Phillips, Christy, Elson tabbed 1st team All-West

Phillips, Christy, Elson tabbed 1st team All-West
The Barton County Community College baseball team placed 3 players on the Jayhawk Conference All-West 1st team and added a 2nd team pick and two honorable mention selections. Barton, which finished in 2nd place at 22-10 in the West, had Ryan Phillips, Jeff Christy, and Steve Elson tabbed as 1st team selection. Phillips was the 2nd leading vote-getter among pitchers to earn 1st team while Christy and Elson were picked as 1st team catcher and 2nd baseman for the Cougars.

Joining the 1st team trio were pitcher Derek McDaid on the 2nd team as well as honorable mention choices in outfielder Jerry Cook and 1st baseman Wes Renfro. Seward County swept the top awards with Galen McSpadden being picked as Coach of the Year, pitcher Danny Vais as Player of the Year and Jason Van Kooten as Freshman of the Year.

Phillips has been stellar on the mound this season for the Cougars and has his sights set on a putting himself on top of the Barton County record books. Currently the sophomore has a 10-2 record, just 1 win shy of the record 11 wins in a season for the Cougars set in 1979 by Scott Dean. His only two losses this year have come to West champions Seward County and East champion Cowley County. Phillips has a 2.61 ERA that includes 12 starts and 3 relief appearances, where he has posted 2 saves. He has 107 strikeouts in just 72 innings with just 22 walks. Phillips has committed to play at the University of Nebraska next season.

Christy, also signed to play at Nebraska next season, is currently 2nd on the Cougars hitting. 390. The sophomore catcher is among the leaders in nearly every batting category for Barton. He is 2nd in homers (6), 1st in RBI (45), 1st in doubles (26), 1st in hits (96), 2nd in run scored (46), and 2nd in slugging percentage (.650) and on base percentage (.450). He has also thrown out 15 runners trying to steal this season.

Elson started the season at 2nd base but also spent some time at shortstop due to injuries this season. He, along with Hutchinson's Breck Draper, was tabbed as 1st team 2nd basemen this year. Elson is hitting .306 this season and leads the team with 48 runs scored. Elson leads the Cougars with 16 stolen bases as well.

McDaid just missed being a 1st selection, garnering the 4th highest vote total at pitcher – 3 pitchers are selected 1st team. McDaid has a 7-5 record this year with a 3.18 ERA. He leads Barton with 7 complete games this season – 2 by shutout fashion.

Cook leads the Cougars this season in hitting, batting .396 from his right field spot. He also tops the Cougars in on base percentage (.455), is 2nd in RBI (39) and hits (65). Cooks also leads Barton in a category some might not like much – being hit by 10 pitches this season.

Renfro is hitting .289 this season playing both 1st base and some designated hitter. He is currently 3rd in RBI with 38 and has reached base 17 times by walk (2nd on the team) and 9 times by hit batsman (2nd on team).

All Jayhawk West Team
Coach of the Year – Galen McSpadden, Seward County
Most Valuable Player – Danny Vais, Seward County
Freshman of the Year – Jason Van Kooten, Seward County

1st Team
C – Jeff Christy Barton County Soph
1b – Brandon Buckman Garden City Soph
2b – Steve Elson Barton County Soph
2b – Breck Draper Hutchinson Frosh
3b – Johnny Pinelli Pratt Soph
ss – Jason Van Kooten Seward County Frosh
Of – James Bennett Dodge City Soph
Of – Jared Goedert Cloud County Frosh
Of – Gus Milner Hutchinson Soph
Of – Ryan Pack Seward County Soph
DH – Jacob Boatman Pratt Frosh
P – Danny Vais Seward County Soph
P – Ryan Phillips Barton County Soph
P – Danny Calvert Hutchinson Frosh

2nd Team
C – Eric Beck Butler County Frosh
1b – Josh Paul Seward County Frosh
2b – Clinton Wages Seward County Soph
3b – Luke Dreiling Garden City Frosh
ss – Cole Armstrong Colby Soph
Of – Curtis Smith Garden City Frosh
Of – Scott Houin Seward County Soph
Of – Dan McClure Colby Soph
DH – Chad Mercado Pratt Frosh
P – Derek McDaid Barton County Soph
P – Ty Reese Butler County Frosh
P – Kevin Dryanski Hutchinson Soph
P – Kyle Hollander Hutchinson Frosh

Honorable Mention
C – Kyle Sandusky Colby Soph
1b – Wes Renfro Barton County Soph
2b – Mark Wellwood Butler County Soph
3b – Hope Foley Hutchinson Frosh
3b – Todd Gossage Seward County Soph
ss – Eric Fischer Butler County Soph
ss – Colin Booher Hutchinson Frosh
Of – Jerry Cook Barton County Soph
Of – Josh Abernathy Hutchinson Soph
Of – Shawn Taylor Seward County Frosh
P – Tommy Smoot Cloud County Soph
P – Ty Landenberger Colby Soph
P – Bryan Bearden Pratt Soph

Stats
Stats can be found at the Barton County Website at www.bartonccc.edu/sports

Next
Thurs., May 20– v Pratt, 11 am (Region VI Championships in Wichita)