Zuccaro, Maxwell earn top FC honors

After authoring two of the best single-seasons in program history, the battery mate of Kole Maxwell and Thomas Zuccaro were selected as the best in the Firelands Conference. The St. Paul junior starting pitcher and senior catcher were at the top of the list as the All-FC baseball teams were released on May 30. Zuccaro was selected as the FC Player of the Year, while Maxwell was the Pitcher of the Year. In 27 games this season for the Flyers (16-11, 10-4), Zuccaro batted .536 (45-for-84) with 10 doubles, four triples, two home runs and and 27 RBIs. He stole 29 bases and scored 45 times from the leadoff spot this spring. As the team's catcher, Zuccaro posted a .988 fielding percentage with no passed balls and three errors. Maxwell made nine starts for St. Paul — which finished among the top two teams in the FC for a sixth straight season — and allowed just four earned runs in those games. He finished with a 6-3 record and posted a 0.49 earned run average. Maxwell scattered 28 hits — including just one extra-base hit — and had 107 strikeouts to just 21 walks in 57 2/3 innings. On May 4, Maxwell struck out 20 batters in a 2-0 seven-inning victory over Western Reserve, making him unofficially one of 27 pitchers in OHSAA history to do so. Maxwell and Zuccaro were joined on the first team by four other area players. South Central senior Karl Ferber, who was a standout pitcher throughout his career, was limited to playing first base this season for the Trojans (9-13, 8-6). He batted .412 with five doubles and 14 RBIs to land a spot on the FC first team. Western Reserve's senior duo of Logan Wiegel and Chris Buchanan were also first team selections for the Roughriders (13-11, 7-7). Wiegel batted .493 with nine doubles, one triple and 21 RBIs. Buchanan was 5-3 with a 2.75 ERA on the mound, and also hit .385 with six doubles and 26 RBIs for Western. Rounding out area first team selections was St. Paul junior Ashton Stang. The centerfielder hit .372 with six doubles, five triples and 31 RBIs for the Flyers. Area second team selections included the South Central trio of sophomore Aaron Hauler, and juniors Eric Sanders and Gunner Ray. Plymouth also had three second-teasers in seniors Trace McVey, Zach Hamman and Jansen Potts. Rounding out second team players from the area were Western Reserve junior Austin Harmeling; New London senior Carter Eibel; and St. Paul junior Alex Weaver. Landing spots on the honorable mention included South Central freshman Alex Hamons; Plymouth senior Shae Sparks; Western Reserve senior Rhett Grose; New London senior Peyton Gatzemeyer; St. Paul freshman Landon Fries; and Monroeville senior Jimmy Clingman. ----------------------------------------------- All-Firelands Conference baseball teams FIRST TEAM: Karl Ferber, South Central, Sr.; Jarek Ringler, Crestview, Jr.; Tyson Ringler, Crestview, So.; Owen Barker, Crestview, Sr.; Gavin Barker, Crestview, So.; Logan Wiegel, Western Reserve, Sr.; Chris Buchanan, Western Reserve, Sr.; Kollin Cline, Mapleton, Jr.; Zack Wrobleski, Mapleton, Jr.; Kole Maxwell, St. Paul, Jr.; Thomas Zuccaro, St. Paul, Sr.; Ashton Stang, St. Paul, Jr. Pitcher of the Year: Kole Maxwell, St. Paul. Player of the Year: Thomas Zuccaro, St. Paul. Coach of the Year: Don Keener, Crestview. SECOND TEAM: Aaron Hauler, South Central, So.; Eric Sanders, South Central, Jr.; Gunner Ray, South Central, Jr.; Trace McVey, Plymouth, Sr.; Zach Hamman, Plymouth, Sr.; Jansen Potts, Plymouth, Sr.; Matthew Volz, Crestview, Jr.; Mason Ringler, Crestview, Sr.; Austin Harmeling, Western Reserve, Jr.; Cole Vermilya, Mapleton, Jr.; Carter Eibel, New London, Sr.; Alex Weaver, St. Paul, Jr. HONORABLE MENTION: Alex Hamons, South Central, Fr.; Shae Sparks, Plymouth, Sr.; Dylan Bruner, Crestview, Jr.; Rhett Grose, Western Reserve, Sr.; Blake Benner, Mapleton, Sr.; Peyton Gatzemeyer, New London, Sr.; Landon Fries, St. Paul, Fr.; Jimmy Clingman, Monroeville, Sr.