All-county teams packed with talent

Baseball, softball standouts spread among all teams

The 2016 Banner Graphic all-Putnam County baseall and softball teams show several key graduates who will be missed by their teams next spring, but also many more underclassman selections who will look to continue their successes in 2017.

The top award winners were three seniors and a junior, with all the seniors continuing their careers in college next year.

Pitcher of the Year Brayden White and Player of the Year Kyler Jeter both helped North Putnam to a sectional runnerup finish this year in baseball.

In softball, Katie Hewitt of South Putnam picked up her second Player of the Year award (she also won in 2014), while Cloverdale junior Lauren Meek was chosen as the top hurler.

Four of the 12 all-county baseball players were seniors, with the rest returning, while in softball there were three seniors among the 12 selections.

White will play collegiately for DePauw, while Jeter will play for Trine and Hewitt will take her talents to Marian.

In baseball, five junior players were chosen while one was a sophomore and two were freshmen.

Four juniors made the all-county softball team, joined by three sophomores and two freshmen.

Three players from each school were chosen for the all-county squads, in addition to the special award winners.

Other graduated all-county players moving on to compete in college are Mackenzi Carrington of South Putnam (Dominican), Anthony Rossok of Greencastle (Anderson), Kim Winders of Cloverdale (Cincinnati Christian) and Grady McHugh of South Putnam (Wooster).

Players of the year

Baseball: Kyler Jeter, North Putnam

Year: Senior

Position: 3B, LF

Stats: .353 average, eight doubles, three homers, 19 RBI, 22 runs scored

Coach: Brian Jeter

Coach's comments: "The senior led the Cougars in almost every offensive category and was a great senior leader. Jeter played primarily third base for North Putnam, but did see time in the outfield as well."

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference.

Will play in college at: Trine University

Softball: Katie Hewitt, South Putnam

Year: Senior

Position: SS

Stats: Batted .483 with 10 doubles, one triple, four home runs, 37 RBI and 29 runs scored.

Coach: Jamie Steffy

Coach's comments: "Katie has been one of the best softball players in this part of the state the last couple of years. Every coach and team knows not only about the quality of softball player she is, but what an even better young lady she is. "Other awards: First-team all-state by Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association; all-Western Indiana Conference.

Will play in college at: Marian University

Pitchers of the Year

Baseball: Brayden White, North Putnam

Year: Senior

Position: P-IF

Stats: Pitching -- Threw 62.1 innings, started 12 games, record of 4-5, 108 strikeouts and 15 walks with ERA of 1.12. Batting -- Average .239, four doubles, one homer, 10 RBI, 11 runs

Coach: Brian Jeter

Coach's comments: "He was a dominant ace for the Cougars on the mound as he struck out a crazy 108 batters while only walking 15. With a 1.12 ERA, White always had the Cougars in the ball game. He was a great team leader not only on the field, but in the community as well."

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference.

Will play in college at: DePauw University

Softball: Lauren Meek, Cloverdale

Year: Junior

Position: P

Stats: Batting -- .407 average. Pitching -- 11-7 record, 4.78 ERA, 66 strikeouts, 57 walks

All-county baseball

Duke Duff, North Putnam

Year: Junior

Position: 2B-P

Stats: Average .233, three doubles, one triple, eight RBI, 14 runs scored. Pitching record was 1-0 with 1.08 ERA in 19 innings of work.

Coach: Brian Jeter

Coach's comments: "The junior brought another solid arm to the Cougar pitching staff and young leader to the senior heavy squad. Duff brought speed and quality at bats to the lineup. Duke, like Kendall, looks to be a strong senior leader for the Cougars in multiple sports next year."

Brandon Gierke, South Putnam

Year: Senior

Position: P

Stats: Batted .306 with two homers, 12 RBI and 10 runs scored. Had a 20-2 pitching record with a 2.48. Struck out 37 batters in 31 innings.

Coach: Brady Rhodes

Coach's comments: "Brandon did a great job for us this year with his pitching prowess."

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference.

Tyce Jackson, Cloverdale

Year: Sophomore

Position: C

Stats: Second on team in hitting (.358) and stolen bases (27).

Coach: Tony Meyer

Coach's comments: "Handles our pitching staff very well. He is just a great kid who is willing to do what it takes to win."

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference

Jack Kendall, North Putnam

Year: Junior

Position: IF-OF-P

Stats: Had the second most innings pitched for North Putnam and achieved a 1.93 ERA with a 4-2 record and 28 strikeouts.

Coach: Brian Jeter:

Coach's comments: "The super utility man played key innings at multiple positions for the Cougars. He was solid defensively in left field, first base, and on the mound. Kendall looks to be a strong senior leader for the Cougars in multiple sports next year.

Grady McHugh, South Putnam

Year: Senior

Position: 1B

Stats: Batted .297 with three doubles, three homers, 18 RBI and 12 runs scored.

Coach: Brady Rhodes

Coach's comments: "Grady did a great job for us, and you're never gonna find a better kid than him."

Will play in college at: College of Wooster (football/baseball)

Anthony Rossok, Greencastle

Year: Senior

Position: 1B

Stats: Batted .273 with one double, six RBi and three runs scored.

