ORIGINALLY WRITTEN STAFF
Five members of the Hillsboro High School baseball team and six members of the softball received all-league recognition this season.
Baseball
In baseball, two Trojans were picked for the first-team in the Mid Central Activities Association. Three received honorable mention.
Nathan Fish was chosen for the first team outfield and received honorable mention as a pitcher. James Bina was picked first-team catcher.
Fish batted .338 with three home runs and 23 RBIs. In the outfield, he made only three errors in 75 chances for a fielding percentage of .962.
On the mound, Fish finished with a 5-1 record and an earned-run average of 2.72 over 38.67 innings.
Bina, meanwhile, led the Trojans in hitting (.470), hits (39), doubles (11), home runs (5), RBIs (31) and slugging percentage (.783). Defensively, the sophomore caught 153 innings and had a fielding percentage of 993. He threw out 11 runners on steal attempts.
Besides Fish at pitcher, three other Trojans received honorable mention.
Grant Brubacher was picked for his work at shortstop. Defensively, he had a fielding percentage of .885 with 14 errors in 108 chances. he batted .404 with four homers, 10 doubles and 30 RBIs and led the team in runs scored (39). He struck out only five times all season.
Corey Thiessen was feted at second base. A senior, Thiessen hit .384 with three home runs and 12 RBIs. Defensively, he had a fielding percentage of .873 with 14 errors in 96 chances.
Dan Funk, another senior, received honorable mention as an outfielder. He hit .351 with three home runs and 13 RBIs. He committed three errors in 25 chances for a fielding percentage of .893.
The baseball team finished with a season record of 18-6 and third-place finish in the state tournament last week.
Softball
In softball, three members were picked for the all-league team for 2001. Three others received honorable mention.
Two Trojans, juniors Jill Hein and Holly Lindsay, were unanimous picks for the first team.
Hein, the Trojans’ left fielder, batted .392 and led the team in runs batted in (29), home runs (8), triples (5) and slugging percentage (.919). In the field, she made no errors in 16 chances.
Lindsay pitched 116.3 innings for Hillsboro and finished with a 15-5 record, including 100 strikeouts, 13 walks and an earned-run average of 2.11. Offensively, she batted .357 with 11 RBIs and had an on-base percentage of .423.
Dionne Jost, a senior, was selected for the first team at second base. Offensively, she led the Trojans in batting (.438), hits (32), stolen bases (8), walks (16) and on-base percentage (.544). Defensively, she finished with a fielding percentage of .892 with 11 errors in 101 fielding opportunities.
The three Trojans who received honorable mention (second team) were catcher Julie Wall, outfielder Melissa Deckert and first baseman Emily Donahue.
Wall, a junior, batted .333 with 16 RBIs and one home run and had an on-base percentage of .481.
Deckert, a senior, hit .309 with 12 RBIs and on-base percentage of .441.
Donahue, a junior, batted .250 with 17 RBIs and had a fielding percentage of .960 with only six errors in 144 chances.
“For softball, they only pick one person out of the whole league at each position to earn first-team all-league,” said head coach Carolyn Long. “We had six girls receive honors, so I was pleased.”
The Trojans finished the season with a 17-5 record overall and were 14-2 in the MCAA. Collegiate won the league title with a 15-1 mark; Hillsboro gave the Spartans their only league loss.
2001 All-MCAA baseball team
First team
(*) Indicates unanimous pick
Outfield: Zach Troilo, soph., Wichita Collegiate; Nathan Fish, senior, Hillsboro; *Ryan Roth, senior, Moundridge; Larry McVey, junior, Nickerson.
First base: Matt Turner, senior, Haven.
Second base: Matt Hein, senior, Haven.
Third base: Rob Ramseyer, junior, Collegiate.
Shortstop: Brad Bengston, senior, Smoky Valley.
Catcher: James Bina, soph., Hillsboro.
Pitchers: *Bill Griffith, junior, Collegiate; Matt Hein, senior, Haven; Noah Kroll, soph., Nickerson; Brad Bengston, senior, Smoky Valley.
Designated hitter: *Grant Nixon, junior, Collegiate.
Utility: Lucas Sawyer, senior, Inman.
Honorable mention
Outfield: Daniel Loop, senior, Haven; Adam Love, junior, Haven; Dan Funk, senior, Hillsboro; Todd Sechrist, junior, Lyons; Darrin Hopp, junior, Smoky Valley.
First base: Trent Overman, junior, Collegiate; Nick Krehbiel, Moundridge;
Second base: Corey Thiessen, senior, Hillsboro; Brooks Clark, soph., Lyons.
Third base: Bret Toews, junior, Moundridge.
Shortstop: Grant Brubacher, senior, Hillsboro; Noah Kroll, soph., Nickerson.
Catcher: Ty Houseman, senior, Lyons; Andy Frieze, soph., Collegiate; Dusty Blackburn, senior, Nickerson; Jost Fast, senior, Inman.
Pitchers: Nathan Fish, senior, Hillsboro; Zac Dobbins, junior, Lyons; Eli Rumler, soph., Lyons; Brian Rudd, senior, Smoky Valley.
Utility: Branden Moore, Lyons.
2001 All-MCAA softball team
First team
(*) Indicates unanimous pick
Outfield: *Jennifer Caro, senior, Collegiate; *Jill Hein, junior, Hillsboro; Shannon Swafford, Nickerson; Betsey Clark, senior, Moundridge.
First base: AshLea Beagley, senior, Smoky Valley.
Second base: Dionne Jost, senior, Hillsboro.
Third base: Alexis Christian, Collegiate, senior.
Shortstop: Ashley Dirks, senior,Haven.
Pitchers: *Rachel Wenger, soph., Collegiate; *Holly Lindsay, junior, Hillsboro; Melissa Pifer, soph., Nickerson; Michelle Turner, soph., Haven.
Catcher: Amber Allen, senior, Nickerson.
Utility: Randee Deal, senior, Moundridge.
Honorable mention
Outfield: Jandee Swisher, senior, Inman; Shelby Fast, junior, Moundridge; Melissa Deckert, senior, Hillsboro; Abby Conkling, junior, Haven.
First base: Emily Donahue, junior, Hillsboro.
Second base: Kate Pilgreen, senior, Collegiate; Alisha Leiker, Lyons, junior; Lindsey Franz, junior, Moundridge.
Third base: Mary Washburn, senior, Hesston; Arianna Kaufman, senior, Moundridge; Chelsey Crank, senior, Nickerson.
Shortstop: Abby Allen, soph., Nickerson; Casey Pickering, senior, Collegiate; Mindy Gustus, soph., Smoky Valley; Alicia Tolle, junior, Inman. Megan Eck, Canton-Galva.
Pitchers: Emily Langrehr, Collegiate, senior.
Catcher: Julie Wall, junior, Hillsboro; Lisa Burgess, senior, Collegiate.
Utility: Ashley Emerson, senior, Nickerson.
