Dellinger, Dorner take top honors

Two Midwest Athletic Conference Baseball Player of the Year awards, All-Ohio honors, potency at the plate and on the hill.

Reece Dellinger has shown that he is one of the best players in the area.

Making him the 2022 Daily Standard Baseball Dream Team Player of the Year was a relatively easy choice.

The Coldwater senior proved his mettle with a solid right arm and a crafty bat to help the Cavaliers win their 33rd MAC baseball title - and 22nd outright title - in advancing to the Division III district final before bowing out to Eastwood in a 3-2 loss.

Dellinger shared the MAC's top honor in 2021 with New Bremen's Mitchell Hays after going 5-1 with a 0.94 earned run average and 70 strikeouts last season on the mound and batting .367 with an area-best 11 doubles and 31 runs batted in, but just missed being the Dream Team Player of the Year, with teammate Zach McKibben winning after he led the area with a .462 batting average.

In his senior season, Dellinger upped his game, going 7-2 as the No. 1 pitcher for coach Brian Harlamert's staff with an ERA of 0.63 and a WHIP of 0.94 in 55 1/3 innings, Dellinger struck out 80 against 23 walks and allowed just five earned runs.

At the plate, Dellinger led the team with a .438 batting average with 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 28 RBI and 21 runs scored.

Dellinger added his second MAC Player of the Year award and was selected to the second team All-Ohio in Division III by the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association.

COACH OF THE YEAR

John Dorner is known for winning.

With over 500 wins and three state titles to his credit during 30 years at St. Henry, Dorner could have easily slipped into retirement while serving in his role as general manager of the college summer team Grand Lake Mariners.

But when the coaching job at Celina came open, Dorner took it, and his success bred success.

Dorner's effort to get the Bulldogs into the Division II district semifinals and post their best record since 2017 made him the choice for Dream Team Coach of the Year.

After taking a year off, two counting the COVID-19-canceled 2020 season when he turned the Redskins over to former player Mike Gast, Dorner traded his red and white gear for green and white, inheriting a team that went 7-18 a year ago and had won just 20 games over the past three contested seasons.

Inheriting a squad that featured several players who have seen varsity time for multiple seasons, Dorner brought the work ethic that turned St. Henry into a state powerhouse, and it began to flow through his team. The Bulldogs took advantage of their FieldTurf infield at Montgomery Field to get games in when other teams had to postpone due to the cold and rain.

Buoyed by seniors Quinn Andrew and Dylan Feister and getting big contributions from freshmen Nick Steinbrunner and his cousin Brady Steinbrunner, sophomores Jack Hassan, Zander Jones and Zach Greber and junior Blayne Aller, the Bulldogs finished 18-11, the most wins since 2017 when Andy Mikesell - who played for Dorner at St. Henry - guided Celina to an 18-7 record.

The Bulldogs reached the district semifinals, losing to WBL foe - and Dorner's alma mater - Wapakoneta 3-0 at Bluffton University.

After having just two players - Andrew and senior Brandon Staugler - earn WBL honors in 2021, Celina placed four players on the All-WBL list in 2022: Andrew (first team), Feister (second team), Hassan (third team) and Nick Steinbrunner (honorable mention).

The Daily Standard's 2022 Baseball Dream Team:
CATCHER
Vince Hulse, New Bremen
.460 avg., 8 doubles, 22 runs, 13 stolen bases

FIRST BASE
Josh Kaup, Coldwater
.289 avg., 8 doubles, 16 RBI

SECOND BASE
Braylen Harlamert, Coldwater
.360 avg., 4 doubles, 2 triples, 28 runs

SHORTSTOP
Aaron Thieman, New Bremen
.377 avg., 4 doubles, 15 stolen bases, 17 runs

THIRD BASE
Dylan Feister, Celina
.357 avg., 7 doubles, 26 runs, 23 RBI

OUTFIELD
Jack Hassan, Celina
.394 avg., 5 doubles, 17 runs

Logan Kohne, Minster
.384 avg., 5 doubles, 32 runs

Drew Lause, Marion Local
.288 avg., 3 doubles, 23 runs, 15 stolen bases

DESIGNATED HITTER
Johnny Nixon, Minster
.474 avg., 7 doubles, 20 runs, 23 RBI

UTILITY PLAYER
AJ Harlamert, Coldwater
.391 avg., 8 doubles, 24 RBI, 10 stolen bases

PITCHERS
Reece Dellinger, Coldwater
7-2, 0.63 ERA, 80 strikeouts

Nolan Schmitz, St. Henry
6-3, 2.47 ERA, 109 strikeouts

Quinn Andrew, Celina
6-2, 2.09 ERA, 49 strikeouts

HONORABLE MENTION
Celina: Nick Steinbrunner
Coldwater: Adam Hrycko
Fort Recovery: Landon Post
Marion Local: Parker Hess
Minster: Eli Rindler
New Bremen: Nick Alig
Parkway: Riley Samples
St. Henry: Seth Heitkamp
St. Marys: Ty Kiehl