The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association released its All-State team. Congratulations to all those selected.

 

First Team?

Brayden Bruner (Pleasure Ridge Park), Brayton Coomer (Adair County), Brodie Benefield (St. Xavier), Carson Shee (Eastern), Chase Flaherty (Beechwood), Cole McLean (Taylor County), Colin Sander (Trinity), Eli Fletcher (Lawrence County), Isaac Duty (Pikeville), Jashon Lewis (Harrison County), Jordan Powell (Bullitt Central), Kade Elam (Corbin), Kadin Shore (Raceland), Kendrick Dunning (McCracken County), Kevin Moore (Ballard), Kole Grundy (Somerset), Korben Lucas (Lyon County), Kyler Claunch (Boyle County), Owen Jenkins (Lexington Catholic), Tyler Ruete (Simon Kenton), Tyler Schumacher (Campbell County), Zach Davis (Greenwood).

 

Second Team?

Andrew Houck (Green County), Anthony Coppola (Ryle), Brady Marushi (Ashland Blazer), Brian Vaughn (Harrison County), Caeden Patterson (Boyle County), Carter Stapp (Russell County), Chase Preece (Johnson Central), Dylan McIntyre (Ryle), Eli Hampton (Owensboro), Ethan Carroll (Eastern), Gary Gibson (Sayre), Grant Slater (Boyd County), Gray Davis (Trinity), Grayson Willoughby (Trinity), Griffin Rardin (South Warren), Hudson Meredith (Trinity), Jack Sams (Lexington Catholic), Kobie Howard (Pleasure Ridge Park), Mikey Coradini (South Warren), Nicholas Ballard (Manual), Ravon Lee (Pleasure Ridge Park), Ryan Sanders (North Oldham).

 

Third Team?

Barrett Evans (Owensboro Catholic), Blake Campbell (Lexington Christian), Caden Kern (McCracken County), Caleb Cadle (East Jessamine), Camden Oliver (Wolfe County), Cayden Ray (Owensboro), Charlie Slabaugh (Sayre), Ethan Allen (Whitley County), Ethan Jackson (Clay County), Ethan Reynolds (South Warren), Foster Whisman (Shelby County), Hayden Thompson (Graves County), Hunter Holland (Bullitt East), Jack Willhite (Scott County), Kaine Samuels (Ballard), Koltyn Perez (Carlisle County), Kyle Mokas (Russell), Luke Hayes (Taylor County), Nolan Hosking (Trinity), Rowen Burton (North Bullitt), Sebastian Howard (Breathitt County), Tyler Fryman (Beechwood).

 

There may seem like clear bias with this comment, but my days covering KY HS sports are limited, so I'll throw my opinion in on this. 

 

Not one member of the Highlands Baseball Team on this list? 

 

Brooks Hendrix, batting .578 (7th in state) with 52 hits (2nd in state), 17 doubles (4th in state) 42 runs (34th in state), and 21-21 SB.

Jake Robinson, pitched 44.2 innings and fanned 59 on strikes, with a 0.94 ERA (29th in state). Tyler Fryman (on this list) was 0-7 against him. 

Adam Forton, pitched 48.1 innings, had 69 strikeouts, a 1.59 ERA, and 7 wins (28th in state) and 1 loss. Forton also batted .356 with a long ball and 9 doubles. 

Nolan Schwalbach, batting .413, 43 hits (35th in state), 4 HR, and 14-15 SB.

The 9th Region Champs had an incredible season, and personally I think at least one of these guys should be on this list. 

Just now, Brennan_Bucher said:

There may seem like clear bias with this comment, but my days covering KY HS sports are limited, so I'll throw my opinion in on this. 

 

Not one member of the Highlands Baseball Team on this list? 

 

Brooks Hendrix, batting .578 (7th in state) with 52 hits (2nd in state), 17 doubles (4th in state) 42 runs (34th in state), and 21-21 SB.

Jake Robinson, pitched 44.2 innings and fanned 59 on strikes, with a 0.94 ERA (29th in state). Tyler Fryman (on this list) was 0-7 against him. 

