Kaleb Cowart of Cook (Adel, Ga.) and Ead Simon of Roff (Roff, Okla.), a player and a coach who brought national attention to the talent that abounds at the small school level, have been selected as the MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Player and Coach of the Year.
Cowart started turning heads last year when he played in the Aflac All-American Game in August and also when he won tournament MVP honors for the Perfect Game 17U National Tournament as a member of the East Cobb Braves.
This year as the top player for Cook, the Georgia Class AA state runner-up, Cowart earned more national acclaim as the Gatorde National Player of the Year. Cowart was also a finalist for the MaxPreps National Player of the Year Award.
Cowart capped off his high school career by going to the Los Angeles Angels with the 13th overall pick in the Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft in early June.
Simon, meanwhile, coached in the smallest classification in Oklahoma, but he had some big-time talent on his roster. Going 38-1 and winning the Class B championship, Roff lost only to Owasso, the 6A runnerup in Oklahoma. Roff also defeated Carroll (Corpus Christi, Texas), the 5A state champion in Texas.
Simon's team, which won the fall baseball Class B championship, also set a national record for home runs in a season with 131. Three players hit at least 20 home runs with Brendan McCurry, the state's all-time home run leader with 131 round trippers, hitting 27 in the spring. Aaron Cornell added 22 while Dayne Parker blasted 20.
The state title is the fifth for Simon since 2004 and his second spring championship in a row.
Cowart and Simon head a list of 60 small school All-Americans, chosen by the MaxPreps staff. The players are selected from schools with less than 1,000 students. Roff, along with MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Champion Sumrall (Miss.) and Calhoun (Ga.), each have two players on the first team.
MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Baseball Team
First Team
Dylan Covey, Maranatha (Pasadena, Calif.), Pitcher, Sr. - The Pasadena Star News Player of the Year, Covey was also the District 8 Player of the Year by the Baseball Coaches of America and was taken in the first round of the MLB draft by the Milwaukee Brewers. Covey was 7-1 on the season with a 0.40 ERA and 138 strikeouts with just 20 walks in 70.2 innings pitched. He also batted .414 with 17 RBI. He has committed to play at the University of San Diego.
Logan Ehlers, Nebraska City (Nebraska City, Neb.), Pitcher, Sr. - The two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year, Ehlers was 8-2 on the season with a 0.27 ERA and 186 strikeouts in just 78 innings pitched. At the plate, Ehlers batted .398 with 31 runs, 30 RBI, 12 doubles and 4 home runs. He was selected in the 8th round by the Toronto Blue Jays and has committed to play at the University of Nebraska.
John Kukuruda, East Nicolaus, Small Schools All-American.
Photo by Todd Shurtleff
Chase Williamson, UMS-Wright Prep (Mobile, Ala.), Pitcher, Jr. - The 4A state player of the year in Alabama, Williamson led UMS Wright to the state title by batting .491 with 36 runs, 53 hits, 35 RBI, 8 doubles, 4 triples and 8 home runs. He was also one of the state's top pitchers, going 12-1 with 98 strikeouts in 81 innings pitched.
Luke Lowery, Sumrall (Sumrall, Miss.), Pitcher, Jr. - An all-state second team pick by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Lowery went 11-1 with two shutouts for the No. 1 team in the country and also struck out 102 batters, with only 19 walks, in 62 innings pitched. He had a 1.13 ERA and he has a two-year record of 21-1.
Robby Rowland, Cloverdale (Cloverdale, Calif.), Pitcher, Sr. - Drafted in the third round by the Diamondbacks, Rowland was 7-1 with two no-hitters and three shutouts while striking out 117 batters and walking only 11 with a 0.32 ERA in 65 innings pitched. He also batted .473 with 8 doubles and 6 home runs.
A.J. Vanegas, Redwood Christian (San Lorenzo, Calif.), Pitcher, Sr. - The Pitcher of the Year in the East Bay by the Contra Costa Times, Vanegas was 11-0 on the season and pitched a no-hitter in the North Coast Section Division 5 championship game. He struck out 141 batters and had a 0.67 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched. He went to the San Diego Padres in Round 7 of the MLB Draft.
Brandon Henderson, Chesnee (Chesnee, S.C.), Pitcher, Sr. - The South Carolina 2A Player of the Year and a 15th round draft pick by the Tampa Bay Rays, Henderson was 14-0 on the mound while leading Chesnee to the state championship. He struck out 170 batters and had a 0.30 ERA in 88 innings pitched.
