BARBERTON SPORTS HALL OF FAME 2024 Lee made mark as QB, big hitter for Barberton baseball team

Michael Lee, a 2009 graduate of Barberton High School, is part of the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame Class of 2024. 
PHOTO PROVIDED

By RANDY FORST
BGNN sports editor

On Nov. 27, the Barberton Sports Hall of Fame will honor the 2024 class at a ceremony at Al’s. This year’s class will feature Mike Lee, Mike Winkler, Jeff Travis, Paul Okolish, Joan Tonathy, Carol Gadanac, Caines Flowers, and Brandon and Monica Cramer.

A 2009 graduate of BHS, Michael Lee excelled not only on the baseball diamond, but also the football field. Playing under coaches Jay Glazer and Brian Staats he lettered all four years for the Magics.

As a quarterback, Lee earned many awards and honors during his time on the gridiron, including 1st team All-Suburban, 2nd team All-District, team captain, All-Academic Suburban League, and winner of both the Albie Litwak and Ken Sennett awards.

While his football awards were many, it was baseball where Lee made his mark on Barberton history. Again, a four-year letterman, he twice was named All-Suburban 1st team as a catcher.

Other honors included Cleveland Plain Dealer Player of the Week, Akron Beacon Journal Player of the Week, and the Hal Naragon Award.

As a hitter Michael owns some very impressive statistics, including 13 career home runs, a .400 batting average, and 7 home runs and 40 RBIs his senior year. He also set records with six hits in one game and an amazing four home runs in one game, which stands as the second most ever in the OHSAA record book.

After graduation, Lee went on to star at Walsh University. There under Coach Tim Mead he was named to the Great Lakes Intercollegiate Athletic Conference Team. In one week, he went 12-16 with two home runs, two doubles, and 10 RBI’s, earning him the GLIAC Player of the Week Award. He was team Captain and named to the All-Academic GLIAC squad.
After graduation from Walsh, Lee entered the education field, teaching at New Albany Plain Local Schools and Reynoldsburg City Schools. He also coached baseball at Westerville High School. He now teaches physical education at Cuyahoga Falls City Schools.

He and his wife, Jessica, reside in Uniontown, with their two boys Jax, 4, and Luca, 2.

Lee was nominated by Rob Culbertson.