Louisville Slugger released its high school pre-season All-American list, and two area players were mentioned.

Crestwood senior third baseman/right-handed pitcher David Brock and Walsh Jesuit left-handed pitcher Michael Marsinek are both on the honorable mention list. Six Ohioans made the national list.

Walsh Jesuit High School announced Wednesday that 18 seniors have signed national letters of intent to continue their academic and athletic careers in college.

The 18 student-athletes are (by sport):

Men’s Cross Country
- Tony Howkins, University of Akron
- Matt Krakora, University of Dayton

Men’s Football
- Trent Donald, Gannon University
- Kevin Enright, Duquesne University
- Brock Jones, Gannon University
- Ross Martin, Duke University
- Antoine Smith, Lake Erie College
- Dane O’Driscoll, Duquesne University
- Nick Wargo, Youngstown State University

Men’s Golf
- Tyler McHugh, Wright State University

Women’s Soccer
- Katie George, University of Akron
- Caitlin Jakubek, University of Akron
- Kaylee Semelsberger, University of Alabama
- Alyson Smigel, University of Dayton
- Christen Westphal, University of Florida

Wrestling
- Nate Skonieczny, University of Iowa
- Cory Stainbrook, West Virginia University

Baseball
- Graeme Frye, Slippery Rock University

Walsh Jesuit defensive tackle Dane O’Driscoll has committed to Duquesne, according to Walsh coach Gerry Rardin.

O’Driscoll is listed at 6-foot-4 and 255 pounds. He also had Mid-American Conference interest.

Former Walsh Jesuit basketball standout Evan Payne reportedly is set to leave his prep school in West Virginia.

Payne was back in Akron today at Firestone High School, but has not officially enrolled according to principal Larry Petry and Falcons basketball coach Dave Milo.

Even if he does in enroll, Milo said the Ohio High School Athletic Association will not make him eligible to play because he already played games this season for Huntington Prep.

“He is ineligible to play here,” Milo said. “He already played this year.

“I’m not sure what he is going to do.”

Payne, a 6-foot-2 and 190-pound guard, has scholarship offers and receiving interest from several colleges.

“He was in today talking with the enrollment people,” Petry said. “He lives in the district and he is entitled to go here.”

Payne’s family lived in the Firestone neighborhood in West Akron while he attended Walsh. He transferred to Huntington Prep this past summer in hopes of gaining more national exposure.

Payne was an Associated Press Division II All-Ohio selection last season and the All-Northeast Ohio Inland District Player of the Year. He averaged 24.5 points in the regular season and contributed four rebounds, four assists, three steals and two blocks per game.

Payne led Walsh to a 76-70 victory over host Firestone one year ago on Jan. 4 with 28 points.

He also shined against the Warriors biggest rivals last season, scoring 22 points against Archbishop Hoban and 30 points in one meeting against St. Vincent-St. Mary.

Payne’s most memorable basket last season came on March 12 when he launched an off-balance 3-pointer from just beyond mid-court with less than two seconds to go in overtime to defeat Buchtel 63-60 in a Division II district final at Stow. Payne grabbed a rebound, then dribbled to his right and proceeded up the court to his left when he shot the ball off the backboard and through the net to give him 18 points.

He scored 16 points in Walsh’s 63-51 loss to eventual state champion St. V-M in a regional semifinal in Canton on March 17.

Payne set the Walsh single-game record for scoring, twice reaching 37 points. His first 37-point game came against visiting Hoban in a 71-66 win on Jan. 22, 2010 and his second 37-point game came against visiting Cleveland St. Ignatius in a 65-58 win on Feb. 6, 2011.

The University of Akron, Cleveland State, Loyola (Ill.), Nebraska, Southern California, Central Florida, Kent State, Texas Christian, Central Michigan and Toledo have all been involved in recruiting Payne.

Huntington Prep is a self-described “basketball factory” that features sophomore Andrew Wiggins, a 6-foot-7 forward from Toronto, who is the No. 1 college recruit in the class of 2014 according to rivals.com, scout.com and espn.com. Wiggins has scholarship offers from several colleges.

The Express also have Missouri recruits Negus Webster-Chan (6-foot-6) and Stefan Jankovic (6-foot-10) who are from Toronto and West Virginia recruit Elijah Macon (6-foot-8) who hails from Columbus.

