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DICK'S Sporting Goods Applauds GMC Baseball Stars
DICK'S Sporting Goods honors the overall quality of baseball talent showcased on the diamonds of the Greater Miami Conference (GMC). Each season, the GMC is exceptionally well represented in the Ohio High School Athletic Association (OHSAA) state tournament. The conference’s incredibly tough competition prepares its teams well for the pressure-packed demands of postseason play.
At the conclusion of each regular season, GMC head coaches gather to assess the campaign just completed and undertake the difficult task of selecting the league’s top performers. From assembling the all-conference squads to naming the “Pitcher of the Year,” the “Athlete of the Year,” and ultimately the “Coach of the Year,” these decisions reflect the very best the GMC has to offer.
The 2026 season saw Oak Hills ace Ryan Murphy deliver a dominant performance on the mound. The Highlander junior led every major pitching category the GMC tracks. He posted a phenomenal 0.74 ERA to lead the league, recorded a conference-best 9 victories, and topped the GMC with 81 strikeouts.
Across his first two varsity seasons, Murphy has already amassed 133 strikeouts. Even more impressively, in 57 innings pitched this spring, he surrendered only 6 earned runs — a testament to his command, competitiveness, and consistency.
In a fitting nod to Ryan Murphy’s virtually untouchable performance this season, the GMC head coaches selected him as the league’s “Pitcher of the Year.”
Ryan Murphy Oak Hills Highlanders "Pitcher of the Year"
(photo compliments of Oak Hills Athletic Department)
An outstanding GMC baseball player for three consecutive seasons, Wil Kraus stepped forward in 2026 to make his presence felt on a highly successful Highlander baseball team. The Oak Hills senior finished third in the GMC with a .456 batting average and led the league in home runs with seven. While maintaining a remarkably consistent average, Kraus also hit with authority, posting a .937 slugging percentage. His production included 11 doubles and 3 triples to go with his 7 home runs.
Kraus’ varsity career has been nothing short of exceptional. His three-year batting averages — .382 as a sophomore, .433 as a junior, and .456 as a senior — reflect both steady growth and elite performance. Undeniably talented, he has earned First Team All-GMC honors in every season of his varsity career. A Wright State University baseball commit, Kraus has demonstrated leadership, maturity, and a complete offensive skill set.
Based on his outstanding senior season and his on-field leadership, the GMC head baseball coaches selected Wil Kraus as the conference’s “Player of the Year.”
Wil Kraus Oak Hills Highlanders "Player of the Year"
(Photo compliments of Oak Hills Athletic Department)
In a GMC race that went down to virtually the final series of the regular season, Head Coach Shawn Sowders positioned his Oak Hills Highlanders to compete for the coveted conference crown before finally succumbing to perennial power Mason. Ultimately, Oak Hills finished just one game out of first place with an outstanding 14–4 GMC record and a 19–7 overall slate. While the Highlanders and Lakota East tied with identical 14–4 league marks, this season represents Oak Hills’ highest finish since 2022.
Fundamentally strong on both sides of the game, the Highlanders scored 148 runs in conference play while surrendering only 52, a testament to their balance, discipline, and execution. Based on Oak Hills’ performance against a demanding GMC schedule — and in recognition of Coach Sowders’ program-building dedication — the GMC head coaches selected Shawn Sowders as the 2026 GMC “Coach of the Year.”
Head Coach Shawn Sowders Oak Hills Highlanders GMC "Coach of the Year"
(Photo compliments of Oak Hills Athletic Department)
Three GMC Softball Teams Qualify for "Sweet Sixteen"
Proving that Greater Miami Conference (GMC) softball is more than up to the challenge of the State tournament, three GMC schools have earned their way into the OHSAA state-wide "Sweet Sixteen", which is also known as the regional semi-finals.
League champion, Lakota East (17-1 and 24-5) plays league rival Mason (13-5 and 18-11) on May 27th at 5:00 PM at Miami University.
