VALLEY SPORTS REPORT: ATHENS' ELLIS HEADLINES SUPER 7 AS MALE "ATHLETE OF THE SPRING" (2021-08-14)
Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY -
Athens' Asher Ellis capped a brilliant senior season with a pair of District 4 gold medals, and a trip to the PIAA Championships for two events. He is the 2021 Valley Sports Report Male "Athlete of the Spring."
Ellis won District 4 gold in the javelin and discus, and narrowly missed qualifying for States in a third event with a third-place finish in the shot put. At States, He finished 15th in the javelin, and 16th in the discus.
Ellis won gold in the shot put, discus, and javelin - all by comfortable margins - at the NTL Coaches Invite. He consistently won all three throwing events during the regular season to help the Wildcats to an unbeaten duals season, and their second consecutive NTL title.
He was the Track & Field "Athlete of the Year."
Super 7 Male Athletes of Spring
Asher Ellis, senior, Athens: See above.
Brayden Horton, junior, Sayre: A complete player and a dominating presence on the field, Sayre junior Brayden Horton 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.
He was the VSR Baseball "Player of the Year," and the "Defensive Player of the Year."
Lucas Horton, sophomore, Sayre: 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.
He was the VSR Baseball "Newcomer of the Year," and "Pitcher of the Year."
Caden Wheeler, senior, Waverly: Wheeler won a gold medal in the long jump at the Section IV Showcase, and was on the fifth-place 1,600-meter relay.
At the Class C Championships, Wheeler won the long jump and was also on the winning 1,600-meter relay team. He was a four-time winner at the IAC South Large School Divisional meet, , placing first int he 100-meter dash and the long jump, as well as running on the winning 400- and 1,600-meter relay teams.
At the IAC Championships, Wheeler was fifth in the long jump, and sixth in the 100-meter dash. He also ran on a gold-medal winning 1,600-meter relay team, the fourth-place 400-meter relay team.
He was the "Track Athlete of the Year."
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.
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.
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.
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IN PHOTO: Athens senior Asher Ellis.
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