Valley Sports ReportTHE VALLEY - Athens’ Lucas Horton capped a brilliant career with a stellar senior season that saw him win seven games on the mound, and propel the Wildcat offense from the lead-off spot. He is the 2023 Valley Sports Report Baseball "Player of the Year."
Waverly junior Jay Pipher is the "Offensive Player of the Year," while Athens senior Luke Kraft is the "Pitcher of the Year," Waverly junior Joey Tomasso is the "Breakout Player of the Year," Waverly senior Ty Beeman is the "Defensive Player of the Year," Waverly junior Sean Bubniak and 8th-grader Matthias Welles share the "Newcomer of the Year" honors, and Athens skipper Charlie Havens, and his counterpart from Waverly, Kyle McDuffee, share the "Coach of the Year" honors.
Horton hit .456 (31 hits in 68 ABs) with five doubles, one triple, two home runs, 13 RBI, 31 runs scored, and was 21-for-21 in stolen base attempts.
He also walked 15 times for a .554 on-base percentage, had a .647 slugging percentage, and a 1.201 OPS.
While his offensive numbers are impressive, Horton made his bones on the pitching mound. He posted a 7-1 record, with one save, and a 2.37 ERA. He fanned 63 and walked 15, while allowing 28 hits in 44 1/3 innings. Opponents hit .174 against him
He finished his career with a 21-2 record and a 1.58 ERA, striking out 194 batters in 133 innings.
Pipher, a slick-fielding second baseman, hit .476 (30 hits in 63 ABs). He drew 16 base on balls for a .573 on-base percentage, and had a .746 slugging percentage for a 1.319 OPS.
Pipher had two doubles, six triples, one home run, 26 RBI, 33 run scored, and 11 stolen bases.
Beeman shined in all three facets of the game, but on defense this season he was nearly flawless. He did not commit an error in 100 defensive chances, and threw out six of 15 would-be base stealers.
Kraft was nearly unhittable at times this season for the Wildcats. He was 5-0 with two saves, and a 0.61 ERA. He fanned 47 and walked 11, while allowing 23 hits in 34 1/3 innings (0.99 WHIP). Opponents hit .180 against him.
It seems odd that Tomasso, who was a first-team all-state selection in football and basketball this season, would be the "Breakout Player of the Year" in his fourth varsity season on the diamond, but everything came together for him this season.
Tomasso, whose career batting average hovered around .200 heading into the season, hit .444 (28 hits in 63 at-bats), had a .519 on-base percentage, and a 1.202 OPS. He had eight doubles, two triples, one home run, 22 RBI, 26 runs scored, and was 10-for-10 in stolen base attempts.
Defensively, Tomasso had two errors in 68 total chances for a .971 fielding percentage, and was involved in turning seven double plays.
Welles and Bubniak made instant impacts for the Wolverines in their initial varsity campaigns.
Welles hit .367 (22 hits in 60 ABs), had a .465 on-base percentage, and a 1.009 OPS. He had one double, three home runs, 24 RBI, 16 runs scored, and one stolen base.
Bubniak was 5-0 with a 1.36 ERA. He fanned 38, walked 11, and allowed just 22 hits in a team-high 36 innings pitched. He hit .255 (13 hits in 51 ABs), with seven doubles, 17 RBI, and 12 runs scored.
Havens coached the Wildcats to an NTL Large School Division and an 18-2 record, while McDuffee piloted the Wolverines to a division title, an overall IAC Large School title and a 17-3 record. Both teams lost their opening postseason game.
In the head-to-head match-up, Athens edged Waverly, 1-0, in not only the "Game of the Year," but a game for the ages.
2023 All-Valley Baseball Super 7
Lucas Horton, senior, Athens: See above.
Jay Pipher, junior, Waverly: Pipher not only had an amazing season at the plate (see above), but he was stellar on the mound as well. Pipher was 3-3 with a 2.90 ERA. He fanned 28 and walked 16, while allowing just 28 hits in 29 innings pitched.
Ty Beeman, senior, Waverly: A wall behind the plate with a strong arm (see above), Beeman was a valuable two-way performer for the Wolverines. He hit .349 (22 hits in 63 ABs) with eight doubles, 23 RBI, 18 runs scored, and four stolen bases.
On the mound, he was 5-0 with a 1.35 ERA. He struck out 33 and walked 16, while allowing 14 hits in 26 innings.
Luke Kraft, senior, Athens: Kraft not only had a monster year on the mound (see above), but he hit .377 (20 hits in 53 at-bats), with seven doubles, two home runs, 18 RBI, 11 runs scored, and two stolen bases. He walked 13 times and had a .507 on-base percentage, a .623 slugging percentage, and a 1.130 OPS.
Zack Garrity, senior, Sayre: Garrity, a slick-fielding shortstop who handled catching duties with equal aplomb when called upon, had a stellar year at the plate. He hit .452 (28-62) with four doubles, one triple, one home run, 11 RBI, and 27 runs scored — out of lead-off spot. He also had eight steals.
Garrity walked eight times, and was hit by pitches 12 times for an on-base percentage of . 578. He had a .597 slugging percentage, and an OPS of 1.175. On the mound, he was 1-4 with a 4.63 ERA, with 26K in 19 2/3 innings.
Joey Tomasso, junior, Waverly: See above.
Cameron Sullivan, senior, Athens: Sullivan was a key piece of the Wildcat pitching staff with his ability to pitch multiple innings in relief multiple times per week. He was 1-1 with four saves, and posted a 2.37 ERA. He fanned 33 and walked eight, while allowing 23 hits in 23 2/3 innings. Opponents hit .240 against him.
