The 2019 All O-Zone Baseball team has been released.
Many factors were used to decide the players included below.
The biggest factor in narrowing down the players on this list was coach input. I asked coaches to both submit names of their players they thought should be included while also giving me names of players on opposing teams that stood out. Opposing coach nominations carried heavy weight in the decision-making process. Baseball teams play more than 20 games a year seeing hundreds of opposing players, so if a player stood out enough for a coach to mention them as one of the best they saw it was an important piece of the decision-making process.
Stats and postseason honors (all-league, all-conference, all-state) were also heavily considered in the process.
While I did not personally see every player in person on this list, someone who covers game for the O-Zone did and I used both my observations and theirs to narrow down.
Finally, baseball is the most difficult All O-Zone team to do based on the sheer number of players in our coverage area and the unpredictablity of the sport. There are more than 110 teams in our coverage area and just 50 spots on this team. At a conservative average of 15 players seeing varsity innings per team means 1,650 players would be eligible for consideration. Narrowing that list down to 50 is a very difficult task.
You will see me reference OPS many times below. For those that don’t know, OPS is on-base percentage plus slugging percentage. Barry Bonds holds the all-time MLB single-season OPS record at 1.4217. Only 404 players in MLB history have posted a season-long OPS over 1.000. I am not saying any of the players below are better than Barry Bonds. Obviously high school pitching is no professional pitching, but it provides a good illustration on quality of season some of the area’s players had at the plate.
Below you will find a first, second and third nine with 23 honorable mention players. Names on each team are presented in alphabetical order.
FIRST 9
Gage Singer, Aurora (Player of the Year)
Singer was an easy choice for the area’s player of the year. No player on this list was nominated by more opposing coaches. He was the area’s most feared pitcher on the mound while also hitting in the heart of Aurora’s lineup. His leadership was invaluable to a Houn’ Dawgs team that was very young this season.
STATS: 6-0, 35 IP, 82 K, 0.00 ERA, 4 walks; .388 avg, 6 HR, 21 RBI, .567 OBP
HONORS: Missouri Gatorade Player of the Year; Class 4 First-Team All-State Pitcher; Big 8 East Player of the Year; First-Team All-Big 8 East Pitcher & Infielder; All-Class 4 District 11
Mason Auer, Kickapoo
Auer was drafted by the Chicago Cubs in the 39th round of the MLB draft in June. The Missouri State signee features a fastball that reaches the mid-90’s off the mound, while also being one of the best outfielders in the Ozark Conference as evidenced by his dual first-team all-conference selections at pitcher and outfielder.
STATS: 2 HR, 15 RBI, 36 runs, 27 BB, .321 avg, .496 OBP, 1.031 OPS, 24 SB; 6-1, 44.1 IP, 78 K, 0.79 ERA, 1.42 WHIP
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State Pitcher, Ozark Conference Pitcher of the Year; Unanimous First-Team All-Ozark Conference Outfielder & Pitcher; All-Class 5 District 10
Luke Burk, Galena
Burk is the lone player from a school smaller than Class 3 on the first or second team, but his numbers cannot be overlooked. Burk hit .603 with a .716 on-base percentage for a 1.906 OPS. Yes, you read that correctly, Burk was on base 71% of the time. That is a slow-pitch softball number. He also struck out just twice in 88 at-bats. On the mound, his ERA and WHIP both came in below 1.00.
STATS: 4-3, 48.1 IP, 77 K, 0.72 ERA, 0.85 WHIP; .603 avg, .716 OBP, 1.906 OPS, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 39 runs, 2 K in 88 AB
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State Infielder; SWCL Player of the Year; First-Team All-SWCL DH/Utility; All-Class 2 District 5
Will Duff, Catholic
Duff is heading to one of the nation’s best baseball schools in Vanderbilt next year, and he showed why in his senior season for the Irish. Duff mashed an area-best 13 home runs to go with a .570 on-base percentage. Hitting for power isn’t all he did with 38 runs scored and 11 steals. On the mound, Duff was strong with 47 strikeouts in 31.1 innings.
