www.herald-review.com SATURDAY, JUNE 27, 2015 DECATUR, ILLINOIS SPORTS B5 hrpreps County baseball awards First team All-Conference

APOLLO Pitchers Ryan Scharf, Mount Zion; Austin Warrem, Mattoon; Riley Martin, Salem

First Team Brayden Bone, Effingham; Mason Bruce, Mount Zion; Christian Von Qualen, Mount Zion; Sawyer Scott, Mattoon; Payton Hartbank, Mattoon; Dallas Wilson, Charleston; Tyler Roth, Taylorville; Brock Irwin, Salem; Dako- ta McDaneld, Salem

Second Team Adam Koester, Effingham; Carter Hayes, Effingham; Andrew Auton, Mount Zion; Corbin Richardson, Mat- toon; Joey Allee, Mattoon; Dawson Armstrong, Charleston; Jonah Moore, Charleston; Roudey Hensley, Salem

CENTRAL ILLINOIS First Team Nick Frerichs, Sullivan*; Garrett Brachbill, Shelbyville*; Nick Bates, Tuscola*; Garrett Shea, Warrensburg- Latham*; Austin Hardin, Warrensburg- Mason Bruce, Mount Zion Latham; Dylan Hart, Sullivan; Sheldon Andrew Auton, Mount Zion Keegan McHood, Argenta-Oreana Ryan Scharf, Mount Zion Austin Hardin, Warrensburg Meyer, Shelbyville; Jarryd Hawkins, St. Teresa; Zach Ludwig, Central A&M; P — Ryan Scharf, Sr., Mount Zion IF — Keegan McHood, Sr., win 20 games in Josh Hickman, Clinton No county pitcher was better Argenta-Oreana back-to-back Second Team seasons, this Keaton Garner, Central A&M; Jacob than Scharf, a repeat first-teamer, Overton, Clinton; Hayden Damery, Even though McHood only year batting .426 and he did it against some of the Meridian; Clayton Sprague, Meridian; threw 14 innings -- they were 14 with five Zach Hrvol, Sullivan; Matt Sparrow, best competition. Most notably, he completely dominant innings, homers, 33 RBIs Sullivan; Zach Bates, Tuscola; Tyler held down Chatham Glenwood for Hale, Tuscola; Dalton Hoel, Tuscola; allowing no earned runs while and 32 runs Jordan Scrimpsher, Warrensburg-Lath- two runs en route to a regional title. striking out 34 -- the Bombers scored. He am Scharf threw 55 2/3 innings and Shea senior kept his hot bat. He hit moves up to first Honorable Mention had 71 strikeouts along with a 2.14 .447 with 22 extra-base hits to team after being second team Mac Hickman, Clinton; Jake Hand- ERA and a 7-1 record. earn his fourth straight first-team last year. ley, St. Teresa; Tyler Hendryx, Shel- byville; Payton Howell, Shelbyville; P — Austin Brown, Jr., selection. Levi Nadler, Sullivan; Jacob Piper, Util — Christian Von Qualen, Sr., Sullivan; A.J. Duff, Warrensburg-Lath- Argenta-Oreana IF — Andrew Auton, So., Mount Zion am; *Denotes unanimous selection Brown struck out 69 and walked Mount Zion Von Qualen was the Braves' CENTRAL STATE EIGHT just seven in 62 innings, posting a Auton was arguably Mount hottest bat at the end of the sea- First team 1.47 ERA. He was also a big bat Zion's best offensive player, post- son. He came up with a clutch two- Nick Maton, Sr, Glenwood. Matt for the Bombers, hitting .405 with ing a 1.149 OPS. He led the Sekardi, Sr, Glenwood. Kyle Hall, Sr, run to help beat one of Glenwood. Brendan Hostettler, Jr, 27 RBIs. Braves in both home runs (five), the state's best teams in Chatham Glenwood. Jake Ryan, So, Glenwood. RBIs (37) and batting average Glenwood in the regional semifi- Conor Stremlau, Sr, Jacksonville. Noah Christian Von Qualen, Mount Zion C — Merrik Eddington, So., Andrew Auton, Mount Zion Pickens, Jr, Jacksonville. Nik Jackson, (.426). He also scored 34 runs and nals and finished the season with Sr, Springfield