Maxwell named Pitcher of the Year to lead All-FC teams

St. Paul senior Kole Maxwell was voted as the Pitcher of the Year in the Firelands Conference to highlight six area players on the baseball first team, the league announced on June 3. Maxwell helped the Flyers to a co-championship with South Central — and an eighth straight Division IV sectional title — this season. On the mound, Maxwell was 7-2 with a 0.99 earned run average in 10 appearances for St. Paul (15-9, 11-3). He struck out 107 batters with just 14 walks in 56 1/3 innings of work. The NCAA Division II University of Findlay commit averaged 17.2 strikeouts per seven innings pitched. Also on the first team for the Flyers was junior shortstop Jacob Bocock and senior left fielder Ashton Stang. Bocock batted .358 with eight doubles, three triples, one home run and 12 RBIs. He scored 27 times. Stang hit .291 with three doubles and 14 RBIs and scored 21 times. South Central senior two-way standout Eric Sanders was also selected to the first team after leading the Trojans to the co-title and a district championship. Sanders batted .421 with six doubles, one triple and 22 RBIs at the plate. On the mound, he was 6-1 with a 2.40 ERA. Sanders struck out 55 and walked 27 in 55 1/3 innings. Plymouth senior second baseman Canaan Slone and sophomore pitcher Jarrett Burrer were also selected to the first team. Slone hit .386 with five doubles, one triple and scored 26 runs for the sectional champion Big Red. Burrer was 2-3 with a 1.52 ERA. He struck out 60 in 46 1/3 innings. Among second team selections was South Central junior Aaron Hauler (7-1, 2.79, 63 Ks); senior outfielder Gunner Ray (.294, 33 runs, 12 RBIs) and sophomore third baseman Alex Hamons (.260, 18 RBIs). Also on the second team was the Western Reserve duo of senior left fielder John Kerby (.264, nine RBIs) and sophomore catcher Cooper Zunis (.362, 14 RBIs). Monroeville freshman centerfielder Colt Clark (.379, 18 RBIs, 39 stolen bases) and New London senior first baseman Gage Carroll (.354, 15 RBIs). Rounding out the second team was the St. Paul trio of senior pitcher Drew Kuhnle (5-2, 2.21, 70 Ks); sophomore second baseman Landon Fries (.291, 13 RBIs) and senior outfielder Ben Burger (.392, 18 RBIs). Honorable mention selections from the area included Monroeville junior Landin Hershiser; Plymouth sophomore Lex Grose; South Central sophomore Cole Frankart; New London sophomore Brody Sword; Western Reserve sophomore Tyler Wood; and St. Paul senior Alex Weaver. ——————————————————All-Firelands Conference baseball teamsFIRST TEAM: Canaan Slone, Plymouth, Sr.; Jarrett Burrer, Plymouth, So.; Eric Sanders, South Central, Sr.; Jarek Ringler, Crestview, Sr.; Brennan Fulk, Crestview, Sr.; Gavin Barker, Crestview, Jr.; Tyson Ringler, Crestview, Jr.; Kole Maxwell, St. Paul, Sr.; Jacob Bocock, St. Paul, Jr.; Ashton Stang, St. Paul, Sr.; Kollin Cline, Mapleton, Sr.; Tyson Welch, Mapleton, Jr.PITCHER OF THE YEAR: Kole Maxwell, St. Paul.PLAYER OF THE YEAR: Jarek Ringler, Crestview.COACH OF THE YEAR: Nick Kirk, South Central.SECOND TEAM: Colt Clark, Monroeville, Fr.; Aaron Hauler, South Central, Jr.; Gunner Ray, South Central, Sr.; Alex Hamons, South Central, So.; Gage Carroll, New London, Sr.; John Kerby, Western Reserve, Sr.; Cooper Zunis, Western Reserve, So.; Drew Kuhnle, St. Paul, Sr.; Landon Fries, St. Paul, So.; Ben Burger, St. Paul, Sr.; Zack Wrobleski, Mapleton, Sr.; AJ Workman, Mapleton, Jr.HONORABLE MENTION: Landin Hershiser, Monroeville, Jr.; Lex Grose, Plymouth, So.; Cole Frankart, South Central, So.; Brody Sword, New London, So.; Carson Keener, Crestview, Fr.; Tyler Wood, Western Reserve, So.; Alex Weaver, St. Paul, Sr.; Keaton Ables, Mapleton, Sr.