AHS Athletic
     Hall of Fame
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  RYAN HARTZELL    GRADUATED 1999     INDUCTED 2010

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RYAN HARTZELL          AHS Class of 1999
      Ryan Hartzell graduated from Alliance High School in 1999 and is regarded as one of the finest pitchers to come out of a school that has produced many great ones.  Hartzell was a three-year letter winner in baseball. He also lettered in basketball for the Aviators.
       Hartzell played shortstop and catcher in his younger years, but AHS coaches Doug Noonan and Shaun Alazaus developed Hartzell into a pitcher.
        White pitching for the Aviators, Hartzell won 10 games, striking out 85 batters his senior season in 70 innings.  When he was not pitching, he played middle infield and batted .370.  He earned first team All-Federal League and was selected to play in the prestigious Hank Miller All-Star double-header, showcasing the top seniors in Stark County. In that all-star double-header, Hartzell went three-for-four with a double in the first game and pitched the second game.  He threw seven innings, struck out 10 batters and allowed one hit.  For his effort, he was named MVP of the event.
         After AHS graduation, Hartzell signed with Ashland University to continue his academic and pitching career with the Eagles.  While at Ashland, his team made it to the regional tournament all four years in addition to the World Series his junior year.  During the 2002 season, Hartzell was named first team All-American and Pitcher of the Year in the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference.  He still holds Ashland records for career victories, shutouts in a single season and complete games pitched.  He earned a Bachelor of Science Degree from Ashland as an Intervention Specialist certified to teach K-12.
        After college, Hartzell pitched professionally with the Washington Wildthings and Florence Freedom in the Frontier League.  His career came full circle when he had the opportunity to return to Alliance High School as a teacher and a coach.  He enthusiastically became the pitching coach for head coach Jeff Graffice’s Aviators for three seasons.
       Currently Hartzell is a ninth-grade intervention specialist and head varsity baseball coach at Barberton High School where he has been the past three years.  He lives in the Akron Springfieldarea.  His Fiancee’ is Nicole Seifert, who is an Alliance Middle School physical education teacher and coach.
         Hartzell’s family, including father Randy, mother Janet and sister Brooke, reside in Alliance along with his grandfather, Jack Miller, Aunt Judy, Uncle Bill and cousins Luke and Kyle Ince.  Hartzell said his entire family has been a solid foundation of support for him throughout his life, both on and off the field.