Lanphier. Jordan Mount Zion stole 12 bases. a .410 batting average and Yarcho, Sr, Lincoln. Aron Hopp, Jr, Lincoln. Cooper Hake, Jr, Lincoln. Eddington hit well, posting a OF — Craig Austin, Jr., LSA 25 RBIs. Shaquez Bond, Sr, MacArthur. Howard .308 batting average and driving in Fisher, Sr, Rochester. Tyler Fitzgerald, The Lions had his Util — Austin Hardin, Jr., 25. But it's behind the plate that Jr, Rochester. Tyler Schlecht, Sr, best season yet — a .550 batting Warrensburg-Latham Rochester. Cole Daily, Sr, Sacred he's at his best. He's a coach on average with 21 Heart-Griffin. Matt Richey, Sr, Sacred Hardin hit leadoff for the Cardi- Heart-Griffin. Justin Zanger, Sr, the field and makes opponents pay of his 60 hits Sacred Heart-Griffin. Sean Mason, Sr, for straying too far off bases. He going for extra nals and batted .354, rarely strik- Sacred Heart-Griffin. Michael Ryan, picked off nine runners this ing out, and swiping 20 bases. He Sr, Springfield Southeast. Luke bases. He drove Ketchum, Jr, Springfield. Trevor Min- season. in 23, stole 19 was also a pleasant surprise on der, So, Springfield. Damian Pierce, the mound, going 6-1 with a So, Springfield. Michael Lavin, Jr, IF — Mason Bruce, Sr., bases and struck Springfield. out just three 1.01 ERA. Mount Zion Honorable Mention times all season Util — A.J. Duff, Jr., Lamonte Williams, So, Eisenhower. Bruce, a second-teamer last Austin to earn a second Warrensburg-Latham Klay Wood, So, Jacksonville. Adam year, had a .496 on-base percent- straight first-team Hillis, So, Jacksonville. Jared Griffin, Duff provided power in the Sr, Springfield Lanphier. J.J. Nutaut, age hitting leadoff and also flashed selection. Sr, Springfield Lanphier. Kody some pop with three home runs, middle of the Cardinals' order Childers, Jr, Springfield Lanphier. OF — Garrett Shea, Jr., with six home runs and 31 RBIs Ryan Thomas, Jr, Lincoln. Noah Skin- four triples and nine doubles. ner, Jr, Rochester. Nate Welch, Sr, Bruce stole 18 bases, drove in 26 Warrensburg-Latham to go along with a .322 batting Springfield Southeast. Michael Lavin, and contributed on the mound with Whether playing at first or in average. He also led the team in Jr, Springfield Southeast. a 1.32 ERA and 32 strikeouts in the outfield, Shea was an impact wins with a 7-2 record and LITTLE ILLINI A.J. Duff, Warrensburg player. He's helped the Cardinals posted a 2.02 ERA. Austin Brown, Argenta-Oreana First Team 23 1/3 innings. Bryce Pearce, Flora; Brock Mam- morser, Newton; Bo Minor, Paris; Trevor Nicholson, Flora; Tyler Zuber, Olney; Matt Stevenson, Edwards Coun- Second team Honorable mention ty; T.J. Potter, Paris; Keegan Steele, Marshall; Mitch Jansen, Newton; Con- nor Adams, Olney; Evan Blankenship, P — Cameron Leff, Jr., IF — Mason Hinton, Sr., LSA Logan Allsup (So., P), Maroa- Mount Zion just Casey-Westfield; Jordan Shick, Lawrenceville; T.J. Smerdon, Edwards Mount Zion Team leader in RBIs with 32. Forsyth; Blake Bryan (Sr., IF), County; Jackson Feltt, Paris; Troy Maroa-Forsyth; Hayden Damery Houchin, Olney; Luke Durre, Flora; Led a strong Mount Zion bullpen Mitch Bierman, Newton OF — Austin Welker, Sr., Argenta (Jr., IF), Meridian; Konnor with a 1.67 ERA. Had five home runs and 28 RBIs. Damery (Jr., P), Argenta-Ore- Second Team relaxed with Smith Darin Cox, Robinson; Clay Titus, P — Jarryd Hawkins, So., OF — Seth Woolen, Sr., Maroa ana; A.J. Davis (So., IF), Mount