Here is a preseason look at Suburban League football. In this post, you will find players (and any all-star recognition they received in the league last season) to watch from each team and my predictions for the upcoming season.

TALLMADGE (8-3 overall, 6-1 in the Suburban League last season)

Top players: Senior LB-RB Collin Haben (first-team Suburban League), senior QB-DB Patrick Pakan (first-team), senior LB-TE Aaron Donze (first-team), senior OL-DL Nick Fleming (second-team all-district in Division II and first-team SL), junior PK-P James Plunkett (first-team), senior OL-DL Jesse Hobbel, junior Zack Cevasco (first-team), junior RB-DB Tyler Fortner, junior OL-DL Nick White.

WADSWORTH (7-3, 5-2)

Top players: Senior RB Dru Jones (second-team All-Ohio and first-team all-district in Division I), junior OL-DL Ricky Canestraro (second-team SL), junior DB Anthony Lorubbio (second-team), junior LB-RB Jake Palidar (second-team).

GREEN (8-2, 5-2)

Top players: Senior OL Nick Bridenbaugh (second-team), senior OL-DL Cory Potter (second-team), senior DL Shane Callahan (second-team).

REVERE (5-5, 5-2)

Top players: Senior QB Taylor Newmann (first-team), senior OL-DL Patrick Lyden (first-team), senior WR-DB Mick Battaglia (second-team).

COPLEY (5-5, 4-3)

Top players: Senior WR-DB Joe Hanlin (first-team), senior RB Justin White-Reid (second-team), senior OL Tim Goodman (second-team), senior LB-RB Walt Harris (second-team), senior OL Drew Bowser (second-team).

CLOVERLEAF (3-7, 2-5)

Top players: Senior DL Justin Marrs (first-team), junior QB-DB Cody Roberts (second-team).

HIGHLAND (1-9, 1-6)

Top players: Junior LB-FB Tyler Houska (special-mention all-state, first-team all-district in Divison III and first-team SL), junior Chris Snook (first-team), senior Will Sutton (second-team).

BARBERTON (3-7, 0-7)

Top players: Sophomore QB Kyle Snyder (second-team).

Here are my preseason predictions for the Suburban League:

1. Tallmadge

2. Wadsworth

3. Green

4. Copley

5. Revere

6. Highland

7. Cloverleaf

8. Barberton

Here is an explanation for my picks: Tallmadge has won the past two Suburban League titles, and the Blue Devils should be able to do it again. Wadsworth will also be tough with senior running back Dru Jones leading the way for the Grizzlies. But I think Tallmadge senior quarterback/defensive back Patrick Pakan will be able to help the Blue Devils hold the Grizzlies off. Tallmadge senior Nick Fleming, one of the area’s best offensive linemen, will lead an experienced unit that should be able to give Pakan plenty of time to orchestrate the offense effectively. Green lost its three offensive stars (quarterback Kade Wagner, wide receiver Evan Elliot and running back Corey Welch) because of graduation. But the Bulldogs have eight returning starters on offense, meaning all the linemen who blocked for the three offensive standouts will be back to block well for new skill players. That’s why I think Green will be dangerous. Copley will go through some changes under first-year coach Ron Viscounte, who will fill in for now-St. Vincent-St. Mary coach Dan Boarman. I think Revere will improve and be a dangerous team that can pull off some upsets. Highland, Cloverleaf and Barberton all have talented players returning but will have a difficult time making it out of the bottom three in a tough league.

What do you think of these picks? Leave comments to let me know.

Mercyhurst College junior and Green High School graduate David Lough was selected in the 2007 Major League First-Year Player Draft by the Kansas City Royals in the 11^th round (336^th overall pick).

Lough, a center fielder, became the highest player drafted in Mercyhurst’s history. In 2007, Lough led the team in 12 offensive categories: batting average (.404), slugging percentage (.789), on base percentage (.477), runs (52), hits (74), RBI (49), doubles (16), triples (6), home runs (8), extra base hits (34), total bases (126), stolen bases (23).

Lough, who also played wide receiver for the Mercyhurst football team, was named an All-American by the American Baseball Coaches Association.

