By Chris Valentine 
PBR Ohio Scouting Director

In August of 2013, PBR Ohio sent it's second team to the Midwest Futures Games. The event featured many of the top prospects in the Class of 2014 from the PBR coverage area.

Now, over a year later as those same players enter their senior year in high school, we take a look back at the players on the roster.

Committed Players

Shortly after the Midwest Futures Games, Kent State and then head coach Scott Stricklin hauled in the first commitment from Team Ohio in the form of first baseman Evan White (Gahanna Lincoln HS). However, after Coach Stricklin took the job at Georgia in June of 2013, White reopened his recruitment and later committed to the University of Kentucky.

Ironically, shortstop Riley Mahan (Moeller HS), who was unable to participate in the MWFG due to injury, committed early in the fall of 2012 to the University of Kentucky. Mahan, who has solidified himself as one of the top position players in PBR's coverage area for the Class of 2014, fielded offers from schools in the SEC, ACC, BIG10, and Big East.

Right-handed pitcher Jayce Vancenna (Lake HS) sat in the upper 80's at the event and positioned himself as one of Ohio's top power arms. He made an early fall commitment to the University of Michigan. Vancenna has only continued to improve his craft as he shown the ability to sit in the low 90's this summer.

Next, right-handed pitcher Chris Martin (Mason HS) quickly collected offers from schools across the Midwest. The 6-foot, 170-pound prospect showed a mid to upper 80's fastball with command of multiple off-speed pitches. After much deliberation, Martin couldn't pass up the opportunity to learn under Kent State pitching coach Mike Birkbeck.

Later in the fall, left-handed hitting outfielder Nicholas Longo (St. Ignatius HS) issued an early verbal pledge to Miami University over a host of regional programs. The talented prospect from Northeast Ohio attracted a great deal of early interest from Big10 and MAC programs.

Once the calendar turned and the spring and summer seasons began, the next wave of commitments occurred.

After attracting crowds of scouts to his spring outings, left-handed pitcher Zach Logue (Moeller HS) picked up several offers from schools in the BIG10, SEC, ACC, MAC, and Big East. When it came down to making a decision, the southpaw elected to join his high school and summer teammate Riley Mahan as a member of the Kentucky Wildcats.

Wauseon two-way prospect Ty Suntken (Wauseon HS) didn't wait for the summer circuit to hit. On the eve of his performance at the Top Prospect Games in June, Suntken issued a verbal pledge to Ohio University and head coach Rob Smith. The talented prospect from northwest Ohio shows power at the plate and an upper 80's arm on the mound.

Not too long afterwards, southpaw Grant Schuermann (Lakota West HS) gave his pledge to Furman University out of South Carolina. The lefty shows a low to mid 80's fastball with the ability to throw multiple off-speed pitches for strikes. He maintains a pipeline of prospects (Ted Andrews, Max Kadish, Jordan Simpson, etc) from the Cincinnati area that have headed to Furman.

One of the state's top left-handed hitters, Kyle Casserly (Pickerington Central HS), followed with a verbal commitment to West Virginia. Casserly, who will likely play first base or a corner outfield spot at the next level, saw his stock rise dramatically through May and June before making a decision to head to Morgantown for the next four years of his life. 

Later in the summer, Justin Mott (Amherst HS) became the first catcher from Team Ohio to come off the board as he issued a commitment to Bowling Green. Mott, who is the quintessential blue-collar player, caught the eyes of the Falcon coaching staff. His catch and receive skills rank among the best in his class for the State of Ohio.

Right-handed pitcher Wes Noble (Lebanon HS) followed with a commitment to Campbell University, the 2013 champion of the Big South conference. Campbell, similar to Furman, is making a habit of dipping into Ohio for recruits. Noble, a 5-foot-11, 180-pound prospect, has shown the ability to sit in the mid to upper 80's with a live arm.

Mid-way through July, right-handed pitcher Nick Pauley (Thomas Worthington HS) committed to then head coach Rob Cooper and the Wright State Raiders. Within a week, Cooper was named the head coach at Penn State and assistant head coach Greg Lovelady was immediately named the new head coach at Wright State. Despite the transition, the 6-foot-5, 210-pound righty maintained his commitment to the Horizon Conference program.

The latest member of Team Ohio to issue a commitment was Jarod Yoakam (Marysville HS). Yoakam, who attended the Midwest Futures Games as a position player, found himself being recruited as a pitcher through the summer of 2013. Throwing from a low 3/4 arm slot, Yoakam's fastball shows late life in the mid to upper 80's with good arm side run. After the recent Unsigned Senior Games at the end of August, he was offered and quickly accepted the opportunity to pitch for new head coach Ty Neal and the University of Cincinnati.

UNCommitted Players

Name	State	School	Class	Pos	Commitment
Brody Basilone	OH	Lexington	2014	RHP
Andrew Beck	OH	Cardinal Mooney	2014	3B
Justin Childers	OH	Pickerington North	2014	SS
Derek Drewes	OH	Tinora High School	2014	SS
Tavin Howard	OH	Briggs	2014	OF
Alec McCurry	OH	Olentangy Orange	2014	C
Markus Neff	OH	Oakwood	2014	1B
Jarrett Peters	OH	Bloom Carroll	2014	C