It appears as if Eastern Michigan has searched deep into Ohio plucking four area softball players to fill next year’s roster. Hoover’s Sarah Gerber (1B) and McKenna Russ (OF) are both already inked. As is Jackson’s Jess Richards (3B). Stow’s Allison Scherer (SS) will join her sister, Jenny Scherer ( a sophomore OF),  at EMU  as well.

Former Canton McKinley baseball shortstop Zack Leonard is also at EMU. The freshman is hitting .263 with two home runs in 20 games this season.

Freshman defensive back Judson Rambaud, Formerly of Akron St. Vincent St. Mary, and redshirt freshman wide receiver Corey Welch (Green High School) are on the football roster there.

Canton Central Catholic seniors Grant McCoury, and Max Colaner have committed to continue their baseball and academic careers in college.

McCoury selected Elon (N.C.) University and Colaner is bound for Northern Kentucky.

McCoury, a pitcher/third baseman, had a .402 batting average last season, with six home runs and 38 RBI. He also compiled a 4-1 record with two saves.

Colaner, a center fielder, batted .407 last season with 45 runs scored, 22 RBI and 20 stolen bases.

Hudson senior Chad Opalich has committed to continue his baseball and academic careers at the University of Dayton.

Opalich is a two-time all-league selection. He batted .489 last season with 45 hits, 24 RBI and a school-record nine triples.

Wadsworth seniors Dru Jones and Brian Solitario have committed to continue their baseball and academic careers.

Jones is headed to Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pa. and Solitario will go to Youngstown State University.

Highland senior Cory Johnston has committed to continue his baseball and academic careers at Savannah (Ga.) College.

Johnston, a left-handed pitcher/outfielder, helped the Hornets reach a Division II regional final last season and earned first-team All-Suburban League honors.

Revere senior Joe Corfman has committed to continue his baseball and academic careers
at the University of Toledo.

Corfman, a shortstop, batted .500 last season with 37 hits and 28 RBI. He enters this
season with 91 hits and 67 RBI at Revere. He also has a 6-6 career record as a right-handed pitcher.

Corfman is entering his fourth season as a starter under coach Phil Heyn. Corfman
earned all-Suburban League honors the past three seasons and has been recognized on the
Buckeye Scout’s Top 100 List and as a player to watch by the publication Collegiate Baseball.

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.

Walsh Jesuit senior shortstop Ross Brunello has committed to continue his baseball and academic career at Kent State University.

Brunello becomes the second member of the class of 2008 to advance to the collegiate baseball level and the 31st Walsh Jesuit player in the last 12 years to advance to the NCAA Division I level.

The 6-foot, 180-pound Brunello will be a four-year letter winner with the Warriors. Last season, he batted .337 with 24 RBI and five home runs and was named the team’s Most Valuable Offensive Player. As a sophomore in 2006, he was an integral member of the Division II state championship team, which was ranked No. 6 in the nation by USA Today. Brunello was honored as a USA Today Player of the Week during the team’s state tournament weekend.

“Ross Brunello is one of those rare players who has been able to make a positive impact on our baseball program in each of his four years at Walsh Jesuit,” Warriors coach Chris Kaczmar said. “He is a very gifted defensive player with an exceptional amount of hand quickness and ability. He is a fearless, hard-nosed competitor, and he loves the game. Ross is also a very hard worker and a tremendous person and friend whom I will miss dearly when he graduates.”