Eddies’ Griffin, Lancer duo and coach all receive honor
Published 9:34 am Wednesday, June 20, 2018
NILES — Southwest Michigan was well represented on the Division 2 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association All-State team, which was released over the weekend.
Former Dowagiac standout Mark Nate, who led Lakeshore to back-to-back state championships, was named coach of the year.
Trey Thibeault and Connor Brawley were both named first-team all-state from Lakeshore, as was Edwardsburg’s Chris Griffin.
Nate was also the Division 2 All-District and All-Regional Coach of the Year, while Thibeault and Brawley were joined by teammates Oli Carmody and Joel Brawley on the all-district team.
Griffin was joined by teammates Devin Pulling, Hunter Bedell, Caden Goggins, Matt Hepler and Jonah Sibley on the all-district squad.
Niles had a pair of all-district players in Cade Vota and Tayton Stevens.
All-region honors were awarded to Pulling and Griffin of Edwardburg.
Lakeshore’s Thibeault and Connor Brawley were also named all-region.
Griffin hit .430 for the Eddies, who ended the regular season ranked No. 1 in Division 2. He also had 13 doubles, a triple, five home runs and 24 RBIs. Pulling hit .353 with five doubles and 22 RBIs.
Bedell hit .358 with 10 doubles and 35 RBIs, Cebra hit .439 with nine doubles, three home runs and 46 RBIs, Goggins hit .412 with eight doubles and 18 RBIs, while Hepler hit .420 with eight doubles, a home run and 37 RBIs.
Sibley was 6-1 on the mound with an ERA of 1.7. He struck out 42 in 41 innings pitched and only walked nine batters.
Voda hit .405 with seven doubles, a triple and 14 RBIs.
Stevens was 5-2 with an ERA of 2.65. He struck out 41 in 39.6 innings.
Jarrett Tighe, Goggins, Hepler, Nick Bradley, Zach Priebe and Ryan Pabreza all earned academic all-district.
Jared Hainey and Stevens were all-academic for the Vikings.
DIVISION 2 ALL-DISTRICT
(Niles, Edwardsburg players)
Catchers
Devin Pulling, Edwardsburg
Cade Vota, Niles
First base
Hunter Bedell, Edwardsburg
Infield
Landen Cebra, Edwardsburg
Outfield
Caden Goggins, Edwardsburg
Matt Helpler, Edwardsburg
Pitchers
Jonah Sibley, Edwardsburg
Tayton Stevens, Niles
DIVISION 2 ALL-ACADEMIC
(Niles, Edwardsburg players)
Jared Hainey, Niles
Tayton Stevens, Niles
Jarrett Tighe, Edwardsburg
Caden Goggins, Edwardsburg
Matt Hepler, Edwardsburg
Nick Bradley, Edwardsburg
Ryan Pabreza, Edwardsburg
DIVISION 2 ALL-REGION
(Niles, Edwardsburg players)
Catcher
Devin Pulling, Edwardsburg
Infield
Chris Griffin, Edwardsburg
DIVISION 2 ALL-STATE
Infield
Chris Griffin, Edwardsburg
Trey Thibeault, Lakeshore
Outfield
Connor Brawley, Lakeshore
Coach of the Year
Mark Nate, Lakeshore