LANSING — Baseball season is only freshly closed, but the honors are already rolling in for a handful of area athletes.
While it was a year of rebuilding for a number of larger local teams, the Division 4 level was back humming right along this spring and a number of athletes were recognized for their efforts.
The Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association handed out all-state honors to six area northern Michigan standouts.
Two from Harbor Light Christian and Pickford, then one each from Gaylord St. Mary and Inland Lakes brought in honors.
For Harbor Light, senior Will Paulus and junior Daniel Urman each received all-state as a pitcher and infielder, respectively.
Paulus was Harbor Light’s ace on the hill this season, tossing 66 innings with a 9-2 record, 103 strikeouts and just a 0.955 ERA for the season. He also walked just 18 batters all season.
At the plate, Paulus got things done behind a .378 average, driving in 33 runs and scoring 34.
Urman was a talented infielder once again that hit for a .429 average, leading the Swordsmen, then added 10 doubles, 32 RBIs, 45 runs scored and 12 steals. He struck out just six times for the entire season.
For Inland Lakes, senior Ty Kolly was recognized as an all-state infielder, the first of his career.
Kolly closed out the year averaging .436 for the Bulldogs, adding 25 RBIs, 40 runs scored and 18 steals. In 94 at-bats, Kolly struck out just five times. He also added a .909 fielding percentage.
For St. Mary, sophomore Cal Royce earned all-state in his first season with the Snowbirds after playing last season in Boyne City.
Royce batted .576 for the season on 53 hits with 55 RBIs, 56 runs scored and also hit four homers.
His season was cut short by injury late, though he still went 6-0 on the mound with a 0.00 ERA in his seven appearances, while striking out 79.
From Pickford, Mason Andrzejak, a junior, and senior Mac Collins each claimed all-state for a second consecutive season. Andrzejak was recognized as an outfielder, while Collins claimed honors as an infielder.
Also out of northern Michigan, Rogers City had three seniors earn all-state in Justin Romel (C), Jacob Cantalano (1B) and Isaac LaLonde (INF).
For Traverse City St. Francis, who repeated as a state champion after moving up to Division 3 this season, six all-state honors came. Those included Colton Peterson (C), Lanse Vos (1B), Sam Wildfong (INF), Tyler Thompson (INF), Braxton Lesinski (OF) and Tyler Endres (P).
Reach Sports Editor Drew Kochanny at dkochanny@petoskeynews.com and follow him on X @DrewKochanny and Instagram @drewkochanny
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: All-state baseball honors come in for area handful at Division 4 level
Reporting by Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review / The Petoskey News-Review
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By Drew Kochanny, The Petoskey News-Review | USA TODAY Network
