Waynedale baseball tops All-WCAL selections

Waynedale went 12-2 in Wayne County Athletic League baseball play, outscoring league opponents 110-12 in its 12 league wins and sweeping the league’s top honors.

The Golden Bears, who have won three state championships in the past four years, most recently last year's Division V title, are 22-3 overall as of May 20 and are projected to return to the state tournament. Waynedale recorded six shutouts in league wins, relying on strong pitching and high-level defense throughout the season.

Waynedale’s only two league losses came against Chippewa in a 7-6 game and Norwayne in a 4-2 game.

Cam Miller was named the league’s Most Valuable Player after helping lead the Golden Bears to another WCAL title. Waynedale coach Lucas Daugherty was named Coach of the Year.

Miller was joined on the first team by teammates Logan Troyer, Brayden Steiner and Jordan Miller. Waynedale's Hudson Barkman earned second-team honors.

Dalton had Grady Hirst named to the first team and Reese Lecon named to the second team.

Hillsdale was represented on the first team by Kael Lewis and Knox Lewis while Aiden Hoffman and Brock Bower earned second-team honors.

Rounding out the first team were Rittman’s Spencer Welch and Odin Weirick, Smithville’s Mason Shutt and Jax Riggenbach, Norwayne’s Dan Steingass, and Chippewa’s Brody Conyers.

Chippewa had Luke Blaz, Joe Hegarty and Ayden Eby earn second-team honors. Smithville had Ben Beichler and Brayden Beard selected, Rittman had Carson Smith selected, and Norwayne had Hayden Klepper and Chaz MaxWell named to the second team.

Dalton and Hillsdale finished tied for second in the league at 8-6, followed by Chippewa at 7-7. Smithville, Norwayne and Rittman finished 6-8, and Northwestern finished 3-11.