The Marysville Elite 17 U baseball team will host the Monarch Classic this afternoon and Saturday at Marysville High School. Pictured from left are, coach Jarod Yoakam, Owen Meffley, Tyler Drope, Jacob Wright, Garrett Lobdell, Garrett North, Drew Eaches, Chase Kilgore, Steven Shamhart, Kaleb Schultze, Michael Bonczak, Gavin Sharp, Blaine Williams, Blake Storr, Jared Yoakam, Payne Miller and Quentin Miller.
(Journal-Tribune photo by Tim Miller)
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Action is scheduled to begin this afternoon in the second annual Monarch Elite Baseball Classic at Marysville High School.
The Marysville 17 U squad will host teams from St. Paris Graham, Archbold and Vandalia-Butler.
There are two games on the schedule for today during the tournament’s round-robin format.
The Monarchs will host Graham at 4:30 p.m., followed by the Archbold-Butler contest at 6:30 p.m.
Competition will continue, beginning at 10 a.m. on Saturday when Marysville plays Archbold.
Archbold will face Graham at 12:30 p.m., Graham will tangle with Butler at 3 p.m. and the Monarchs will close out the tournament with a 5:30 p.m. battle against Butler.
The team with the best overall record will be crowned the classic’s winner.
“There was no real selection process as far as determining which teams would play here,” said Marysville High School head coach Mark Brunswick and the founder of the Elite program. “We invite teams that have good programs and with whom we have good coaching relationships.
“We bring in some friends with good programs and play each other.”
The team from Archbold, for example, is coached by Brunswick’s brother, Jeff.
Brunswick said he is looking for “progress and constant improvement” from the local 17 U squad during the tournament.
“The summer season is all about developing as a team,” he said. “It helps give us an idea on putting together our spring roster for next year and to see where we are on our depth chart.”
Brunswick also feels the tournament will be a good way to show off the Marysville community to folks from other areas of Ohio.
“We have a good community,” he said. “This is also a good way to show the community our baseball and for them to get excited about it.”
The Monarch Classic will be followed next week by the 17 U’s furthest road trip of the summer season.
The squad will travel to Nebraska to play in the Omaha Classic. The team will leave on Tuesday of next week and begin action on Thursday.
“This is going to give our kids a chance to play against a very high level of competition,” said Brunswick, “and to see other types of baseball.”
The Monarchs have been placed in the American League division for the tournament, which will be played at various high school diamonds in Omaha.
Marysville will play two games on June 15, two more on June 16 and conclude the event with a single game on June 17.
Squads from Nebraska, Wyoming, Idaho and Minnesota are among those scheduled to play in the American League.
Not only will the Monarchs play several contests, but they will also attend one game of the College World Series, which will be held in Omaha during that time.
“We will be there for the Opening Day of the College Word Series,” said Brunswick. “We want our guys to experience an environment that may be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. We want to give the kids a chance to experience the College World Series and to see the type of commitment and drive that are needed to be successful.”
Marysville will take a roster of 20 players which includes:
-Tyler Drope, infield-pitcher; Jacob Wright, infield-catcher; Gavin Sharp, outfield-pitcher; Tate Virts, infield-outfield-pitcher; Kaleb Schultz, outfield; Garrett North, infield-pitcher; Jared Yoakam, catcher;
-Steven Shamhart, first base-catcher-pitcher; Drew Eaches, infield-pitcher; Owen Meffley, outfield; Quentin Miller, infield; Blake Storr, infield-pitcher;
-Payne Miller, infield; Garrett Lobdell, infield-pitcher; Blaine Williams, outfield-pitcher; Michael Bonczak, outfield; Chase Kilgore, infield-catcher-pitcher; Josh Rychlik, outfield; Joey Watts, pitcher; and Alex Dutter, pitcher.
“I think this is going to be a monumental thing for the kids,” said Brunswick. “This is a great opportunity for people who love baseball.”