The Ohio Hitmen are well educated 11-year old boys.
They know how to stick together, build bonds and succeed. As runner-up in the 11-under Nation Ohio State Tournament this month at Lou Berliner Sports Park in Columbus, the Hitmen also know how to play baseball.
“The best thing about youth sports, it can be used as a vehicle to produce outstanding young adults in society,” said Hitmen coach Trent Logan. “Playing as a team, relying on each other. We have small schools represented; kids are learning to be leaders.
"Any process helps in high school, in college. They’ve been together four years, they’ve been to college. I told them to trust the fruits will come.”
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This is Logan’s fifth season coaching the boys. They started as 7- and 8-year-olds in Oak Harbor tournaments.
“As adults, in their first jobs, when they’re looking to grow and be at their best, they know what the process is and we’ve shown them with baseball as an avenue. But it’s a process, discipline when nobody is watching.
“Success will come. Whether that’s a job, as a husband or father. Putting in the work day in and day out, that’s what it takes in anything you do. Sports aren’t forever; I’m confident these kids will use their skills and the process on the field and translate to the classroom as outstanding community leaders as they get older.”
The Hitmen formed the next season for 8-under. Logan lost only three players since and three were added.
“Our approach has always been hit first,” Logan said. “We’re not looking for walks. Be aggressive; they’ve bought in and we’re seeing the fruits of that mindset. Our extra base count, that’s four years training that approach.”
The Hitmen (17-10) have 190 hits as a team, including 51 for extra bases. It had 19 extra base hits while winning five of seven games in Columbus.
“We were no-hit the first game,” Logan said. “We started hitting the baseball and doing the things we practiced. The highlight is coming back; the next six games were impressive. We had 65 hits. We scored 55 runs. The kids pressed in their first state tournament.
"Green light hitting. Swing early in the count and be aggressive. Be ready to hit. ‘Yes, yes, yes.’ Crush the baseball.”
The Hitmen roster includes Crew Cummings, Bowen Baumgartner, Bo Guerin, Jaxon Eilrich, TJ Logan and Blake Martin from Oak Harbor; Stephan Pennington and Luke Szych from Genoa; Tripp Watson and Bryce Csehi from Oregon and Braylen Beeker from Eastwood.
“One through 11 contribute,” Logan said.
They finished runner-up as the only team from north of Georgia at the Big Orange Ripken Experience tourney in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina, as 9 year olds. They return for the even in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, this summer.
They next compete at the Travel Baseball Rankings tourney in Oregon, Ohio.
The Hitmen didn’t stop hitting in a 9-6 setback to Twinsburg in the final. Hits were 11-6 in favor of the Hitmen.
“I’ve always told the kids it’s the greatest sport on earth,” Logan said. “It brings out competition, with spirit. It takes a whole team. You want to win, but if the boys compete that’s all you can ask.”
The Hitmen allowed 22 earned runs in Columbus, with Logan, Szych and Watson the top arms. They outscored opponents 40-16 to win the Ypsilanti, Michigan, Spring Fling tournament and 33-11 to take the Castalia Early Bird tourney in seven victories overall.
“You trust your buddy, you know where everybody is and you make the plays,” Logan said. “We make plays I didn’t dream of making at 11.”
The Hitmen beat Liberty-Benton and Findlay from northwest Ohio in Columbus. Cummings drove in a walk-off run to top Liberty-Benton 6-5.
“Northwest Ohio knows how to play baseball,” the tourney director told Logan.
The Edon Big Dogs also advanced among 16 in the finals bracket. There were 165 teams at the largest state tourney in the country, including 40 in the Hitmen age group and 24 in their division.
The Hitmen’s perspective on what it looks like to commit to a shared goal and earn positive results is larger than baseball.
“For me, that continuity — my goal is to grow northwest Ohio baseball and small community teams that compete in varsity baseball,” Logan said. “We’re trying to grow those. They can only be together so long before high school comes.
“When you’re together like we are, 50 games, and practice. It goes beyond baseball. They relate as friends and brothers on the field. They hang out and it buys us a trust. I attribute our defense to kids being friends and buddies.
“We’re not bringing in new kids. We’re positive and intense … but when you stick together, it’s like three new chickens in the coup. They buy into the culture from the beginning as the core stays the same.”
mhorn@gannett.com
419-307-4892
X: @MatthewHornNH
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