“This is an unbelievable experience,” Lough said in a press release. “Coach (Joe) Spano told me from day one he thought I could play pro ball and I never really believed it until today. The best decision I ever made was to come to Mercyhurst …”

Posted by Beacon Journal sportswriter Nate Ulrich 

When high school teams make successful playoff runs, their wins are often attributed to the players becoming hot at the right time.

Sometimes that is true. But “peaking at the right time” can be overrated, too.

The Stow and Green baseball teams were on fire heading into their respective district championship games. But they both lost on Wednesday night.

Stow entered its Hudson Division I district final against Brecksville with 11 consecutive wins,  including a 5-0 victory over Western Reserve Conference rival Cuyahoga Falls in a district semifinal the night before.

Brecksville limped into the district final one day after a hardfought, 8-7 win over Hudson in eight innings. But Brecksville defeated Stow 4-3.

Green entered its Canton Division I district final against Lake having won 14 of its past 17 games. But the Bulldogs fell 4-1.  

Stow and Green have several talented players. They both had respectable seasons with winning records.

So what does all this mean?

Teams need more than just momentum and talent to advance in the playoffs. They also need some luck.

State champions are usually very talented and well coached. But they usually catch some breaks along the way, too.

Posted by Michael Beaven for the Beacon Journal 

The Wadsworth boys and girls track and field teams won the Suburban League meet Saturday at Green. Each squad scored 163 points to win.

Copley, Green and Highland rounded out the top four on the boys side. Green, Cloverleaf and Tallmadge rounded out the top four on the girls side.  

The Wadsworth girls team won in dominating fashion, winning 11 of the 17 events contested. Sophomore sprinter Jessica Grant won the 100 meters in 12.13 seconds and the 200 in 25.01. Grant was also on two relays which placed first, the 400 relay and 800 relay.

The Grizzlies won all four relays; the 400 (Grant, Amanda Pallija, Jaimie Grindle, Annie Grindle), the 800 (Grant, Brittani Peltz, J. Grindle, A. Grindle), the 1,600 (Jenny Harsh, Elana Cole, J. Grindle, Peltz) and the 3,200 (Harsh, Nicole Cargill, Cole, Kristen Havens).

Other Wadsworth girls first places came in the: 400 (Peltz), 800 (Harsh), high jump (J. Grindle), shot put (Holly Gospodinsky) and long jump (Jennifer Thomas).

Green was second behind first place finishes from Carolyn Payne (1,600 and 3,200) and Kelsie Ahbe (pole vault). Cloverleaf’s Cassy Maxwell won the discus and Highland’s Brooke Hutchings won the 100 hurdles and 300 hurdles.

The Wadsworth boys team won eight events, with junior Sean Kemmerer winning the 110 hurdles and the high jump. Other individual Grizzlies champions were: Aarick Jones (100), Anthony Schrock (300 hurdles), Austin Healey (shot put), Darnell Davis (long jump) and Kenny Owens (pole vault).

The Grizzlies 3,200 relay (Jon Tomko, Nick Burton, Dan Houston and Chris Glockner) also won.

Copley was second behind individual first place finishes from Jeff Brauning (200), Kerrington Smith (400), Chris Fallon (800 and 1,600). The 400 relay team (Terry Foster, Darius Evans, Brauning, Johnnie Legrair) and the 800 relay unit (Evans, Brauning, A.C. Samson-Akpan, Legrair) also won. 

Green’s Brian Dudek won the 3,200.  

Posted by Michael Beaven for the Beacon Journal

The Green baseball team has rebounded after a dismal start to win a Division I sectional championship and advance to a Canton district semifinal matchup with Jackson 2 p.m. Tuesday at Thurman Munson Memorial Stadium.

Green defeated GlenOak 12-1 Tuesday and then beat Perry 9-5 Wednesday. The Bulldogs began the season 1-7 and now are 12-9 after winning 11 of 13 games.

The Bulldogs have won three consecutive district championships.

Green seniors Tim Bleil, Scott Foster, Jason Malloy and J.T. Warmus have been key contributors for coach Jon Wallace, along with junior Cole Morozek.

Jackson advanced after defeating North Canton Hoover 9-5 Wednesday. Senior Britt Williams hit two home runs for the Polar Bears (20-3) and senior Cody Irwin also homered.

The Polar Bears, coached by Kevin Miller, are the top-seed in the district.