MVL announces all-conference baseball team
Coming off a fourth-place finish in the very tough Miami Valley League, the Tippecanoe baseball team saw several of its athletes honored by the MVL coaches as they announced their all-league baseball teams.
In all, four members of the Red Devils earned all-conference honors, including a pair who were named to the first team.
Junior Preston Zumwalt was named to the infield group on the top team in the league, while sophomore Bryce Eckert also took home a spot on the first team.
According to the league statistics, Zumwalt finished tied overall in the league in batting average as the University of Toledo recruit hit .500 on the season. The Tipp shortstop also connected on four home runs, which placed him second in the MVL, along with a second-best 31 runs batted in. The only player to finish ahead of Zumwalt in all three categories was Troy’s Ryder Kirtley who earned the Triple Crown in the league, leading the league in all three categories.
Eckert batted .339 on the season with 21 hits, seven RBIs, and five stolen bases.
Joining the Tipp duo and Kirtley on the first team were Butler’s Alex Ables, Koby Dues, Austin Flohre, Mason Reckner, and Hunter Richardson.
Other players on the top team included Mickey Anderson and Hunter Steinke from Piqua, Hayden Frey and Brady O’Leary from Troy, Adam Newell from Xenia, and Nick Russ from Sidney.
Landing on the second-team from the Red Devils were Brady Liskey and Landon Turner.
On the season, Liskey .317 and his 26 hits was tied for second best on the team. He also drove home 21 runs and stole nine bases.
Other second-team players included Max Rubins and Mitch Strehle from Butler; Caleb Akins, Matthew Hempker, Nathan McDowell, and Carson Riddle from Troy; Mitchell Davis from Sidney; Evan Harbison from Xenia; Carson Henry from Stebbins; Ben Martin from West Carrollton; Andrew Schmidt from Fairborn; and Owen Shawler from Piqua.
Neither Tipp or Butler had anyone mentioned on the honorable mention all-league team.
The Butler Aviators won the MVL this spring with a 17-1 league record, followed closely by Troy who finished 16-2 and Piqua 14-4. The Red Devils saw their 10-8 league record place them fourth, followed by Greenville, who was 6-12.
