There are five spots on the Messenger/Herald all-area baseball team reserved for pitchers.
Most of them would have made the team for their hitting statistics if they weren’t pitchers. They left nine spots for the top batters, several of whom were also outstanding pitchers.
The entire all-area team follows below.
Ike Brown, Bellevue
The junior shortstop drove in 25 runs, scored 20 runs, stole 20 bases and batted .434. He struck out four times in 76 at-bats. He was 4-1 with two saves. He struck out 42 and walked 11 in 28 innings, with a 1.00 ERA. He was first-team in the Sandusky Bay Conference Lake Division.
Reece Walby, Gibsonburg
The junior shortstop scored 26 runs, drove in 16, hit two home runs and batted .500. He struck out three times in 54 at-bats. He also tossed 30⅔ innings on the mound. He was first-team in the SBC River Division.
Cam Joseph, Fremont Ross
The senior pitcher struck out 71 and walked 25 in 38⅔ innings, with a 1.81 ERA. He batted .286, drove in 19 runs, scored 15 and added five home runs. He was first-team at utility in the Northern Lakes League Cardinal Division.
Chuy Rodriguez, Gibsonburg
The senior pitcher struck out 91 and walked 22 in 48 innings. He was 7-4 with a 2.33, while batting .521 at the plate. He was first-team all-conference.
Blake Sutherland, Bellevue
The junior pitcher struck out 56 and walked 22 in 38 innings. He was 4-2 with a 1.47 ERA. He was first-team all-league.
Nolan Bickelhaupt, Oak Harbor
The junior outfielder scored 37 runs, drove in 25 and stole 24 bases. He batted. .430 and hit two home runs. He also struck out 81 and walked 35 in 56 innings. He was 5-3 with a 2.00 ERA. He was first-team in the Northern Buckeye Conference.
Cooper Schultz, Oak Harbor
The senior center fielder batted .432, with only seven strikeouts in 95 at-bats. He scored 38 runs and drove in 23, with 20 walks and 17 stolen bases. He was 4-2 with a 3.33 ERA in 33⅔ innings. He was first-team all-league.
Zach Gray, Margaretta
The junior center fielder struck out twice in 59 at-bats, stole 23 bases and batted .441. He was 3-1 on the mound. He was outstanding performer in the SBC Bay Division as the Polar Bears earned a conference championship.
Drew Dennings, Bellevue
The senior catcher had only 33 at-bats because of injuries, but batted .364 and still drove in 11 runs. He was 2-0 on the mound. He was second-team all-conference.
Drake Yohe, Clyde
The freshman outfielder batted .385 and scored 18 runs. He was first-team in the SBC Lake Division.
Hunter Sweeney, Lakota
The senior outfielder scored 21 runs and drove in 18, with a .364 average. He struck out 65 and walked 22 in 35 innings. He was first-team in the SBC River Division.
Keil Almroth, Woodmore
The junior pitcher struck out 93 and walked 24 in 62 innings. He was 7-4 with a 1.13 ERA. He was first-team in the SBC River Division.
Mason Kromer, Margaretta
The junior pitcher struck out 57 and walked 13 in 45 innings. He was 7-1 with a 1.71 ERA. He was first-team all-conference.
Elijah Welling, Genoa
The junior first baseman scored 32 runs, drove in 19, collected 13 doubles and batted .481. He was first-team in the NBC.
mhorn@gannett.com
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This article originally appeared on Fremont News-Messenger: Who are the boys on the Messenger/Herald all-area baseball team
Reporting by Matthew Horn, Fremont News-Messenger / Fremont News-Messenger
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Matthew Horn, Fremont News-Messenger | USA TODAY Network