Justin O'Conner, Cowan (Muncie, Ind.), Catcher, Sr. - A shortstop for most of his high school career, O'Conner switched behind the plate this season and was snatched in the first round of the MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays. A two-time Star Press Player of the Year winner, O'Conner broke the Indiana state record for RBI wtih 198 and tied the state record for career home runs with 51. He batted .494 with 11 home runs and 49 RBI as a senior and was 5-1 on the mound with a 1.56 ERA and 82 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. He was expected to sign with the Rays this week.
Trevor Bowen, Silo (Silo, Okla.), Catcher, Sr. - An all-state choice in Oklahoma by The Oklahoman, Bowen batted .504 with 17 home runs, 72 RBI and 15 doubles. He helped Silo win the 2A state championship.
Hunter Renfroe, Copiah Academy (Gallman, Miss.), Catcher, Sr. - One of the top home run hitters in the country, Renfroe batted .583 with 58 runs, 49 hits, 70 RBI, 5 doubles, 5 triples and 20 home runs. He had eight straight games with a home run and also had three in one game. An all-state pick, Renfroe was drafted in the 31st round by the Boston Red Sox.
Eric Martinez, Bourgade Catholic (Phoenix, Ariz.), First Base, Sr. - The Class 2A Player of the Year in Arizona, Martinez pitched and played for the state champions. He batted .512 with 42 RBI, 14 doubles and 4 home runs and he had an 11-1 record on the mound with 106 strikeouts and a 1.67 ERA.
Jackson Posey, Sumrall (Sumrall, Miss.), First Base, Sr. - The team leader on a squad that finished No. 1 in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 Rankings the past two seasons, Posey was named the Hattiesburg American Player of the Year and earned all-state honors from the Jackson Clarion Ledger. He batted .523 (56-for-107) with 37 runs, 61 RBI, 14 doubles, and 5 home runs. On the mound, Posey was 12-0 with 79 strikeouts and a 1.05 ERA in 60 innings pitched. He has committed to play at Southern Miss.
Manny Machado, Brito (Miami, Fla.), Infield, Sr. - The first position player chosen in the MLB draft, Machado was the third overall pick by the Baltimore Orioles. An all-area pick by the Miami Herald, Machado batted .639 with 43 runs scored, 55 hits, 27 doubles, 12 home runs and 56 RBI to go with 17 stolen bases. He has committed to Florida International.
Dante Bichette Jr., Orangewood Christian (Maitland, Fla.), Infield, Jr. - Named the Central Florida Player of the Year by the Orlando Sentinel, Bichette batted .597 with 36 runs, 37 RBI, and 9 home runs. The son of the former Major Leaguer by the same name, Bichette has committed to play at Georgia.
Reid Roper, Harrisburg (Harrisburg, Ill.), Infield, Sr. - A first team all-state choice in Illinois by the Chicago Tribune, Roper batted .513 with 58 runs, 58 hits, 41 RBI, 17 doubles and 10 home runs. He was also 12-0 on the mound with 91 strikeouts and a 0.83 ERA in 67 innings pitched. He went to the Atlanta Braves in the 29th round of the MLB draft.
Caleb Hougesen, Indianapolis Lutheran (Indianapolis, Ind.), Infield, Sr. - A Indy Star Super Team pick and a choice of the San Francisco Giants in the 46th round of the MLB draft, Hougeson batted .548 with 6 doubles, 4 triples, 44 RBI, 45 runs and 15 home runs for Lutheran.
Brendan McCurry, Roff (Roff, Okla.), Infield, Sr. - Playing both in the fall and spring for Roff, McCurry hit 47 home runs in 72 games, including 27 during the spring. He concluded his career with 131 combined home runs, a record for Oklahoma. An all-state pick for the Class B state champs, McCurry batted .510 with 65 RBI and also was 8-1 with a 1.02 ERA and 67 strikeouts in 45 innings pitched.
Mott Hyde, Calhoun (Calhoun, Ga.), Infield, Sr. - One of the top home run hitters in Georgia the past two seasons, Hyde batted .464 with 67 RBI, 54 runs, 16 home runs and was walked 39 times. He went to the Toronto Blue Jays in the 44th round of the MLB draft.
Tristan Metcalf, Newport (Newport, Ore.), Outfield, Sr. - The Class 4A Player of the Year in Oregon, Metcalf batted .518 with 35 RBI, 35 runs, 7 doubles and 7 home runs.
