By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Being the leading hitter on the state’s most successful team wasn’t enough for Beechwood senior outfielder Logan Castleman to be voted Mr. Kentucky Baseball by members of the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association.
A.J. Hacker, a senior pitcher for Rowan County High School, was named this year’s award-winner on Tuesday. Castleman was one of 22 players voted first-team all-state by the coaches along with Highlands junior shortstop Ethan Kavanagh.
Castleman, a Wright State University recruit, has played a key role in Beechwood entering the state tournament with a 38-1 record and the state’s highest winning percentage (.950). He’s batting .620 (62 of 100) with 69 runs scored and 58 RBI. He has 25 extra base hits and 105 total bases, which gives him a 1.050 slugging percentage.
Hacker, a Morehead State recruit, is the leading pitcher on the 39-5 Rowan County team that also made it to the state tournament. He has an 11-1 record and 0.55 ERA with 129 strikeouts in 76 2/3 innings. At the plate, he’s batting .461 with 43 runs scored and 52 RBI. He has struck out only 11 times in 144 at-bats.
The only local player voted second-team all-state was Evan Webster of Ryle. The third-team nominees included John Odom and Noah Carter of Beechwood, Travis Smith and Tyler Wagner of Walton-Verona and Blaine Walters of Cooper. Three Campbell County players — Adam Gray, Jesus Riera and Brady Brooks — received honorable mention.
Beechwood will play Breckinridge County in the opening game of the state baseball tournament at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday at Whitaker Bank Park in Lexington. The second game will be Lexington Tates Creek vs. Pleasure Ridge Park at 8:30 p.m. The first-round games on Thursday are Rowan County vs. McCracken County at 5:30 p.m. and Hazard vs. Louisville Trinity at 8:30 p.m.
Six Simon Kenton players on East team for football all-star game
Caleb Farfsing, who had more than 1,000 yards in both rushing and passing for Simon Kenton last season, is one of the quarterbacks who will play in the St. Elizabeth Healthcare East-West All-Star Game at 7:30 p.m. Thursday at Dixie Heights High School.
Farfsing is one of six Simon Kenton players on the East roster for the annual senior all-star game that raises money for the Northern Kentucky Football Coaches Association scholarship fund. Before the game, a student-athlete from each of the 20 teams in the association will receive $500 to be used toward his college education.
The West team includes players from Beechwood, Boone County, Conner, Cooper, Holmes, Holy Cross, Lloyd, Ludlow, Ryle and Scott. The East team includes players from Bellevue, Brossart, Campbell County, Covington Catholic, Dayton, Dixie Heights, Highlands, Newport, Newport Central Catholic and Simon Kenton.
Admission to the all-star game will be $8. Gates will open at 6 p.m.
Ryle basketball player among top scorers for Ky Junior All-Stars
Ryle guard Maddie Scherr was a double-figure scorer for the Kentucky Junior All-Stars in both girls basketball games played against the Indiana All-Stars.
In the first game won by Indiana, Scherr had 11 points, six rebounds, five steals and four assists. In the second game won by Kentucky, the Oregon recruit’s stat line was 16 points, five rebounds, three steals, three assists and two blocks.
The Kentucky-Indiana senior all-star games will be this weekend with boys and girls doubleheaders at Bellarmine University in Louisville on Friday and Bankers Life Field House in Indianapolis on Saturday. Starting times are 5 p.m. for girls and 7 p.m. for boys at both locations.
Lauren Schwartz of Ryle is on the Kentucky girls team. The boys roster includes Dieonte Miles of Walton-Verona and Reid Jolly of Campbell County.