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Saturday, June 30, 2018 | BataviasBest.org
After careful deliberation, here are the recipients of the 2018 Batavia’s Best Spring Sports Awards:
Boys Spring Athlete of the Year
Submitted photo
Senior Butch Ray BATAVIA TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class B Shot Put, Discus) – NYSPHSAA Champion (Division II Shot Put) – 4th in Fan Vote – Butch’s performance this season was beyond comparison. Two Sectional Titles, to go with a State Title, and countless other accolades which have led him to the Batavia’s Best Boys Spring Athlete of the Year Award. His performance at the sectional, and state level is what pushed him over the top as my selection.
RUNNER-UP: Senior Zach von Kramer PEMBROKE BASEBALL – .542 AVG, 30 RBI, 4 HR; 2.55 ERA, 71 K – 1st in Fan Vote
Girls Spring Athlete of the Year
Senior Andrea Coyle CAL-MUM SOFTBALL – .667 AVG, 64 RBI, 7 HR – Section V Champion (Class C2) – 2nd in Fan Vote – Are you kidding me? 64 RBI? What a season from Andrea, who was the driving force behind C-M’s Sectional Title squad. Without her, the Raiders’ chances would have been severely diminished, and it was due to her incredible value to a championship team which vaulted her ahead of the other candidates up for the Batavia’s Best Girls Spring Athlete of the Year Award.
RUNNER-UP: Junior McKenna Cone LE ROY TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class CC 100 Meters, Long Jump, High Jump) – 5th in Fan Vote
Boys Spring Underclassman of the Year
Sophomore Jake Humes BATAVIA BASEBALL – 0.96 ERA, 24 K; .349 AVG, 14 RBI – 2nd in Fan Vote – Jake’s rise within the ranks of the Batavia Baseball program has been an impressive one. After a successful freshman season, during which he shared time between the varsity and junior varsity, Jake endured a breakout campaign on the V squad this year – serving as his team’s closer. In addition to his efforts on the mound, he also contributed with the bat. The level of his efforts on both sides of the ball was what gave him the edge over others when it came to selecting the winner for this Award.
RUNNER-UP: Freshman Bailey Morse LE ROY TENNIS – First Singles – Section V Champion (Class CC) – 7th in Fan Vote
Girls Spring Underclasswoman of the Year
Freshman Hayley Papp LE ROY SOFTBALL – 2.80 ERA, 162 K, No-Hitter; .434 AVG, 16 RBI – Section V Champion (Class C1) – 2nd in Fan Vote – Without a doubt, Hayley was was one of the top-starting pitchers throughout Section V this season, and she still has two years left as a member of the Knights’ varsity squad. Her presence at the plate was also impressive, as she served as the leadoff hitter for her Sectional Championship team. I found Hayley’s multi-faceted dominance as most-notable when it came to selecting her for this Award.
RUNNER-UP: Sophomore Lindsey Clar WHEATLAND-CHILI TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class C 1500 Meters, 3000 Meters) – 5th in Fan Vote
Boys Spring Coach of the Year
Photo via @OA_Athletics on Twitter
Peter Beuler OAKFIELD/ELBA TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class C) – 1st in Fan Vote – Coaching a merged-team isn’t always easy, but coach Beuler has made it work out about as well as one could have imagined. Not only has he built a dynasty within the GR League, he led OA/E Track and Field to a Sectional Title this year, while leading several individual athletes to Section V Championships as well. Often the GR League doesn’t get its due around Section V, but coach Beuler’s teams continue to prove wrong the assumption that the league isn’t capable.
RUNNER-UP: Jay Laitenberger LE ROY TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class CC) – 2nd in Fan Vote
Girls Spring Coach of the Year
Mike Battaglia LE ROY SOFTBALL – Section V Champion (Class C1) – 2nd in Fan Vote – Coach Battaglia’s team came out of nowhere during the Sectional Playoffs this season, and went on to win the Title as a six seed. His ability to lead an underdog to the Championship is what was most-impressive when it came to selecting him for this award.
RUNNER-UP: Dan Dickens CAL-MUM SOFTBALL – Section V Champion (Class C2) – 1st in Fan Vote
The Diamond Dinger Award
Senior Zach von Kramer PEMBROKE BASEBALL – .542 AVG, 30 RBI, 4 HR – 1st in Fan Vote – The runner-up for Boys Athlete of the Year, Zach was the top-hitter throughout the local area this season. He hit for average, he hit for power, and he came through in big situations while leading his team to the Sectional Semifinals. His ability to do it all for Pembroke is what led to his selection.
