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Here is the SJ-R's small school baseball team for 2023

ryan mahan, state journal-register
·4 min read

LUCAS BIXBY, New Berlin

His .451 average (46-for-102) was second in the Sangamo Conference and he added 32 RBIs and three home runs for the 21-12 Pretzels. The junior first baseman and pitcher went 3-3 with a 3.34 ERA and struck out 88 hitters — another second-best effort in the league — in 44 innings pitched.

KADEN BROWN, North Mac

The senior center fielder made no errors and averaged .517 with five home runs for the Panthers (13-8 overall, 5-4 South Central Conference). On the mound, he went 7-2 with 80 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA.

BRYCE BUHS, Gillespie

Gillespie High School's Bryce Buhs pitches against Carlinville during the game Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Gillespie High School's Bryce Buhs pitches against Carlinville during the game Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

As a pitcher, the junior went undefeated with an 8-0 record, a 1.45 ERA and struck out 72 batters against 20 walks in 43 1/3 innings. When he wasn’t pitching, he could be found at second base or the outfield and batted .273 (27-for-99) with eight extra-base hits and 31 RBIs. Gillespie won all 29 regular season games and advanced to the Class 2A Pleasant Plains Sectional title game for the first time since 2002.

TREY CARTER, Williamsville

Williamsville's Trey Carter pitches against Pleasant Plains during the game Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Williamsville's Trey Carter pitches against Pleasant Plains during the game Thursday, April 27, 2023.

The Bullets’ senior right-handed pitcher registered a 1.29 ERA and a 6-1 record in 46 innings pitched. The ace who is going to Lincoln Land Community College struck out 60 against just 17 strikeouts as Williamsville went 23-7 and won the Sangamo Conference with a 9-0 record. At the plate, he was 28-for-88 with 32 RBIs and a .318 average and belted four home runs.

JACKSON FRICKE, Mount Pulaski

The Hilltoppers’ senior catcher batted .554 (46-for-83) with 17 doubles and four home runs. He knocked in 43 runs. The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A All-State selection led Mount Pulaski to a 27-5 finish and will next play at Illinois College in Jacksonville.

KADEN GRIFFITTS, Williamsville

Williamsville's Kaden Griffitts bats during the game against Pleasant Plains Thursday, April 27, 2023.
Williamsville's Kaden Griffitts bats during the game against Pleasant Plains Thursday, April 27, 2023.

The Bullets’ senior center fielder joined teammate Trey Carter as unanimous Sangamo Conference picks. The future Heartland Community College player hit .440 (40-for-91), drove in 33 runs, belted five homers and scored 40 runs and stole 18 bases in 31 games.

HENRY KUFA, Carlinville

Carlinville's Henry Kufa takes a throw for a force out against Gillespie on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Carlinville's Henry Kufa takes a throw for a force out against Gillespie on Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

The senior led the 21-3 Cavaliers in many categories: average (.518, 43-for-83), RBIs (45), extra-base hits (20, including five triples and six homers), had an on-base percentage of .573 and an on-base plus slugging percentage of 1.537. When not at shortstop, he piled up a 7-1 record with a 1.43 ERA in 34 1/3 innings pitched. He struck out 65 and issued just 15 walks. He will play next at St. Charles Community College in Missouri.

KAMRYN LINK, Gillespie

Gillespie High School's Kamryn Link bats during the game Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Gillespie High School's Kamryn Link bats during the game Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

The State Journal-Register's Small School Baseball Player of the Year was named to the IHSBCA Class 2A All-State team, a third-team all-state nod from Prep Baseball Report and was a St. Louis Post-Dispatch All-Metro first-team pick. He hit .532 (59-for-111), with 12 doubles, five homers, 42 RBIs and 12 stolen bases. The senior left fielder and pitcher also went 9-1 with a 1.03 ERA and struck out 85 in 61 1/3 innings pitched. He will play at Johnson County Community College in Kansas next season.

RYAN OSWALD, Jacksonville Routt

Jacksonville Routt's Ryan Oswald bats during the game against Pleasant Plains Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Jacksonville Routt's Ryan Oswald bats during the game against Pleasant Plains Thursday, May 4, 2023.

The 6-foot-7 third baseman led the Rockets in average (.452, 52-for-115), RBIs (58) and home runs (six). The Lincoln Land Community College-bound senior also had 15 doubles and stole 18 bases. On the mound, he was 5-3 with a 3.04 ERA in 12 games. He struck out 65 and walked 35 in 46 innings.

TYLER SURBER, Pawnee

The junior first baseman led Pawnee to a Class 1A Nokomis Regional championship and an MSM Conference title with a .440 average (40-for-91) with 13 doubles, one triple and 32 RBIs. He was Pawnee’s lone representative in the annual Baseball Classic all-star game.

LIAM TIEMAN, Carlinville

Carlinville's Liam Tieman bats during the game against Gillespie Tuesday, April 25, 2023.
Carlinville's Liam Tieman bats during the game against Gillespie Tuesday, April 25, 2023.

The Cavaliers’ senior center fielder and pitcher finished with a team-best seven homers to go along with his .468 average (36-for-77), 29 RBIs and 40 runs scored. He had an on-base percentage of .582 and led the 21-3 Cavs with 11 stolen bases. In 19 1/3 innings pitched, he was 2-0 with one save, a 2.53 ERA, struck out 38 and walked just eight. He will continue his baseball career at Illinois College.

NOLAN TURNER, Jacksonville Routt

Jacksonville Routt's Nolan Turner bats during the game against Pleasant Plains Thursday, May 4, 2023.
Jacksonville Routt's Nolan Turner bats during the game against Pleasant Plains Thursday, May 4, 2023.

The Rockets’ junior shortstop was second on the team with a .445 average (53-for-119), drove in 33 runs, hit 12 doubles, legged out five triples and hit one home run while leading Routt to a 30-6 record and a Class 1A Mendon Unity Regional title. He also stole 33 bases and earned himself a spot on the IHSBCA Class 1A All-State team.

This article originally appeared on State Journal-Register: Springfield area small school baseball team for the 2023 season