Stammen Classic alumnus Hayden Quinter was an important cog in Russia’s two Division IV state semi-finalist teams in basketball. And in 2022, he was a member of the Raiders’ Division IV baseball champs. (Press Pros Feature Photos by Sonny Fulks)
What they were then, and what they are now…an important consideration for a developmental effort that’s guided Craig Stammen’s amateur baseball ‘Classic’ since its inception.
Versailles, OH – San Diego Padres manager Craig Stammen is understandably proud of his hometown annual youth baseball festival in Versailles.
First, it’s borne his name since 2015, when the Versailles Classic was renamed in his honor – the former Versailles, University of Dayton, and major league baseball athlete.
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Second, it’s important to know that Stammen’s humility keeps him pretty much grounded, and the impact of the weekend would be just as important to him regardless of title.
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Third, Stammen, himself, is a product of Versailles, its legacy of sports and competitive virtues, and the virtues that have led him to a 15-year major league career, and to one of only 30 such jobs that he currently possesses…in the world.
So if there’s something good that comes out of Versailles that benefits kids in the same manner in which it helped him, he’s on board.
“It’s hard to find something better than growing up playing baseball (in this case) with your friends against kids from the other communities that you’re going to play when you’re in high school,” he likes to say. “It’s memories and experiences that you’ll never forget…playing St. Henry, Fort Loramie, Coldwater, Marion Local and Russia.”
And after more than a decade of its existence, the grownup products of playing community baseball together can be seen in nearly every community in west-central Ohio.
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When Russia’s Hayden Quinter started playing in the Classic he was a skinny, curly-headed youngster who liked to play because baseball was fun.
“And it was especially fun to play in Versailles because we knew who Craig Stammen was, and we knew a lot of the kids from Versailles. I probably started when I was eight and every year you looked forward to playing in the Craig Stammen Classic.
“Baseball was fun at Russia. We had good players and we had good teams. We liked to compete.”
Hayden Quinter was a member of Russia’s 2022 Division IV state championship team that beat Lincolnview for the title.
And Quinter would grow from his Stammen Classic experience to play third base and collect three hits for Russia’s 2022 Division IV state championship team that beat Lincolnview in the Division IV finals.
The next two years he was an all-league basketball player for Russia, and member of the Raiders’ OHSAA Division IV semi-finalists at the state tournament. And a year after he graduated, many of those teammates he played with would take the next step and win the Division IV title in 2025.
What’s he doing now? He’s doing well, helping run the family farm outside of Russia, and raising a lot of hogs.
But when we spoke with him last week about adolescent sports experiences, he could easily share his favorites.
“Winning state in baseball, of course,” he said.
“Going to state in basketball, of course.
“And playing in the Stammen Classic. That was always fun.”
More recently, Versailles senior Sammy Deland pitched and played shortstop this spring on the Tigers’ regional finalist team, narrowly missing a trip to the OHSAA tournament on a 3-2 loss to Columbus Academy two weeks ago
Deland’s own story is just as colorful, although when he shares about baseball it’s easy to understand that he’d rather play than talk about it.
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And people remember him from playing 12U baseball in the annual Craig Stammen Classic tournaments, the smallest kid on the field hustling to get on base, get to the next base, and get to home plate. As an infielder he showed good hands to catch the ball, and he made strong, accurate throws. Despite his size, the hustle and desire to compete was always hard to miss.
His mother, Katie, is a cousin to Craig Stammen, and her story about Sam’s relationship with baseball is even more colorful.
Versailles 14u Sammy Deland bashes a double during the 2022 Stammen Classic.
“He was always the smallest kid on the team,” laughs Katie. “I mean, it was ridiculous. He was postage-stamp-size and the other twelve-year-olds towered over him.
“And when he was starting to play I was always pregnant, and he would come home after school and beg me to play baseball with him. I mean, it was hot and sweaty outside, and every day Sam would come home and beg me to play baseball. That’s my story and what I remember about him playing baseball.”
That, and he never missed a Stammen ‘Classic’.
This past April, pitching for the high school team against Russia, he threw a one-hit shutout to help the Tigers to a 7-0 win, and carried a no-hitter into the top of the sixth inning.
“I’ve never come close to throwing a no-hitter,” he admitted later. “So it was pretty cool.”
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But Craig Stammen, major league manager, keeps up with news back home by reading Press Pros, and when he read he quickly responded with a text.
“Hey, Sam is my cousin’s son, and she sent me the article. I’ve been giving him some tips for a couple of years. Great kid!”
Graduating this spring, next fall he plans to play for Wright State at the Lake Campus.
“He might be the heart and soul of our team,” said Versailles coach Bill Sturwold on the occasion of his one-hitter.
And a proud alum of ‘The Classic’.
Note: Press Pros will again provide coverage and commentary on community baseball with this weekend’s Stammen Classic, beginning Thursday, June 18, and all through the weekend.
The ‘Spot’ is a proud sponsor of the Stammen Classic…stop by after the game for a winning ‘Big Buy’