Marshall; Reid Kocher, Olney; Jeffrey Zion; Jake Durand (Sr., Util), JUSTIN CONN we were going to win the Gaither, Flora; Grant Gaither, Red St. Teresa Hit .398 and had a 2.80 ERA. Hill; Tristan Litaker, Flora; Nate Mein- LSA; H&R Staff Writer regional, someone other Opponents hit just .199 against hart, Newton; Keenan Boewe, Edwards OF — Shaquez Bond, Sr., Jake Handley (Sr., Util), St. Most of the reasons Mount than Ryan was going to have County; Kristian Kelly, Paris; Gage him and he struck out 65. Miller, Olney MacArthur Teresa; Cooper Hitchens (Jr., C), Zion coach Matt Smith to win a game, and I knew he was our best chance of Honorable Mention C — Cole Banks, Jr., Argenta Bond hit .345 and was also an Maroa-Forsyth; Briley Housh became this year's H&R (So., Util), LSA; Parker Kendrick beating Chatham,” Smith Ethan Williams, Casey-Westfield; Banks' stats weren't eye-popping outstanding . Macon County Coach of the Maverick Troyer, Edwards County; (Sr., P), Warrensburg-Latham; said. And Smith knew Cody Steffey, Lawrenceville; Reid but he was a top defensive catcher. Year came in the months Util — Jordan Scrimpsher, Jr., Colton Lockwood (Jr., Util), leading up to regionals. Chatham well, having scout- Brown, Marshall; Luke Geier, Newton; ed the Titans himself and Luke Hahn, Olney; Alustin Littleton, C — Brad Austin, So., LSA Warrensburg-Latham Eisenhower; Wyatt Moser (Sr., The Braves were the best Paris; Steven Ramsaran, Red Hill; Util), Meridian; Parker Nichols team in the county this year also having sent two assis- Cole Blakebaker, Robinson Hit .488 and didn't allow a Hit .429 and had a 2.02 ERA. tants to games. (Jr., Util), LSA; before their improbable run LITTLE OKAW VALLEY passed ball all season. Had a shutout of Williamsville. Still, he didn't pull any Sammy Schultz (So., IF), to the title as the No. 4 seed Catcher punches when he addressed Cole Banks, Jr, Argenta-Oreana IF — Bryant Bloch, Jr., Argenta Util - Clayton Sprague, Jr., Mount Zion; Griffin Sparks (Sr., in the Class 3A regionals. Pitchers his team about the game. Drove in 25 and had a .407 bat- Meridian Util), Argenta-Oreana; Lamontie But with five outs left and Austin Brown*, Jr, Argenta-Oreana. “Sometimes I can be too Devon Still*, Sr, Okaw Valley. the Braves facing a poten- ting average. Hit .531 with five home runs. Williams (So., OF), Eisenhower honest,” Smith said, laugh- Infielders tially embarrassing loss to Mason Hinton*, Sr, LSA. Keegan ing. “I told them, ‘Chatham Taylorville in the regional McHood*, Sr, Argenta-Oreana. Peyton That’s where Bruce feels like lege player. is the better team. But it Hagerman*, Sr, Okaw Valley. Dylan quarterfinals, Smith needed Park*, Jr, Okaw Valley. he fits best, but Smith - begin- doesn’t matter because it's “He’s a great pickup for to remind his players of that. BRUCE ning in Bruce’s junior year - (Millikin coach Brandon baseball — the better team Tyler Schuring*, Sr, ALAH. Craig He also needed to remind Continued from B1 wanted him hitting leadoff Townsend),” Smith said. “His doesn't always win.’” Austin, Jr, LSA. Austin Welker, Sr, himself. Argenta-Oreana. Daniel Mendoza, So, have according to Smith. because of his speed and abili- speed is ideal for center. But The Braves were facing “The pressure was on us Arcola. “He made so many strides ty to kickstart the lineup. his hands are pretty good, and Nick Maton, who hadn't lost Utility and we could feel it,” Smith