RUNNER-UP: Senior Joe Aguglia ATTICA BASEBALL – .500 AVG, 27 RBI, 5 HR – 4th in Fan Vote
King of the Hill
Junior Zach Johnson LYNDONVILLE BASEBALL – 1.71 ERA, 77 K – 2nd in Fan Vote – Zach’s 2018 pitching statistics speak for themselves, as he led the local area in strikeouts, and was near the top in ERA (4th). He was able to provide his team with a chance to win each time he took the mound , and was the one true shining light for Lyndonville – a team which didn’t have much success this year. His ability to maintain focus throughout a difficult season, and his impressive statistics, were most-impressive when it came to selecting him for this award.
RUNNER-UP: Senior Zach von Kramer PEMBROKE BASEBALL – 2.55 ERA, 71 K – 1st in Fan Vote
The Hallmark Hands Award
Senior Tyler Ohlson OAKFIELD BASEBALL – 2nd in Fan Vote – Tyler played all over the field this year for Oakfield, while also toeing the rubber as one of the team’s top-pitchers. His versatility is what led me to select him for this award.
RUNNER-UP: Senior Set Librock PEMBROKE BASEBALL – 1st in Fan Vote
The Silver Swinger Award
Senior Andrea Coyle CAL-MUM SOFTBALL – .667 AVG, 64 RBI, 7 HR – 1st in Fan Vote – Are you kidding me? 64 RBI? What a season from Andrea, who was the driving force behind C-M’s Sectional Title squad. Whenever the Raiders needed a big hit, it seemed as if it was #9 who came through for her team. Her clutch ability, along with her incredible statistics, are what led to Andrea’s selection for the Silver Swinger Award.
RUNNER-UP: Junior Madison Bykowski ALEXANDER SOFTBALL – .535 AVG, 38 RBI, 5 HR – 2nd in Fan Vote
Queen of the Circle
Senior Hannah Rubinrott CAL-MUM SOFTBALL – 1.82 ERA, 145 K, 3 No-Hitters – 4th in Fan Vote – At times untouchable, Hannah’s run through her Section V competition this season was impressive, to say the least. She ranked near the top in the local area in both ERA, and strikeouts, but it was her three no-hitters which were too difficult to ignore. That is what put her over the edge when making a decision on this award.
RUNNER-UP: Sophomore Hayley Papp LE ROY SOFTBALL – 2.80 ERA, 162 K, No-Hitter – 2nd in Fan Vote
The Titanium Tee Award
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Senior Ben Pflaumer ELBA GOLF – 2nd in Fan Vote – Despite finishing second at the GR League Championships, and behind the runner-up for this award, Ben’s 2018 season as a whole was the most-impressive for any golfer in the local area.
RUNNER-UP: Freshman Dominic Nicastro ATTICA GOLF – 1st in Fan Vote
The Ruby Racket Award
Photo via @Athletics_WC on Twitter
Senior Wil Gebhart WHEATLAND-CHILI TENNIS – First Singles – Section V Champion (Class DD) – 3rd in Fan Vote – Wil led his team to yet another Sectional Title this year, and it was his vital role on what has become a dynastic squad is what earned him this award.
RUNNER-UP: Freshman Bailey Morse LE ROY TENNIS – First Singles – Section V Champion (Class CC) – 1st in Fan Vote
Boys #TrackNation Award
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Senior Butch Ray BATAVIA TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class B Shot Put, Discus) – NYSPHSAA Champion (Division II Shot Put) 3rd in Fan Vote – Butch’s performance this season was beyond comparison. Two Sectional Titles, to go with a State Title, and countless other accolades which have led him to the Batavia’s Best Boys Spring Athlete of the Year Award, along with the Boys #TrackNation Award. His performance at the sectional, and state level is what pushed him over the top as my selection for both honors.
RUNNER-UP: Senior Ryan Douglas OAKFIELD/ELBA TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class C Long Jump, High Jump) – 1st in Fan Vote
Girls #TrackNation Award
Photo via @LeRoy_Knights on Twitter
Junior McKenna Cone LE ROY TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class CC 100 Meters, Long Jump, High Jump) – 1st in Fan Vote – McKenna pulled off the hat trick at the Sectional Championships this season, and went on to compete well at the State Qualifiers. She was clearly one of the most versatile, capable athletes during the local Track and Field season, but it was specifically her versatility which was most-impressive when it came to determine the award winner.
RUNNER-UP: Sophomore Lindsey Clar WHEATLAND-CHILI TRACK AND FIELD – Section V Champion (Class C 1500 Meters, 3000 Meters) – 4th in Fan Vote
Congratulations to each award winner. If you take issue with any of my selections, please reach out via email [email protected] Stay tuned for a Spring Sports Wrap-Up, along with a complete 2017-2018 HS Sports Reflection – coming soon.
Other articles you may like:
Batavia’s Best Spring Sports Awards 2017: Here are the Award Winners
Batavia’s Best Spring Sports Awards 2016: Here are the Award Winners