Rashad Ramsey, Chattooga (Summerville, Ga.), Outfield, Sr. - An all-area pick by the Rome News Sentinel, Ramsey batted .478 with 34 RBI, 7 doubles, 3 triples and 3 home runs to go with 25 stolen bases. The Oakland Athletics chose him in the 20th round of the MLB draft.
Aaron Cornell, Roff (Roff, Okla.), Outfield, Sr. - Cornell had a monster year for a team that put up some amazing home run totals while winning the Class B state title in Oklahoma. Cornell earned all-state honors by batting .462 with 22 home runs, 52 RBI, and 8 doubles. He was also undefeated as a pitcher, goign 9-0 with a 1.49 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 50 innings pitched. In fall and spring seasons combined, Cornell finished his varsity career with 375 hits.
Kenton San Miguel, Breckenridge (Breckenridge, Mich.), Outfield, Sr. - A Division 4 all-state pick in Michigan, San Miguel had a big year for Breckendridge. He was 12-2 on the mound with 3 shutouts, 3 no-hitters, a 0.69 ERA and 184 strikeouts in 91 innings pitched. He also batted .411 with 42 runs scored, 49 RBI, 6 doubles and 7 home runs.
Monterio May, Luverne (Luverne, Ala.), Outfield, Sr. - May earned Hitter of the Year honors in the Class 3A division in Alabama after helping Luverne win the state title. He batted .533 with 53 RBI, 45 runs scored and 9 home runs.
Aaron Shipman, Brooks County (Quitman, Ga.), Outfield, Sr. - The third round pick of the Oakland Athletics, Shipman batted .525 with 40 runs scored on 31 hits with 6 double,s 5 triples, 5 home runs, 22 RBI and 38 stolen bases.
Jacoby Jones, Richton (Richton, Miss.), All-Purpose, Sr. - Named the state player of the year by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger, Jones landed with the Houston Astros in the 19th round. A starter at Richton since he was in seventh grade, Jones batted .459 (34-for-74) with 51 runs, 10 doubles, 8 home runs and 34 RBI while leading Richton to its third state title in the past four years. He has committed to LSU.
Carter Harrison, Calhoun (Calhoun, Ga.), All-Purpose, Sr. - The Rome News Sentinel Player of the Year, Harrison helped lead Calhoun to the 2A state championship in Georgia. He batted .342 with 12 home runs, 42 RBI, 60 runs scored and 12 doubles and on the mound he was 13-1 with a 1.72 ERA.
Aaron Judge, Linden, Small Schools All-American
Photo by Mark Bahrenfuss
David Thompson, Westminster Christian (Miami, Fla.), All-Purpose, Soph. - One of the top sophomores in the country, Thompson led Westminster Christian to the 2A state championship in Florida and was named to the All-Dade County Team by the Miami Herald. He batted .486 with 19 home runs and 54 RBI while playing shortstop.
Kaleb Barlow, Jackson Prep (Jackson, Miss.), All-Purpose, Sr. - Barlow capped an outstanding career at Jackson Prep by earning Metro Player of the Year honors by the Jackson Clarion-Ledger. He batted .533 with 46 runs, 15 doubles, 48 hits and 9 home runs while also stealing 17 bases. The Rockies took Barlow in the 43rd round of the MLB draft.
Second Team
Marc Brakeman, Shorecrest Prep (St. Petersburg, Fla.), Pitcher, Soph. - Named the Pitcher of the Year in Pinellas County by the Tampa Tribune, Brakeman led Shorecrest to the Florida 2A state finals as he struck out 115 batters in 76 innings and had a 1.75 ERA.
Jacob Croft, Sylvania (Sylvania, Ala.), Pitcher, Jr. - The Class 3A Player of the Year in Alabama, Croft was 9-1 on the mound with 145 strikeouts and a 0.97 ERA in 58 innings pitched. He also batted .468 with 26 doubles, 8 home runs, 38 RBI and 58 runs scored.
John Kukuruda, East Nicolaus (Nicolaus, Calif.), Pitcher, Sr. - Kukuruda caught fire in mid-season when he strung together four straight no-hitters to tie a California state record. He finished the year 7-2 with 119 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched an a 1.52 ERA. He was selected in the 28th round of the MLB draft by the Texas Rangers.
