Stefan, Barkdull named players of the year

Nik Barkdull

Keystone’s Sammie Stefan, right, and Vermilion’s Nik Barkdull are named the softball and baseball players of the year as the Morning Journal announces this year’s All-Stars.

In a season that featured plenty of talented pitchers, Vermilion’s Nik Barkdull quietly had the best year of them all. The senior, who’s headed to Walsh University in the fall to play baseball, finished the 2017 season with an 8-1 record and a 0.00 ERA over 52 2⁄3 innings — not to mention an area-high 97 strikeouts. As a four-year letterman, Vermilion coach Jeff Keck said Barkdull was a key part of the Sailors’ success in that time. The list of accomplishments this season alone include: Sandusky Bay Conference Player of the Year, Lorain County Division II Player of the Year, Northwest District 9 Player of the Year, Mizuno All-Star and honorable mention All-Ohio. Vermilion will certainly miss what Barkdull has brought to the Sailor baseball program. Find out more in a video interview and check out a photo gallery of our favorite shots from the season on MorningJournal.com.

ERIC BONZAR — THE MORNING JOURNAL Vermilion senior Nik Barkdull is the 2017 Morning Journal baseball Player of the Year.