David Soult

Jamie Birkofer

Jamie is a 1989 graduate and multi-sport student-athlete who competed in baseball and football.   In baseball, Jamie started as a pitcher and center fielder.  He was All-City Honorable Mention as an outfielder in 1987, 1988, and as a pitcher in 1989.  He was 1st-Team Metro Country Conference in 1988 and the Metro County Conference Player of the Year in 1989.  During his senior year, he was 1st-Team MCC as a pitcher posting a 7-1 record with a 1.85 ERA while batting 500 and earning 1st-Team All-City as an outfielder.  Jamie played in the East-West All-Star game in 1989 and won the American Legion World Series Championship in 1988.  After graduating, Jamie went on to play for Middle Tennessee State University.  He was Honorable Mention as a pitcher in the Ohio Valley Conference in 1992 and 2nd-Team All-Conference in 1993.  His teams at Middle Tennessee State University were regular season and tournament champions in 1990, 1991, 1992, and 1993.  

Jamie resides in Hebron, KY with his wife Kathy & daughters Kyra, & Leah.

Janice McCafferty Wilking

Mark Bonfield

Mark Bonfield is a 1989 graduate of Oak Hills High School.  Mark was a two-year varsity starter for football, earning first team all-league and all-district honors, as well as honorable mention for All-Southwest Ohio.  Mark was also a three-year starter for basketball and second-team all conference.  

At the time of his graduation, Mark held 12 receiving records, many of which still stand.  Mark still holds records for most receiving yards in a season (1,167), most receiving yards in a game (333), most career receiving touchdowns (21), most receiving touchdowns in a season (18), and most receiving touchdowns in a single game (5).   His 10 catches, 333 yard performance is still the 5th best game in Ohio history!

Mark has two children, Tyler and Megan and resides in Cleves, Ohio with his wife Kristin.  He is a financial advisor at PNC. 

Mike Kessler

Mike is a 1989 graduate & was a multi-sport athlete competing in football & baseball. He was a four-letter varsity letterman in both football & baseball. Mike capped off his senior year by earning 2nd-Team All Conference in both football & baseball. That Summer Mike was selected as the American Legion National Player of the year.  He hit .390 that Summer with a pitching record of 10-1.  Mike finished with an overall pitching record of 25-4 that year between high school & Summer ball.  As a member of the 1988 Budde Post American Legion Team, his squad 

went on to win the National Championship that year.  They were the first team to win the American Legion National Championship where all the players on the team came from the same high school, Oak Hills. 

After graduation Mike attended the University of Cincinnati.

Mike currently owns and operates Kessler's Pro Turf for 23 years serving The West Side of Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky. Takes great pride in getting the fields and schools looking their best. Mike also helped coach youth football at St. Dominic for 6 years.

Mike resides in Harrison, OH with his wife Susie & two children Danny 11, and Lucy 7.

Ron Murphy

Scott Klingenbeck

Scott Klingenbeck, a 1989 graduate of Oak Hills High School, distinguished himself as one of the most accomplished pitchers in Ohio high school baseball history.

Early Athletic Success

As a sophomore at Elder High School, Klingenbeck earned varsity letters in basketball, soccer, and baseball—an early testament to his athletic versatility. On the diamond, he quickly emerged as a standout, earning All-City and All-State honors while finishing the season with a 10–1 record as a starting pitcher.

Oak Hills High School & National Recognition

Klingenbeck transferred to Oak Hills High School before his junior year, where he went on to dominate the mound. Across his junior and senior seasons, he compiled a perfect 22–0 record. In 1988, he led his American Legion team to a National Championship, earning “Player of the Game” honors in the title contest.

Before his senior year, Klingenbeck secured a full-ride scholarship to The Ohio State University—an uncommon achievement in baseball at that time. His senior season proved historic: he went 12–0, was named Gatorade National High School Baseball Player of the Year (1989), and was selected in the 40th round of the MLB Draft by the Detroit Tigers. He chose instead to honor his commitment to Ohio State. By graduation, he was a three-time All-State honoree.

Ohio State University Career

At Ohio State, Klingenbeck quickly cemented his legacy as one of the program’s greats. As a freshman, he finished with a 10–1 record, earning Big Ten Freshman of the Year, First Team All-American, and All-Big Ten honors. He followed that with an 11–2 sophomore campaign, again garnering First Team All-American and All-Big Ten recognition.

His junior season brought mixed results statistically (7–7), but he etched his name into Buckeye history by throwing a no-hitter against LSU in the NCAA Regional Tournament. Following that season, Klingenbeck was selected 3rd overall in the 1992 MLB Draft by the Baltimore Orioles—foregoing his senior year.

Major League & International Career

Klingenbeck made his Major League debut in 1994 against the Detroit Tigers, the very team that had drafted him years earlier. The Orioles claimed victory in that matchup, 11–3.

In 1995, he was traded to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for former Cy Young Award winner Scott Erickson. Klingenbeck went on to play five seasons in Major League Baseball before extending his professional career with a season in Japan’s top league.

Team USA Experience

Klingenbeck also represented his country on the international stage. He pitched for the 1989 USA Junior Olympic Team, earning a gold medal, and later competed for Team USA in 1990, helping the squad reach the finals of the Pan-American Games before falling to Cuba.

Life After Baseball

After retiring from professional baseball, Klingenbeck turned to entrepreneurship, owning and operating Hot Wings from 2003–2013. He continued to give back to his community by coaching with the JB Yeager Organization, alongside longtime friends and colleagues Eric Keeton, Jim Robinson, and Fred [Last Name].

Legacy

From his undefeated high school dominance and national recognition, to starring at Ohio State and competing at the highest levels of baseball both domestically and internationally, Scott Klingenbeck’s career reflects talent, perseverance, and a lifelong dedication to the game.