Akron Firestone High School Baseball
2010 Team Preview

Team Information:

The 2010 Akron Firestone High School Baseball team returns nine (9) lettermen
including four (4) players selected as All-City selections from the 2009 squad.
Firestone will bring back four of their top five pitchers from the 2009 team to
improve on a 15-14 record from 2009.

The Falcons compete in the Akron City Series and once again this year will face
one of the most difficult non-league schedules in the area which will include
Lake, Cuyahoga Falls, North Canton, Archbishop Hoban, Massillon, Wadsworth, Glenoak,
Nordonia, Stow, Zanesville, and the 2009 Division II State Runner-up and 2010
Nationally Ranked Walsh Jesuit.

The returning Senior Class is small in numbers but very strong in talent and experience
as five starters return and several players being actively recruited by college level
programs. The team will be led by 2009 All-City selections, SS/OF/RHP, Sr. Connor Mathis,
1B/RHP, Sr. Thomas Bekelesky, 2B/3B, Jr. Jordan Shaffer, and 3B/RHP, Jr. George "Tre" Turner.
Also playing a major role this year will be returning starters 3B/OF/C, Sr. Evan Mills, SS/RHP,
Sr. Brett Alltop, 1B/LHP, Jr. Joe Cianciola, and returning letterman C, Jr. Kyle Reilly.

Brad Lightfoot enters his eighth full season as Head Coach (110-96) and his tenth year working
with the Firestone High School Baseball Program. The Varsity Assistant Coach will be Tom Lentz
(University of Cincinnati), while the Junior Varsity will be run by Jeff Sloan (University of Akron),
the Frosh will be under the guidance of Bryan Celik (University of Akron), and the first season for
the Litchfield Middle School team will be run by Henry Payden.

Contact Information:
Brad Lightfoot
Cell: (330) 715-6226
Home: (330) 869-8120
E-mail: blightfoot@neo.rr.com
Web Site: www.falconbaseball.org

Coach Background:

Head Coach - Brad Lightfoot is entering his eighth full year (110-96) and his tenth year working with
the baseball program. Brad was born and raised in Logan, Ohio, a city in Southeast Ohio where he played
baseball and football at Logan High School. Brad graduated from Logan High School in 1979, and was then
recruited to play baseball at Kent State University where he went on to receive an Associates Degree in
Architecture. He then went on to earn a Bachelors of Science Degree in Civil Engineering from the University
of Akron, and his Masters in Business Administration again from Kent State University. Brad is married, and
with his wife of 23 years, Loraine, has two children Alexandrea (18), a freshman at Ohio State, and Spencer (17),
a junior at Firestone High School. The family resides in West Akron.

2001 Team 18-9, Hudson Sectional Champions
2003 Team 13-15, City Runner-Up, Named All-City Coach of the Year
2004 Team 13-13, City Champions, Named All-City Coach of the Year
2005 Team 19-9, City Champions, (Neil Lindgren, All-City Player of the Year)
2006 Team 15-13, City Runner-Up, Hudson Sectional Runner-Up
2008 Team 14-14, City Champions, Named All-City Coach of the Year, (Jonathan Kienzle, Beacon Journal Scholar Athlete of the Year)
2009 Team 15-14, Hudson Sectional Runner-Up

Returning Varsity Starters:

Thomas Bekelesky, 1B/RHP, Sr., 6'-1", 225 Lbs

(7) 2B, HR, & (12) RBI in 2009
3-5 2009 Record w/ 35 K
All-City Selection in 2008 & 2009
Academic All-City Selection in 2008 & 2009
2008 Firestone Co-Pitcher of the Year
2009 Firestone Most Improved Student
2010 Ohio Buckeye Scout Top 100
Mount Union University/Ashland University - Recruit

Connor Mathis, SS/OF/RHP, Sr., 6'-0", 185 Lbs

.482 BA in 2008 with 18 SB
School Record 55 hits in 2009 (Northeast Ohio Top 5 Hitters)
(10) 2B, (1) 3B, and (33) RBI in 2009
5-1 2009 Record
All-City Selection in 2008 and 2009
Academic All-City Selection 2008 & 2009
All-City Selection in Football 2009
2009 Firestone Outstanding Pitcher
2010 Division I Blue Chip Prospect
Mount Union University/Xavier University - Recruit

Brett Alltop, SS/RHP, Sr., 6'-0", 165 Lbs

1-2 2009 Record

Evan Mills, 3B/OF/C, Sr., 6'-0", 190 Lbs

.317 BA , (7) 2B, and (19) RBI in 2009
.411 OBP in 2009
All-City Selection in 2009
Academic All-City Selection in 2009

Joe Cianciola, 1B/LHP, Jr., 5'-10", 210 Lbs

.364 BA , and (2) 2B in 2009
2-3 2009 Record
Academic All-City Selection in 2009
Projected 2011 Division I Prospect

Jordan Shaffer, 3B/2B, Jr., 5'-9", 170 Lbs

.560 BA, (16) 2B, (1) 3B, (2) HR in 2009
School Record .560 BA in 2009 (#1 in Northeast Ohio)
(27) RBI, .824 SLG, and .658 OBP in 2009
All-City Selection in 2008 & 2009
Academic All-City Selection in 2008 & 2009
2009 Firestone Outstanding Offensive Player
2009 Firestone Scholar Athlete
Projected 2011 Division I Prospect

George "Tre" Turner, 3B/RHP, Jr., 5'-10", 210 Lbs

.365 BA, (10) 2B, (2) HR, & (21) RBI in 2009
All-City Selection in 2009
Academic All-City Selection in 2009
Projected 2011 Division I Prospect

Team Outlook:

The Falcons are looking to take back the regular season Akron City Championship and win the City
Series Championship. It is also a goal to win the Hudson Sectional Championship, and set their
sights on performing well and competing in the Hudson District in 2010. The team last season fell
short with a disappointing loss to Solon in the Hudson Sectional Final in 2009. The team brings
a strong experienced pitching staff returning four starting pitchers, Tom Bekelesky, Connor Mathis,
Brett Alltop, and Joe Cianciola, and hope for repeat outstanding performances at the plate by
returning starter Jordan Shaffer and Connor Mathis. The team will benefit by the return of Evan Mills,
George "Tre" Turner, and Kyle Reilly and the addition of newcomers Kyle Reilly, and Phil McIntyre.

Akron City Series Outlook:

The top two teams in the Akron City Series are expected to be Akron Firestone and Akron Ellet, regular
season co-champions and city series champions who will be very experienced with a roster heavy with
senior leadership. Akron Ellet will return three All-City selections form 2009; RHP Shaun Greathouse,
OF Matt Merring, and IF Steve Lively. Akron Firestone hopes to regain their pitching effectiveness
from 2008, and expand on the prolific offense from 2009 to regain the City title.