Coach: Ben Wells (assistant)

Coach's comments: "Anthony was our senior leader. He was the guy you could rely on his maturity and experience in any situation. He was our everyday first baseman who played the game hard everyday."

Will play in college at: Anderson University

Jarron Rossok, Cloverdale

Year: Freshman

Position: P

Stats: Batted .229 with two RBI and four runs scored.

Coach: Tony Meyer

Coach's comments: "Drew every tough stgart for us in and out of conference play. To have a freshman step up like that is just a great thing and bodes well for his career at CHS."

Trey Scanland, Greencastle

Year: Junior

Stats: Batted .323 with two doubles, two triples, one homer, eight RBI and seven runs scored.

Coach: Ben Wells (assistant)

Coach's comments: "Trey led our team in most offensive categories and was someone we wanted at the plate in key situations because we knew he was going to produce for us."

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference.

Bobby Scheele, North Putnam

Year: Senior

Position: P-IF

Stats: Batted .280 (second on team) with three doubles, two homers, 10 RBi and 13 runs scored. Pitched 24 innings with 25 strikeouts and a 2.27 ERA.

Coach: Brian Jeter:

Coach's comments: "Scheele was a solid asset for the Cougars both offensively and on the mound."

Will play in college at: Wabash College (football)

Parker Watts, Cloverdale

Year: Freshman

Position: SS

Stats: Led team in hitting (.362), stolen bases (29), homers (2) and doub les (8).

Coach: Tony Meyer

Coach's comments: "He played very well for us. He is a great young player."

Dylan Wood, South Putnam

Year: Junior

Position: SS

Stats: Batted .389 with nine doubles, three homers, 12 RBi and 26 runs scored

Coach: Brady Rhodes

Coach's comments: "He's a heck of a ball player both pitching and hitting. He also was an amazing base runner."

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference.

Brandon Workman, Greencastle

Year: Junior

Position: P

Stats: Logged the most innings on the mound with 34.2, finishing with a 1-3 record and a 4.85 ERA.

Coach: Ben Wells (assistant)

Coach's comments: "Brandon is a player that we knew we could put in any situation and he would get us out of the inning."

All-county softball

Drew Bratcher, South Putnam

Year: Freshman

Position: C

Stats: .526 batting average, 22 doubles, two triples, two home runs, 40 RBI and 39 runs scored.

Coach: Jamie Steffy

Coach's comments: ""It doesn't matter if it is in practice or games, she gives you everything she has. She is very competitive and wants to have a high rate of success in everything she does. What is probably the most impressive thing about Drew is despite her age, her overall knowledge of softball is at a very, very high level."

Other honors: Named third team all-state by Indiana Coaches of Girls Sports Association

Grace Carr, South Putnam

Year: Freshman

Position: P

Stats: Was one of the team's top pitchers with a 6-4 record, a 5.68 ERA and 17 strikeouts in 71.1 innings of work.

Coach: Jamie Steffy

Coach's comments: "She played a lot of different positions for us this and did a very good job at each one of them. Whenever Grace was asked to play a different position. She grabbed her mitt and was always ready. She really excelled with the 'play on demand' philosophy that we have in our program."

Mackenzi Carrington, South Putnam

Year: Senior

Position: 3B

Stats: Carrington finished with a .411 average (third on team) with five doubles, one triple, five home runs (first on team), 15 RBI and 29 runs scored (tied for 2nd on team).

Coach: Jamie Steffy

Coach's comments: ""She's shown up to play every day this year, whether she's been 100 percent or banged up. I never heard her complain. She had a really good season for us, and has been a good leader for our younger girls."

Will play in college at: Dominican University

Skylar Clifford, North Putnam

Year: Junior:

Stats: Batted .294 with four doubles, nine RBI and 17 runs scored.

Kelsey Helterbrand, Cloverdale

Year: Junior

Position: SS-C

Stats: Batted .452 with 33 hi ts, 18 RBI and one homer

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference.

Skyler Hensley, Greencastle

Year: Junior

Position: P

Coach: Tabatha Briones

Coach's comments: "Dependable on the mound and at bat."

Kenlee Johnson, Greencastle

Year: Senior

Position: C

Coach: Tabatha Briones

Coach's comments: "Versatile player, best catcher, and dependable at bat."

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference

Chloe LaPierre,

North Putnam

Year: Sophomore

Position:

Stats: Batted .388 with seven doubles, three homers, nine RBI and 13 runs scored.

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference.

Grace Paul, Greencastle

Year: Junior

Position: 3B

Coach: Tabatha Briones

Coach's comments: "best third baseman and great slap at bat, always hits for the team and plays for the team."

Mia Runnels,

North Putnam

Year: Sophomore

Stats: Batted .328 with six doubles, two triples, one homer, 18 RBI and 18 runs scored.

Kiley Shedron, Cloverdale

Year: Sophomore

Position: 3B

Stats: Batted .370 with 27 hits and 14 RBI.

Kim Winders, Cloverdale

Year: Senior

Position: 1B

Stats: Batted .449 with 31 hits, 26 RBI and three homers.

Other awards: All-Western Indiana Conference

Will play in college at: Cincinnati Christian