Ben Griset, Gustine (Gustine, Calif.), Pitcher, Sr. - The Western Athletic Conference Player of the Year, Griset was 6-3 with 127 strikeouts and a 0.68 ERA in 62 innings pitched. He was also solid at the plate with a .439 average and 3 home runs. The Chicago White Sox chose him in the 36th round of the MLB draft.
Jake Fields, Jefferson (Jefferson, Ga.), Pitcher, Sr. - The Gainesville All-Area Player of the Year, Fields had a huge season as he batted .628 with 16 home runs and 42 RBI and also went 11-1 as a pitcher with a 2.51 ERA and 79 strikeouts.
Stephen Gant, Riverside (Decaturville, Tenn.), Pitcher, Soph. - Named to the all-state team after posting a 15-0 record with a 1.17 ERA and 132 strikeouts. He also batted .496 with 11 home runs and 65 RBI.
Travis Wolf, Windthorst (Windthorst, Texas), Pitcher, Sr. - Selected to the 1A all-state team in Texas, Wolf helped lead Windthorst to a the 1A state championship with a 13-3 record that included 128 strikeouts and a 1.70 ERA in 86.2 innings pitched. He also batted .420 with 58 hits, 42 RBI, 10 doubles and 2 home runs.
Asa Johnson, Frewsburg (Frewsburg, N.Y.), Pitcher, Sr. - A six-year starter for Frewsburg, Johnson was the Player of the Year in Western New York by the Buffalo News. He was 9-0 with only five earned runs in 60 innings pitched for a 0.58 ERA. He struck out 110 batters and walked only 14. He had a 36-2 career record for Frewsburg, He also batted .452 with 12 doubles and 33 hits.
Ryan Seiz, Dock Mennonite (Lansdale, Pa.), Catcher, Sr. - An All-Southeastern Pennsylvania choice, Seiz led Christopher Dock to the 1A state championship in Pennsylvania. he batted .575 with 47 runs, 36 RBI, 16 doubles, 6 triples and 5 home runs.
J.T. Thornton, Central Valley Christian (Visalia, Calif.), Catcher, Sr. - Set the Central Section record for basehits, according to the Fresno Bee, and was also a member of the Bee's all-area team. He batted .527 with 42 runs, 22 RBI and 6 home runs. He finished his career with 197 basehits and will play at Hardin-Simmons University.
Josh Hall, Rappahannock (Warsaw, Va.), Catcher, Sr. - Selected as the Virginia Class A State Player of the Year after leading Rappahannock to the state title. He had 59 RBI on the season and closed out the year by going 9-for-9 with 8 doubles and 11 RBI.
Chase Jones, Harleton (Harleton, Texas), First Base, Sr. - Jones had a huge year for Harleton, batting .464 with 13 home runs, 10 doubles, 38 runs scored and 60 RBI. He also pitched and posted an 11-1 record with a 1.16 ERA, and 91 strikeouts in 84.2 innings pitched. Earned a spot on the Texas 2A all-state team.
Aaron Judge, Linden (Linden, Calif.), First Base, Sr. - An all-area choice by the Stockton Record, Judge went to the Oakland Athletics in the 31st round of the MLB draft. he batted .500 with 37 hits, 32 RBI, 8 doubles and 7 home runs. He also pitched and had a 6-0 record with 65 strikeouts and a 0.88 ERA in 48 innings pitched.
Ryan Leonards, Notre Dame (Crowley, La.), Infield, Sr. - the Class 3A state player of the year, Leonards led his team to a state title in Louisiana. He played shortstop and batted .517 with 13 doubles, 7 triples, 8 home runs and 45 RBI. He also pitched and went 9-1 with a 1.59 ERA and 91 strikeouts in 65.1 innings pitched.
Keith Wenning, Coldwater (Coldwater, Ohio), Infield, Sr. - The state player of the year in both football and baseball, Wenning batted .543 with 15 doubles and 41 RBI. Wenning will play football next year at Ball State.
Ryan Seiz, Dock Mennonite, Small Schools All-American
Photo by Jason Heffran
Kevin O'Leary, Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.), Infield, Sr. - O'Leary helped Wesleyan win the 1A state championship and was one of the top home run hitters in the country. He belted 23 round trippers with a .472 batting average, 47 RBI and 50 runs scored. He was also 8-2 on the mound with 56 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched.
