The Ohio State Buckeyes do not officially begin their 2020 baseball season until Valentine’s Day.

However, the preparations are well under way for the reigning Big Ten champions with three former Ohio Valley standouts looking to make a contribution.

The annual Scarlet and Gray three-game series, which is always a highlight of the fall season, got under way Thursday on Nick Swisher Field inside Bill Davis Stadium and will continue throughout the weekend.

A pair of Toronto Red Knights are making a serious push for action. Nolan Clegg is a true sophomore and coming off a solid freshman campaign when he made several appearances en route to earning a letter. He’s a member of the Scarlet team.

True freshman Nate Karaffa, who helped lead Toronto the Division IV State Baseball Championship in June has traded in his Red Knights’ uniform for a Buckeyes jersey. He is a member of the Gray team and reportedly has been playing well in earlier fall games against Dayton and Western Carolina.

Steubenville product Alec Taylor, who red shirted last season, is also in the mix vying for playing time. He’s a member of the Scarlet squad this weekend.

Here’s a look at other Ohio Valley products:

DIVISION I

FBS

COLTON MCKIVITZ, West Virginia — Union Local product served as a captain once again and started at his usual left tackle in the Mountaineers loss to Iowa State.

AUSTIN DORRIS, Bowling Green — Shadyside graduate caught a pass for 12 yards in the Falcons’ upset win over Toledo last week.

CHUCKWUDI CHUCKWU, Ohio — Linsly product appeared in last week’s loss to Northern Illinois.

MANDELLA LAWRENCE-BURKE, Kent State — Steubenville graduate finished with an assisted tackle during the Flashes win over Akron.

FCS

ELIJAH BELL, North Carolina A&T — Wheeling Park grad and his Aggie teammates had the week off. They return to action Saturday at Florida A&M.

MAALIK RICHMOND, Youngstown State — Steubenville graduate had six tackles from his defensive end spot last week in the Penguins loss to South Dakota State.

DIVISION II

COLE SKAGGS, West Virginia Wesleyan — St. Clairsville graduate posted six tackles in last week’s loss to Frostburg.

GEREMY PAIGE, California, Pa. — Wheeling Park grad played in last week’s victory over Clarion.

ZACH PHILLIPS, West Liberty — Senior quarterback, who graduated from Wheeling Park, completed 17-of-31 passes for 302 yards and three touchdowns.

NATE PHILLIPS, West Liberty — Sophomore from Wheeling Park appeared in last week’s game.

SAVION JOHNSON, West Liberty — Wheeling Park graduated carried four times for 36 yards in the win over Concord.

JACK DAVIS, West Liberty — Martins Ferry alumnus posted three tackles, including two sacks from his defensive end post last week.

CODY ENRIETTI, West Liberty — Weir High graduate posted two tackles in last week’s victory.

CLAY MCDONALD, West Liberty — Wheeling Park graduate had two tackles, including one for loss in last week’s win over Concord.

KOTY HUDSON, West Liberty — Brooke product recorded six tackles last week in the Hilltoppers’ win.

THOMAS COLE, West Liberty — Brooke High product and Wake Forest transfer caught seven passes for 148 yards last week in the win over Concord.

CODY RINE, West Liberty — Senior defensive tackle from Brooke recorded two tackles, including one for loss.

REED REITTER, West Liberty — True freshman from Weir punted twice for a 31-yard average and had a long of 36 yards.

CHANCE RUCKER, West Liberty — Caldwell grad started once again at left guard for the Hilltoppers.

TYLER ELY, West Liberty — Steubenville grad started at right tackle for the Hilltoppers.

RYAN LAFOLLETTE, Wheeling — Monroe Central grad caught 12 passes for 70 yards in the Cardinals setback to McEndree.

JACK FITCH, Wheeling — Martins Ferry product was the holder for the Cardinals in last week’s loss.

JAKE KEENAN, Wheeling — Toronto grad caught two passes for 18 yards.

MATT GREENWOOD, Wheeling — St. Clairsville graduate punted six times for a 37.8 yard average with a long of 44 yards. He also had a 47.3 yard average on kickoffs and connected on two PATs.

ZACH EKEY, Wheeling — Steubenville graduate started at right tackle for the Cardinals.

BRADY KOLB, Wheeling — True freshman from St. Clairsville played in last Saturday’s loss to McEndree.

KEONTE HOLMES, Wheeling — Steubenville product played in last week’s loss.

JOHNNY AGRESTA, Walsh — Steubenville product appeared in last week’s loss to Findlay.

ALIJAH DEMITRAS, Walsh — Steubenville grad started at center in a loss to Findlay.

DIVISION III

CHRISTIAN WITCHEY, St. Vincent’s — St. Clairsville graduate punted three times for a 42-yard average and long of 51 in last week’s win over Thiel.

VON WOODING, Oberlin — Linsly School product posted eight tackles, including a sack during last week’s loss to Denison.

JERMAIN SNODGRASS, Bethany — Wheeling Park graduate had an interception and returned it 16 yards in the Bison win over Geneva. He also had four tackles.

DREW LOWERY, Muskingum — Buckeye Trail grad and the Muskies had the week off. They return to the field this week against Baldwin Wallace.

LUKE MENGES, Waynesburg — Union Local grad had seven tackles in a loss to Carnegie-Mellon last week.

LUCAS DONLEY, Waynesburg — Union Local product posted five tackles, including one for loss.

BEN HOWELL, Waynesburg — Union Local alum appeared in last week’s game at Carnegie-Mellon.

CHASE ESPEN, Waynesburg — True freshman from St. Clairsville played along the offensive line for the Jackets last week.

GAGE GIOVENGO, Marietta — Linsly School product had one of his biggest games for the Pioneers. He caught seven passes for 124 yards and a touchdown.

TANNER CLARK, Marietta — Caldwell grad rushed 21 times for 38 yards.

VIC GIOVENGO, Marietta — Linsly product led the Pioneers with 14 tackles, including one for loss. He also returned a kickoff 15 yards.

TROY PONTIUS, Marietta — Buckeye Trail grad played in last week’s loss to Heidelberg.

BOONE JONES, Marietta — Shenandoah grad had two tackles for the Pioneers.

COLE GRIFFIN, John Carroll — Linsly grad had a tackle in broke up a pass in JC’s 90-0 victory against Capital.

IAN PHILLIPS, Washington & Jefferson — Steubenville grad was one-of-two on PAT tries in the Presidents loss at Case Western.

CROSS COUNTRY

JACOB BISHOP, Alabama-Huntsville — Martins Ferry graduate competed in the Lewis Crossover Invite last weekend. He finished seventh on his team in a time of 27:04.3.

SHAYE BECKETT, California, Pa. — Bellaire product finished third on her team and 25th overall at the Carnegie-Mellon Invitational last weekend. She ran the race in 20 minutes, 19.49 seconds.

MEGAN BATEMAN, California, Pa. — Union Local graduate was fourth on the team and 28th overall at Carnegie-Mellon. She ran a 20:25.02.

WOMEN’S SOCCER

ALYSSA OTTO, Mercyhurst — True freshman from St. Clairsville started once again for the Lakers during their scoreless draw with Edinboro. Mercyhurst is in action for the first time this week Saturday at Gannon.

VOLLEYBALL

SYDNEY SNYDER, Bethany — True freshman from Steubenville was named President’s Athletic Conference Freshman of the Week. The outside hitter averaged 3.2 kills (35), 0.5 blocks (6), and 3.5 (38) points per set while hitting .409 last week. She ranks second in the PAC with 58 blocks and fourth in hitting percentage at .279.