A handful of Ryle baseball players gather at the high school, talking through the postseason ahead. They like their chances in the upcoming 33rd District Tournament at Conner. They like their chances in the 9th Region, too. The key, they say, is keeping things simple.
“At the end of the day,” says senior Anthony Coppola, who leads Ryle’s regulars with a .385 batting average, “it’s a simple game.”
The Raiders tend to make it look that way. Coppola, a George Washington University commit, reaches base 55 percent of the time and sets the tone from the leadoff spot. He leads the team in hits, walks, stolen bases and runs scored. He broke the program’s career steals record last season and this spring surpassed a 30‑year mark for career games played.
Coppola, a shortstop and outfielder, is a major reason Ryle enters Friday’s regular‑season finale against Beavercreek (Ohio) at 22–12. The Raiders have won 10 of their last 13 games.
“I’m just sticking to my approach — stay ahead in the count and hit to all fields,” Coppola says. “That’s what helps us win.”
The Raiders have averaged 23 wins a season since head coach Joe Aylor succeeded Pat Roesel in 2019, doing it with a blend of talent, experience and continuity. Coppola is one of nine seniors on this year’s roster and one of three headed to college programs.
Senior depth has become a theme at Ryle. The Raiders carried 13 seniors last season in a bid to repeat as region champions, and eight seniors were part of the 2024 team that delivered the program’s third regional title.
Veteran leadership has long been a staple of the program, and many current players have been around it since eighth grade.
“When they come into the program, they expect to represent Ryle and they expect to win,” Aylor explains. “Our guys lean into that. It’s a culture that was built before I got here, and we want to keep connecting it to now.”
Senior outfielder Brady Irwin, batting .352, agrees. He knows Ryle has reached the regional round seven straight years and nine of the last 10.
“We’ve got a bunch of good athletes who can play,” Irwin says. “We just have to be mentally prepared. We know we have the pitching, so it’s all about hitting.”
Irwin leads the team in RBI and has yet to allow an earned run in a pair of emergency pitching appearances.
“We have a lot of good players,” says Aylor. “Our body of work has proven who we are. We try to keep it loose.”
One program, two coaches
Aylor, a former St. Henry standout, played high school ball under former major leaguer Walt Terrell and longtime prep coach Bill Bieger. Before taking over at Ryle, he served as an assistant at Ryle, St. Henry, Conner, Cooper and Ludlow.
“I’m probably more from the Walt Terrell school of coaching than anybody else, but I learned a lot from all of them,” reveals Aylor, now in his 16th year teaching social studies at Ryle. “I learned a heck of a lot from Pat Roesel, who built this program from scratch.”
His players say they’ve learned plenty from him as well. Senior first baseman Xaden Hughes, a Transylvania commit hitting .346 from the No. 3 spot, says Aylor’s influence shows up in the team’s resilience.
“Comparing us to the regional championship team a couple years ago, both have grit and fight,” Hughes says. “I’m definitely seeing that this year.”
Army of arms
Junior right‑hander Nik Carter fronts a deep pitching staff. He is 5–1 with a 2.55 ERA and has struck out 82 batters — seventh most in a single season at Ryle — in 44 innings. His low arm slot, movement and pitch mix generate plenty of swing‑and‑miss.
“I’ve always had the low angle,” Carter explains. “For me, it’s about strategy, playing pitches off each other and getting ahead. Carson Cocco calls the pitches, and I give him a lot of credit.”
Aylor calls Carter “the definition of a pitcher.”
“He locates, he changes speeds, he’s got the temperament,” the coach says. “He’s pretty good.”
He’s also not alone. All but two Ryle pitchers own ERAs of 3.41 or lower. The two that don’t, Hughes (4–1) and sophomore Alex Kramer (3–2), have handled innings in bulk. When they are on, they are really on. Junior Andres Martinez (1–2, 2.58) has stabilized the back end of the rotation.
Senior AJ Davis (5–2, 3.41) and junior Isaac Curry (2–2, 3.19) have contributed in both starting and relief roles. Senior Landon Louden (2.47), junior Nolan Witte (3.38) and sophomore Sam Maley (2.90) have been effective out of the bullpen. Louden is committed to Hocking College.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect this year because of the turnover,” Aylor admits. “But our kids have done a fantastic job keeping expectations high and playing hard. Next year we return seven or eight juniors who are getting significant time, so we’re still in the middle of it.”
33rd District contenders
Ryle awaits the winner of Saturday’s Boone County–Heritage Academy game in Sunday’s district semifinal at noon. Conner (20–13) hosts Cooper (16–14) in the other semifinal at 2:30 p.m. The district final is Tuesday at 5 p.m.
Conner, led by two‑way standout Brady Bushman along with Max Brunkel, Everett Hall and Grayson Wagner, is the defending district champion after beating Ryle 9–6 in last year’s final. Bushman leads the Cougars with a .390 average and 1.70 ERA.
Cooper’s Brogan Scott is hitting .430, and starters Jaden Duane and Boston Brinkman both carry ERAs of 3.00 or better.
Boone County’s Mason Coughenour and Ayden Kays are both batting above .430.
Heritage Academy’s Jacob Muse and Benjamin Brown are hitting better than .450, and the Eagles are getting strong pitching from Brown and Austin Brown.
Elsewhere locally
District tournaments in the 34th, 35th and 36th also begin this weekend as teams chase 9th Region berths.
Dixie Heights is the five‑time defending champion in the 34th. Beechwood has won the 35th two straight years. Highlands is seeking its 14th consecutive 36th District title and is the defending 9th Region champion after beating Beechwood 5–2 in last year’s final.
In the 10th Region, Campbell County has won four straight 37th District titles, with Scott returning as runner‑up and Bishop Brossart in contention.
The 8th Region includes four‑time defending 32nd District champion Simon Kenton and returning runner‑up Walton‑Verona.
District softball also underway
Softball postseason play begins this weekend as well.
Defending district champions in the 9th Region include Ryle (33rd), Dixie Heights (34th), Notre Dame (35th) and Highlands (36th).
In the 8th Region, Grant County is the defending 32nd District champion and Simon Kenton is the returning runner‑up.
Campbell County is the 37th District champion in the 10th Region, with Scott returning as runner‑up.