​Granville’s Trevor Mye finds himself almost back at square one with a familiar cast around him as he coaches the Ohio Hitmen 17U summer baseball team. “I started with some of this group when we won the 13U state championship, and now many of them are seniors or have already graduated,” the former Newark ace, who now works as a local pitching instructor and serves as Licking Valley’s pitching coach, said on July 10 at Denison University. The core of that early success remains the backbone of the Hitmen, a unit that blends high school seniors, a rising junior, and recent graduates, drawing players from five Licking County programs. They closed Buckeye Elite Tournament 18U pool play with a 3-0 record after a decisive 9-1 victory over Team All-American Blue 17U from Pennsylvania and sat at 17-6-1 overall. The Hitmen had outscored their three opponents 34-13 and earned the sixth seed among 42 teams in their division. Their July 11 game at Dublin Coffman stood as a single win from the semifinals, with potential entry to the Platinum Division championship game at Upper Arlington if they could secure two more victories.
“It’s been great, playing with the main core for the last three or four years, and I’ve played with Granville’s Luke Bosse since we were nine,” noted Jackson McMillan, a Granville High School senior who handles first base and pitching for the Hitmen. McMillan is part of a supportive group that has enjoyed a steady run of strong tournaments featuring top competition, including opponents from other states. Earlier in the day, Granville’s McMillan delivered an RBI double for the Hitmen in a 9-1 win over Team All-American Blue 17U, a performance that followed his home run over the left-field fence in the 13-8 triumph against Westerville Naturals 17U. Weather fluctuated, delaying start times for the morning game, pushing back the second contest, and even delaying play for half an hour. Yet the Hitmen stayed in rhythm, with McMillan’s RBI double in the first inning proving to be a momentum spark that carried them forward.
McMillan, who is also preparing for his final year as Granville’s quarterback, shared how his body has responded to the dual demands. “I weighed 220 pounds, and now I’m down to 190. I feel a lot better and a lot stronger,” he said. “Both coaches have made it work for me. It’s usually football during the week and baseball on the weekends.” Bosse, another standout football player who also contributed in the Hitmen outfield, got on base in the second game, drawing a pitch, scoring a run, and stealing a base. His nine steals rank second on the team. In the hitter’s column, McMillan has accumulated five doubles and two triples and is 2-1 on the mound, carrying a team-best 23 strikeouts in 18⅔ innings with just three walks.
Kodie Steele of Newark settled behind the plate at shortstop for the Hitmen in the 9-1 win over Team All-American Blue 17U, preparing to throw to first base for an out. The Hitmen’s lineup and rotation also featured Sheridan’s Connor Roshon, who provided a four-RBI performance, including a three-run double that opened the floodgates in a pivotal moment for the team. As the season has progressed, the blend of multi-sport athletes and committed baseball players has given the Hitmen a strong foundation—one that mirrors the growth Trevor Mye has emphasized in his role as coach and mentor. With the team’s trajectory heading toward the late stages of the Buckeye Elite, the momentum lies in their depth, versatility, and the continued ability of players to perform at a high level across multiple sports and seasons.