Lobo pitcher Hunter Lehman was named to the All-District first team. He had a 2.81 earned run average and 49 strikeouts on the mound. At the plate, Hunter hit .386 with six doubles and a .432 on base percentage. (Photo by Kyle Banda)
by JASON GORDON
The Hays High baseball team that rallied from an 0-3 start to make the playoffs landed six players on the All-District 27-4A team.
A Lehman squad that finished a game shy of the postseason had five players named All-District.
Hays High players landing on the first team were utility player Trevor Ragsdale, outfielder Granger Studdard, third baseman Dalton Niles and second baseman Alex Robles.
Robles hit .285 in district and stole 12 bases. His on-base percentage was nearly .500.
“Whenever Alex got on base, it was almost an automatic double because of his ability to steal bases,” Hays head coach Doug Ragsdale said. “That kind of speed on the base pads is invaluable to a team.”
Niles hit .420 in district action and had 17 RBI’s in 27-4A play, including an 8-RBI game in a comeback win over Canyon at Rebel Field.
“I don’t know how many times Dalton came up to the plate with runners on base during district and hit a double into the gap to drive them in, but it was a bunch,” Ragsdale said. “He got hot right when we needed him to.”
Studdard hit .525 in district action, walked 14 times and scored 18 runs.
Hays High junior outfielder Granger Studdard hit .525, scored 18 runs and walked 14 times in district play. He was one of four Rebels, along with Trevor Ragsdale, Dalton Niles and Alex Robles, named to the 27-4A All-District first team. (Photo by Cyndy Slovak-Barton)
“Granger’s strength is he not only is a very good hitter but he has a great eye at the plate,” Ragsdale said. “He’s not afraid to take a walk if he doesn’t get his pitch.”
Trevor Ragsdale hit .360 in district and had an on base percentage of nearly .600. He played all three outfield positions, first base and pitched for the Rebs this year. He led Hays with 22 RBIs and 43 strikeouts on the season.
“Trevor was Mr. Steady at the plate,” Doug Ragsdale said. “He carried a lot of the load for us this season. He could bunt when we needed him to, or hit a sacrifice fly, and we could plug him into so many positions on the field. He was so valuable to our team.”
Making the second team for the Rebels were sophomore pitcher Tyler Woodmansee, who went 6-1 with 42 strikeouts on the season, and outfielder Andrew Laughlin, who hit .306 in district.
Hunter Lehman was named to the first team for the Lobos. He had a 2.81 earned run average and 49 strikeouts on the mound. At the plate, Hunter hit .386 with six doubles and a .432 on base percentage.
“Hunter was our go-to guy this year,” Lobo head coach Toby Robinson said. “He pitched great all year long and was our most productive hitter.”
Pitcher Justin Vajgert, utility player Rudy Martinez, outfielder Jacob Urea and designated hitter Matt Anguiano were all named to the second team for the Lobos.
Vajgert had a 3.45 ERA and 26 strikeouts while pitching and batted .295 at the plate.
“Justin was a great all around contributor,” Robinson said. “He pitched in some really big games for us and played very good defense.”
Martinez hit .265, scored 10 runs and had the propensity to come up with the clutch hits for Lehman this season.
“Rudy was on varsity for three years and he was one of the hardest workers we’ve ever had,” Robinson said. “He was a good leadoff hitter, and a great defensive catcher and centerfielder.”
Urea hit .284 and had six runs batted in.
“Jacob really focused on his defense this year in left field,” Robinson said. “He only had one error all season long, which is incredible. We look forward to him coming back next year and being one of our leaders.”
Anguiano hit .301 for the Lobos this season.
“We didn’t know if Matt was going to even be able to play this year because of some football injuries,” Robinson said. “We are glad that he did because he came through in the clutch for us many times with his hitting.”
In addition, Hays seniors Aaron Martinets and Antonio Oliva were named honorable mention. The Lobos had no players named honorable mention.