Devin Warren, Jr, Arcola. and got so much better with “I know he didn’t like that, he’d give you some good pop all year and was recently Honorable Mention said. “Taylorville was play- that this year,” Smith said. and he is probably more of a for a second baseman. I don’t drafted in the 20th round of Garrett Fritz, Fr, Okaw Valley. Avery ing an outstanding game. In “He didn't have many bad at- No. 2 hitter, but he handled it know what (Townsend) has the MLB Draft by San Schrock, Sr, ALAH. Drew Fruchtl, Jr, the fifth inning we loaded Okaw Valley. Ross Ryan, Sr, ALAH. bats. Even when he was mak- well,” Smith said. “It was nice planned, but I wouldn’t be sur- Diego. But a two-run home Parker Nichols, JR, LSA. Bryant the bases with nobody out ing outs, they were loud outs starting with him on first or prised to see Mason in the run by Christian Von Qualen Bloch, Jr, Argenta-Oreana. Joe Jeffers, and we didn't score a run Sr, Okaw Valley. Brad Austin, So, LSA. where he was hitting it hard second, then being a threat to starting lineup as a freshman. in the second inning gave and I started thinking, ‘Oh Taylor Coleman, So, Okaw Valley. right at someone. steal second or third.” He’s that good.” them a jolt of confidence. no, we might not win this SOUTH CENTRAL “It was maturity. He really Bruce said he knew there Bruce said he prefers short- “We were worried about was no use in arguing with game.’ First Team matured into a good player.” stop, but will play wherever going against Maton — we Pitcher: Tyler Hutchinson*, Sr, Smith, so he made the best of “But before the sixth Smith said that maturity gets him on the field. The hadn’t faced anyone like Greenville. Spencer Heineman*, Sr, the situation. inning I called the boys over Southwestern helped Bruce in all aspects of question is whether he stays him,” Bruce said. “(Smith) “You’re not going to change Catcher: Bryce Despain, Sr, Car- his game. on the baseball field, having and said, ‘Re-lax. The game told us he was good and they linville his mind,” Bruce said, laugh- committed to playing both isn’t over. Don't go up there were a great defensive team, Infield: Tyler Hutchinson, Sr, “I wouldn't say Mason ever ing. “It’s not that I disliked it, Greenville. Jake Carter, Jr, Carlinville. football and baseball for the trying to hit a three-run but they can struggle at the took plays off, but he would I just like hitting second bet- Craig Faulkner, Sr, Greenville. Blake lose focus,” Smith said. “He Big Blue. Bruce said that home run with no one on. plate. We knew if we could Lawson, Sr, Southwestern ter. But I did like those first- remains to be seen. Breathe, take it pitch-by- Outfield: Jacob Hall, Sr, Greenville. didn't let that happen this put up some runs, Scharf Andrew Fry, Sr, Southwestern. Logan pitch fastballs you get hitting “It’s a tall task — we’ll see pitch and keep playing.’” year. It’s from the shoulders leadoff.” would mix things up and we Reardon, Sr, Roxana up that kids really start sepa- how it goes the first year,” One out into the sixth, it would have a chance. DH/Utiliy: Zach Schaal, Sr, Vandalia Bruce always played short- Bruce said. “I may have to pick finally happened. The rating themselves from the stop for Smith at Mount Zion, “It was hectic, but when Second Team one or the other. We’ll see. Braves erupted for six runs Pitcher: Brady Anderson, Sr, Gille- rest, and that’s what Mason but he’s playing center field