Beginning Sunday, I will be running a daily Senior Spotlight about our 8 seniors. Each day will highlight a senior and some of the accomplishments he has made throughout his high school career. The highlights will be run on the website with graphics also posted on Twitter and the Instagram account.
Chase Franken will undoubtedly go down as one of the greatest baseball players to attend Columbiana High School. Chase has been a four year starter for the Clippers as a pitcher, shortstop, centerfielder and third baseman. Chase currently holds the school career records for doubles (24), triples (20), extra base hits (47) and runs (102). He is the single season record holder for triples with 8. This season would’ve most likely seen him break school records in hits, at bats, walks, stolen bases, wins, and strikeouts. The records help show the consistent play that Chase provided throughout his career.
Chase has received a number of post season awards due to his outstanding play. He earned 1st team all league as a pitcher the last three years. Additionally, he earned Honorable Mention All-Ohio honors in 2019 as well as 1st team Northeast District. In 2018 he was a second team Northeast District recipient. Recently he was named to the 2020 Division 3 All-Ohio 1st team by Prep Baseball Report. Academically Chase carries a 3.8 gpa and was named to the academic All-Ohio baseball team in 2019.
In his career Chase has amassed 112 hits and a .455 batting average. On the mound he has 17 wins and 186 strikeouts.
In addition to an outstanding baseball career, Chase earned all league and NE Inland District honors in football as a wide receiver. In his career he broke three school record including most receiving yards in a game, most receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.
Chase’s future includes accepting a scholarship to Youngstown State University to play baseball and major in communications. Chase has one brother, Bryce, who has gotten the opportunity to help coach the last two years and is also a YSU graduate.
What Coach Wolf says:
“It was an honor to have the opportunity to work with Chase the past four years. I was lucky enough to coach him in both football and baseball and I’ve seen exponential growth out of Chase as both and athlete and a person. Chase is a very confident young man who backs it up with his play on the field. He has a love for baseball that he wears on his sleeve. He has had many tremendous games for the Clippers, but one that will always stand out is his 1-0 defeat of #1 seed and state contender, Canton Central Catholic. He was a man on a mission that day and would not allow anyone to beat him. He pitched a complete game, consistently keeping hitters off balance while playing exceptional defense on the mound. At one point, with a runner on third and two outs he caught a line drive right back at him that no one had any business catching. It was then that I knew nothing was going to come in the way of us winning the game. He also scored the only run in the game after he tripled to lead of the 4th inning. Overall, it was the most fun and nerve racking, game I have ever been a part of but a memory that will stick with all involved for the rest of our lives. Chase has become more than just a player for the Clippers but also a leader. Chase came up with ideas that are designed to better the team with many that we implemented for this season that we will use in seasons to come. Chase’s work ethic and passion for anything he does gives me no doubt that he will be hugely successful at YSU both on the field and in the classroom and the lessons he has learned on the baseball field will help him throughout the rest of his life.
You can also check out previous senior spotlights here:
Sunday April 19th: Hunter Zentner
Monday April 20th: Quenton Cross
Tuesday April 21st: Matt Mazei
Wednesday April 22nd: Jakob Cross
Thursday April 23rd: Ryan Fahs
Friday April 24th: Hunter Mackall
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Columbiana Clippers 
Beginning Sunday, I will be running a daily Senior Spotlight about our 8 seniors. Each day will highlight a senior and some of the accomplishments he has made throughout his high school career. The highlights will be run on the website with graphics also posted on Twitter and the Instagram account.
Chase has received a number of post season awards due to his outstanding play. He earned 1st team all league as a pitcher the last three years. Additionally, he earned Honorable Mention All-Ohio honors in 2019 as well as 1st team Northeast District. In 2018 he was a second team Northeast District recipient. Recently he was named to the 2020 Division 3 All-Ohio 1st team by Prep Baseball Report. Academically Chase carries a 3.8 gpa and was named to the academic All-Ohio baseball team in 2019.
In his career Chase has amassed 112 hits and a .455 batting average. On the mound he has 17 wins and 186 strikeouts.
In addition to an outstanding baseball career, Chase earned all league and NE Inland District honors in football as a wide receiver. In his career he broke three school record including most receiving yards in a game, most receiving touchdowns and receiving yards.
Chase’s future includes accepting a scholarship to Youngstown State University to play baseball and major in communications. Chase has one brother, Bryce, who has gotten the opportunity to help coach the last two years and is also a YSU graduate.
What Coach Wolf says:
“It was an honor to have the opportunity to work with Chase the past four years. I was lucky enough to coach him in both football and baseball and I’ve seen exponential growth out of Chase as both and athlete and a person. Chase is a very confident young man who backs it up with his play on the field. He has a love for baseball that he wears on his sleeve. He has had many tremendous games for the Clippers, but one that will always stand out is his 1-0 defeat of #1 seed and state contender, Canton Central Catholic. He was a man on a mission that day and would not allow anyone to beat him. He pitched a complete game, consistently keeping hitters off balance while playing exceptional defense on the mound. At one point, with a runner on third and two outs he caught a line drive right back at him that no one had any business catching. It was then that I knew nothing was going to come in the way of us winning the game. He also scored the only run in the game after he tripled to lead of the 4th inning. Overall, it was the most fun and nerve racking, game I have ever been a part of but a memory that will stick with all involved for the rest of our lives. Chase has become more than just a player for the Clippers but also a leader. Chase came up with ideas that are designed to better the team with many that we implemented for this season that we will use in seasons to come. Chase’s work ethic and passion for anything he does gives me no doubt that he will be hugely successful at YSU both on the field and in the classroom and the lessons he has learned on the baseball field will help him throughout the rest of his life.
You can also check out previous senior spotlights here:
Sunday April 19th: Hunter Zentner
Monday April 20th: Quenton Cross
Tuesday April 21st: Matt Mazei
Wednesday April 22nd: Jakob Cross
Thursday April 23rd: Ryan Fahs
Friday April 24th: Hunter Mackall
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