Adam Forton, pitched 48.1 innings, had 69 strikeouts, a 1.59 ERA, and 7 wins (28th in state) and 1 loss. Forton also batted .356 with a long ball and 9 doubles. 

Nolan Schwalbach, batting .413, 43 hits (35th in state), 4 HR, and 14-15 SB.

The 9th Region Champs had an incredible season, and personally I think at least one of these guys should be on this list. 

I'll also add this...absolutely no shade to anyone on this list. All are deserving in their own way, or else they wouldn't be there. Just putting out some numbers for a little thought. 

I’ll definitely agree with you, BB, and I’m not typically a Birds fan.

I can’t see how Hendrix is not on this list being 2nd in the state in hits.

I’m rooting for them this weekend though and make the 9th region proud!

I'm a little surprised by the number of Northern Ky folks - especially from Highlands & Ryle - complaining about the pitching All-State selections. I can't speak to the position players, but the teams seemed perfect to me in terms of the pitchers who made it.

I would recommend anyone with an issue with these names on the first team take a closer look at the stats for some of our pitching friends downstate. The numbers don't lie. The reality is as much as some don't like up here, there are A TON of REALLY GOOD pitchers across the state this year. 

The first player I would advise all of those questioning the pitching selections to take a quick look at is Cole McLean from Taylor County. When you see what that young man accomplished on the mound this year, maybe it becomes a little easier to swallow for some folks why their team's ace didn't land where they'd hoped. That's the kind of competition you're up against in KY this year. 

23 hours ago, DevilMayCare said:

The Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association released its All-State team. Congratulations to all those selected.

 

First Team?

Brayden Bruner (Pleasure Ridge Park), Brayton Coomer (Adair County), Brodie Benefield (St. Xavier), Carson Shee (Eastern), Chase Flaherty (Beechwood), Cole McLean (Taylor County), Colin Sander (Trinity), Eli Fletcher (Lawrence County), Isaac Duty (Pikeville), Jashon Lewis (Harrison County), Jordan Powell (Bullitt Central), Kade Elam (Corbin), Kadin Shore (Raceland), Kendrick Dunning (McCracken County), Kevin Moore (Ballard), Kole Grundy (Somerset), Korben Lucas (Lyon County), Kyler Claunch (Boyle County), Owen Jenkins (Lexington Catholic), Tyler Ruete (Simon Kenton), Tyler Schumacher (Campbell County), Zach Davis (Greenwood).

 

Second Team?

Andrew Houck (Green County), Anthony Coppola (Ryle), Brady Marushi (Ashland Blazer), Brian Vaughn (Harrison County), Caeden Patterson (Boyle County), Carter Stapp (Russell County), Chase Preece (Johnson Central), Dylan McIntyre (Ryle), Eli Hampton (Owensboro), Ethan Carroll (Eastern), Gary Gibson (Sayre), Grant Slater (Boyd County), Gray Davis (Trinity), Grayson Willoughby (Trinity), Griffin Rardin (South Warren), Hudson Meredith (Trinity), Jack Sams (Lexington Catholic), Kobie Howard (Pleasure Ridge Park), Mikey Coradini (South Warren), Nicholas Ballard (Manual), Ravon Lee (Pleasure Ridge Park), Ryan Sanders (North Oldham).

 

Third Team?

Barrett Evans (Owensboro Catholic), Blake Campbell (Lexington Christian), Caden Kern (McCracken County), Caleb Cadle (East Jessamine), Camden Oliver (Wolfe County), Cayden Ray (Owensboro), Charlie Slabaugh (Sayre), Ethan Allen (Whitley County), Ethan Jackson (Clay County), Ethan Reynolds (South Warren), Foster Whisman (Shelby County), Hayden Thompson (Graves County), Hunter Holland (Bullitt East), Jack Willhite (Scott County), Kaine Samuels (Ballard), Koltyn Perez (Carlisle County), Kyle Mokas (Russell), Luke Hayes (Taylor County), Nolan Hosking (Trinity), Rowen Burton (North Bullitt), Sebastian Howard (Breathitt County), Tyler Fryman (Beechwood).