Coach Rob Fulford started the basketball academy three years ago in Huntington.

The national recognition continues this week for Walsh Jesuit senior kicker Ross Martin. On Thursday, Martin was named to the USA Today All-USA first-team.

Martin, 5-foot-10 and 183 pounds, was named to the Sports Illustrated All-America second-team list earlier this week.

Martin, who is verbally committed to Duke, was an All-Beacon Journal selection this season after making 38-of-38 extra points and converting nine field goals.

Walsh Jesuit coach Gerry Rardin said the national recognition is well deserved for Martin. He said Martin will likely report to Duke in June.

“The most I will remember is that we could go for a field goal most any time,” Rardin said.

Walsh Jesuit senior kicker Ross Martin was named to the Sports Illustrated All-America second-team list on Monday.

Martin, who is verbally committed to Duke, was a first-team all-Beacon Journal selection this past season.

Two members of the Walsh Jesuit baseball team have found homes at colleges and will continue their academic and athletic careers at the next level after graduation.

Drew Miletti, a 5-foot-9, 180-pound second baseman, will attend Ohio Wesleyan University, a Division III program. Miletti was instrumental in leading the team to a 20-3 season in 2011 and the school’s seventh national ranking in the past eight years.

A two-year varsity starter, Miletti received Walsh Jesuit’s 2011 Gold Glove award and named All-Conference Honorable Mention.
“Drew Miletti is a fierce competitor when he takes the field, and he is a winner,” said Chris Kaczmar,
Walsh Jesuit’s head baseball coach.

Walsh’s centerfielder-catcher Graeme Frye, 18, signed a letter of intent to play for Division II Slippery Rock University

As leadoff batter for the Warriors, Frye had a batting average of .403 with four home runs and 16 RBIs with 27 runs scored last season. Frye was instrumental in leading the Warriors to the Division II state championship game in 2009 and 2010, as well as leading the team to a 20-3 season in 2011.

The Warriors have also received national ranking in 2009, 2010, and 2011. Frye, a three-year varsity starter is the recipient of Walsh Jesuit’s 2011 Gold Glove award. He was also named the 2011 Offensive Player of the Year, and was a member of First Team All Conference in 2011.

The Walsh Jesuit football team could be looking at a No. 1 seed in Division II Region 5 when the Ohio High School Athletic Association announces the postseason pairings Sunday.

Projections analyst Joe Eitel says Walsh controls its own destiny with the top seed.

The Warriors (9-1) play host to Notre Dame-Cathedral Latin (5-4) on Friday night in the final regular season game.

“NDCL is a very skilled team,” Walsh coach Gerry Rardin said. “They play fast on defense and have many different and effective looks on offense.”

Rardin said the keys will be to prevent the big play and control their blitzing defense.

Rardin said several players have performed well for Walsh including quarterback Nick Wargo (Youngstown State commit), tailback Brock Jones and linemen Garrett Steinbeck, Trent Donald, Antoine Smith, DJ Aquilar and Dane O’Driscoll.

“We told team we must continue this week as all the previous, that our goal is to improve,” Rardin said.

The Cuyahoga Valley Christian Academy girls’ tennis finished fourth in the Division II state coaches’ poll this week – the highest area finish this season.

In Division I, Walsh Jesuit was No. 8 and North Canton Hoover was No. 11. Hudson finished tied for 13th.

The state tournament is this weekend (Friday and Saturday) at Ohio State University.

Dublin Jerome and Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy finished No. 1 in the respective Division I and Division II polls.

Walsh Jesuit football coach Gerry Rardin was very pleased with the way the Warriors played in Buffalo last weekend.

Walsh defeated Canisius (New York) 45-27 on Oct. 1.

Rardin credited the defensive line with a strong effort including DJ Aguilar and lineman Dane O’Driscoll. Running back Brock Jones ran nine times for 196 yards and three touchdowns.

“We had good focus on a long road trip,” Rardin said. “We ran the ball well and played good defense at times.”

Walsh plays host Hoban at 7 p.m. Friday. Rardin said the keys for Walsh include moving the ball effectively on offense and playing four solid quarters of defense.

“Hoban plays very good defense and attempts to confuse with multiple (offensive formations),” Rardin said.