Four local athletes make all-state

The all-state honors in baseball were tough to come by for Wiregrass high school players this year.

Only four area players were named all-state in voting by members of the Alabama Sports Writers Association.

Another 20, though, received honorable mention — the most honorable mentions for the area since 2005.

The four earning all-state honors from the ASWA were G.W. Long pitching standout Ben Tidwell in Class 2A, Geneva County pitching ace Chase Thomas and
Providence Christian’s sophomore hitting sensation Hoke Granger in Class 1A and Abbeville Christian’s top player, Dillon Wilson, in the AISA ranks.

Tidwell, a junior, led the Wiregrass in strikeouts, punching out 109 players in just 56 innings — a 13.63 average per seven innings. He finished 7-2 with three
saves and a 1.75 ERA in helping the Rebels finish 27-7 and to the second round of the Class 2A state playoffs.

Thomas, a senior, tied for the most wins of any public school team in the area with nine. He lost only twice and had a 1.57 ERA. He struck out 87 and walked
only 13 in 76 innings. Thomas helped Geneva County finish 14-14 and to the second round of the playoffs.

Providence Christian’s Granger, a sophomore, led the Eagle offense in batting, averaging .413 (31-of-75) with four homers, 10 doubles, 24 runs batted in and 22
run scored in just 21 games.

Wilson, a junior, helped Abbeville Christian to the Class A AISA state title. He led the Wiregrass in wins with 12 and also had four saves. He was saddled with
a loss only three times. He finished with a 2.13 ERA and struck out 86 in 72 1/3 innings. Wilson had one no-hitter during the season.

Four Charles Henderson players and three from Slocomb highlighted the list of honorable mentions selections from the area.

Earning honorable mention from Charles Henderson in Class 5A were senior pitcher David Fleming, senior catcher Daniel Hartley, senior third baseman Dario
Rouse and junior outfielder K.D. Edenfield.

For Slocomb, Clay Holmes, Chase Merritt and Tyler Reeder made honorable mention in Class 3A. Holmes, a sophomore, was tabbed as a pitcher, Merritt, a

senior, was selected at first base and Reeder, a senior, was picked at utility, which incorporates players who excel at more than one position.

Enterprise had two players receive honorable mention in Class 6A — senior pitcher Zach Kandle and senior outfielder Chris Morris, while Rehobeth had one in
Class 5A — Hunter Skipper, a sophomore pitcher/outfielder who was selected at utility.

One player from the Wiregrass — Andalusia’s Marcus Ingram — was selected honorable mention in Class 4A. A junior, Ingram was tabbed as an outfielder.

Area players joining the Slocomb trio in Class 3A as honorable mentions were seniors Chase Peterson of Headland and Tyler Yelverton of Straughn. Peterson
was chosen at third base and Yelverton in the outfield.

Five players from the area were selected honorable mention in Class 2A, including a pair each from Zion Chapel and G.W. Long.

Zion Chapel honorees were junior pitcher Garrett Stinson and senior catcher Matt Brunson. The Long honorees were senior Zach Payne as an outfielder and
senior Cass Abercrombie at the utility spot.

Ethan Harris of Ariton, a senior, was the lone area player named honorable mention in Class 1A. Harris was selected at second base.

Lamont Ruttlen of Dixie Academy earned honorable mention in AISA. A senior, Ruttlen was chosen as a pitcher.