STATS: .451 avg, .570 OBP, 1.680 OPS, 13 HR, 32 RBI, 38 Runs, 11 2B, 11 SB; 3-1, 31.1 IP, 47 K, 2.01 ERA
HONORS: Class 4 First-Team All-State Infielder; Unanimous First-Team All- Big 8 East Infielder; Honorable Mention All-Big 8 East; All-Class 4 District 11
Rhett Hill, Fair Grove
I loved watching Rhett Hill compete this year. On the football field, he stepped into the quarterback role and threw for more than 2,600 yards. On the mound in the spring, Hill might have been even better. He tallied up an impressive 103 total strikeouts across 52.1 innings while keeping his ERA below one at 0.94. His record was 8-1 overall with 10 or more strikeouts in eight of nine starts. At the plate, Hill hit .354 with 26 RBI and an OPS of 1.052
STATS: 8-1, 52.1 IP, 103 K, 0.94 ERA, 10+ K in 8 of 9 starts; .354 avg, 14 2B, 2 3B, 26 RBI, .470 OBP, 1.052 OPS
HONORS: Class 3 First-Team All-State Pitcher; Unanimous First-Team All-Mid-Lakes Conference Pitcher & First-Team All-Mid-Lakes DH/Utility; Unanimous First-Team All-Class 3 District 11 Pitcher & Utility
Garrett Rice, Willard
Garrett Rice is probably one of the purely strongest baseball players in the state of Missouri. That strength helped him hit six home runs while driving in 35 runs. The Mizzou commit brings a great amount of athleticism and speed with that strength as evidenced by his 16 stolen bases. He also occupied a spot at the top of the Willard rotation throwing 47 innings with 54 strikeouts.
STATS: .347 avg, 6 HR, 40 R, 35 RBI, 16 SB. 3-3 with 2.10 ERA. 47 IP, 16 BB, 54 K
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State DH/Utility, Unanimous First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Infielder; All-Class 5 District 12
Corey Spain, Monett
Before Corey Spain headed off to the University of Arkansas, he had some work left to do for the Monett Cubs. He led the area with 109 strikeouts over 60.2 innings pitched. The lefty gave up just six earned runs all season on his way to a 0.69 ERA and 0.74 WHIP.
STATS: 60.2 IP 7-1 Record 109 K 18 BB 0.69 ERA 0.74 WHIP giving up six earned runs all season
HONORS: Class 4 First-Team All-State Pitcher; Big 8 West Player of the Year; Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 West Pitcher; First-Team All-Class 4 District 12
Trason Vogt, Carthage
Trason Vogt did not get an all-state nod and I am baffled as to why not. He was the Player of the Year in the area’s toughest baseball conference. Vogt posted a record of 8-2 on the mound for a Carthage team that finished 16-11 overall. Overall, he threw 55 innings with 91 strikeouts on his way to a 1.14 ERA and 0.795 WHIP. He was also a threat at the plate with a 1.340 OPS.
STATS: 8-2, 1.14 ERA. 55-IP, 91-K, 18-BB .795-WHIP also hit .478 33-H 1.340-OPS
HONORS: Central Ozark Conference Player of the Year; Unanimous First-Team All-COC Pitcher; All-Class 5 District 11
Ty Wilmsmeyer, Glendale
There may not have been a better big game pitcher in the Ozarks than Ty Wilmsmeyer. His resume includes complete game shut outs of Ozark (twice), Nixa (eight innings), Carthage and Lebanon while holding Branson to one run in a complete-game 2-1 win. The Mizzou signee and Auer opposed each other on the mound with Glendale winning 5-3. He also got the start in the season-ending 4-2 loss against Willard with Rice on the hill for the Tigers. Overall, he threw 64.1 innings with 91 strikeouts and a 1.30 ERA. At the plate, he posted a 1.257 OPS with six home runs.
