relay missed matching the 1993 school record by .3 of a second and placed fourth (1:47.5). pbatterson@thisweeknews.com www.ThisWeekSPORTS.com
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