 

Not one member from the 9th region champs?

4 hours ago, BrosefStalin said:

I'm a little surprised by the number of Northern Ky folks - especially from Highlands & Ryle - complaining about the pitching All-State selections. I can't speak to the position players, but the teams seemed perfect to me in terms of the pitchers who made it.

I would recommend anyone with an issue with these names on the first team take a closer look at the stats for some of our pitching friends downstate. The numbers don't lie. The reality is as much as some don't like up here, there are A TON of REALLY GOOD pitchers across the state this year. 

The first player I would advise all of those questioning the pitching selections to take a quick look at is Cole McLean from Taylor County. When you see what that young man accomplished on the mound this year, maybe it becomes a little easier to swallow for some folks why their team's ace didn't land where they'd hoped. That's the kind of competition you're up against in KY this year. 

I haven’t seen many of the players on this list BUT IN GENERAL who you compete against does matter.

If a guy pitches against Podunk HS, his stats are going to look better than pitching against better teams.

(I have no doubt McLean is a great pitcher)

Were the Highlands players nominated by the coach?

What are the qualifications for making an All- State team?

20 hours ago, Falcon Pride said:

I haven’t seen many of the players on this list BUT IN GENERAL who you compete against does matter.

If a guy pitches against Podunk HS, his stats are going to look better than pitching against better teams.

(I have no doubt McLean is a great pitcher)

I’ll buy the Hendrix kid if he plays the field well has the numbers to be on.  The bluebird pitching is good don’t know about all state.  As far as McLean - He’s committing to Tennessee as a junior, shut down Lyon County (11 ks and no runs given up), shut down Boyle 19 Ks, 0 runs, shut down the leading HR team in state 15 ks no hits or runs. 2 and a third against Sayre no runs- given up 15 hits on year and 119 Ks, against 24 walks 0.12 ERA (1 ER all year and he had left game when it came across)  Also plays CF, hit .360 with 6 HRs.  that's a no brainer first team guy.

47 minutes ago, Brown said:

I’ll buy the Hendrix kid if he plays the field well has the numbers to be on.  The bluebird pitching is good don’t know about all state.  As far as McLean - He’s committing to Tennessee as a junior, shut down Lyon County (11 ks and no runs given up), shut down Boyle 19 Ks, 0 runs, shut down the leading HR team in state 15 ks no hits or runs. 2 and a third against Sayre no runs- given up 15 hits on year and 119 Ks, against 24 walks 0.12 ERA (1 ER all year and he had left game when it came across)  Also plays CF, hit .360 with 6 HRs.  that's a no brainer first team guy.

Agree 100%

Was stunned when I was debating this issue with a friend yesterday ... I asked him if he felt his team's ace - who he felt got snubbed - was better than McLean? Naturally, he had no idea who McLean was....or Jarrett Stewart, or Cayden Ray, or Kaden Merrick. 

If you're gonna complain, know what you're complaining about folks! 

 

 

9 minutes ago, BrosefStalin said:

Agree 100%

Was stunned when I was debating this issue with a friend yesterday ... I asked him if he felt his team's ace - who he felt got snubbed - was better than McLean? Naturally, he had no idea who McLean was....or Jarrett Stewart, or Cayden Ray, or Kaden Merrick. 

If you're gonna complain, know what you're complaining about folks! 

 

 

Yep

On 6/6/2025 at 10:03 AM, Breds82 said:

Not one member from the 9th region champs?

It's HARD to make All State in Kentucky (and even harder in other, bigger states). There's probably 3400-3500 high school baseball players in Kentucky and there are only 60-70 that make 1st, 2nd, or 3rd team all state. That's around 2%. There is going to be a few that get left off the list, and it by no means is a snub if a good player doesn't make it. The all state teams truly are (and should be) an elite list.