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All-County Baseball: Finley, McKinney headline team

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Updated 12:27 PM Monday, June 22, 2009

Position Player of the Year

Ricky Finley, Lakota West

The Firebirds' senior outfielder was a first-team Division I All-Ohio and Greater Miami Conference selection after hitting .424 with five triples, 25 RBIs, 17 stolen bases and a Lakota district-record 54 runs. He also had a .535 on-base percentage. Finley has committed to Wabash Valley College.

Pitcher of the Year

Brett McKinney, Badin

The Rams' senior right-hander is the county's top pitcher for the second straight year. He also was named Division III All-Ohio Player of the Year and Greater Catholic League Central Division Player of the Year. McKinney was 9-0 with a 2.29 ERA this season, totaling 69 strikeouts in 64.1 innings. He also hit .479 with 15 doubles, five home runs and 41 RBIs. McKinney has committed to Ohio State University.

Coach of the Year

Rick Kunkel, Badin

The ninth-year coach directed the Rams to a 29-3 record in 2009, with the team winning Greater Catholic League Central Division, Division III sectional, district and regional championships before finishing as the state runner-up for the second consecutive season. Kunkel is 194-75 at the Badin helm.

First Team

Andrew Fritsch

Badin, Sr., Pitcher

The right-hander earned first-team status in the Greater Catholic League Central Division, posting a 6-0 record with a 1.51 ERA. He did not suffer a loss during his high school career.

Brian Kirschbaum

Cin. Christian, Sr., Pitcher

The right-hander was 5-1 with a 0.96 ERA, collecting 58 strikeouts in 51 innings. Also a shortstop, Kirschbaum hit .311 with 27 RBIs. He was a first-team pick in the Miami Valley Conference Scarlet Division.

Christian McElroy

Monroe, Sr., Pitcher

The hard-throwing righty was named Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division Player of the Year after going 8-0 with a 2.36 ERA, striking out 82 batters in 53.1 innings. He added 18 RBIs at the plate.

Nate Smith

Lakota West, Sr., Pitcher

The left-hander was a Division I All-Ohio second-team selection for the second straight year, going 7-2 with a 3.48 ERA and racking up 92 strikeouts in 62.1 innings. Smith, headed for Furman University, was also a first-team pick in the Greater Miami Conference and was 24-4 (the best record in Lakota district history) in his prep career.

Tony Cassano

Badin, Sr., Catcher

The second-team Greater Catholic League Central Division selection hit .333 with 26 runs and 11 RBIs. He was among the county leaders in walks (23) and on-base percentage (.531). Defensively, Cassano did not make an error all season.

Josh Lanphier

Cin. Christian, Sr., Catcher

A first-team choice in the Miami Valley Conference Scarlet Division, Lanphier hit .483 with nine doubles, 22 runs, 26 RBIs and a .598 on-base percentage.

Kyle Schwarber

Middletown, So., Catcher

Already one of the most feared hitters in the Greater Miami Conference, the second-team pick hit .385 with 12 doubles, three home runs and 29 RBIs.

Bryan Beaver

Lakota West, Sr., Infielder

The shortstop was a second-team Division I All-Ohio choice for the second consecutive year, hitting .379 with 12 doubles, three home runs and 45 RBIs. Beaver topped the 100-RBI plateau for his career, the most in Lakota history, and also holds district records for doubles (30) and walks (50). The Greater Miami Conference first-teamer has committed to Miami University.

Jacob May

Lakota West, Jr., Infielder

The second baseman led the Firebirds with a .712 slugging percentage and hit .423 with 12 doubles, four home runs and 41 RBIs. He was named to the Division I All-Ohio second team and the Greater Miami Conference first unit.

Braden Park

Talawanda, Sr., Infielder

Butler County's leading hitter with a .556 average, the third baseman totaled 40 runs, 13 doubles, 34 RBIs and 10 stolen bases while garnering a .626 on-base percentage (tied for first in the county). Park was named Fort Ancient Valley Conference Scarlet Division Player of the Year and was a Division I second-team All-Ohioan.

Zach Toerner

Badin, Sr., Infielder

The first baseman earned spots on the Division III All-Ohio second team and Greater Catholic League Central Division first team. He hit .408 with 39 runs, 11 doubles and 37 RBIs.

Noah Zipko

Talawanda, Sr., Infielder

The shortstop is headed for Campbell University after hitting .420 with 24 runs, three homers and 39 RBIs. Zipko was a Division I All-Ohio honorable-mention pick and a member of the Fort Ancient Valley Conference Scarlet Division first team.

Jason Osterman

Monroe, Sr., Outfielder

Named to the Southwestern Buckeye League Buckeye Division first team, Osterman hit a team-leading .451 and had a .546 on-base percentage for the Hornets, scoring 28 runs and driving in 28.

Scott Staarmann

Badin, Sr., Outfielder

An honorable-mention Division III All-Ohio choice and a first-team pick in the Greater Catholic League Central Division, Staarmann hit .383 with 39 runs, six doubles, 22 RBIs and 14 stolen bases.

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