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Diamond’s best

Six Class C players receive all-state honors

By Matt Spielman 5 min read

As some of the best high school baseball players in the area prepare to head off for their first year of college and others prepare for fall sports, the New York State Sportswriters Association is honoring the best from this past spring season.

Six local Class C players received accolades on the all-state baseball team Tuesday.

None of them received higher recognition than Falconer junior Erik Stenstrom, who was named to the Class C second team. The Post-Journal/OBSERVER Player of the Year and Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division 3 Player of the Year hit .561 this season for the Golden Falcons, pounding out 13 doubles, three triples and three home runs while driving in 28 runs and scoring 26. The right-handed hitting catcher struck out just four times all while catching 90 of Falconer's 149 innings behind the plate. He also threw out four runners attempting to steal.

Clymer/Sherman/Panama's Gavin Burchanowski and Gowanda's Aiden Geiger were named to the Class C third team. Burchanowski, a junior infielder, was a CCAA Division 2 first-team all-star after hitting .462 with four doubles, two triples and a home run. He also drove in six runs and scored 28 for the Wolfpack. Geiger, a sophomore outfielder/pitcher, was a CCAA Division 3 first-team all-star after hitting .385 with eight doubles and three triples. He drove in 23 runs and scored 24. On the mound, the right-hander pitched to a 1.17 earned run average in 36 innings, striking out 39 while holding opposing batters to a .179 average.

Geiger's senior teammate, Carter Capozzi, was named to the fourth team. A right-hander, Capozzi was named the CCAA Division 3 Pitcher of the Year after pitching to a 1.74 ERA in 56 1-3 innings. He struck out 60 and held opposing batters to a .216 average. At the plate, Capozzi hit .300 with seven doubles while driving in 15 runs and scoring 25.

Chautauqua Lake's Devin Hewes and Brocton/Cassadaga Valley's Jackson Crowell, the CCAA Division 2 co-Players of the Year, received honorable mention. Hewes, a senior pitcher/shortstop, went 7-2 with a 1.54 ERA while striking out 99 batters in 46 2-3 innings. The right-hander held opposing batters to a .096 average and walked just 16. At the plate, Hewes hit .244 with two doubles and two triples while driving in eight runs and scoring 22. Crowell, a junior pitcher/shortstop, hit .359 with eight doubles, a triple and a home run while driving in 27 runs and scoring 18. On the mound, the right-hander went 4-2 with a 3.00 earned run average, striking out 67 batters in 39 2-3 innings while holding opposing hitters to a .215 average.

Thirty-four other players from Section VI were also honored.

In Class AAA, Niagara Falls senior shortstop Anthony Littere was named to the first team; Niagara Falls senior infielder Matthew Brydges was named to the fourth team; Lancaster senior catcher Matthew King, junior infielder Brandon Leto and senior outfielder Cole Notaro were named to the sixth team; and Niagara Falls senior outfielder Andrew Brydges received honorable mention. Section I Mamaroneck senior shortstop Will Plunkett was named the Player of the Year.

In Class AA, Clarence senior shortstop Jackson Bugg was named to the second team; Williamsville East senior pitcher Jacoby Chambers was named to the third team; Orchard Park senior outfielder Brody Monaco and Hamburg junior pitcher Jason Sekuterski were named to the fourth team; Williamsville East junior catcher Gabe Chambers and senior second baseman/shortstop Michael Panaro, Clarence junior infielder Noah Hanes and Hamburg junior pitcher Kohl Schaefer were named to the sixth team; and Lockport senior infielder Nick Bucholz and Niagara Wheatfield senior pitcher John Fike received honorable mention. Section VIII Carey senior outfielder Jayden Gigante and Section XI Cornwall senior catcher/infielder Rich Roohan were named co-Players of the Year.

In Class A, Grand Island senior utilityman John Chiarenza, Williamsville South junior outfielder Philip Gangi and Olean senior pitcher Austin Miles were named to the first team; Maryvale senior catcher Jacob Kuciel was named to the second team; Grand Island junior outfielder Don Collure was named to the third team; Grand Island senior infielder Caden Sharkey was named to the fourth team; Iroquois senior catcher Dom Pasek and Williamsville South senior infielder Drew Beller were named to the fifth team; and Olean senior catcher Caine DeGolier was named to the sixth team. Section VIII Plainedge junior pitcher Jaxson Torres was named the Player of the Year.

In Class B, Section XI Center Moriches senior first baseman Max Rayburn and Medina junior shortstop Aidan Papaj were named co-Players of the Year. Medina junior pitcher Preston Woodworth was named to the first team; Royalton-Hartland senior third baseman/pitcher Isaac Smith and JFK senior utilityman/pitcher Andrew Pajak were named to the second team; Springville junior infielder Grant Michalski was named to the fourth team; Tonawanda senior designated hitter Aaden Brant was named to the fifth team; Royalton-Hartland senior outfielder Gavin Heideman and Medina senior outfielder Vincent Gray were named to the sixth team; and Springville senior catcher Landon Roy received honorable mention.

Section II Saratoga Catholic senior pitcher Pierce Byrne was named the Class C Player of the Year while Section II Duanesburg junior catcher Collin Lussier and Section III Oriskany senior pitcher/shortstop Eddie Wright were named the Class D co-Players of the Year.

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