By Tom Nader

Publisher and Editor

As important as a batter is that hits for power and average, having a player star on the defensive side of the field is a luxury that coaches wish they could share across all nine positions.

These are the players that make the difficult plays look easy.

The players that make the impossible possible.

The players that win games for their teams.

Flashing the leather on the baseball diamond is a skill that separates the playmakers from the players.

And the best are so valuable that their award is made out of gold.

The Gold Gloves.

And this year’s recipients are presented below, as I proudly introduce my 9th annual High School Baseball Gold Glove winners.

JACK LANG

AURORA

Senior catcher

Notable Defensive Statistics: 84.1 innings caught, .989 fielding percentage, 94 total chances, 4 assists, 89 putouts, 1 error.

Coach Trent Dalton: Jack has caught in 99 percent of our games this season, with the only exception being a doubleheader early in the year. He has done a tremendous job behind the plate, consistently blocking to limit extra-base opportunities for opponents. His efforts have created key chances for us to turn double plays and record crucial outs.

BEN LUKASIK

AURORA

Senior centerfielder

Notable Defensive Statistics: 29 total chances, 27 putouts, .931 fielding percentage, 2 errors.

Coach Trent Dalton: Ben has done a tremendous job anchoring the outfield this season. His ability to track down fly balls in the gaps and deep centerfield have saved countless runs. He’s been a reliable presence as our everyday starting centerfielder for the past two years.

WYATT JANUSKA

CRESTWOOD

Junior centerfielder

Notable Defensive Statistics: Zero errors, 1.000 fielding percentage.

Coach Chris Stanley: Wyatt is a prototypical outfielder. He is fast, has a great arm and is an absolute ballhawk. He has really grown into the position after transitioning from the infield. He has stolen five or six hits from our opponents and his arm has kept runners at bay all season.

GRADY EADER

FIELD

Senior shortstop

Notable Defensive Statistics: 55 total chances, 38 assists, 14 putouts, .945 fielding percentage, 3 errors, 2 double plays.

Coach Joe Peterson: Grady has been an anchor at shortstop for the last three seasons. We have been so fortunate to have him in our program and watch him compete day in and day out. He is a very gifted athlete and an incredible baseball player. Defensively, he can make all the plays. He has an elite glove, a plus arm to make the play in the hole and the athleticism to get to tough ones that others can’t get to.

BRANDYN BOGUCKI

GARFIELD

Junior shortstop

Notable Defensive Statistics: Two-time All-Ohio Second Team, three time All-MVAC.

Coach Mike Paes: Brandon has started at second or short for three years. Ever since he was a freshman, I have had complete belief that he will make every play. He exceeded a lot of expectations as a freshman and has only gotten better each year. He’s a very respectful kid who plays the game the right way. He is a true baseball player.

TEDDY MACCARONE

KENT ROOSEVELT

Junior shortstop, catcher

Notable Defensive Statistics: Career .945 fielding percentage, 53.2 innings caught, 1 passed ball as catcher, 38 innings at shortstop, 19 assists, 10 putouts, .980 fielding percentage this season.

Coach Mike Haney: Teddy has proven himself to be one of the finest shortstops in the Suburban League and surrounding areas. His selflessness to take on the catcher position this season, after we had three preseason injuries at the position (two of which were season ending), elevates him to another level. He has shown the ability to receive, catch, block and lead our defense with a seamless transition for never having caught before. His elite athleticism has allowed our defense to remain a strength on a nightly basis.

MADDOX SMITH

MOGADORE

Sophomore centerfielder

Notable Defensive Statistics: 1.000 fielding percentage, 19 total chances.

Coach Chris Williams: As the leader of the outfield, Maddox’s ability to get great reads on the ball off of the bat allows him to utilize his athleticism to track down balls from gap to gap. Once he makes the catch or cuts off a gap shot, his above-average arm keeps runners from advancing.

MATTHEW FULLER

RAVENNA

Junior catcher

Notable Defensive Statistics: .981 fielding percentage, 90 putouts, 13 assists, 105 total chances.

Coach Lee Lovejoy: Matt has taken a big step for us behind the plate this year. After catching every inning for us in 2024, he has kept his ironman-like mentality and stays on the same pace for 2025.

SEAN BOVEINGTON

ROOTSTOWN

Senior third base, shortstop, second base, catcher, pitcher

Notable Defensive Statistics: .952 fielding percentage, 4 errors in 83 chances.

Coach Keith Waesch: During his high-school career, Sean has played every infield position for us at one time or another with the exception of first base. Sean will do anything we ask of him and never complain. He’s been a starter for three years, but is the definition of a utility player due to his versatility. Sean currently leads our team this spring in doubles (5) and RBI (13), and will certainly be missed when we take the field in the spring of 2026.

BRAEDYN WALDEN

SOUTHEAST

Sophomore centerfielder

Notable Defensive Statistics: 19 putouts, .950 fielding percentage, 1 error.

Coach John Kinsey: Braedyn is a rangy centerfielder, who covers a lot of ground and has taken a huge step from freshman to sophomore year being a leader. He has good speed and a great first step, which has allowed him to play any ball hit gap to gap. As his arm strength continues to improve, he will continue to be tested less and less by base-runners. He is everything you want out of a centerfielder.

CALEB MILLER

SOUTHEAST

Senior first base

Notable Defensive Statistics: .913 fielding percentage, 80 total chances, 70 putouts.

Coach John Kinsey: Caleb has been a solid force for us at first base, leading an infield that on any given day consists of him and three sophomores and freshmen. He has dug out a lot of balls over there on less-than-stellar throws and been a leader of our infield with communication and coverage calls.

JACK BATTEN

STREETSBORO

Senior shortstop, pitcher

Notable Defensive Statistics: 2 errors at shortstop

Coach Chris Scisciani: Jack has been our shortstop since his freshman year. He will be a four-year letterman. He has received Second Team All-Metro Athletic Conference honors in 2023 and 2024. He also won the Coach’s Award for our team in 2022. We are a totally different baseball team when he is playing shortstop.

LANDON MCCLAIN

WATERLOO

Senior centerfielder

Notable Defensive Statistics: 24 putouts, zero errors.

Coach Jeremy Randles: Landon does a great job for us in centerfield. He covers a lot of ground and makes amazing plays out there.

KEEGAN KISER

WINDHAM

Freshman shortstop, catcher, pitcher

Notable Defensive Statistics: 47 total chances, 3 errors.

Coach Jake Eye: Keegan is the epitome of a team player, willing to play and can play any position on the field. He has a deep passion for the game and an extremely high baseball IQ.  Very reliable defensively and has done a great job on the mound for us this year. He is a great young man who plays the game the right way and is mature far beyond his baseball years.  Only a freshman, he will be fun to watch as his career progresses and even more fun to coach.