Baseball player of the year: KR's McNeil breaks out in 2009

Cougars senior improved his offensive game in a big way, helping KR to another CBC title.

Kenton Ridge High School's Randon McNeil was named the 2009 News-Sun All-Area Baseball Player of the Year after a season in which he hit nine home runs and had 35 RBIs, 30 runs scored, six doubles and a .398 average.

Staff photo by Barbara J. Perenic Kenton Ridge High School's Randon McNeil was named the 2009 News-Sun All-Area Baseball Player of the Year after a season in which he hit nine home runs and had 35 RBIs, 30 runs scored, six doubles and a .398 average.

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By David Jablonski, Staff Writer Updated 7:51 AM Monday, June 15, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Two years ago, Randon McNeil vaulted himself over the railing at Carleton Davidson Stadium and onto the front page of the Springfield News-Sun sports section.

The photo of he and teammate Ryan Black defined the thrill of victory as the Kenton Ridge High School baseball team celebrated a regional championship in 2007.

With this story, McNeil again enters the spotlight. He turned in the most impressive season for the area’s best team, and he is the 2009 News-Sun All-Area Baseball Player of the Year.

Of all the moments from his senior year, one grand moment stands above the rest.

McNeil hit an area-best nine home runs in 2009, but he will remember one better than the others — the grand slam he hit against Greenon off the scoreboard at Tom Randall Field. As he did before every at-bat this season, he recited two bible verses (Philippians 4:13 and Mark 10:25) before stepping to the plate.

“I was rounding first base, and I heard this big clunk, and I saw it bounce off,” McNeil said. “I was like, ‘Oh, that’s sweet.”

Few from the Class of 2009 had the year McNeil did. He was part of Central Buckeye Conference championship teams in golf, basketball and baseball.

This spring, the power numbers made the difference for McNeil. Along with his nine home runs, he had 35 RBIs, 30 runs scored, six doubles and a .398 average.

“He had a great year,” Kenton Ridge coach Aaron Shaffer said. “He worked hard in the offseason with his strength. ... He kind of exceeded expectations.”

Early morning winter workouts at the Springfield Athletic Club with teammate Luke Mamer helped McNeil improve his strength before baseball season. His dad, who he credited for a lot of his success, also took him to batting practice every Sunday in the winter at Extra Innings, an indoor facility in Miamisburg.

Kenton Ridge needed improvement from McNeil and other players in the lineup because it had lost most of its top run producers in 2008 to graduation. McNeil delivered, and the numbers he put up in his senior year helped him get a chance to play baseball at Mount Vernon Nazarene University, a program that has a .674 winning percentage since 1990 under head coach Keith Veale.

“I’ve always been on winning teams,” McNeil said, “and I want to keep that going.”

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0351 or djablonski@coxohio.com.

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