STATS: .369 avg, 1.257 OPS, 6 HR, 23 RBI, 21 runs, 9 SB; 8-2, 64.1 IP, 91 K, 1.30 ERA
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State Pitcher, Ozark Conference MVP, First-Team All-Ozark Conference Pitcher & Infielder; All-Class 5 District 10
SECOND 9
Ace Akers, Nixa
STATS: 8-0, 48.1 IP, 84 K, 1.45 ERA
HONORS: Class 5 Honorable Mention All-State Pitcher, Central Ozark Conference Pitcher of the Year; First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Pitcher; All-Class 5 District 10
Cole Biellier, Willard
STATS: .375 avg, 3 HR, 30 RBI
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State Catcher, Unanimous First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Catcher; All-Class 5 District 12
Tony Caldwell, Strafford
STATS: 4-3, 52 IP, 76 K, 2.42 ERA, 1.19 WHIP; 3 HR, 21 RBI, 30 runs, .320 avg, .438 OBP
HONORS: Class 3 Second-Team All-State Pitcher; Unanimous First-Team All-Mid-Lakes Pitcher & First-Team All-Mid-Lakes Infielder; Unanimous First-Team All-Class 3 District 11 Pitcher; Second-Team All-Class 3 District 11 Infielder
Zach Cole, Catholic
STATS: .329 avg, .505 OBP, 1.242 OPS, 7 HR, 25 RBI, 25 runs, 10 2B, 13 SB
HONORS: Class 4 First-Team All-State DH/Utility; Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 East DH; Second-Team All-Class 4 District 11
Max Elmer, Glendale
STATS: 104 PA, 92 AB, 35 H, 9 2B, 1 3B, 1 HR, 23 RBI, 26 R, 12 BB, 8 K, .380 AVE., .533 SLG., .985 OPS, 2 SB
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State Infielder, Ozark Conference Position Player of the Year, Unanimous First-Team All-Ozark Conference Infielder; All-Class 5 District 10
Grant Harris, Willard
STATS: .325 AVG, 2 HR, 45 R, 27 RBI, 10 SB. 5-0 with 1.91 ERA. 37 IP, 7 BB, 54 K
HONORS: Class 5 Second-Team All-State DH/Utility, Unanimous First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Outfielder; All-Class 5 District 12
Logan Peebles, Clever
STATS: .515 avg, 1.619 OPS, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 12 2B, 26 runs, 30 BB,
HONORS: Class 3 First-Team All-State Catcher; First-Team All-Mid-Lakes Catcher; Class 3 District 12 Player of the Year; Unanimous First-Team All-Class 3 District 12 Catcher
Ethan Thompson, Willard
STATS: .359 avg, 3 HR, 50 R, 30 RBI, 24 SB
HONORS: Class 5 First-Team All-State Outfielder, First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Outfielder; All-Class 5 District 12
Drew Wheeler, Stockton
STATS: .543 avg, 1.387 OPS, 34 RBI, 20 runs, 2 HR, 9 2B; 5-2, 59 IP, 88 K, 1.07 ERA, 1.03 WHIP
HONORS: Class 3 First-Team All-State DH/Utility; Unanimous First-Team All-Mid-Lakes Pitcher & Infielder; First-Team All-Class 3 District 13 Pitcher & Infielder
THIRD 9
Jackson Beaman, Lincoln
STATS: .463 avg, .627 OBP, 1.683 OPS, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 30 runs, 10 SB; 30 IP, 71 K, 1.40 ERA
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State DH/Utility; First-Team All-Class 2 District 10; verbally committed to Wichita State University
Ryan Carmack, New Covenant
STATS: 5-1 / 39.1 IP / 18 H / 6 R / 4 ER / 7 BB / 65 K / 0.712 ERA / 0.636 WHIP; 20 for 57 / 4 2B / 3 3B / 2 HR / 17 RBI / 24 Runs / 15 SB / .351 BA / .479 OBP / 1.110 OPS
HONORS: Mark Twain Conference MVP; First-Team All-Mark Twain Conference Pitcher; Unanimous First-Team All-Class 3 District 11 Pitcher
