Szatkowski, Sharpe earn first-team all-state

by Peter Jakey—Managing Editor

The Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association has named a pair of county ball players to its all-state teams.

Rogers City junior Casey Szatkowski has received recognition as a member of the Division 4 first team, while Posen junior Travis Sharpe is a second team all-state selection.

Both received the post-season honor as infielders, but it is what they did at the plate on northern Michigan diamonds that earned them the state’s most prestigious awards.

Szatkowski played a variety of positions for a Huron squad that made a regional final, but anchored the shortstop position most of the second half of the season.

At the plate, he had 30 singles and a batting average of .506. He led Rogers City with a team-leading .653 on base average and scored 40 runs. He drove in 20 and hit four bombs, including one against all-state pitcher Connor Myers of Rudyard in the regional title game. It was the only Huron run.

“He is a coach’s dream,” said Huron coach Ian Lundquist, “And he got stronger as the season went along. He became more disciplined at the plate.

“At the beginning of the season he was striking out as much as he was getting base hits. Then he became more selective at the plate and his walks went up. He ended up leading the team in walks. I cannot really say enough about him.”

The coach said Szatkowski would take what the pitcher would give him.

Sharpe, who was the ace of the Posen pitching staff, made all-district, all-region and all-state for his tremendous catching skills.

“Travis is an excellent ball player,” said Viking coach Pat Kowalski. “He knows the game very well.”

At the plate, Sharpe had 37 hits, 12 doubles, four homers and a batting average of .536. He only struck out four times. He also had 32 RBI and 15 stolen bases.

“He really came into his own this year at the pitching position,” said Kowalski. “We are really looking forward to good things out of Travis next year.”

Joining Szatkowski on the all-district team were senior Jake Malocha (.384, 23 singles, six doubles, 33 stolen bases, 34 runs scored), sophomore Chris “Deuce” Tulgestka (.461, 35 singles, six doubles, 32 runs

), junior Quintin Kelly (.493, 29 singles, two homers, 20 RBI, 34 runs), senior Alex Andrzjewski (.560, 38 RBI, 19 doubles) and junior Justin Saile (2.03 ERA, 27 K’s, 13 W), who made it as a pitcher.

Malocha made the all-region team as an outfielder, while Andrzejewski and Szatkowski made it as infielders.

Four made the all-district team from Posen, including Sharpe, freshman Avery Werth and sophomores Skyler Tulgetske (.444 BA, 32 hits, eight doubles, two triples, two homers, 13 RBI, 11 W, 3 K’s, 11 SB) and Nathan Mulka.

Sharpe made all-region as a catcher and infielder Skyler Tulgetske.

Onaway’s post season information was not immediately available and will be published in a future edition.