Two Moeller baseball champions heading to UC's Bearcats, Big 12

AKRON, Ohio – Among the blue-pinstriped young men of Moeller dogpiling on the mound Saturday over an Ohio Division I state baseball championship were a couple of 'Cats. That's Bearcats as in University of Cincinnati-bound baseball players.

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Seniors Charlie Niehaus and Carson Marsh were key cogs of Moeller's ninth state title and their first since 2015. After hoisting a state trophy at Akron's Canal Park, they'll next play at UC in the Big 12 for a coach to be named later.

Niehaus can pick it

Shortstop Niehaus was a two-year starter for Tim Held's Crusaders, hitting .397 as a junior and .291 coming into Saturday's state final. Niehaus led the ever-competitive Greater Catholic League-South in runs batted in with 28 and belted two homers this season.

"They (UC) are getting an outstanding defender and an even better person," Held said of Niehaus. "Charlie didn't have a great start to the year but what he's done in the second half of the season since we moved him to the five-hole is he's been consistent. The plays that he made and the plays that are really tough that he makes look so easy, it's not normal for a shortstop."

Saturday, he had four assists in Moeller's 4-1 victory over Olentangy Orange. He ended his high school career in the best way possible and now looks forward to the challenge of UC and the Big 12. Is he keenly aware of the coaching change to come?

"It's all going to be good for us and the program," Niehaus said. "The competition will be a lot of fun. You've got to work hard for it. Here at Moeller, we grind every day. Being so prepared is a good step for me going to college."

Niehaus plans to room with Marsh.

Marsh puts up goose eggs

The Moeller right-hander got the save in the Crusaders' 2-0 state semifinal victory over Walsh Jesuit, going the final two innings, allowing one hit and striking out one. For the season he was 3-1 over 18.1 innings and striking out 30. Amazingly, he had an ERA of 0.00 for the season.

"I've got a really good defense behind me that I trust," Marsh said. "Charlie at short's coming to UC with me and Toby (Hueber), Connor (Christenson) and Clay (Burdette) behind me and the outfield's great as well."

Niehaus is 5-foot-10 inches, 170 pounds and Marsh is 5-foot-10 and 160 pounds. Big 12 college nutrition should help both players.

"Carson (Marsh) is just a battler," Held said. "That's where I would project him to be for the Bearcats at 90-92 (miles per hour). When you see him up close, he's going to put on more weight, he's going to throw harder. He's got a fantastic slider and is still working on that change-up. He's going to come in bad situations with runners on base and he's going to battle and get people out. He's not afraid of those spots."

Neither Niehaus nor Marsh had heard any updates on the upcoming coaching staff as of the weekend.

"We know we'll get a pretty qualified guy that I'm sure we'll love," Marsh said. "Going into the Big 12 is pretty big in terms of college baseball. Seeing all the upgrades they're going to make to the field is very big. Going from Under Armour to Nike is very big as well."

Moeller finished the season at 31-3 with Saturday's Division I championship. Over the past two seasons with the Crusaders, Niehaus and Marsh experienced just six losses in 66 games.