Von Qualen hit that home “It depends on the season in the sixth and advanced to spie. Collin Baumgartner, So, South- did this year.” this summer for the Com- run to give us the lead, with western which one I like better. But my the semifinals. As a sophomore, Bruce modores, which Smith said he Scharf pitching, we felt Catcher: Jacob Ritzhaupt, Jr, South- heart has always been in base- western entered the Mount Zion lineup sees as Bruce’s best position. “The same thing had hap- good.” ball.” Infield: Joeb Easterday, Sr, Car- as the No. 9 hitter but worked Smith said Bruce’s versatility pened to us the year before After the Braves finished linville. Brady Anderson, Sr, Gillespie. his way into a more significant in the batting order and the [email protected]| in the first game against off the 3-2 win, Smith's Connor Simmons, Jr, Litchfield. Alex Eisenhower, and (Smith) Baldwin, Sr, Southwestern. Blaine Ray, role, settling in the No. 2 hole. field makes him an ideal col- (217) 421-7971 phone blew up with texts Sr, Staunton brought that up,” said senior from people as far north as Outfield: Zach Seymour, Jr, South- Mason Bruce. “He reminded I-80 and as far south as western. Ryan Hutchinson, So, Recent winners Greenville. Derick Engelke, Sr, Gille- us we'd been in that situa- Mount Vernon. spie tion before and said he had “Chatham was the better DH/Utility: Jeff Winter, Jr, Pana MACON COUNTY 2013 - Erik Johansen, LSA 2007 - Blair Springfield, MacArthur no doubt we could do it team, but we were better Third Team BASEBALL COACH OF THE YEAR 2014 - Tom Saunches, 2008 - Jordan Grinestaff, again.” that day,” Smith said. “This Pitcher: Joeb Easterday, Sr, Car- 2003 - Jim Stewart, St. Teresa Argenta-Oreana Mount Zion That's when things got fun. was a team that always linville. Ryan Hutchinson, So, Greenville. Logan Reardon, Sr, Roxana 2004 - Ben Davis, Mount Zion 2015 - Matt Smith, Mount Zion 2009 - Daniel Peters, St. Teresa Mount Zion wasn't sup- played for seven innings and Catcher: Kyle Dugan, Sr, Greenville 2005 - Sean Martin, Maroa-Forsyth 2010 - Aaron Michel, St. Teresa posed to beat top-seeded never quit. I don't know if Infield: Tate Wargo, So, Gillespie. 2006 - Ben Davis, Mount Zion MACON COUNTY 2011 - Luke Etnier, Meridian Rhett Zahradka, Jr, Pana. Scott Kast- Chatham Glenwood in the I’d had a team like that ing, Jr, Southwestern. Chance Foss, Jr, 2007 - Tom Saunches, Argenta BASEBALL PLAYER OF THE YEAR 2012 - Aaron Michel, St. Teresa semifinals, and no one before. When there backs Roxana. Austin Gusewell, Jr, Staunton. 2008 - Ben Davis, Mount Zion 2003 - Eric Law, Mount Zion 2013 - Keegan McHood, expected it to, not even were against the wall, they'd Richie Well, So, Vandalia Outfield: Brayton Gibbs, Sr, Car- 2009 - Chris Elston, Warrensburg 2004 - Blake Anderson, Argenta-Oreana Smith. But his gamble of not respond. We scored a lot of linville. Paul Rhodes, Sr, Pana. Ryan 2010 - Jim Stewart, St. Teresa Mount Zion 2014 - Keegan McHood, throwing ace Ryan Scharf in runs this season in the sixth Howard, Sr, Litchfield. Blake Vandiver, Jr, Roxana 2011 - Tony Millard, Meridian 2005 - Andy Fuiten, MacArthur Argenta-Oreana the quarters against Tay- and seventh innings. We DH/Utility: Josh Rudd, Sr, Roxana. 2012 - Matt Smith, Mount Zion 2006 - Josh Schultz, Mount Zion 2015 - Mason Bruce, Mount Zion lorville paid off — “I knew if were very resilient.” Dillon Hallermann, Jr, Greenville