MWL1 Dayton Dragons

High School Doubleheader on Friday at Fifth Third Field

Published on April 21, 2011 under Midwest League (MWL1)
Dayton Dragons News Release


DAYTON, OH - For the sixth consecutive season the Dayton Dragons will host high school baseball, as 34 area high school teams will play regular season games at Fifth Third Field.

The Tippecanoe Red Devils head to the Dragons' home field to battle the Northwestern Warriors on Friday, April 22nd at 4:30 PM in game one of a doubleheader. Game two will feature the Northmont Thunderbolts and the Xenia Buccaneers at 7:30 p.m.

The Red Devils are led by senior third baseman Braden Price. Coach Bruce Cahill said Price is a player who has the ability to play baseball at the collegiate level. Cahill believes the team's trip to Florida earlier this during which the Red Devils went 4-1, will bolster their in-conference play.

Tippecanoe also features first baseman Cody Gingrich, who will continue his baseball career next season at Grace College in Indiana.

The Warriors are playing under a first year head coach in Jordan Shumaker, but he's no stranger to the local baseball scene. The Springfield, Ohio played three years of high school baseball at Shawnee High school, before wrapping up his prep career at Northwestern. He went on to play for four years at Cedarville University, during which time he played a few games at Fifth Third Field.

Now his star player, senior first baseman Cody Kaffenbarger, is headed to Cedarville as well to play baseball next year for the Yellow Jackets. As a matter of fact, Shumaker became an assistant coach at Cedarville after graduation, and was actively recruiting Kaffenbarger. Now he's his head coach for the Warriors.

"We'll be real young," Shumaker said. His starting lineup could include two freshmen and three sophomores. He also urges fans to keep an eye on freshman shortstop Austin Marshall, who is one of the team's most versatile players. Marshall not only patrols the middle of the infield, but is also the team's best pitcher, according to Shumaker.

"It'll be nice for them to play on a bigger stage," Shumaker said.

Northmont is led by two strong pitchers who will continue their careers at the collegiate level next season. Grant Walker, the top pitcher on coach Chuck Harlow's squad will play for the University of Cincinnati next season under head coach Brian Cleary.

Righty Robert Sakosky is also an asset on the mount for the Thunderbolts. He's headed off to play for Ohio State next season.

A third player to keep an eye on in a Northmont uniform is sophomore Tommy Stoffel. He is the only freshman to have ever played varsity for Harlow in 32 seasons, and hit over .400 as a freshman.

The Buccaneers look to continue their success under head coach Rick Lorenzo.

The Dayton Dragons have been hosting the Miami Valley's best baseball teams since 2006, and are proud to continue the tradition for a sixth year. A compete list of high school baseball games scheduled to be played at Fifth Third Field can be found at daytondragons.com.

All games are free to attend and the media are invited to cover them. Gates will open one hour prior to the first game played that day. High schools may provide their own PA announcers, cheer squads, and national anthem singers. Some even bring their own radio broadcasters to the ballpark. Participating high schools sell Dragons tickets to help raise money for their programs.

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Midwest League Stories from April 21, 2011


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