While Oak Hills (15-3 and 22-25) squares off against Grove City on May 27th at 2:00 PM at London High School.
Checkout the OHSAA State Championship Bracket link:
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GMC Track Records Fall
In the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) Track and Field Championships just completed, three GMC records fell.
On the girls side of the track, Mason senior, Azarae Hawkins, bettered the previous 100 Meter Dash time by running a National Federation Accredited time of 11.92 seconds.
While on the girls relay circuit, the Mason 400 Meter Relay team of: Nora Moore, Kate Buckley, Taylor Birdsong and Azarae Hawkins set a new GMC mark with a time of 47.3 seconds.
Girls GMC Records Link: GMC Girls Track and Field Records
On the boys side of the all-weather oval, the Princeton Viking 400 Meter Relay team of: BJ Martin, Tyreke Smith, Jordan Hall and Monsanna Torbert posted a conference record time of 41.7 seconds.
Boys GMC Records link: GMC Boys Track and Field Records
DICK'S Sporting Goods Salutes GMC Softball Standouts
DICK'S Sporting Goods is proud to honor the Greater Miami Conference (GMC) softball outstanding achievers for the 2026 season. Year in and year out, the GMC ranks among the very best in Ohio and is frequently represented in the OHSAA’s final rounds of tournament championship play. While the league is filled with exceptional players who make the GMC “a tough out,” at the end of each season the head coaches gather to reflect on the campaign just completed and then undertake the very difficult task of selecting the “best of the best.”
In a conference dominated by outstanding players, a pair of seniors carried the day with Oak Hills ace Annaliese Szabo earning "Pitcher of the Year" mound honors, while Hamilon's Emili Schappacher brought home the all-around "Player of the Year" accolades.
Annaliese Szabo epitomized senior "mound presence" as she mowed opponent batters at a 1.01 ERA clip - which led the league, followed by her conference leading 17 victories and then for icing on the cake, Szabo led the GMC with 206 strikeouts. Her field leadership was tremendous asset to the Highlanders as they finished the league season in second with a 15-3 record and 21-5 overall slate.
Annaliese Szabo Oak Hills GMC "Pitcher of the Year"
(Photo cmpliments of Oak Hills Athletic Department)
Hamilton senior Emili Schappacher came to play every single day, giving the Big Blue their best chances for success. A four-year varsity starter, Schappacher provided a level of senior leadership that is difficult to match. She was both an offensive force at the plate and an outstanding pitcher in the circle.
Doing “double duty” on a daily basis, Schappacher finished 3rd in the conference with a .526 batting average and 4th in RBIs. On the mound, she ranked 3rd in ERA at 2.36, 3rd in wins with 13, and 2nd in strikeouts with 147. Her career excellence is further underscored by being selected first-team All-GMC in all four of her varsity seasons. Based on her all-around exceptional abilities, the GMC Head coaches selected Emili Schappacher as the GMC "Player of the Year".
Emili Schappacher Hamilton GMC "Player of the Year"
(Photo compliments of Hamilton Athletic Department)
In an incredibly competitive softball league that showcases some of Ohio’s best action, it is equally evident that the GMC is home to some of the state’s finest coaches. In most seasons, more often than not, a GMC program finds itself playing deep into the final rounds of the OHSAA State Tournament.
This year, after posting a dominant 17–1 conference record (23–5 overall), the Lakota East Thunderhawks — under the leadership of Head Coach Steve Crawford — captured the coveted league title. It marked the Thunderhawks’ first GMC Championship since 2019.
Statistically, both offensively and defensively, “the Hawks” owned the diamond. They scored 193 runs in conference play while surrendering only 47. In recognition of his leadership, program-building savvy, and the Thunderhawks’ championship performance, the GMC head coaches selected Lakota East's Steve Crawford as the GMC "Coach of the Year".
Head Coach Steve Crawford Lakota East GMC "Coach of the Year
(Photo compliments of Lakota East SID Dan Hilen)