Caleb Johnson, Ava
STATS: 6-2, 49.2 IP, 73 K, 1.12 ERA; .365 avg, 21 runs, 23 RBI, 14 SB
HONORS: Class 3 Honorable Mention All-State DH/Utility; Co-SCA MVP. First-Team All-SCA Catcher; First-Team All-Class 3 District 11 Pitcher; Second-Team All-Class 3 District 11 Catcher
Reed Metz, Rogersville
STATS: .340 25 Hits 8 Home runs 34 RBI’s 25 BB’s and OBP of .524
HONORS: Class 4 Second-Team All-State Infielder; First-Team All-Big 8 East Infielder; All-Class 4 District 11
Isaac Mitchell, Nixa
STATS: 6-0, 61.2 IP, 86 K, 1.25 ERA
HONORS: Unanimous First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Pitcher; All-Class 5 District 10
Blake Mozley, Ozark
STATS: .350 avg, .488 OBP, 1.123 OPS, 20 runs
HONORS: Class 5 Second-Team All-State Infielder, Unanimous First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Infielder; All-Class 5 District 10
Joe Reid, Nixa
STATS: .320 avg, 4 HR, 20 RBI, .475 On-Base, 1.048 OPS, 22 BB
HONORS: First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Catcher
Trevor Russell, Skyline
STATS: 4-5, 62.1 IP, 85 K, 1.35 ERA; .337 avg, 2 HR, 14 RBI, 22 SB
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State Pitcher; Unanimous First-Team All-Mid-Lakes Pitcher; Second-Team All-Mid-Lakes Outfielder; First-Team All-Class 2 District 10
Mason Schallert, Purdy
STATS: .507 avg, 45 RBI, 15 2B, 1 3B, 38 runs, 19 BB, 3 HR; 7-0, 1.96 ERA, 56 K, 39.1 IP
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State DH/Utility; First-Team All-SWCL Infielder; First-Team All-Class 2 District 6
HONORABLE MENTION
Gideon Antle, Licking
STATS: .481 avg, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 27 runs,
HONORS: Class 3 First-Team All-State Outfielder; Frisco League Player of the Year; First-Team All-Class 3 District 10
Cade Beason, Webb City
STATS: 40.2 IP, 4-3 record, 2.41 ERA, 56 K, 16 BB; .333 average, 24 hits, 2 doubles, 2 triples, 1 HR
HONORS: First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Utility; All-Class 5 District 11
Brady Brooke, Seymour
STATS: 5-2, 52 IP, 68 K, 1.88 ERA; .244 avg, 21 RBI
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State Pitcher; All-Class 2 District 5; Second-Team All-Summit Conference
Austin Dobrick, Marshfield
STATS: 7-2, 49 IP, 65 K, 2.00 ERA, 1.12 WHIP; .270 avg, 11 RBI
HONORS: First-Team All-Big 8 East Pitcher; All-Class 4 District 10
Hadden Grant, Morrisville
STATS: .343 avg, .526 OBP, 1.437 OPS, 9 HR, 40 RBI, 38 runs; 22 IP, 37 K, 1.27 ERA, 0.955 WHIP
HONORS: Class 2 Honorable Mention All-State Infielder; First-Team All-Summit Conference; First-Team All-Class 2 District 8
Jack Hadank, Bolivar
STATS: 6-2, 1.75 ERA, 0.96, 63 K, 52 IP; .350 avg, .536 OBP, 17 RBI, 8 SB
HONORS: First-Team All-Class 4 District 11
Sterling Jackson, Houston
STATS: .405 avg, 28 RBI, 8 2B, 2 HR, only struck out six times all year; 3-3 with 3 saves, 71 K, 2.21 ERA
HONORS: Class 3 Honorable Mention All-State DH/Utility; First-Team All-SCA Infielder; First-Team All-Class 3 District 10
Grant Jones, Joplin
STATS: .384 avg, .549 OBP, 1.220 OPS, 2 HR, 21 RBI, 28 Runs, 19 SB; 8-3, 47 IP, 50 K, 2.68 ERA, 1.34 WHIP
HONORS: First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Outfielder; All-Class 5 District 11
Ryan Keith, Walnut Grove
