With the season opener just five days away it is time to take a look at the Lorain County Ironmen’s 2017 outfielders.

Jack Longo

Jack Longo is the first of six outfielders in 2017 for the Ironmen. Longo is finishing up his first season in Athens, OH at Ohio University.

The Mayfield high school graduate saw action in nine games this season and scored two runs for the Bobcats. The 6-0 foot freshman was coming off of a dominating high school career where he hit .451 as a senior in high school.

Longo was ranked by Prep Baseball as the No. 5 outfielder in the Ohio 2016 class.

Chase Knodle

Chase Knodle just finished his junior year at Baldwin Wallace and will be joining the Ironmen for the summer. Knodle just earned his third varsity letter in three years for the Yellow Jackets.

Knodle hit .342 in 29 games in 2017. The 5-8 Junior from Poland, OH drove in ten runs and scored 19 while adding in three stolen bases on the year.

Knodle performed well this year and started the final 16 games for Baldwin Wallace.

Nate Erzen

Nate Erzen is a 5-11 outfielder who just finished his freshmen season at Lake Erie University. As a member of the Storm, Erzen also saw time behind the plate, but will mainly serve in the outfield for the Ironmen.

Erzen, the Berea-Midpark high school graduate saw action in 45 games as a freshman for the Storm. He found success in his first collegiate season as he hit .272 on the season and found himself hitting towards the top of the Lake Erie Lineup.

Erzen also hit four homers and drove in 13 runs on the year. He also stole two bases for Lake Erie.

Rick Phillips

Rick Phillips is the fifth and final member of the Ironmen from Notre Dame College. Phillips is getting ready to start his junior year as a Falcon in the fall. During the 2017 season, Phillips started 36 games and hit .263 for Notre Dame.

Phillips left the yard once this season and drove in 14 runs. He was also very solid defensively for the Falcons as he committed just one error on the year.

Michael Blatchford

Michael Blatchford is currently attending Ohio Wesleyan University where he will be a senior in the fall. The 5-10 outfielder graduated from Shaker Heights High school.

Blatchford led Ohio Wesleyan in batting average this season hitting .362 in 35 games. He also led the team in hits collecting an even 50 on the year.

Blatchford added in a home run and 11 RBI.

Sam Casinelli

Sam Casinelli is the sixth outfield commit for the Ironmen this summer. Casinelli was a junior in 2017 for the Rogers State Hillcats. The 5-10 outfielder from Encinitas, CA hit .283 on the season for the Hillcats.

Casinelli doubled four times and drove in eight for Rogers State.