Six Cards honored with post season awards
by Peter Jakey-Managing Editor
A terrific post season run has resulted in several outstanding awards for members of the Onaway baseball team. Six players earned post season accolades, according to head coach Mike Crull. They include graduating seniors, as well as potential all-staters in the fold for next year.
Topping the list was junior Chris Cleaver, who led nearly every offensive category. He was named all-region, all-district and first-team all-conference. He is the first baseball all-region selection in many years.
He led the Cards with a .400 batting average, scored 16 runs, stroked 24 hits, had 35 total bases, nine doubles, stole 15 bases, and knocked in 21. Crull also said the junior earned the Mr. Baseball Award for being the most valuable player.
“Without Chris, defensively, we would have been a totally different team. He was obviously the glue that held us together,” said Crull. “I think he will be all-state next year.”
Junior Andrew Prow earned all-district and first-team all-conference honors. He also received the coach’s award.
Prow batted .400, scored 20 runs, knocked in 15 and stole 20 bases. On the mound, he had a 1.78 ERA in 10 games. In 55 innings pitched, he struck out 71 and won nine.
“He easily could have been the MVP of our team,” said Crull, “and another kid I believe could go all-state, and maybe play college ball.”
Senior Andrew Perry was first team all-conference and all-district. He hit .333, scored 18 runs and had a team-best 35 RBI. He also finished with 13 RBI. Perry won the Razmatazz Award, or Onaway baseball’s hustle award.
Another junior, Matthew Tollini, was named all-district and all-conference second team. He also was the most improved player on the Cardinal ball club.
He hit .300, scored 18 runs, and of the 26 total bases, he had eight doubles. He added 17 RBI and 21 stolen bases. Pitching-wise, he had a 1.34 ERA in 47 innings pitched and struck out 46. He had six wins and a save.
Senior catcher Justin Gedda was an all-conference honorable. He finished with a .333 batting average, scor
Junior Tommy Auger was all-conference honorable mention in the outfield. His stats are as follows: .279 avg.; team-leading 21 runs; 15 RBI; 34 SB.
Coach Crull also was named all-district coach of the year.
Looking toward the future, the program continues to try and improve and members of a traveling team went up to Sault Ste. Marie split a doubleheader, 6-7 and 5-2.
The traveling team has a mixture of graduates and players coming back.
Coming away with multiple hits were Auger, as well as Aaron LaLonde, Sean Curtis and Morgan McLean.
Chae Whitsitt earned the win in game two. Auger was 2-for-2, while LaLonde knocked in a pair. They will play in a tournament this Saturday.