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Another year in the books for legion baseball and it was another full year of great competition in the Northeast Kansas League and many of the athletes shined on the diamond helping their teams and earning themselves a spot on this year’s Kanzaland American Legion NEK All-League team.
Seneca lead the way on this year’s All-League Legion team with five players as last year's co-MVP , Eric Huerter earned that honor to his lonesome this year helping lead Seneca to the NEK regular season title and NEK Preseason tournament crown, also as they finished the season 25-5. Huerter is joined on the All-League Legion team by his teams Michael and Alex Rottinghaus in the outfield, David Olberding at utility and Alex Hermesch at pitcher, giving Seneca five guys on the All-League team. Huerter's selection was his third for All-League Legion and for Olberding it was his second time.
Sabetha who enjoyed perhaps their best year in legion baseball club history as they finished with the most wins in a single season, 38 (overall record 38-13), while making a run at the AA State tournament after winning the Zone notched five guys, also on the All-League team. Leading the way was pitchers, Brendan Garrett and Graham Howard who were a tremendous one-two punch for Sabetha all season on the mound. In the infield both Kyle Stallbaumer and Keegan Schuman garnered All-League honors at second and shortstop, respectively, while McKenzie McAfee joined them on the All-League team earning a spot in the outfield. For Sabetha's, Brendan Garrett it was his third time being selected to the All-League team.
Doniphan County for first time since 2005 fell to under 20-wins in a season last year, but this season the young Doniphan County squad changed that finishing the season 21-5 and just came up a few runs in tournaments from making a push towards State and winning the NEK Preseason tournament. A big reason for Doniphan Counties success was the play of first baseman, Phoenix Keller, third baseman, Nathan Gaarder and pitcher, Dylan Gabriel who all earned All-League honors at those positions. For Gabriel it was his second time selected to the All-League squad.
Atchison wrapped up their season at 12-15 and a tough hard fought loss to the Diamond Jaxx team in Zone. It was multiple guys that played a factor for Atchison on the season but guys like Cody Calhoon, Jimmy Priest and Lane Fry provided great play throughout the season to help lead the team, earning all three All-League honors. For Calhoon he gets the nod in the outfield, while Priest is selected at utility position and Fry at the catcher position.
For Hiawatha, Holton and Royal Valley they struggled to reach the double figure win plateau point this season but all enjoyed some good moments on the diamond multiple times this year, earning each team a player on the All-League team.
Hiawatha wrapped up their season at 8-25, with Dakota Bayles leading the way at the plate and pitching for the team in the process of the season, too, earning him an All-League spot at utility.
Royal Valley wrapped up their season 4-19 on the year and infielder, Jon Cox proved to a solid player during the year, primarily playing at third, earning him a spot on the All-League team at utility.
While, Holton's Zach Porter worked the infield at first and was one of the top arms Holton put on the mound during the season to get him the nod for the All-League team at utility.
Another season wrapped up with the NEK League having some great success on the diamond in legion baseball and many players having great seasons.
Final NEK League Legion Standings -- click here
Full List of 2013 Kanzaland American Legion NEK All-League Team & All-Player's of Game for KNZA/KMZA and KAIR radio broadcasts -- click here
2013 Kanzaland American Legion NEK All-League Team
MVP: Eric Huerter, Seneca **
1B: Phoenix Keller, Doniphan County
2B: Kyle Stallbaumer, Sabetha
SS: Keegan Schuman, Sabetha
3B: Nathan Gaarder, Doniphan County
C: Lane Fry, Atchison
OF: Alex Rottinghaus, Seneca
OF: Michael Rottinghaus, Seneca
OF: Cody Calhoon, Atchison
OF: McKenize McAfee, Sabetha
Utility: David Olberding, Seneca*
Utility: Dakota Bayles, Hiawatha*
Utility: Jimmy Priest, Atchison
Utility: Zac Porter, Holton
Utility: Jon Cox, Royal Valley
P: Brendan Garrett, Sabetha**
P: Dylan Gabriel, Doniphan County *
P: Alex Hermesch, Seneca
P: Graham Howard, Sabetha
*-- Number of times repeat All-League selection
2013 Northeast Kansas League American Legion Baseball Notes:
Seneca won NEK Regular season title with only 1 league loss
Seneca won NEK Preseason Tournament for 3rd straight year
(Doniphan County placed 2nd, Sabetha placed 3rd and Holton placed 4th)
Sabetha placed fifth in the Marysville Tournament
Atchison places 3rd in Doniphan County Tournament
Sabetha took second and Doniphan County took fourth at Neb/KS Border Battle
Sabetha won Zone 1 AA Tournament (made AA State tournament for 6th time since 2003)
Sabetha placed 3rd at State AA Tournament (ties for their best ever finish at State – took 3rd in 2009)
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