TOP OF THE CROP

(1) Chagrin Falls 16-5 Scorecard of Hawken pitcher Evan Faxon’s no-hitter in a 11-1 win against Independence on April 24.

seen enjoyment in baseball,” Thomeier said. “Playing three sports, I love all three with all my heart but I feel like I can excel the most at baseball.”

Thomeier said he plans to study math at Defiance, located about three hours west of Wickliffe and 25 miles from the Indiana border. The Division III Yellow Jackets compete in the Heartland College Athletic Conference.

Thomeier, who also pitches, said the coaches have primarily talked about him playing the outfield. He said he likes that Defiance is a smaller school and the relationships he built with coaches since they began recruiting him last summer sealed his commitment.

“From the start they’ve told me straight up they’ve wanted me for a while now,” Thomeier said. “I just feel like I’m really welcome there and I think it’s just a good fit for me.”

The Blue Devils are 11-9 this season, and Thomeier is third on the team with a .328 batting average.

Coach Phil Motta sends Thomeier to Defiance as a quality baseball player, but also as someone he believes is an even better person.

“Lucas is a player that is the first one to the field and always the last one to leave,” Motta said. “Defiance is getting a very good center fielder and better yet they are getting a high-character scholar-athlete. He is one of the hardest-working kids I’ve had the pleasure to teach and coach.”

Thomeier’s hard work on the baseball field is what makes the sport his next step among others. He hopes to build off his high school career and continue to better himself at the next level.

“That’s why I decided to do it,” Thomeier said. “I put too much work in high school and I’ve improved so much so I feel like I just want to keep improving throughout college and see how well I can do at Defiance.”

Woods win No. 710

Lake Catholic coach Dennis Woods moved into sixth all-time among Ohio coaches after the Cougars beat Hoban, 2-1, on April 25. Woods was tied with Toledo Start’s Rich Arbinger, who won 709 games from 1976 to 2006.

Woods, in his 18th year at Lake Catholic, is now 40 victories behind Coldwater’s Lou Brunswick, who won 750 games from 1969 to 1993.

In the polls

Chagrin Falls is ranked No. 3 in Division II in the second Ohio Baseball Coaches poll. The Tigers opened the poll ranked No. 1 but dropped after losses to Perry, Solon and Twinsburg last week.

In D-III, Kirtland moved up to No. 8 after the Hornets were ranked 11th last week. Hawken broke into the poll at No. 15, as did No. 19 Wickliffe. D-I Mayfield received four votes.

Area standouts

• Chagrin Falls junior catcher Cole Newbauer batted .500 (6-for-12) with a double, five runs scored, five RBI, three walks and three stolen bases last week. Newbauer was also hit by a pitch five times and his 18 HBPs make him the Tigers’ all-time leader.

• Gilmour junior Logan Wright hit .417 (5-for12) with two doubles, three RBI, three runs and a .500 on-base percentage in a 3-1 week for the Lancers last week. He was 1-0 on mound with a complete game victory against Kirtland.

Stat attack

Area teams are asked to submit weekly statistics by noon each Thursday from now through the end of the season. Statistics can be emailed to nbarnes@newsherald.com or scores@ news-herald.com. Rescheduled dates, milestones and story ideas can be submitted in the same manner.

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