By Mike Ramczyk
Sports Editor
What is in an all-area team?
You have to look at statistics, no doubt, but intangibles and a player’s ability to make his team better can also go a long way.
Now, while most all-area teams involve first and maybe second team along with honorable mention, this particular all-area baseball team will look at only Burlington, Catholic Central, Waterford and Union Grove high schools.
In all, you’re talking 36 starters to choose from, which doesn’t really allow for several teams.
So for this particular all-area team, which represents the Burlington Standard Press, Waterford Post and Westine Report, there will be a first team and an honorable mention.
And it’s not going to be the top 10 position players in the area. No, it is simply the 10 best players in the area.
Voting was based on coaches’ commentary, statistics and the good, old-fashioned eye test.
So kick back, enjoy an ice-cold beverage in this humid, muggy weather and enjoy the 2014 All-Area Baseball squad.
Player of the Year
Mark Wallace, Burlington
An all-area team is only as good as its top player, and Burlington senior Mark Wallace was as good as it gets.
The Marian College recruit was the Demons’ ace, boasting an 11-7 record with a 1.77 earned-run average.
At the plate, nobody was better when it came to clutch hitting and consistency. Wallace led the area with a .430 batting average.
He was named Racine County player of the year and was a first team all-Southern Lakes Conference left-fielder.
Wallace helped lead the Demons to the area’s best record at 16-9-1.
“Mark was our most consistent player all year,” said Burlington coach Scott Staude. “He was one of the toughest outs in the conference, and in my opinion was the best hitter in the area. He was also effective on the mound and always gave us a chance to win.”
Wallace knocked in 24 RBIs, got on base at a .495 clip and struck out 47 in 55 innings. He smashed 16 doubles.
Ben Miller, Union Grove
Coming in a close second place to Wallace for player of the year was Miller, a first team all-SLC shortstop and the ace of the Broncos staff.
The crafty hurler possesses a plus fastball and can kill batters with his off-speed stuff. He helped the Broncos to a 16-11 mark.
He finished the season 6-2 on the mound, with the only losses coming to Burlington (1-0) and Wilmot (2-1).
Miller will participate in the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association all-star game this weekend, and next year he will take his talents to Division III UW-Stevens Point.
He led the area with a microscopic 0.98 ERA and struck out 60 batters in 50 innings.
A leadoff hitter, he hit .321 and led all leadoff men with 19 RBIs. He had a .446 on-base percentage.
In terms of accolades, Miller made first team all-Racine County.
Union Grove coach Mike Arendt said Miller was one of the area’s best.
“Ben was our MVP and kept us in a lot of games as we struggled to hit all year long,” Arendt said. “I think he is definitely one of the better players in the county.”
Dane Helnore, Burlington
Not too many handled the hot corner like Helnore.
A first team all-SLC selection at third base, Helnore was sure-handed in the field and came through with big hits at the plate.
He hit. 378, good for fourth-best in the area, and led the Demons with 24 runs scored.
What’s more impressive is Helnore battled through injuries all year and still put up solid numbers.
The junior should make a serious run at player of the year next season.
“Dane had clutch hits throughout the season and was a great leader both on and off the field for the Demons,” Staude said.
Ben Folger, Waterford
The strong first baseman earned second team all-SLC honors and was third in the area in hitting with a .382 batting average.
Folger totaled 19 RBIs and had a .450 on-base percentage.
The senior had a huge year considering he only managed 10 at-bats as a junior. He never even played the field last year.
“Ben had an unbelievable year considering he probably had under 10 at-bats as a junior and never played the field,” said Waterford coach Lance Bestland.
Folger, a lefty, helped the Wolverines finish with a 14-11 record.
Trace Hunsucker, Waterford
When talking about outfielders, not too many have the range of this junior center fielder.
A second team all-SLC pick, Hunsucker tracks down anything hit his way and is also a force at the plate.
He was third on the Wolverines with a .354 batting average. He led the area with 37 runs scored and boasted an impressive .480 on-base percentage.
It’s Hunsucker second straight year on the all-SLC second team.
“Trace is a great outfielder that covers a huge amount of ground in center,” Bestland said.
Chandler Meseberg, Burlington
As Kanye West says in one of his popular songs, “no one man should have all this power.”
Meseberg, a senior catcher, has loads of power and led the area with three home runs.
He tallied 20 RBIs and had a .384 on-base percentage.
In a doubleheader against Lake Geneva Badger, Meseberg crushed a homer in each game.
It’s an area filled with talented catchers, and Meseberg is the cream of the crop.
Aaron Mutter, Burlington
Sure, he’s only a sophomore. And yes, the area is stacked with first basemen.
But you can’t deny the offensive impact of Mutter this season for the Demons.
The tall, muscular slugger hit .384, good for third in the area, and he got his money’s worth at the plate.
Mutter had 16 RBIs, scored 17 runs and boasted a .444 OBP and a .521 slugging percentage. His efforts earned him second team all-SLC.
He also was an effective relief pitcher.
With two years ahead of him, the sky’s the limit for this powerhouse.
Ryan Kiedrowski, Waterford
Not too far behind Mutter is one of the area’s best catchers.
The junior led the Wolverines with a .410 batting average and 18 RBIs. He had a .500 on-base percentage.
Kiedrowski smashed 32 hits in 78 at-bats.
Bestland described Kiedrowski as a leader on and off the field.
Sam Schaefer, Union Grove
A second team all-SLC selection, Schaefer did a little bit of everything for the Broncos.
The senior was a three-year letter-winner and hit .294 with a .385 OBP. He laid down 11 sacrifice bunts and played second base, shortstop and center field.
In 19-1/3 innings pitched, he shut down opponents with a 1.44 ERA.
“Sam just did whatever we asked of him, and he did it well,” Arendt said.
Jake Surges, Catholic Central
Last but not least, it’s time to give some love to the best hitter on the Toppers.
The quick second baseman hit .600 in the final two weeks of the season and finished with a .324 batting average.
Surges bounced back from concussion symptoms his junior year to have a stellar senior campaign.
On the base paths, nobody was better as Surges stole 13 bags.
“He’s one of the best baserunners I’ve ever had,” said Catholic Central coach Tom O’Connell.
Honorable mention
Grant Beck, junior, UG: .310 batting average, .375 on-base percentage. “Had some injuries but once he got healthy, his offense really came around,” Arendt said. “He covers a ton of ground in the outfield and has a great arm and can really fly.”
Tanner Strommen, sophomore, Burlington, second base: .355 BA, .524 OBP.
Dylan Malecki, junior, Waterford: .321 BA, 7-4 pitching, 2.22 ERA. Honorable mention all-SLC, staff ace.
Matt Kupper, senior, UG: .321 BA, 19 RBIs, 19 runs. “He’s good defensively at first, a big target and came through with a lot of big hits for us,” Arendt said. “The ball jumps off his bat.”
Nolan Girard, junior, Catholic Central: .288 BA, 13 RBIs. “He’s one of the better defensive catchers around,” O’Connell said.
Austin Hayes, junior, Catholic Central: .316 BA, .435 OBP, 4.04 ERA, 2-3.
“He came a long way and became a steady pitcher,” O’Connell said. “Austin had a bigger responsibility with our top two pitchers hurt.”
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