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