Chad Rodgers, a 2006 Walsh Jesuit graduate, has been recognized as one of the Atlanta Braves top 10 prospects entering the 2008 season by minorleaguebaseball.com. The website has Rodgers ranked as the Braves sixth-best prospect.

Rodgers, a left-handed pitcher, was selected in the third round with the 100th overall draft pick in the 2006 draft. Rodgers has compiled a 6-3 record with two saves, a 3.18 ERA in 22 games (15 starts) in two short season leagues, the Gulf Coast and Appalachian Leagues.

“Rodgers locates his fastball, which often sits in the low 90s, and his off-speed stuff is proving to be a very nice complement,” mlb.com writer Kevin T. Czerwinski said in his assessment. “He battled through a minor shoulder issue late in the (2007) season but is healthy now and projects to be a middle-of-the-rotation starter in the big leagues.”

The Walsh Jesuit baseball team is ranked No. 100 in the Perfect Game Cross Checker Top 100 pre-season high school baseball teams for 2008.

The annual Buckeye Scout Top 100 list has selected three Warriors to its 100 top senior baseball players in Ohio.

Senior shortstop Ross Brunello is ranked No. 44 and senior left-handed pitcher Brannon Belair is ranked No. 60. Brunello and Belair are both Kent State recruits.

Senior left-handed pitcher David Starn is ranked No. 97.

The trio was also recognized as 2008 Collegiate Baseball New Players to Watch and each contributed to Walsh’s 2006 team that won the Division II state title.

Walsh, 24-5 last season, is scheduled to open its season on Mar. 31 at home against Strongsville. The Warriors have won five consecutive district titles and eight over the past 11 years under coach Chris Kaczmar, who enters his 12th season with three state titles.

Woodridge High School had an impressive baseball season last year as they finished 27-3 behind the hard work of five key juniors. Although they are currently preparing for another run as seniors this season, they are already making choices for their futures.

Outfielder/pitcher Nick Jones earned All Ohio Division III honors last year after leading the Bulldogs with a .478 batting average. The lefthander also holds school season records for batting average, runs scored, hits, doubles, extra base hits and on base percentage. Next year he will be suiting up for Savannah College.

Also making college choices were Joe Lewandowski (Ohio Dominican) and Dave Krusinksi (Walsh University). Both players hit near .400 while driving in over 30 RBI last season for the Bulldogs.

The perfect season for the Canton Timken boys basketball team came to an end Monday night.

The Toledo Whitmer Panthers defeated the previously unbeaten Trojans 62-47 in a Division I regional championship game at Rhodes Arena on the campus of the University of Akron.

Whitmer improved to 20-5 and advanced to the state final four in Columbus behind a solid showing offensively and defensively.

Senior Christian Alston paced the Trojans with 15 points and senior Johnie Davis had 10 points. The Trojans were plagued by poor shooting.

Timken ends the season with a 24-1 record.

The Canton Timken boys basketball team will play Toledo Whtimer tonight at 7:30 p.m. at Rhodes Arena in a Division I regional championship game at the University of Akron.

The winner of tonight’s game advances to Columbus for the state final four at Value City Arena on the campus of Ohio State University.

Timken, 24-0 this season, is seeking its first appearance in the state final four since 1960.

Timken and Whitmer have had to wait to play this game, orginally scheduled for Saturday, due to the heavy snowfall that recently hit Northeast Ohio.

Timken has defeated Massillon Washington, Jackson, Perry and Firestone so far in the tournament.

Senior guards Johnie Davis and Christian Alston and junior forward Chaz Moore led the Trojans past the Falcons this past Thursday.

If Timken wins the regional title it will mark the fifth consecutive season the Canton district winner will qualify for the state final four. GlenOak advanced to state in 2007 and Canton McKinley advanced to state in 2004, 2005 and 2006. McKinley won state titles in 2005 and 2006.

Attention, athletic directors and spring coaches! Akron Beacon Journal information sheets for spring sports are available online. Coaches are asked to go to www.ohio.com/highschoolforms and print the appropriate document for baseball, softball, track, boys tennis or lacrosse. Completed forms then may be faxed to 330- 996-3629. At a minimum, the Beacon Journal is requesting a printed roster and team contact information to help ensure accuracy with boxscores. If coaches prefer, the requested information may be sent to us in any suitable format. It may be e-mailed to bjsports@thebeaconjournal.com or faxed. Suggested deadline is March 18. If there are any questions about the online forms or the information requested, please call 330-996-3521.

