BB: Estes leads All-21-1A baseball honors
Most Valuable Player by the coaches in the league. (Photo by John Krueger)
There was a large amount of parity in the District 21-1A baseball race this year and the voting for the all-league performers was spread throughout the district as well. Shelbyville senior Brad Estes was named the league's Most Valuable Player, while three Alto players, along with Garrison's Dustin Strahan, paced the superlative awards which were voted on and released by the district's coaches.
Douglass had eight players selected to All-21-1A honors to lead all teams, followed by Shelbyville with seven, Garrison had six and Cushing posted five. Four players were chosen from Alto, Gary and Timpson had two each and Martinsville had one performer selected to the all-league team.
Shelbyville (21-9-3) won the District 21-1A championship with a 13-1 mark, while Douglass (12-2) placed second and Garrison (24-10-3, 9-5) secured the third spot by virtue of a play-in victory over Alto (9-5). Cushing (8-16, 7-7) placed fifth in the district, with Timpson (14-12, 4-10) coming in sixth and Gary (5-15) and Martinsville finished 1-13 in league action.
In addition to Estes' honor, Garrison junior Dustin Strahan was named the Offensive Player of the Year, while Alto senior Rhett Gresham was honored as the top defensive player. Yellowjacket junior Austin Peacock was named the Pitcher of the Year and teammate Armando Arroyo (freshman) was named the Newcomer of the Year.
Shelbyville head coach Mike Innerarity was named the Coach of the Year.
Douglass had six players named to the first team, with Garrison and Shelbyville placing three each, Cushing having a pair of players named and Timpson and Gary seeing one player named to the top squad.
Shelbyville Senior outfielder Caleb Helander was a unanimous choice first-team outfielder. Other Dragon players honored were senior pitcher Tyler Adams and sophomore third baseman James Bradford.
Douglass had two unanimous first-team performers out of its six named. Senior catcher Chad Hamby was a first-teamer, along with senior first baseman Kirby Dickinson, sophomore infielder Reed Westbrook and senior Clint Lowery were chosen, as was junior outfielder Blake Wallace (unanimous) and freshman designated hitter Kolten Rhodes.
Garrison had three players on the first squad by unanimous choice, including junior infielder Russell Carrell, outfielder Bryan Bush and utility player Nathan Burkhalter.
Cushing sophomore infielder Brooks Robey was a first-team member, as was senior outfielder Ray Jackson.
Timpson sophomore outfielder Tyler Jackson and Gary junior pitcher Luke Thornton were also named to the first-team.
There was a lot of parity in the Second-Team All-District 21-1A honors as Cushing led the way with three players and Shelbyville, Douglass and Garrison each had two. Timpson, Martinsville, Alto and Gary each had one player named.
Cushing senior pitcher Logan Young was selected to the second team, along with senior infielder Mikey Gaddis and sophomore catcher Branden Robey.
The Dragons' Blake Deal (senior infielder) and outfielder Austin Rabalais (senior) were chosen, along with Garrison sophomore infielder Brady Bush sophomore outfielder Hunter Key, and Douglass freshman infielder Matthew Wallace and junior outfielder Chance Partin.
Second-team players from Timpson include junior pitcher Chase Hutto, Martinsville junior Brent Windham, Alto junior pitcher Stephen Warren and Gary sophomore outfielder Stephen White.
ALL-DISTRICT 21-1A BASEBALL TEAM
Superlative Honors
Most Valuable Player
Brad Estes (Sr.) - Shelbyville
Offensive Player of the Year
Dustin Strahan (Jr.) - Garrison
Defensive Player of the Year
Rhett Gresham (Sr.) - Alto
Newcomer of the Year
Armando Arroyo (Fr.) - Alto
Pitcher of the Year
Austin Peacock (Jr.) - Alto
Coach of the Year
Mike Innerarity - Shelbyville
FIRST-TEAM ALL-DISTRICT
Pitchers
Tyler Adams (Sr.) - Shelbyville
Luke Thornton (Jr.) - Gary
Catcher
Chad Hamby (Sr.) - Douglass
First Base
Kirby Dickinson (Sr.) - Douglass
Infielders
Russell Carrell* (Jr.) - Garrison
Brooks robey (Soph.) - Cushing
Reed westbrook (Soph.) - Douglass
Clint Lowery* (Sr.) - Douglass
James Bradford (Soph.) - Shelbyville
Outfielders
Bryan Bush* (Sr.) - Garrison
Tyler Jackson (Soph.) - Timpson
Blake Wallace* (Jr.) - Douglass
Ray Jackson (Sr.) - Cushing
Caleb Helander* (Sr.) - Shelbyville
Designated Hitter
Kolten Rhodes (Fr.) - Douglass
Utility Player
Nathan Burkhalter* (Jr.) - Garrison
SECOND-TEAM ALL-DISTRICT
Pitchers
Chase Hutto (Jr.) - Timpson
Stephen Warren (Jr.) - Alto
Logan Young (Sr.) - Cushing
Catcher
Braden Robey (Soph.) - Cushing
Infielders
Brent Windham (Jr.) - Martinsville
Blake Deal (Sr.) - Shelbyville
Matthew Wallace (Fr.) - Douglass
Brady Bush (Soph.) - Garrison
Mikey Gaddis (Sr.) - Cushing
Outfielders
Austin Rabalais (Sr.) - Shelbyville
Hunter Key (Soph.) - Garrison
Chance Partin (Jr.) - Douglass
Stephen White (Soph.) - Gary
Honorable Mention
Dalton Robertson - Garrison
Cameron Rodriguez - Garrison
Ryan Baker - Timpson
Tanner Murdock - Timpson
Rody Paige - Timpson
Colton McSwain - Timpson