Keystone junior Ryan Younglas commits to Toledo to play baseball

Keystone junior Ryan Younglas is only half way through his high school baseball career but his future plans are already set in stone. On Tuesday, the Wildcats' third baseman/pitcher announced through his X account that he had committed to continue his career at the University of Toledo. "I went for a visit and right when I got there I felt really comfortable with the vibe and the campus," Younglas said. "I had a really great connection with the coaches right from the start. Everything about it felt right." As great as Younglas felt on the Toledo campus, the vibes couldn't have been as good as when he walks on the field in a Keystone uniform. Last spring, Younglas earned the Lorain County League Player of the Year Award after batting .506 with four home runs and 40 RBIs for the LCL champion Wildcats. On the mound, Younglas went 6-0 with a 1.87 ERA. "I don't think I've ever had a kid commit so early in his high school career. That is great for Ryan and his parents," Keystone coach Bert Fitzgerald said. "He was our conference player of the year and he was (second-team) All-Ohio. I have had plenty of conference players of the year before but never as a sophomore. That's a pretty special accomplishment." Younglas is a three-sport athlete at Keystone, where he's been part of the three LCL conference champion golf teams and the Wildcats LCL co-champion basketball team in 2025. Through it all, baseball has remained his first love. "I started playing baseball when I was six," Younglas said. "Started really focusing on it when I was 10. That was when I tried out for my first travel team. I noticed then I was a little ahead of some other guys." Younglas has already proven he can succeed on the high school level. Fitzgerald is convinced he has the tools to shine on the next level as well. "He's pretty flawless when he gets his hands on the ball," Fitzgerald said. "I'm not saying he's never made any errors, but his baseball acumen is really out of this world. It's something to see. "He has solid character, awesome athletic skill, has a great work ethic and comes from a great family. The recruitment process started for Younglas over the summer. He is happy he was able to make his decision so early. "It was really a busy time, so many calls and texts going on," Younglas said. "It was really stressful and I really had to reach outside of my comfort zone. I am glad I found where I wanted to go." Now that his future is no longer in doubt, Younglas can focus on making himself and the Keystone team better for two more years. "It's just the beginning. We're just getting started with where all of the hard work really begins. I gotta keep putting on weight and getting stronger and faster," Younglas said. "I want to break some records and lead the team a long way in the tournament." Contact Todd Shapiro at (440) 329-7135 or ctsports@chroniclet.com.