Witt, Laytart overcome odds to continue athletic careers

Because the COVID-19 pandemic canceled their senior seasons, Genoa baseball coach Nissen was concerned about seniors Sam Witt and Allen Laytart’s chances to play the game collegiately.
Witt, an All-Ohio place kicker, lost much of his senior season in multiple sports because of an ACL injury, and Laytart dealt with a dislocated shoulder his junior year. Both never really got to put up stats their junior seasons because of the injuries, and their senior seasons were cut off completely.
Thanks to Owens Community College coach John Parisho, both will play NJCAA Division III baseball for the Express next year.
“That was the one thing we were really worried about was this whole situation. We could kind of see it coming down the pike. We were really worried because we had two uncommitted guys,” Nissen said. “(senior) Cole (Millhime) was really making the decision between two (colleges) at that time, so we knew he was going to go somewhere. So, he decided to go to Ohio Northern and the other two were still undecided, but I’m glad they found a landing spot.
“They had some injury situations their junior years,” Nissen said. “It’s a situation where, and I always tell Allen, too, our best Comet player here (Chris Bassitt) is pitching for the (Oakland) A’s right now and he might not have been the best pitcher on that team when he was a senior. The Owens coaches can develop them at the next level.”
For Witt and Laytart, playing at Owens has other advantages. At four-year NCAA and NAIA schools, seniors are returning with another year of eligibility, which could affect incoming freshmen. Owens will be playing its first full year of varsity baseball after a multi-year hiatus due to budget cuts.
“Frankly, when Owens has been at their best, they’ve always had local guys. It’s always a good situation when they can play locally, parents get to see them and that kind of thing, is always good for them,” Nissen said.
“I think the biggest thing with what we’ve got going on with the NCAA is the JUCO schools (junior college) are going to be ones where they get to play right off the bat. That’s a good situation for those guys to be able to go in there. I definitely think they are both going to play. In my opinion, they are both (NCAA) D-I players. I might be a little biased but that’s how I feel.”
Witt and Laytart are happy with the end result, and hope that it could lead to playing at a four-year college once their two-year stint at Owens is over.
“It just seemed to be the right fit,” Witt said. “JUCO seemed to be the right move for me after a couple injuries and I can go to Owens and play for a great program and hopefully take a shot at a bigger program later down the road.”
The fact they both ended up at Owens was “coincidence,” says Laytart.
“We’ve both dealt with injuries throughout our career, so we miss a lot of this,” Laytart said. “We were both looking for the JUCO route and we both thought that Owens would be a great fit for both of us. I’m definitely excited they are bringing the program back. The coaching staff just redid the field and stuff, so I’m excited.”
Both add that they will miss their senior teammates.
“My teammates, we’re all super close, and we’re all a tight knit group of friends and we’ve all just had a lot of fun playing with each other over the last four years,” Witt said.
 During an impromptu summer Senior Night celebration last week, Laytart, Witt and Millhime combined with seniors Reid Stoner and Rylen Stoner, and non-senior Cole Nissen to no-hit coach Kyle Reiser’s Elmwood squad, 9-0. They combined to strike out nine batters.
At the plate, Millhime had a double, walk and two RBIs, Reid Stoner had a double and walk, Rylen Stoner was hit by a pitch twice and scored, Rightnowar reached base three times, had a stolen base and scored every time, sophomore Seth Witt had a base hit and two walks and scored three times and junior Devin D’Emilio reached twice, had a stolen base and scored. In addition, Zach Buhrow had a two-RBI base hit and Jake Emerson had a base hit and RBI.
Laytart was just happy to have the opportunity to be on the baseball field again.
“It’s definitely nice. I’m very disappointed that we didn’t have a season but there is nothing we can control about that,” Laytart said. “It’s going to be sad, but obviously I’ll still be playing with Sam, but I miss all the other seniors and all the years that created relationships that I will never forget. It was just good to play with them one more time.”
Sam’s little brother, Seth, will get to return next year as a junior. On the varsity as a freshman, he batted .308 (20 for 65) with five runs, four doubles, 15 RBIs, 15 walks, eight strikeouts, a .432 on-base percentage and .964 fielding percentage playing first base. On the mound, he was 5-1 with a 2.01 ERA.
Sam believes he and his senior teammates have left the program in good hands.
“The Genoa baseball program really meant a lot to me over the past four years. Since my parents and my whole family has grown up in Genoa, it means a lot to us. I really think the program is in a great place and I hope for a good future,” Sam said.
 
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