Matt Rossi, Pacelli (Columbus, Ga.), Infield, Jr. - Named to the All-Bi-City Team by the Columbus Ledger Enquirer, Rossi batted .578 with 16 home runs, 47 runs scored and 36 RBI. He also spent time on the mound, going 6-2 with 70 strikeouts and a 2.55 ERA in 46 innings pitched.
Brandon Glazer, Clear Spring (Clear Spring, Md.), Infield, Sr. - Drafted in the 24th round by the Kansas City Royals, Glazer was the Washington County Player of the Year. He batted .500 with 29 RBI, 26 runs, 18 stolen bases and 5 home runs. He was also 6-1 on the mound with a 2.48 ERA and 65 strikeouts in 45.1 innings pitched.
Ajay Snow, Leroy (Leroy, Ala.), Outfield, Jr. - The Class 2A Hitter of the Year in Alabama, Snow helped lead Leroy to the state championship game by batting .469 with 71 runs scored, 61 hits, 55 RBI, 6 doubles, 4 triples and 10 home runs.
Tyler Geislinger, Eden Valley-Watkins (Eden Valley, Minn.), Outfield, Sr. - The Class A Player of the Year by the Minnesota High School Baseball Coaches Association, Geislinger was 11-0 on the mound for a team that won the state title and finished the year undefeated. He had a 2.20 ERA with 93 strikeouts in 67 innings. Also a strong defender in the outfield, Geislinger, batted .463 with 38 hits, 35 runs and 29 RBI.
Lucas Witt, Lexington Christian (Lexington, Ky.), Outfield, Sr. - The Lexington Courier-Journal All-City Player of the Year, Witt batted .453 with 40 runs scored, 21 RBI and 10 doubles. Drafted in the 38th round the Los Angeles Dodgers, Witt has also committed to play football at Kentucky.
Billy Flamion, Central Catholic (Modesto, Calif.), Outfield, Jr. - A two-sport standout for Central Catholic, Flamion batted .465 with 34 runs, 37 RBI, 8 doubles and 7 home runs. A defensive standout, Flamion also pitched and had a 9-2 record with a 2.76 ERA.
Telvin Darden, Overton (Overton, Texas), Outfield, Sr. - An all-state choice in Texas, Darden had an incredible season at Overton, batting. 598 with 12 home runs, 11 doubles, 78 RBI, 52 runs scored and 55 hits.
Chris Sadberry, Holliday (Holliday, Texas), Outfield, Sr. - A two-way standout for Holliday, Sadberry batted .483 with 26 runs, 36 RBI, 12 doubles and 6 home runs to earned all-state honors in Texas. He also pitched, striking out 123 batters and posting a 1.31 ERA with a 9-2 record.
Chris Bearden, Whitewright (Whitewright, Texas), All-Purpose, Sr. - A shortstop-pitcher, Bearden earned all-state honors in Texas by batting .495 with 13 doubles, 14 home runs and 45 RBI. He also had a 7-4 pitching record with a 1.57 ERA.
Julian Loret de Mola, Westminster Christian (Miami, Fla.), All-Purpose, Jr. - Loret de Mola played many positions for Westminster Christian during its 2A state championship season including pitcher and catcher. He batted .511 with 10 home runs and drove in 33 runs. He earned a spot on the All-Dade County Team by the Miami Herald as well.
Max Nogay, Madonna (Weirton, W. Va.), All-Purpose, Sr. - Nogay is a small schools legend in West Virginia, where he led the football team to a state championship, won two state individual crowns in wrestling and was named the state player of the year in baseball after leading Madonna to a Class A state title. He batted .454 with 11 home runs, 8 doubles and 48 RBI, including three home runs in one game during the playoffs. He will play baseball at West Virginia.
Matt Chabot, Woodcrest Christian (Riverside, Calif.), All-Purpose, Sr. - The Southern Section Division V Player of the Year along with Covey, Chabot led his team to the section championship by batting .478 with 43 hits, 37 RBI, 12 doubles, and 3 home runs. He was also 11-1 on the mound with 4 shutouts, 80 strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA in 65.1 innings pitched.
Brandon Pierce, Gunter (Gunter, Texas), All-Purpose, Sr. - The Texoma Area Player of the Year, Pierce made the Texas 2A All-State Team after going 9-2 on the mound with a 2.00 ERA, 133 strikeouts and 22 walks in 70 innings pitched. He had a varsity career record of 39-4 and was drafted in the 26th round by the Pirates. He was also solid at the plate, batting. 475 with 48 runs, 14 doubles, 9 home runs and 38 RBI.
