Short, 2011-12 Baseball Team Honored as State Runner-Ups

Team is first in Westlake High School's history to advance to a state final competition.

The Westlake School District hosted an evening for all the conference and state champions this past year on Feb. 15, honoring teams and individuals. The ceremony took place at Westlake High School.  The highlight of the night came when recently retired baseball coach Jeff Short and his team were honored with an unveiling of the state runner-up banner for the 2011-12 baseball team during the Friday evening basketball game.  "I am extremely proud of our players, coaches, parents and community," Short said. "Each played a major role in the success of last year's baseball team. Making it to the state championship game is something they will remember for the rest of their lives. It was an honor to represent Westlake. I cannot thank the school …

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Happy Westlake High Baseball Team Day!

Team honored for making state finals

Today is Westlake High School Baseball Team Day in Westlake. At Monday's Board of Education meeting, Mayor Dennis Clough, as part of a recognition ceremony for the state-finalist Demons, read a proclamation declaring July 10 to be Westlake High School Baseball Team Day. The Demons went 24-7, winning the Southwest Conference title and the regional and district championships en route to making the OHSAA Division I baseball finals. Westlake fell to Cincinnati-Archbishop Moeller, 9-6, in the championship game. Jeff Short, who retired as head coach at the end of the season, was joined by several players for the recognition ceremony. "We've always known great things are possible in Westlake," said athletic director Tony Cipollone. "They went out…

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Brendan Zepp new Westlake High Baseball Coach

Zepp will replace Jeff Short

Longtime Westlake High School assistant baseball coach Brendan Zepp has been named the new head coach of the Demons. Zepp is replacing Jeff Short, who retired last season after 23 years at Westlake. Short led the Demons to the state Division I finals in his final season. "Brendan Zepp has the character that we look for in a head coach," said athletic director Tony Cipollone. "He has earned the respect of the players and his fellow coaches during his time as an assistant and really cares about the students of Westlake on all levels. The program is in good shape and the consistency that he brings was important to continue to build on the success of Coach Short’s tenure." Zepp, an intervention specialist at Westlake High, has been assistant …

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A Tribute to Coach Short

Westlake baseball coach reaches state championship game in final season

Demons Fall Short in State Baseball Final

Westlake beaten by powerful Archbishop Moeller

Westlake baseball coach Jeff Short didn't win his final game. But there's still loads to be proud of from his memorable final season, which saw the Demons reach the state finals for the first time ever. Westlake lost to Cincinnati-Archbishop Moeller, 9-6, in the Division I championship game Saturday afternoon in Columbus. The Demons end their season at 24-7. Archbishop Moeller finishes at 26-5. Check out the Plain Dealer's game coverage: OHSAA baseball: Westlake loses in Division I championship game to Cincinnati Moeller

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Demons Make State Baseball Finals

Westlake coach Jeff Short going for a state championship in his final game

Anyone else getting goosebumps? The Westlake High School baseball team has delivered a dream season in longtime coach Jeff Short's final year with the Demons. And now they can send him out with a state championship. Westlake (24-6) will play for the Division I state title after beating Massillon-Perry, 6-2, in Thursday's semifinal at Huntington Park in Columbus. The Demons will play Cincinnati-Archbishop Moeller (25-5) at 1 p.m. Saturday at Huntington Park. Archbishop Moeller beat Grove City, 3-2, in the other semifinal Thursday night. Tickets for Saturday's state final are $8. There are no advance sales, and no discounts for students or seniors. Paid parking is available near the stadium. Check out the Plain Dealer's game coverage from …

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Baseball Coach Jeff Short Profiled in PD

Demons head to OHSAA baseball championships Thursday

Demons Reach States in Baseball

Westlake wins regional title with comeback win over Ashland

The amazing season of Westlake High's baseball team goes on, and the Demons are going to State's! Westlake came back from a 6-0 deficit on Friday to defeat Ashland, 10-7, for the Division I Cleveland regional title and a berth in the state championships. This is the first time in his 23-year career that Westlake coach Jeff Short, who is retiring at the end of the season, is going to the state championships. Do you have pictures from Friday's game? Show off your Demon pride by posting them in our Pics & Clips community scrapbook. The OHSAA Baseball Championships are May 31 through June 2 at Huntington Park in Columbus. Westlake (21-6) plays in the 4 p.m. semifinal on May 31 against Massillon-Perry (19-10), which defeated Chardon, 5-2, in …

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Westlake Baseball Wins Regional Title

Demons beat Avon, 1-0, behind Kevin Neumann's four-hit shutout

Westlake High School baseball coach Jeff Short has a good sense of humor, but he’s not a fool. For a second – and a very brief one at that – he contemplated what it might be like to change his mind and continue his 23-year coaching career after announcing his retirement a few weeks ago. Demon senior pitcher Kevin Neumann’s four-hit shutout win over Avon, 1-0, put Short in the regional semifinals for the first time in 13 years and got him thinking on Wednesday. What if? Hmmm. Then another thought came to him. “Is my wife behind me?” Short joked. Well, no, she wasn’t, but Julie Short and Jason, the Avon couple’s 18-month old son, were certainly foremost in his thoughts. Despite the uplifting win at the Lorain Pipe Yard, Short has no …

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Coach Short Honored in Final Home Game

Demons coach ending 23-year coaching career

Friday's Westlake High baseball game against Olmsted Falls was already going to be special because it was Senior Day and the final home game of the regular season. It was even more special because it was the final home game for Demons coach Jeff Short, who is retiring after 23 years of coaching. He was honored after the game in a ceremony. Check out the video for Short's reflections on what the final weeks of his career have meant to him. Share your photos from yesterday's game, and memories of Coach Short, in the comments.

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