Staff writer
Marion High School junior pitcher Ethan Hett and sophomore outfielder Taylor Heidebrecht were named to the Heart of American League first-team baseball team by league coaches.
Six Warrior players earned all-league honors, including second-team members Grif Case, Austin Pederson, and Dylan Seacat, and honorable-mention recipient Cole Lewman.
Marion head coach Roger Schroeder was particularly pleased with Hett’s placement.
“In our league, that’s something to say. There were six or seven pitchers that may have been first team in other leagues,” Schroeder said. “It’s something he’s worked very hard for, and he’s going to continue to work hard — we have him for another year.”
Heidebrecht went on a tear at the plate this season, which was a primary factor in his designation as a first-teamer.
“As he went, we went, and fortunately for us he went for most of the year,” Schroeder said. “He hit .425 with 27 runs scored. At one point early in the year he was hitting about .740 — it was unbelievable the pace he was on.”
Case and Hett were Marion’s two primary pitchers, separated by only one-third of an inning in total innings pitched.
“Grif was one of the two guys on the mound we gave the ball to more frequently. He did a good job when we needed a big game,” Schroeder said.
Schroeder put Pederson in center field this season to capitalize on the junior’s speed and fielding ability.
“He played a good center field for us. He’s a heck of an athlete, and to see him come out of his shell at the plate was a good thing for us,” Schroder said.
A phenom at shortstop for Sedgwick took first-team honors, but Schroeder praised the selection of Seacat to the second team.
“It’s a great accomplishment for Dylan. He’s a fantastic defensive shortstop. He played almost every inning of every game — he was always there. It’s nice to have a kid that understands the game as well as he does,” Schroeder said. “Every day you know what you’re going to get from him, and that’s a fantastic feeling for a coach.”
Lewman was a first-team selection as a junior, and his slip to honorable mention as a senior was due in part to the threat he represented as opposing teams pitched to him.
“Just his presence was almost as good as if he was hitting .365. Teams had to pitch him carefully,” Schroeder said. “The stats weren’t there this year. He drove in some runs, the power was there, but the consistency wasn’t. He played hurt at the beginning of the year, and that took a little time to get over.”
Schroeder was pleased with the number of Warriors selected for all-league honors.
“We had a little better showing than last year,” Schroeder said. “This year we had two first teamers. We’re going in the right direction.”