Atlanta’s Woodruff is Player of the Year on 14-3A team
Champion Atlanta captured three superlative honors and landed six first teamers on the All-district 14-3A baseball team.
The Rabbits had the Player of the Year in Will Woodruff, a 6-1, 170-pound senior. Woodruff played shortstop and pitched for Atlanta. He was an all-district pitcher as a junior.
The Rabbs’ Eli Mitchell, a sophomore, was named Newcomer of the Year. His mentor, David Hooten, was selected Coach of the Year after leading the Rabbs to a 20-12-1 overall record and 10-2 district mark. Atlanta reached the regional quarterfinals for the second straight season before falling to Harmony 2-1 in the best-of-three series.
The Rabbs had two pitchers, Eli Stevens and Eli Dryden, on the first team.
Both are seniors.
Atlanta’s other first teamers were: first baseman Peyton Harrison, outfielders Brady Parkin and Easton Owens and designated hitter Cason Whatley.
District runner-up Dekalb had the Pitcher of the Year in junior Jaylen White.
Queen City’s Clint Wiley and New Boston’s Connor Bobbitt shared the Offensive Most Valuable Player honors and Redwater’s Brody Johnson was tabbed Defensive Most Valuable Player.
Rounding out the firstteam infield were sophomore second baseman Whit Haynes of Hooks, third baseman Xavier Rowden of New Boston and shortstop Cortlin White of Dekalb. Redwater’s Cade Pipes made the team at catcher.
First-team outfielders include Mason Stringer of Queen City and Jaxon Minter of Redwater. Hooks’ Logan Baker was the team’s utility player.
Queen City’s Rylee Green, New Boston’s Colton Higginbotham and Dekalb’s Dominic Dunn complete the pitching staff. Dunn is a sophomore.
Here are the first and second teams and honorable mentions on the 2024 All-district baseball team:
SUPERLATIVE AWARDS
Player of the Year: Will Woodruff, Atlanta.
Offensive Most Vauable Player: Clint Wiley, Queen City, Connor Bobbitt, New Boston.
Defensive Most Valuable Player: Brody Johnson, Redwater.
Pitcher of the Year: Jaylen White, Dekalb.
Newcomer of the Year: Eli Mitchell, Atlanta.
Coach of the Year: David Hooten, Atlanta.
FIRST TEAM
• First Base: Peyton Harrison, Atlanta.
• Second Base: Whit Haynes, Hooks.
• Third Base: Xavier Rowden, New Boston.
• Shortstop: Cortlin White, Dekalb.
• Catcher: Cade Pipes, Redwater.
• Pitcher: Eli Stevens, Eli Dryden, Atlanta, Dominic Dunn, Dekalb, Rylee Green, Queen City, Colton Higginbotham, New Boston.
• Outfield: Brady Partain, Easton Owens, Atlanta, Mason Stringer, Queen City, Jaxon Minter, Redwater.
• Designated Hitter: Cason Whatley, Atlanta.
• Utility Player: Logan Baker, Hooks.
SECOND TEAM
• First Base: Eli Barrett, New Boston, Chris Hale, Atlanta, Levi Johnson, Redwater.
• Second Base: Gabe Glass, New Boston, Aidan Vera, Dekalb.
• Third Base: Peyton Gaston, Atlanta, Nicklas Pappas, Redwater, Tanner Copeland, Dekalb.
• Shortstop: Ripken Birdwell, Hooks, Tanner James, Redwater,
Gage Smith, Paul Pewitt.
• Catcher: JD Smith, Pewitt, Brayden Wiley, Queen City.
• Pitcher: Walker Matteson, Dekalb, Tyson Blaylock, Queen City, Hudson Davis, Hooks, Andrew Willis, Redwater, Mason Green, Pewitt.
• Outfield: Mason Salinas, Dekalb, Keiwon Neal, Dekalb, Will Strudthoff, Redwater, Casen May, Hooks, Kaden Satterfield, Queen City.
• Designated Hitter: Raine Scott, Dekalb, Michael Newton, Redwater.
• Utility Player: Braden Mcdonald, Hooks, Newt Taylor, New Boston.
HONORABLE MENTION
• Atlanta: Evan Mitchell, Jaden Riley.
• Dekalb: Jake Payne.
• Hooks: Jasper Crain.
• New Boston: Zeth Braley, Will Erwin, Beau Daniel.
• Paul Pewitt: Tyson Jones, Madden Green, Kyler Richey.
• Queen City: Cayden Dawson, Gunner Loftin, Lathan Chamblee.
• Redwater: Lawson Angel, Mason Rampy.