Ten Bulldogs achieve all-league honors for baseball

By Bill Tamburrino

Ten Ramona High School baseball players earned All Valley League honors and three were named to the first team.

Sophomore Gage Canning made the squad as an outfielder. Canning hit .388 in league with four home runs. He scored 17 runs from his spot in the order as leadoff hitter. He stroked six doubles and stole five bases. Canning was named the MVP of the Bulldogs at the baseball banquet and the Offensive Player of the Year. He set several team, league and CIF offensive records.

Senior Henry Flecker made the first team for his offensive productivity. Flecker hit .432 in league action with 13 RBIs. He received the Clutch Player of the Year at the Bulldog banquet as most of his hits produced runs and kept rallies alive.

Junior Kyle Wilson made the team as a pitcher but he is the epitome of the term “utility player.” On the mound Wilson delivered four Valley League wins with a 1.98 ERA and struck out 39 Valley League hitters. Wilson also played infield and hit .348 in league. Wilson was awarded the Pitcher of the Year at the banquet.

CJ Broussard, Brandon Fitzpatrick and Jordan Farhat were named to the All Valley League second team. Broussard hit .352 with 10 RBIs and four doubles. He won three games on the mound and struck out 29 with an ERA of 2.96.

Fitzpatrick made the squad as an outfielder. Fitz hit .405, drove in 13 runs and scored 16 runs. His defensive play and all-around hustle was his trademark. Fitz was named the Bulldog Defensive Player of the Year at the banquet.

Farhat played a solid shortstop and hit .311. He drove in 15 runs, scored 11 runs and blasted two homers.

Joel Mitchell, Kevin Hagan, Rhett Williams, and Taylor Burger earned honorable mentions.

Mitchell hit .348 with 16 RBIs and hit two home runs. Hagan hit .280, scored 17 runs, and stole six bases. Williams had two league wins with an ERA of 3.91 and struck out 28. Burger hit .385 and scored 10 runs.

Grason Lanz was named the Bulldog of the Year.

“The Bulldog Award is about character,” said assistant coach Mike Schuler.

“The Bulldog Award goes to the student/athlete who makes coaching a rewarding endeavor,” said coach Dean Welch.

All of the coaches had praise for Lanz.

“He was our bullpen catcher and he did a great job. He worked hard and set a great example for our younger players. Bullpen catcher is not a glamour job but it is very important. Grason took pride in his work and accepted his role and did a great job,” said Schuler.

“He loves the game. He is a team guy,” Welch said.