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VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: SAYRE'S BRAYDEN HORTON IS 2020-21 BASEBALL 'PLAYER OF THE YEAR;' SAYRE'S LUCAS HORTON, VanDUZERS, TIOGA'S TAYLOR EARN OTHER TOP HONORS (2021-08-11)

Valley Sports Report
THE VALLEY - A complete player and a dominating presence on the field, Sayre junior Brayden Horton is the 2020-21 Valley Sports Report Baseball "Player of the Year."

Sayre sophomore Lucas Horton is the "Pitcher of the Year," and "Newcomer of the Year," while Sayre junior Kannon VanDuzer is the "Offensive Player of the Year," Tioga 8th-grader Conlan Taylor is the "Rookie of the Year," and Sayre's Jamie VanDuzer is "Coach of the Year."

Brayden Horton, who is also the "Defensive Player of the Year," hit .457 (32 hits in 70 ABs), with a .604 on-base percentage - thanks to 21 base on balls. He also had a .971 slugging percentage, thanks to eight doubles, two triples, and a team-high eight home runs, for a whipping 1.576 OPS.

Brayden Horton also had a team-high 46 RBI, and was second on the team with 44 runs scored, and five hit batsman. He was third on the team with seven stolen bases.

Defensively, Brayden Horton, who has a cannon of an arm and frames pitches very well, committed just three errors in 168 defensive chances for a .982 fielding percentage. He also threw out eight would-be base stealers.

Lucas Horton was dominant on the mound this season. He posted an 8-1 record with a 1.51 ERA and a 1.06 WHIP. He struck out 64 and walked just 17 in 46 1/3 innings, while allowing just 32 hits.

At the plate, Lucas Horton hit .389 (28 hits in 72 ABs), and walked 20 times for a .516 on-base percentage. He also had a .597 slugging percentage, thanks to a team-high 10 doubles, one triple and one home run, for a 1.113 OPS. He also had 33 RBI, 36 runs scored, and three stolen bases.

Kannon VanDuzer had a .386 batting average (27 hits in 70 ABs), and walked 11 times for a .476 on-base percentage. He also had a .614 slugging percentage for a 1.09 OPS.

Kannon VanDuzer had four doubles, four home runs, was second on the team with 40 RBI, and scored 14 runs.

Taylor was 3-1 with a 2.15 ERA in his first varsity season. He struck out 28 and walked 18 in 29 1/3 innings, while allowing just 23 hits.

Taylor hit .295 (13 hits in 44 ABs) with five doubles, seven RBI, and 12 runs scored. He walked seven times for a .385 on-base percentage.

(NOTE: Newcomer is defined as first-year varsity player who would likely have played in 2020. Rookie is a player who would not have played varsity in 2020.)

Jamie VanDuzer directed the Redskins to their third District 4 title in his fourth season as head coach. They were runner-up in 2019.

The Redskins wrapped up the season with a 21-2 record, and are 66-24 in VanDuzer's four seasons at the helm.

2020-21 All-Valley Baseball team:
C - Brayden Horton, junior, Sayre:
See above.

1B - Kannon VanDuzer, junior, Sayre: See above.

2B - Jake Burgess, senior, Sayre: An on-base machine and team leader, Burgess hit .413 with 19 base on balls for a .531 on-base percentage. He also had a .493 slugging percentage and a 1.025 OPS.

Burgess scored a team-high 48 runs and stole a team-high 11 bases. He also had four doubles, one triple, and 15 RBI. He struck out just five times in 96 plate appearances.

SS - Zach Garrity, sophomore, Sayre: A gritty grinder, Garrity was hit by pitches 13 times this season - easily leading the area. He was second on the team with a .422 average (27 hits in 64 ABs). With nine base on balls (plus the hit batsman), he had a .570 on-base percentage, to go along with a .594 slugging percentage for a 1.164 OPS.

Garrity had five doubles, two home runs, 30 RBI, 27 runs scored, and two stolen bases.

3B - Derrick Gage, senior, Tioga: 
A strong defender at the hot corner, Gage hit .409 (18 hits in 44 ABs), and walked five times for a .451 on-base percentage. He had a .727 slugging percentage for a 1.178 OPS.

Gage had 24 RBI in just 13 games, to go along with two doubles, three triples, two home runs, and 18 runs scored.

OF - Kaden Setzer, junior, Athens:
After two years away from the game, Setzer returned to the diamond without missing a beat.

Setzer hit a team-high .450 (18 hits in 40 ABs) for the Wildcats with three doubles, one triple, seven stolen bases, 13 runs scored, and 11 RBI. He also drew nine walks for a .549 on-base percentage, and had a 1.124 OPS.

OF - Thomas Hand, junior, Waverly: A speedy outfielder capable of covering a lot of ground, Hand hit .338 (22 hits in 65 ABs), but drew 10 walks and was hit by pitches twice for a .463 on-base percentage.

He was second on the Wolverines with 28 runs scored, and had three doubles, one triple, six RBI, and a team-high 14 stolen bases.

OF - Bryce Bailey, sophomore, Tioga: A very good defensive outfielder, Bailey hit .514 (18 hits in 35 ABs) in the Tigers' truncated season. He walked five times for a .605 on-base percentage, and had a .657 slugging percentage for a 1.262 OPS.

Bailey had three doubles, one triple, seven RBI, 11 runs scored.

DH - Karter Rude, junior, Athens: A tremendous all-around athlete, Rude led the Wildcats in several offensive categories.

Rude hit .364 with a team-high 24 hits in 66 at-bats. He led Athens with nine doubles, 25 runs scored, and 24 stolen bases without being caught. He also had one triple, 12 RBI, and drew 12 walks for a .462 on-base percentage, and a .992 OPS.

UT - Cameron Sullivan, sophomore, Athens: Sullivan hit .356 (21 hits in 59 at-bats), with seven base on balls for a .449 on-base percentage. He had two doubles, one triple, 15 RBI and 11 runs scored.

On the mound, Sullivan was 3-0 with two saves and a 3.21 ERA - struck out 25 and walked nine in 28 1/3 innings

P "” Lucas Horton, sophomore, Sayre: See above.

P - Caden Hollywood, junior, Waverly: Hollywood posted a 6-1 record and a 2.60 ERA. He struck out 31 and walked 27 in 37 2/3 innings, while allowing 29 hits.

Hollywood also led the Wolverines in hitting with a .500 average (33 hits in 66 ABs) with four doubles, one triple, 18 RBI, 11 stolen bases, and 21 runs scored. He walked seven times and was hit by pitches five times for a .570 on-base percentage, to go along with a .591 slugging percentage for a 1.161 OPS.

P - Mason Lister, sophomore, Athens: Lister posted a 5-4 record with a 2.59 ERA. He struck out 60 and walked 33 in 43 1/3 innings, while allowing only 30 hits.

Lister hit .242 (15 hits in 62 ABs) with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 11 RBI, and 17 runs scored.

P - Conlan Taylor, 8th-grader, Tioga: See above.

"”"”"”"”"”"”

IN PHOTO: Sayre's Brayden Horton.


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