Lawrence County diamond sports dominate postseason awards

With Aurora’s loss to Nevada in the 2024 baseball sectional round, high school sports officially comes to an end for the 2023-2024 school year. However, award season is in full swing and Lawrence County is getting the recognition for a fantastic season.

Miller Cardinals
Starting in northern Lawrence County in Miller, the baseball Cardinals finished the season 9-13 and six Cardinals received postseason honors. Junior Jarod Lung earned 1st Team All-District and All-Conference as the Cardinals lone representative on each of the first team lists. Junior Gavin Hendricks and freshman Hayden Schnake each earned 2nd Team All-SWC and 2nd Team All-District. Junior Caden Calvin earned 2nd Team All-SWC and earned Honorable Mention All-District. Junior Paul Nunez and senior Bodie Gubser each earned All-District Honorable Mention.

Miller Lady Cardinals
The Lady Cardinals were also very well represented after an 18-7 softball season with seven All-SWC selections starting with sophomores Loghann Leivan, Ashlynn Helton and Rachel Nunez earning 1st team honors at infield, outfield and catcher respectively. Junior Kendall Neely and sophomore Camden Stockton each earned 2nd team infield honors. Junior Kaylee Thom earned 2nd team outfield and freshman pitcher Tori Hollister earned an honorable mention bid.

Mt. Vernon Mt’neers
Moving south to Mt. Vernon, the Mt’neers finished the year 17-11 and had seven representatives on the postseason award lists. Junior Braden Dodson was the headliner earning All-Big 8 East first team as both a pitcher and unanimously as a catcher, the lone unanimous selection for the Mt’neers. Dodson also earned first team All-District honors. Senior Sawyer Anderson joined Dodson on the All-Conference and All-District first team. Sean Raucher earned 2nd team honors for both the All-Big 8 and All-District squads. Junior Brayden Jameson and senior Jake Leeper earned 2nd team All-Big 8 Honorable Mention honors and 2nd team All-District honors; Jameson as an infielder and Leeper as an outfielder. Sophomore Lucas Ross and junior Jarrett Zerby wrapped up the Mt’neers honors as All-Big 8 Honorable Mention.

Mt. Vernon Lady Mt’neers
The Lady Mt’neers ended their season 27-9 and secured 18 1st-team honors between eight representatives from the district runner ups. Juniors Rae Downing (catcher), Molly Daniels (IF), Cheyenne Bieber (OF), and seniors Ally Burk (OF) and Payge Evans (UTIL) all earned 1st Team All-Big 8 East, All-District, and All-Region 3 honors. Freshman pitcher Emmie Schubert earned 1st team All-Big 8 and All-Conference and was 2nd team All-Region. Sophomore infielder Hali Stokes earned 1st team All-District while earning 2nd team honors All-Big 8 and All-Region. Junior Maddie Schubert earned 2nd team All-District. Downing also earned Big 8 East Player of the Year honors while Matt Schubert was named Coach of the Year.

Aurora Houn’ Dawgs
As we conclude our trip south down Highway 39, Aurora baseball finished 14-13 and was the lone district champion this season, as five Houn’ Dawgs found themselves on postseason honor lists. Senior Heath Hoffman earned unanimous honors on 1st team All-Big 8 and All-District OF teams. Freshman Sean Creasy earned 1st team All-District honors while receiving 2nd team All-Big 8 honors both as a pitcher and an infielder. Sophomore Max Holland earned 1st team All-District honors while receiving Honorable Mention All-Conference honors for his work in the infield. Junior Jayden Carpenter and freshman Casen Brown each earned 2nd team All-District honors.

While this is the majority of postseason awards, the All-State teams are to be announced sometime in the next couple weeks.