Sullivan hit .379 (22 hits in 58 ABs), with five doubles, 18 RBI, 11 runs scored, and six steals. He walked nine times, and was hit by pitches four times for a .486 on-base percentage.
The 2023 All-Valley baseball team:
C — Ty Beeman, senior, Waverly: See above.
1B — Matthias Welles, 8th-grader, Waverly: See above.
2B — Jay Pipher, junior, Waverly: See above.
SS — Joey Tomasso, junior, Waverly: See above.
3B — Jackson Hubbard, senior, Sayre: Hubbard, a consistent defender at third base, hit .397 (25 hits in 63 ABs). He waked 12 times and was hit by pitches four times for a .506 on-base percentage, to go along with a .619 slugging percentage for a 1.125 OPS. He had four doubles, two triples, two home runs, 27 RBI, 17 runs scored, and seven stolen bases.
MI — Shea Bailey, sophomore, Tioga: A good defender at short or second base, Shea Bailey hit .403 (31 hits in 77 ABs), with four doubles, two triples, eight RBI, 27 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. He walked five times, and was hit by pitches five times for a .471 on-base percentage.
CI — Luke Kraft, senior, Athens: See above.
OF — Bryce Bailey, senior, Waverly: Bailey had a knack for getting on base, whether it was via a base hit, a base on balls, or getting hit by a pitch, which he did 14 times in 70 plate appearances.
Bailey hit .444 (20 hits in 45 at-bats) with a .629 on-base percentage, and a 1.229 OPS. He had five doubles, one triple, 18 RBI, 20 runs scored, and five stolen bases.
OF — Karter Green, freshman, Sayre: Green, who also played some at first base and third base, hit .339 (20 hits in 59 ABs) with five doubles, two triples, one home run, 26 RBI, and 12 runs scored. He walked nine times and was hit by pitches eight times for a .468 OBP, to go along with a .543 slugging percentage for a 1.011 OPS.
OF — Hogan Shaw, freshman, Waverly: Shaw hit .351 (13 hits in 37 ABs) in his first varsity campaign, with one triple, 11 RBI, 10 runs scored, and three stolen bases.
UT — Zack Garrity, senior, Sayre: See above
UT — Drew Macumber, junior, Tioga: Macumber played almost everywhere on the field, but catcher at one point this season for the Tigers. He hit .381 (24 hits in 63 ABs), with one double, two triples, 19 RBI, 24 runs scored, and 17 stolen bases. He walked 11 times and had a .481 on-base percentage.
DH — Lucas Horton, senior, Athens: See above.
P — Luke Kraft, senior, Athens: See above.
P — Lucas Horton, senior, Athens: See above.
P — Ty Beeman, senior, Waverly: See above.
P — Sean Bubniak, junior, Waverly: See above.
P — Cameron Sullivan, senior, Athens: See above.
P — Mason Lister, senior, Athens: Lister had two bad innings all season on the mound, allowing nine of the 13 earned runs he gave up all season. He was 4-0 with a 3.17 ERA, with 34 strikeouts and 17 walks in 28 2/3 innings. Opponents hit .212 against him.
All-Valley Super 7 Newcomers
Matthias Welles, 8th-grader, Waverly: See above.
Sean Bubniak, junior, Waverly: See above.
Jake VanHouten, junior, Waverly: VanHouten hit .364 (20 hits in 55 ABs) in his first varsity season, had a .444 on-base percentage, and a .954 OPS. He had four doubles, two triples, 12 RBI, 22 runs scored, and six stolen bases.
Karter Green, freshman, Sayre: See above.
Hogan Shaw, freshman, Waverly: See above.
Jackson Bombard, 8th-grader, Tioga: Bombard made an immediate impact for the Tigers as an on-base machine. He hit .359 (14 hits in 39 ABs), walked eight times, and was hit by pitches six times for a .528 on-base percentage. He had one double, seven RBI, 15 runs scored, and one steal.
Will Crossett, junior, Sayre: Crossett was 3-3 with a 3.68 ERA , while striking out 47 and walking 14 in 40 innings. He allowed 51 hits, and opponents hit .290 against him.
GOLD GLOVES
2023 All-Valley Defensive Super 7
Ty Beeman, senior — catcher, Waverly: See above.
Max Dydynski, senior — catcher, Tioga.
Caleb Nichols, senior — catcher, Athens.
Joey Tomasso, junior — shortstop, Waverly.
Nick Grazul, freshman — outfield, Athens.
Zach Garrity, senior — shortstop, Sayre.
Nicholas Jacob, junior — first base, Athens.
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PAST WINNERS
"Baseball Player of the Year"
2023 — Lucas Horton, Athens
2022 — Brayden Horton, Sayre
2021 — Brayden Horton, Sayre
2020 — NONE
2019 — Pierce Hendershot, Tioga
2018 — Nate Sweet and Jordan Rockwell, Sayre
2017 — Parker Hendershot, Tioga
2016 — Parker Hendershot, Tioga; and Cody Jennings, Athens
2015 — Tyler Forbes, Athens
2014 — Tyler Forbes, Athens
2013 — Cody Marchese and Dylan Perry, Waverly
2012 — Patric Bronson, Waverly
2011 — Patton Taylor, Tioga
2010 — D.J. Kelleher, Athens; and Patton Taylor, Tioga
