Pitcher named Player of the Year in both divisions of high school baseball coaches all-star team

By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter

Two pitchers with impressive records — Ben France of Covington Catholic and Drew Rom of Highlands — were named Player of the Year on the Class A and Class AA all-star teams selected by the Northern Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association.

France is a senior right-hander with a 7-1 record and 1.62 earned run average this season. He was also voted the top third baseman in Class AA with a .404 batting average and team-high 33 runs batted in.

Rom, a University of Michigan recruit, is a junior left-hander with a 6-2 record and 1.30 ERA. At the plate, he’s batting .407 with eight doubles and one home run.

France was also voted 9th Region Player of the Year and selected to play in the Kentucky Senior All-Star game along with Newport Central Catholic senior Brian Wells.

Rom and Max Epplen of St. Henry were selected for the Kentucky Junior All-Stars team. The coaches named Logan Castleman of Beechwood and Jack Coldiron of CovCath to the Kentucky Sophomore All-Stars team.

Bill Krumpelback of CovCath was named Coach of the Year in the 9th Region and Class AA. Greg Pass of St. Henry was named Class A Coach of the Year.

DIVISION AA

DH — Thomas Cody (CovCath). 1B — Luke Oehrle (Campbell County), Drew Demler (Ryle). 2B — Justin Colvin (CovCath). SS — Trent Kincaid (Simon Kenton). 3B — Ben France (CovCath). C — Max Sims (Conner). OF — Jack Coldiron (CovCath), Cory Franzen (Campbell County), Juan Villegas (Conner). P — Colton Hartig (Campbell County), Nick Craddock (Conner)

Player of the Year — Ben France (CovCath).
Jim Connor Coach of the Year — Bill Krumpelbeck (CovCath).

DIVISION A

DH — Ethan Doty (Highlands). 1B — Gunner Smith (NewCath). 2B — Ethan Kavanagh (Highlands). SS — Brian Wells (NewCath), Will Brady (St Henry). 3B — Joey Yancey (Holy Cross). C — Jake Webster (Holy Cross). OF — Max Epplen (St Henry), TC Eads (Ludlow), Logan Castleman (Beechwood). P — Drew Rom (Highlands), Evan Schlinger (Beechwood).

Player of the Year — Drew Rom (Highlands).
Ray Brown Coach of the Year — Greg Pass (St Henry).

9TH REGION AWARDS

Player of the Year — Ben France (CovCath).
Senior All Stars — Ben France (CovCath), Brian Wells (NewCath).
Junior All Stars — Drew Rom (Highlands), Max Epplen (St Henry). Alternate — Gunner Smith (NewCath)
Sophomore All Stars — Logan Castleman (Beechwood), Jack Coldiron (CovCath). Alternate — Daven Johnson (Beechwood).
Coach of the Year — Bill Krumpelbeck (CovCath).
Assistant Coach of the Year — John Michels (CovCath).