Watson earned MaxPreps All-American honors earlier this month after leading Tuttle to the Class 4A state championship in Oklahoma. He homered in all three state tournament games and was a force on the mound en route to the title. He is a potential selection in the Major League Baseball Draft this weekend.
Nelson coached Mulvane to a 28-1 record, its first state championship in 40 years and the No. 1 ranking in the Small Town Top 25.
Small Town All-America Team
First Team
Evan O’Connor, Brock (Texas)
Pitcher | Senior
O’Connor earned district MVP honors after leading Brock to the Class 4A state final. He went 11-0 on the mound with 118 strikeouts and a 0.53 ERA in 65.2 innings pitched. He also batted .362 with 32 RBI, six doubles and four triples.
Will McIntire, Boyd (Texas)
Pitcher | Junior
Guided Boyd to the Conference 3A Division 1 championship with a 12-1 record, 0.28 ERA and 139 strikeouts in 74.1 innings. He also batted .405 with 45 RBI, 35 runs and 19 doubles
Grey Sanders, Mulvane (Kan.)
Pitcher | Senior
The MaxPreps Kansas Player of the Year led Mulvane to the Class 4A state crown. He had an 8-0 record with 96 strikeouts and a 0.14 ERA in 48 innings pitched.
Cade Culpepper, Clarkdale (Meridian, Miss.)
Pitcher | Senior
Culpepper had a 0.00 ERA with 135 strikeouts and a 10-0 record in 60.2 innings pitched. He also batted .439 with 41 runs, 27 RBI, 12 doubles, three home runs and a triple.
Kolby Stringer, West Marion (Foxworth, Miss.)
Pitcher | Senior
One of just two pitchers in the last decade to strike out over 200 batters in a season, Stringer fanned 202 batters in 81 innings for a 12-2 record and a 0.52 ERA. He also batted .427 with 34 runs, 21 RBI, nine doubles, three home runs and one triple.
Grant Gano, Lanier County (Lakeland, Ga.)
Pitcher | Senior
Led Lanier County to the Class A Division II championship with a 14-0 record and a 0.82 ERA. He had 144 strikeouts in 68.2 innings and also batted .474 with 32 runs, 29 RBI, 14 doubles and three home runs.
Josh Gaitan, Charlotte (Texas)
Pitcher | Senior
Gaitan led the nation with 221 strikeouts and became the first pitcher in over a decade to strike out over 200 batters in a season. He went 14-1 on the mound with a 0.56 ERA in 87.2 innings. He also batted .531 with 43 RBI, 41 runs, 17 doubles, eight home runs and three triples.
Colton Bennett, Gordonsville (Tenn.)
Pitcher | Senior
In the running for Class 1A Mr. Baseball in Tennessee, Bennett had an 11-1 record with a 0.48 ERA and 159 strikeouts in 73.2 innings.
Brody Vaughn, Iola (Texas)
Pitcher | Senior
Tied for the national lead in wins, Vaughn was 15-1 for the Conference 2A Division 1 runner-up. He had 156 strikeouts and a 0.76 ERA in 91.2 innings.
Colton Walker, Paradise (Texas)
Pitcher | Senior
Led Paradise to the Conference 3A Division 2 championship with a 13-2 record, 0.76 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 82.2 innings.
Batted .448 for the state champions with 49 RBI, 25 runs, 13 home runs, 12 doubles and a triple.
Gerritt Boschma, Shallowater (Texas)
Catcher | Senior
Led Conference 3A in Texas in home runs with 15 while also driving in 67 runs. Boschma batted .491 with 35 runs, 17 doubles and three triples.
Easton Sullivan, Greenfield (Tenn.)
Catcher | Senior
Batted .641 with 50 RBI, 31 runs, 17 doubles, six home runs and five triples. He also had a 9-2 record with a 1.73 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 56.2 innings.
Nic Tolbert, Oktaha (Okla.)
First Base | Senior
Tolbert led the nation in home runs with 20. He batted .570 with 67 runs, 59 RBI, 15 doubles and two triples.
Matt Maxon, Carmel (Calif.)
First Base | Senior
The two-way standout batted .473 with 47 runs, 35 RBI, 14 home runs and nine doubles while also posting a 7-1 record with a 2.26 ERA and 105 strikeouts in 65 innings.
Jackson Treece, Coalfield (Tenn.)
Infield | