While the young Clipper varsity baseball Clippers struggled through a 1-13 rebuilding season, they did what they needed to do in getting better throughout the year, despite weather postponements and cancellations, said head coach Mike Krenik.
“We didn’t quit. No matter what the score was. It may not have looked like that with wins and losses, but once we figured out a few things mechanically wrong with our hitting and our throwing…you could see the momentum building, and it all culminated with that win against Mountain Lake in the last game of the regular season.”
Krenik and company put the wraps on their year during an awards banquet, held in the school commons on June 16.
Chosen as the team’s Most Valuable player was catcher Gabe Sullivan (center). The junior was also picked to take home the Defensive Player of the Year award.
In 85 total chances, he only made four errors for a .953 fielding percentage. As a pitcher, he threw for 15 and a third inning sand. At the plate, he had 10 hits, including eight singles and two doubles and had a .405 on-base percentage. He was a leader of the team, Krenik said.
“As a quarterback, yelling out where to cut balls, inspiring our pitchers, he’s our on-the-field coach. Behind the dish, you would not find anyone else who worked harder than Gabe. Through all the games he caught, he never complained, even after going after seven innings of torture sometimes. I expect even bigger things next year from him.”
Named as the Offensive Player of the Year was sophomore Kyle Connor (left). With a dozen hits in 35 at bats, his .343 batting average was the highest for the Clippers as was his .500 on-base percentage. Three of his hits were doubles and two were triples.
On the mound, Connor went the distance in the Clippers’ only win. An honorable mention, Connor was the only Clipper to receive Valley Conference recognition.
“Kyle has added a lot of things for us: pitching, shortstop, outfield,” Krenik said. “It’s hard to play all of those positions because they have different arm slots, but he is very disciplined ball player and has a good arm. He has good baseball instincts. He has a sweet swing and good eyes up there. He is bound and determined. When he does get on base, he has the instinct to get around the bases.”
The Most Improved Player award went to senior Jack Voit (right). Only at bat four times in the 2022 season with no hits, Voit upped his game to become regular starter and collected nine hits with two of them doubles. He played at third, in the outfield and as catcher.
“He was a great surprise this year, ” Krenik said. “When I first I laid eyes on him, he was developing, but all of a sudden, boom, he starts to grow. He starts to get faster. He starts to get a quick turn. If there is one guy is going to get the job done, it’s Jack Voit. Showing up to practice every day, asking if there was anything he could do. Jack came to this team and lit it on fire. He was batting .318 at one time. Those guys who think they can’t get it done because they are young, Jack should be an inspiration for them.”
Voit also earned the Clipper Award, given to the player who shows the true spirt of baseball.
“Jack is a shining example of what it means to never give up,” Krenik said.
Besides the awards winners, earning letters were seniors Tanyon Hoheisel and Alex Garcia, juniors Brady Bostic and Derek Miller, sophomores Blake Lyons, Kale Kelley, Alex Johnson and Blake Gibbs and freshman Nathan Seeman.
Hoheisel had seven hits, including three singles, one double and three triples and had a .390 on-base percentage. On the mound, he threw for 19 and a third innings and recorded the team’s most strikeouts: 27. He will go on to play baseball at the University of Jamestown, ND next year.
“I first noticed him at a baseball camp when he was a seventh grader,” Krenik said. “I noticed his interest in baseball. He kept his nose to the grindstone. To see him work his craft…it’s fun to find there is a guy out there who has a thirst for knowledge about the game. He has a heck of a bat. It was a little challenging out there for him this year, but the light is going to get brighter. On his pitching side, same thing. Consistency is going to get there with a little hard work.”
Garcia was the team’s third baseman.
“He had a little bit of a rough go, but at the end of the year, things were starting to click,” Krenik said. “He got confidence in him. He was getting up to the plate and not putting his shoulders down. You've got to go up there with confidence, and Alex came through. He is a hard worker and set a good example for our team.”
Bostic played mostly in left field, but Krenik said that he came up to him one day as a freshman wanting to pitch.
“His mechanics are getting better and better, and I will have no problem next year throwing him on top of the hill. His bat is going to come around. He is mechanically sound. Right now, it is a manner of timing, and when he does hit the ball, it’s line drive. There will be good things to come with Brady next year.”
Miller played second base.
“The improvements we have seen with him over the year….” Krenik said. “He’s a hard-nosed guy. He gets in front of the ball. He listens so well, and his determination out there...he never gives up. I see him at the plate making good contact. He has a good swing.”
Lyons was the team’s shortstop. He also pitched for 14 innings. He struck out 17 and had the team’s lowest ERA: 5.00. He errored only three times in 25 fielding chances and was in on two of the three double plays the Clippers twisted. As the year went on, he was suffering from an arm injury that kept him down but not out.
“If you ask him to run through the wall, he’ll do it,” Krenik said. “He’s a true go getter. He did suffer a little bit at the plate, but it is a good athlete and a good leader, and I expect great things from him next year.”
With the team’s second-best batting average, Kelley had 10 hits: nine singles and one double and had an on-base percentage of .415. He struck out 15 in 13 innings pitched for a 5.92 ERA. He fielded well too, only committing three errors in 24 total chances. He got thrust into playing first base this year.
“Kale is a hard worker each night,” Krenik said. “When the practices get done, he’s out there working. He is a good contactor and came on well for us at the mound throwing strikes. We’re working with his curve ball. It will come.”
Johnson backed up at third base.
“He’s one of those guys who by next year that confidence will come through,” Krenik said. “He will be a lot more consistent at the plate, a lot more consistent in the field. He will be an asset for us. We’re going to quicken that speed up, and he will be much better, I guarantee it.”
Gibbs played outfield. A left hander, he worked hard in the winter in pitching and batting.
“Each day, we found improvements,” Krenik said. “We’ve got to get him on the mound more. At the plate, he has the ability to hit the ball really well. It is just a manner of timing.”
Seeman had seven hits, all singles. In 23 total fielding chances at second base, he committed just two errors.
“He can play outfield, he can play second base, we can use him as catcher. He can pretty much do it all,” Krenik said. “At the plate he is a good contact hitter and he is going to also be one of those guys who will be getting better naturally. He has good baseball IQ. I look forward to a lot of good things coming out of him over the next three years.”
With a GPA of at least 3.5 during the season, Miller, Kelley, Sullivan, Johnson, Gibbs, Seeman, Adam Robinson, Dylan Zimmerman, Kyle Connor, Caleb Connor, Carson Lyons and Blake Lyons earned All-Conference Academic Awards.
Zimmerman played JV for the Clippers.
“He has stuck with things,” Krenik said. “He is improving and is starting to get his baseball IQ. The one thing I love about him is he is always striving to get better.”
Robinson also was on the junior squad.
“In February, each time we were able to do it, he was in the cage learning about baseball. He had never played it before last year. He’s getting better and better and has a love for the game.”
Up from junior high, Caleb Connor, an eighth grader, joined the varsity team in May. He pitched and played in the outfield.
“He has been a great ray of sunshine on this team,” Krenik said. “He breaths and sleeps baseball. It’s fun to watch him on the field. It’s fun to watch him in practice. He is going to be a very good example for all the young guys coming up in the organization. I look for great things to come with him.”
Carson Lyons was another eighth grader who came up after the JH season ended.
“It’s fun to see both of the Lyons boys in the lineup,” Krenik said.
Krenik thanked the parents for letting him being part of their sons’ baseball career.
“It’s a fun thing watching your kids grow. The improvement they make each year, not only physically but mentally, to see the two come together is unique.”
He also thanked his assistants, Greg Berry, Alec Rogers and Dave Cink. He thanked Nadine Holland for announcing the games and Patty Sullivan and this author for media coverage.
Letter winners were, from L-R, front row: Nathan Seeman, Jack Voit, Tanyon Hoheisel, Alex Garcia and Derek Miller. Back row: Gabe Sullivan, Brady Bostic, Alex Johnson, Kyle Connor, Kale Kelley and Blake Gibbs. Missing is Blake Lyons.
Kyle Connor was an All-Conference Honorable Mention.
Earning All-Conference Academic awards were, from L-R, front row: Adam Robinson, Caleb Connor, Nathan Seeman, Derek Miller and Dylan Zimmerman. Back row: Gabe Sullivan, Kyle Connor, Kale Kelley, Alex Johnson and Blake Gibbs. Missing are Blake and Carson Lyons.
The team’s three seniors: Jack Voit, Tanyon Hoheisel and Alex Garcia.
The 2023 Clippers were, from L-R, front row: Adam Robinson, Nathan Seeman, Caleb Connor, Jack Voit, Tanyon Hoheisel, Alex Garcia and Derek Miller. Back row: Brady Bostic, Gabe Sullivan, Alex Johnson, Kyle Connor, Kale Kelley, Blake Gibbs and Dylan Zimmerman. Missing are Blake and Carson Lyons.