Division IV Team Of The Week: Week 5 - Berlin Hiland

May 2, 2023
Bruce Hefflinger
PBR Ohio Senior Writer

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Division IV Team Of The Week: Week 5 - Berlin Hiland

MILLERSBURG - After being eliminated in the regional finals the past two seasons, Berlin Hiland has hopes of taking that next step in 2023. The Hawks appear ready to do just that with a 15-1 start to the campaign.

The Prep Baseball Report Division IV Team of the Week had an impressive showing against D-III opponents this past week, winning twice over Sugarcreek Garaway 6-0 and 3-2 in eight innings, nipping Chippewa 3-2 and beating Ottawa Hills 8-2.

“I knew we were going to have some excellent pitching depth this year,” pointed out head coach Chris Dages. “We had our top three pitchers returning from last season and several young guys working hard this off season to compete for innings on the mound. So far our winter workouts have paid off with a team ERA of 0.895. Our guys out of the bullpen have been lights out as well. We have got some great late-inning performances from Finn Schneider, Kaden Kandel and Caden Coblentz.”

Schneider, a junior right-hander, is 3-0 with a 1.432 ERA in five appearances while Kandel has given up one earned run in four outings on the mound and Coblentz has fanned 10 in 6.1 innings. Kandel and Coblentz are both sophomore right-handers.

There have been a number of standouts in the eyes of the Hiland head coach.

“Will Schlabach has been outstanding on the mound this year,” Dages said of the 51st-rated senior right-handed pitcher in the state, who is still uncommitted. “He is 5-0 on the year and has thrown three shutouts, two of them were no-hitters.

“Nolan Yoder is also 5-0 so far with two shutouts, one of them being a no-hitter,” Dages added about the senior shortstop and pitcher of the Hawks. “Nolan has also been at the center of two of our walk-off wins. He provided the game-winning hit against Buckeye and was the game-winning run this week against Garaway.”

For the year, Schlabach has a 0.519 ERA with 48 strikeouts in 27 innings while Yoder has a 0.233 ERA with 31 Ks in 30 frames.

Junior Cody Yoder, an outfielder/RHP, was 2-2 with a home run, walk, run and four RBIs in the win over Ottawa Hills and batted .400 for the week, as did Wyatt Miller.

“Cody is getting back into the lineup after dealing with some elbow soreness and had a great day against Ottawa Hills,” Dages noted.

More help has come from “an unexpected offensive spark,” according to Dages, in freshman Grady Monogold, who is hitting .409 with a double, three homers, six runs scored and 12 RBIs.

Braden Kaufman, a senior catcher committed to Malone, is another major contributor to the second-ranked Division IV team in Ohio with a .297 average and 18 runs scored.

Nolan Yoder is hitting .378 with 22 RBIs and 17 runs and Colin Coblentz is at .333 with 14 RBIs and 14 runs scored. Caden Coblentz is averaging .304 with 10 RBIs, with Braden Kaufman hitting . 397 with 18 runs, Isaak Yoder .295 with 12 runs and 10 RBIs and Alex Weaver .278 with 22 runs and 14 stolen bases.

“This team is incredibly focused on preparing themselves to make a deep run in the tournament,” Dages said. “The seniors on this team have been to two straight regional final games and the memory of coming up just short both years is really driving them.”

There is also the matter of trying to win the IVC South Division title. To date, Hiland is 7-1 and tied with Indian Valley for first place with Tuscarawas Valley, which the Hawks are scheduled to play this week, at 5-2.

There are also games slated with Cloverleaf on Friday and Saturday versus Licking Valley and Waynedale, last year’s Division III state champion.

“Our pitching needs to continue at the high level they have been playing at so far,” Dages said. “If our pitchers can continue to limit the free passes and the defense remains solid behind the starting pitching, the goals we set as a team before the season should be well within our sights.”