AREA BASEBALL PLAYERS MAKE ALL-STATE SQUADS

The All-State baseball team has finally been released and it was peppered with players from Southeast Missouri.

In Class 4A, Cape Central senior Mark Fisher -- who spent half the season playing first base and the other half as catcher -- made the first team as a utility player. Fisher led Cape Central, which made it to the state quarterfinals, in batting average (.419) and runs batted in (31).

In Class 2A, Chaffee senior Tommy Stidham (8-2, 2.59 ERA, 66 strikeouts) was named to the first team as pitcher and Notre Dame senior shortstop Josh Eftink (.471 avg, 10 HR, 35 RBIs) made the list as an infielder. Representing the area on the second team in 2A were infielder Wes Steele (.468, 3 HR, 34 RBI) from Notre Dame, Chaffee junior outfielder G.P. Glueck (.357 avg., 4 HR, 22 RBIs) and Kelly senior outfielder Brad Kolwyck (.463 avg., 10 doubles, 15 RBIs).

Seven area athletes made the Class 1A first or second teams with state champion St. Vincent leading the way. Arguably three of the best 1A teams in the state (St. Vincent, Advance and Oran) came from the same district. On the first team were pitchers Garrett Broshuis, a senior, of Advance and junior Derek Kutz of St. Vincent (3-7, 1.96 ERA, 43 strikeouts); St. Vincent junior catcher Ryan Brown (.310, 3 HR, 22 RBIs) and senior Oran catcher Philip Seyer (.462, 10 HR, 27 RBIs).

On the second team in Class 2A were senior Leopold ace Jason Van de Ven (6-5, 1.75, 104 strikeouts) and sophomore St. Vincent hurler Tyler Wengert (8-3, 316 ERA, 68 strikeouts) . St. Vincent senior Gabe Hotop (.359 avg., 1 HR, 26 RBIs) made the second team as a DH/utility player.

Several players also made all-state from teams farther south. Sikeston pitcher Ricky Fodge and infielder Billy Puckett were second-teamers in 4A. In 3A, New Madrid County Central infielder Ryan Allen made the second team.

In 2A, Caruthersville's Landon Kersey was named a first-team pitcher, while South Pemiscott pitcher Adam Burten and outfielder Justin DePriest were named to the second team. Chris McClain of Senath-Hornersville made the second-team as an infielder and Clearwater's Jamie McAlister was named as a utility player/DH on the second team.

For a complete list of the all-staters, see scoreboard on Page 2.