The 71st annual state wrestling tournament concluded with four area wrestlers winning a state title on Saturday night at the Value City Arena within the Jerome Schottenstein Center on the campus of the Ohio State University.

Please check out the print Akron Beacon Journal or the ohio.com website on the Internet for coverage about the state tournament that appeared from Thursday through Sunday.

Here is a quick synopsis:

Champions

Brunswick senior Richie Spicel won the Division I 140-pound state title and finished the season with a 43-0 record under the leadership of coach Mike Koshar. Spicel also won a state championship as a freshman in 2005 at 130 pounds.

Walsh Jesuit senior Chase Skonieczny won the Division II 135-pound title and finished the season at 44-2 under the guidance of coach Bill Barger.

Perry junior Seth Horner won the Division I 130-pound state title and finished the season at 40-4 under the leadership of coach Brent McBurney. Horner defeated Wadsworth sophomore Brad Squire (42-3) in the finals.

Aurora sophomore Ty Mitch won the Division II 103-pound state title and finished the season at 39-5 under the guidance of coach Dick Bliss. Mitch’s triumph came at the expense of Walsh Jesuit freshman Johnni DiJulius (48-5), who is also a close friend.

Runner’s-up

The area also featured eight wrestlers that placed second.

In Division I: Squire, Barberton senior Adam Cogar (47-1 at 215) and Perry juniors Sam White (37-3 at 112) and Nick Heflin (45-4 at 152).

In Division II: DiJulius and Highland junior Tyler Houska (39-6 at 215).

In Division III: Norwayne senior J.D. Smyers (44-2 at 171) and Triway senior Cory Akin (34-9 at 215) in Division III.

It should be noted that Squire and White were champions in 2007, a headline for the Sunday wrestling notebook was a little misleading regarding White.

A simply amazing kid

Hillsboro senior Dustin Carter’s qualification for the state wrestling tournament at 103 pounds caught the attention of many in Columbus.

A rare blood disorder at age 5 led to limb damage. Carter, a quadruple amputee, has built a powerful upper body. His arms end near his elbows, his legs above where knees would be. When he doesn’t wrestle, he uses prosthetic legs.

He was recognized before the semifinal round Friday and received a roaring, standing ovation that lasted over a minute. CBS interviewed him Thursday and filmed his first-round match, a victory.

Carter lost twice Friday, however, and finished the season 40-4.

Splendid Records

Richie Spicel concluded his Brunswick career as the school’s all-time leader in wins with 160. He said he is considering going to college and wrestling at Asland University, Ohio University and Gardner-Webb.

Chase Skonieczny, a Kent State recruit, concluded his career with a 166-26 record. The 166 wins are a school record at Walsh Jesuit.

Adam Cogar is headed to the University of Virginia to wrestle and study pre-med after compiling a 175-21 record under the leadership of coach Dave Mariola. He carries a 4.2 cumulative grade point average. The 175 wins are a school record at Barberton.

Johnni DiJulius’ 48 wins are the most in a single season at Walsh Jesuit.

Smooch, smooch

Walsh Jesuit coach Bill Barger planted a kiss on the forehead of Warriors senior Chase Skonieczny in the media room after the 135-pound wrestler won the Division II state title.

“I have been around it a lot and they are all special, especially for a kid that grinds it out,” Barger said.

Skonieczny, Walsh’s 39th state champion, jumped into the arms of assistant coaches Jeff Black and Clint Musser on the mat following his 5-0 victory in the finals.

“I have been coming down here since I was a little kid,” said the 18-year-old Skonieczny, who entered this season as a three-time state placer in high school and with a decorated resume as a youth and middle school wrestler. “It’s 15 years in the making. March 1st, it’s been my day all season. It’s been marked on my phone and on my calendar at home.”

Surprisingly explosive

Horner and Squire put together a very good match, that Horner ultimately won 4-2 in overtime.

“He’s very strategic,” Wadsworth coach John Gramuglia said of Horner. “He’s explosive and he’ll lull you to sleep. He is very hard to wrestle. You don’t expect the explosiveness and then boom he’s by you. He’s a heck of an athlete.”

Scarlet and Gray

Austintown Fitch senior Tony Jameson (145 pounds) became the 16th wrestler in the state tournament’s history to win four state titles.

Following Jameson’s victory he paraded around the mat with an Ohio State banner and received a loud ovation. Jameson, 4-2 this season and 168-6 in his career, is an OSU recruit.