Tyler-area TAPPS teams produce all-state players
Published 12:16 am Thursday, June 13, 2013
Seven Tyler-area seniors earned first-team honors on the TAPPS all-state baseball team after completing stellar careers.
All Saints catcher Chandler Hammond and Grace Community pitcher Canaan Klaassen were tabbed to the first team in TAPPS 4A.
The Bullard Brook Hill trio of catcher Kendall Kerns, outfielder Michael Greening and pitcher Quintin Pile earned first team in TAPPS 3A after winning a third straight state title.
In TAPPS 1A/2A, East Texas Christian Academy catcher Brett Bowers and pitcher Cade Suggs took first-team honors.
Also in TAPPS 4A, Grace seniors outfielder Jacob Spitzer and shortstop Blake White were named to the second team. All Saints senior outfielder/pitcher Garrett Buatte earned honorable mention.
The Guard had four more players on the all-state team. Senior pitcher/outfielder Collin Mondrik and sophomore pitcher Daniel Priddy were selected to the second team. Freshman shortstop Clayton Engel and junior second baseman Jonah Gonzales earned honorable mention.
For the TAPPS 1A/2A state runners-up, ETCA senior shortstop William Finley and sophomore third baseman Grayson Pirtle were named to the second team.
Klaassen, the TAPPS 2-4A MVP, led the Cougars to a district title and within a few outs of the state tournament. He sported a 2.65 ERA while opponents hit .168 against him.
Hammond batted .400 for the Trojans, reaching double digits in doubles and leading the team in RBIs with more than 30.
Kerns slugged .771 for Brook Hill, smacking five home runs and driving in 38 runs to earn his third all-state honor. Greening, who was second-team all-state the past two years, led the Guard with 12 stolen bases while scoring 31 runs with a .431 on-base percentage. Pile was Brook Hill’s ace with a 1.58 ERA, striking out 14 in the state title game.
Suggs was a star on offense and defense. He struck out 110 with a 0.98 ERA. At the plate he hit .543 and slugged 1.000 with 11 doubles, 10 triples and a home run while driving in 35 runs. Bowers hit .420 with two home runs while throwing out 50 percent of runners attempting to steal.
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TAPPS All-State Baseball
TAPPS 4A
First Team
Chandler Hammond, Sr. C, All Saints
Canaan Klaassen, Sr. P, Grace Community
Second Team
Blake White, Sr. SS, Grace
Jacob Spitzer, Sr. OF, Grace
Honorable Mention
Garrett Buatte, Sr. P/OF, All Saints
TAPPS 3A
First Team
Kendall Kerns, Sr. C, Bullard Brook Hill
Michael Greening, Sr. OF, Brook Hill
Quintin Pile, Sr. P, Brook Hill
Second Team
Collin Mondrik, Sr. P/OF, Brook Hill
Daniel Priddy, So. P, Brook Hill
Honorable Mention
Clayton Engel, Fr. SS, Brook Hill; Jonah Gonzales, Jr. 2B, Brook Hill
TAPPS 1A/2A
First Team
Brett Bowers, Sr. C, East Texas Christian Academy
Cade Suggs, Sr. P/1B, ETCA
Second Team
Grayson Pirtle, So. 3B, ETCA
William Finley, Sr. SS, ETCA