STATS: 7-3, 59.1 IP, 86 K, 2.00 ERA; Avg .457, OBP .558, hits 37, 2B 15, HR 3, RBI 28, R 45, SB 18
HONORS: Class 1 First-Team All-State DH/Utility; Polk County League MVP; All-Class 1 District 6
Jeremiah Kennedy, Carl Junction
STATS: .381 avg, .444 OBP; 5-4, 52 IP, 77 K, 2.01 ERA
HONORS: First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Utility; First-Team All-Class 4 District 12
Earnie Larkin, Marionville
STATS: .441 avg, 33 runs scored, 4 2B, 2 3B, 19 RBI, .587 OBP, 22/23 steals; 3-1 record, 23 IP, 24 Ks, 1.83 ERA
HONORS: Southwest Conference Player of the Year; First-Team All-Southwest Conference DH/Utility; Unanimous First-Team All-Class 3 District 12 DH/Utility
Evann Long, Nixa
STATS: .390 avg, 2 HR, 8 2B, 20 RBI, 28 Runs, 14 SB
HONORS: Unanimous First-Team All-Central Ozark Conference Infielder; All-Class 5 District 10
Bryson Luna, Dora
STATS: .507 avg, .615 OBP, 1.305 OPS, 35 SB, 40 Runs
HONORS: Class 1 First-Team All-State Outfielder; Rawlings/Perfect Game Preseason Underclass All-American
Wesley Merriman, Monett
STATS: .427 avg, 38 hits, 22 runs, 23 RBI, 8 2B, 1 3B
HONORS: Class 4 Second-Team All-State Infielder; Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 West Infielder; First-Team All-Class 4 District 12
Layton Morgan, Hollister
STATS: .404 avg, .459 OBP, 4 HR, 44 RBI, 12 2B; 23.2 IP, 25 K, 2.66 ERA, 1.82 WHIP
HONORS: Class 4 Second-Team All-State DH/Utility; First-Team All-Big 8 East Utility; All-Class 4 District 11
Kolton Pinkly, Verona
STATS: .529 avg, .671 OBP, 1.436, 30 runs, 12 2B; 5-2, 39.1 IP, 68 K, 1.60 ERA, 1.27 WHIP
HONORS: Class 1 Second-Team All-State DH/Utility; Ozark 7 MVP; First-Team All-Class 1 District 5
Bowen Preddy, Cassville
STATS: .492 avg, 9 2B, 2 3B, 2HR 22 RBI, scored 20 runs, 10 BB, 5 HBP, 21 SB, OBP: .584 SLUG: .803; 2-2. 1 Save, 35.2 innings pitched, 2.75 ERA 45Ks to 9BB.
HONORS: Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 West Infielder; First-Team All-Class 4 District 12
Troy Reynolds, Lebanon
STATS: 4-3, 48.1 IP, 69 K, 1.75 ERA; .418, 10 2B, 4 3B, 21 RBI, 1.144 OPS
HONORS: Class 5 Honorable Mention All-State Outfielder, Second-Team All-Ozark Conference Pitcher, Honorable Mention All-Ozark Conference Outfielder
Seth Stamps, Reeds Spring
STATS: .440 avg, 4 HR, 17 RBI, .636 OBP, 30 runs, 1.516 OPS
HONORS: Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 East Infielder; All-Class 4 District 11
Carson Sturdefant, Seymour
STATS: .342 avg, 2 HR, 24 RBI 48.1 IP, 2.33 ERA, 59 K
HONORS: Class 2 First-Team All-State DH/Utility; All-Class 2 District 5; Second-Team All-Summit Conference
Case Tucker, Lamar
STATS: .458 avg, 3 HR, 9 SB, 15 RBI; 41.1 IP, 56 K, 2.97 ERA
HONORS: Class 3 Second-Team All-State Infielder; Unanimous First-Team All-Big 8 West Infielder; Honorable Mention All-Big 8 West Pitcher; First-Team All-Class 3 District 13 Pitcher & Infielder
Freddie Wieder, Weaubleau
STATS: 6-2, 60 IP, 84 K, 1.98 ERA; .374 avg, 2 HR, 27 RBI, 38 runs, 1.041 OPS, 28 SB
HONORS: Class 1 First-Team All-State Pitcher; First-Team All-PCL; All-Class 1 District 8
Blayne Yarger, Rolla
STATS: .443 avg, .542 on-base, 1.390 OPS, 12 2B, 4 HR, 8 steals; .984 Fielding%, 11.1 IP, 19K, 5 saves
HONORS: Class 5 Second-Team All-State Outfielder, First-Team All-Ozark Conference Outfielder; First-Team All-Class 5 District 9 Outfielder
