TRI-CITY AREA — From the first pitch to the final out, these competitors made their presence known.
Here is a look at who earned a spot on The Tri-City Times All-Area baseball team and the numbers they registered along the way:
Dylan Ledford, Dryden
Year: Junior
Position: Pitcher
Throws: Righthanded
Record: Ledford managed a 6-2 record, featuring a 1.9 ERA, this past spring.
In 55 innings of work, Ledford gave up 30 hits, struck out 118 and walked 15.
Batting average: The junior wound up first on the Dryden squad and among Tri-City Times All-Area honorees with a .521 average.
Ledford collected 27 singles, seven doubles, and a triple in 71 at bats.
He also contributed 25 stolen bases, 23 runs, 17 RBI and six walks to Dryden’s cause.
Postseason honors: Ledford ended his second season on Dryden’s squad as an All-North Central Thumb League Stars Division and All-District first team pick.
He also was named the recipient of his team’s Most Outstanding Offensive Player and Most Valuable Player Awards.
Zack Lemke, Dryden
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Throws: Leftthanded
Record: Lemke amassed a 10-3 mark, including a 1.57 ERA, during the 2022 campaign.
In 58 innings of work, Lemke allowed 32 hits, struck out 123 and walked 19.
Batting average: Lemke ranked second on the Dryden ballclub and third among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .380 average.
The senior provided Dryden with 17 singles, eight doubles and two triples in 71 at bats.
Lemke also supplied Dryden with 29 runs, 23 stolen bases, 17 RBI and 11 walks.
Postseason honors: He wrapped up his second year at the varsity level as an All-North Central Thumb League Stars Division and All-District first team choice.
Brandon Hunsaker, Almont.
Year: Senior
Position: Pitcher
Record: Hunsaker put together a 1-2 record, featuring a 1.81 ERA, this past spring.
In 37 2/3 innings of work, Hunsaker gave up 25 hits, struck out 53 and walked 18.
Batting average: The senior took second on the Almont squad and eighth among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .319 average.
Hunsaker finished with 13 singles and two doubles in 45 at bats.
He also contributed a .448 on base percentage, 11 runs and eight walks to Almont’s cause.
Postseason honors: Hunsaker concluded his third year on Almont’s squad as an All-Blue Water Area Conference first team pick.
Tyler Filinger, Almont.
Year: Junior
Position: Catcher
Batting average: Filinger ranked fifth on the Almont ballclub and 11th among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .245 average.
The junior collected nine singles, two doubles and a home run in 49 at bats.
He also provided Almont with a .413 on base percentage, 10 RBI, six runs and four walks.
Postseason honors: Filinger finished his second year at the varsity level as an All-Blue Water Area Conference second team selection.
Jared Fahley, Capac.
Year: Senior
Position: Catcher/infield
Batting average: Fahley ranked fourth on the Capac ballclub and 12th among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .226 average.
The senior furnished 15 singles, three doubles and three triples among 93 at bats.
Fahley also supplied Capac with a .425 on base percentage, 33 runs scored, 29 stolen bases, 13 RBI and was hit by a pitch 12 times.
Postseason honors: He completed his third year at the varsity level as an All-Greater Thumb Conference East honorable mention selection.
Gavin Ruegsegger, Capac.
Year: Senior
Position: Second base/shortstop
Batting average: The senior wound up first on the Capac squad and second among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .485 average.
Ruegsegger managed a school record-setting total of 48 hits in 99 at bats. His output included 28 singles, 13 doubles, five triples and two home runs.
He also contributed a .574 on base percentage, 47 runs, 45 stolen bases and 34 RBI to Capac’s cause.
Postseason honors: Ruegsegger completed his second season on Capac’s squad as an All-Greater Thumb Conference East first team selection, an All-District choice and an All-Region pick.
Cody Koval, Almont.
Year: Junior
Position: Third base
Batting average: Koval ranked third on the Almont ballclub and ninth among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .279 average.
The junior managed nine singles and three doubles in 43 at bats.
Koval also supplied Almont with nine RBI, four runs and four walks
This was his second season on Almont’s varsity.
Trenton Kruse, Almont.
Year: Junior
Position: Shortstop
Batting average: The junior ranked fourth on the Almont squad and 10th among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .273 average.
He provided Almont with 11 singles and one double in 44 at bats.
Kruse also contributed a .373 on base percentage, nine runs, seven walks and two RBI to Almont’s cause.
This was his first year on Almont’s varsity.
Xander Nolin, Imlay City.
Year: Senior
Position: First base, third base and pitcher
Batting Average: The senior ranked first on the Imlay City squad and seventh among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .326 average.
He provided Imlay City with 10 singles, four doubles and a triple in 46 at bats.
Nolin also contributed 11 runs, seven RBI and seven walks to Imlay City’s cause.
Postseason honors: He wrapped up his third year at the varsity level as an All-Blue Water Area Conference first team choice.
Charlie Fliedner, Dryden.
Year: Senior
Position: Second base, catcher, leftfield and rightfield
Batting average: The senior ranked third on the Dryden squad and fifth among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .356 average.
He collected 21 singles among 59 at bats.
Fliedner also contributed 16 RBI, 16 walks, 15 runs and 10 stolen bases to Dryden’s cause.
Postseason honors: He wrapped up his second year on Dryden’s squad as an All-North Central Thumb League Stars Division second team pick.
Fliedner was also named the recipient of Dryden’s Most Outstanding Teammate Award.
Derek Mason, Capac.
Year: Junior
Position: Centerfield
Batting average: The junior ranked second on the Capac squad and sixth among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .351 average.
He provided Capac with 21 singles, 10 doubles and three triples in at bats.
Mason also contributed a .423 on base percentage, 24 stolen bases and 20 RBI to Capac’s cause.
Postseason honors: He finished his second year at the varsity level as an All-Greater Thumb Conference East second team choice.
Blake Bunch, Almont.
Year: Senior
Position: Rightfield
Batting average: The senior ranked first on the Almont squad and fourth among Tri-City Times All-Area first team honorees with a .364 average.
He collected nine singles and three doubles in 33 at bats.
Bunch also contributed a .447 on base percentage, seven runs, five walks and one RBI to Almont’s cause.
This was his second year on Almont’s varsity.
Second team- Tim Bochatyn, pitcher/first base, Capac; Jose Rodriguez, third base/pitcher/catcher, Capac; Marty Barker, pitcher, Dryden; Brendon Langmesser, pitcher/outfield, Capac; Joe Breeding, Dryden, outfield; Mason Stofcheck, Dryden, third base; Zach Langmesser, shortstop/catcher/pitcher, Capac; Liam Webster, second base, Almont; Scott McAvoy, second base, Imlay City; and Ayden Ferqueron, third base/shortstop and second base, Almont.
Coach of the Year- For directing Dryden to a 20-6-1 overall mark and a 10-3-1 North Central Thumb League standing (good for second place), Cardinal Coach Martin Barker earns Tri-City Times All-Area Coach of the Year accolades.
Kevin Kissane
Kevin Kissane has been covering high school sports for the Tri-City Times since 1985. When not standing on a field or court with his camera and notepad, he enjoys golf, travel and family. Kevin is a 1980 graduate of Capac High School, and is also a grad of St. Clair Community College and earned a degree in journalism from Central Michigan University.
