SHELBY — Quinton Albert provided the horsepower.
The North Central Ohio Player of the Year, Albert had a historic season for Shelby this spring. The junior slugger belted an area-high seven home runs — more than any other team in the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference. He lead the MOAC with a .756 slugging percentage and an other-worldly 1.274 OPS.
A right-handed hitting first baseman, Albert batted .422 with 11 doubles, 34 runs batted in and 23 runs scored. Nearly half of his hits (18 of 38) went for extra-bases.
What’s more, Albert got off to a sluggish start. He was batting just .181 with one extra-base hit through the first nine games. He batted .500 the rest of the season.
Along the way, he had three multi-home run games. That included back-to-back games against Sandusky Perkins and Clyde in which Albert was a combined 6-for-7 with four home runs, two doubles and 12 RBIs.
Albert shared the Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference Player of the Year award with Highland’s Zach Church. The Whippets’ standout was the District 9 Player of the Year in Division IV and an All-Ohio first-team selection.
Albert hits from the heart of an All-North Central Ohio lineup that includes five other first-team All-State selections. Here’s a look at the area’s most productive offensive players.
Catcher
Ezra Kurek, Mount Vernon: An Eastern Michigan recruit, Kurek led Mount Vernon to a Division II central district championship. The senior batted .434 with 13 doubles, two triples and 17 RBIs. He was an All-Ohio first-team selection.
Cam Kuhn, Madison: A senior, Kuhn batted .292 with six doubles and 18 runs. He was an Ohio Cardinal Conference first-team pick and a District 9 first-teamer.
First Base
Quinton Albert, Shelby: The North Central Ohio Player of the Year, Albert had 10 multi-hit games and six multi-RBI games. He blasted two homers and knocked in eight runs against eventual Division IV state finalist Sandusky Perkins.
Lex Grose, Plymouth: A junior, Grose batted.432 with 11 doubles, two home runs and 39 RBIs. He was a Firelands Conference first-team pick and a District 9 first-teamer in Division VII.
Second Base
Bobby Grover, Lucas: The senior was selected the Mid-Buckeye Conference Player Of the Year after batting .348 with 24 runs and 10 RBIs. Grover was a District 9 second-teamer in Division VII.
Luke Holsinger, East Knox: A senior, Holsinger batted a team-best .397 with six doubles and 20 RBIs. He was selected to the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference first team.
Third Base
Kayden Packard, Mount Vernon: A senior, Packard teamed with fellow first-teamer Ezra Kurek to make up one of the most lethal three-four combinations in north central Ohio. Packard batted .413 with eight doubles, two home runs and 23 RBIs. He joined Kurek on the All-Ohio first team in Division II.
Nick Hamler, Lexington: A senior, Hamler earned a spot on the All-Ohio first team in Division III. He batted .427 with six doubles and 18 RBIs. Hamler was an Ohio Cardinal Conference first-team pick.
Shortstop
Max Albert, Galion: An Ashland University recruit, Albert was a first-team All-Ohioan in Division IV. The senior batted .406 with five doubles, two triples, 12 RBIs and 26 runs. He stole 21 bases during the regular season and was a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference first-teamer.
Jay Jackson, Clear Fork: A senior, Jackson was the MId-Ohio Athletic Conference’s most prolific run-producer the past two seasons. He batted .444 with 21 RBIs this year. As a junior he hit .483 with 34 RBIs. Jackson was a District 9 and MOAC first-teamer.
Utility
Braxton Prosser, Galion: A Youngstown State recruit, Prosser played all over the field during his four-year varsity career. The senior batted .369 with six doubles and 21 runs and was 4-1 with a 1.31 earned run average and 43 strikeouts during the regular season. He joined teammate Max Albert on the All-MOAC first team.
Guy Trader, Mansfield Senior: A junior, Trader led the Tygers in virtually every offensive category. He batted a team-best .438 with a .550 on-base percentage, a .488 slugging percentage and a 1.038 OPS. He was also Senior High’s top pitcher. Trader was an Ohio Cardinal Conference first-team pick and a District 9 second-teamer in Division III.
Left Field
James Mahon, Ontario: The Defiance College recruit batted .312 with five doubles and 18 runs. Mahon was a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference first-team selection and a District 9 second-teamer in Division IV.
Alex Grissinger, Ashland: A senior, Grissinger was among the most productive run-producers in the Ohio Cardinal Conference. He scored 29 runs and knocked in 23 more, earning a spot on the OCC first team.
Center Field
Michael Franz, Ashland: A speedy senior, Franz was selected the Ohio Cardinal Conference Player of the Year. He batted .459 from his leadoff spot with seven doubles, four triples and 33 runs scored. He was a District 9 first-team pick.
Jonah Gribben, Centerburg: A senior, Gribben helped the Trojans reach the Division V regional semifinals. He hit .338 with eight doubles and 17 RBIs, earning a spot on the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference first team.
Right Field
Jaren Holden, Ontario: Just a sophomore, Holden batted a team-high .377 and led the Warriors with 26 RBIs and 19 runs. He was a Mid-Ohio Athletic Conference second-teamer and a District 9 honorable-mention selection in Division IV.
Judah Layton, Loudonville: A senior, Layton ranked second in the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference with a .441 batting average. He had six doubles and a team-high 19 RBIs, earning a spot on the KMAC first team.
Designated Hitter
Gavin Barker, Crestview: A senior third baseman, Barker was one of the Firelands Conference’s most productive hitters. He batted .476 with eight doubles, two triples, four homers and 22 RBIs. Barker was the Firelands Conference Player of the Year and a first-team All-Ohioan in Division VI.
Caden Ridenour, East Knox: The sophomore was selected to the Knox Morrow Athletic Conference first team after batting .333. Ridenour led the KMAC with 27 RBIs and ranked second with 10 doubles.