Inland Lakes’ Wallace earns Ski Valley Player of the Year honor
INDIAN RIVER – Connor Wallace was stellar all season long on the mound for the Inland Lakes Bulldogs.
He was also a dominant presence with both his bat and in the field when he wasn’t pitching.
After a sensational junior season, the Inland Lakes baseball star was recently named the Ski Valley Conference Player of the Year.
Wallace was one of five I-L players to make the All-Ski Valley first team. Teammates joining Wallace on the first team were senior Kaden Hansel, juniors Payton Teuthorn and Grant Blumke, and freshman Ty Kolly.
I-L sophomore Aidan Fenstermaker earned a spot on the All-Ski Valley second team, while junior Jake Willey picked up an honorable mention nod.
It was another spectacular conference campaign for the Bulldogs, who won the Ski Valley with an undefeated 16-0 record for a second year in a row. The Bulldogs, who were ranked No. 1 in the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Division 4 poll during the campaign, finished 31-2 overall.
Onaway junior Cole Selke made the All-Ski Valley first team, while junior Jadin Mix and sophomore Luke Lovelace both earned nods on the second team. Senior Cody Ruppert and junior Jackson Chaskey each received honorable mention recognition.
For the Pellston Hornets, seniors Zack Moyer and Aiden Klungle each made the All-Ski Valley second team, and senior Garrett Cameron was recognized as an honorable mention.
Making up the rest of the All-Ski Valley first team were Gaylord St. Mary’s Brody Jeffers, Donovan Blust and Gavin Bebble, Johannesburg-Lewiston's Riley McVanel, and Mancelona’s Jason Naumcheff.
Ski Valley second team honors went to Gaylord St. Mary’s Dillon Croff, Daniel Jacobson and Brett Koscielniak, JoBurg’s Will Boden and Eli Lindbert, Central Lake’s Garrison Barrett, and Bellaire’s Brady Hoogerhyde.
Rounding out the Ski Valley honorable mention nods were Mancelona’s Jason Kihn, Rudy Randazzo, Ryan Naumcheff and Gavin Robinson, Central Lake’s Drayten Evans, Andrew Bay and Grant Miller, Forest Area’s Cameron Patton, Tyler Singer and Landon Magger, and Bellaire’s Devin Gallagher.
All-Ski Valley Baseball First Team
Connor Wallace, Inland Lakes, Jr., Pitcher
Kaden Hansel, Inland Lakes, Sr., Pitcher
Brody Jeffers, Gaylord St. Mary, Infield
Ty Kolly, Inland Lakes, Fr., Infield
Payton Teuthorn, Inland Lakes, Jr., Infield
Riley McVannel, JoBurg, Sr., Outfield
Donovon Blust, Gaylord St. Mary, Outfield
Cole Selke, Onaway, Jr., Infield
Grant Blumke, Inland Lakes, Jr., First Base
Gavin Bebble, Gaylord St. Mary, At-Large/Utility
Jason Naumcheff, Mancelona, Sr., At-Large/Utility
All-Ski Valley Baseball Second Team
Dillon Croff, Gaylord St. Mary, Pitcher
Zack Moyer, Pellston, Sr., Pitcher
Luke Lovelace, Onaway, So., Catcher
Will Boden, JoBurg, Sr. Infield
Garrison Barrett, Central Lake. Jr., Infield
Aiden Klungle, Pellston, Sr., Infield
Brady Hoogerhyde, Bellaire, Infield
Eli Lindbert, JoBurg, Sr., Outfield
Aidan Fenstermaker, Inland Lakes, So., Outfield
Jadin Mix, Onaway, Jr., Outfield
Daniel Jacobson, Gaylord St. Mary, At-Large/Utility
Brett Koscielniak, Gaylord St. Mary, At Large-Utility
All-Ski Valley Baseball Honorable Mention
Devin Gallagher, Bellaire
Jason Kihn, Mancelona
Rudy Randazzo, Mancelona
Ryan Naumcheff, Mancelona
Gavin Robinson, Mancelona
Garrett Cameron, Pellston
Drayten Evans, Central Lake
Andrew Bay, Central Lake
Grant Miller, Central Lake
Cody Ruppert, Onaway
Jackson Chaskey, Onaway
Cameron Patton, Forest Area
Tyler Singer Forest Area
Landon Magger, Forest Area
Jake Willey, Inland Lakes
This article originally appeared on Cheboygan Daily Tribune: Inland Lakes’ Connor Wallace earns Ski Valley Player of the Year honor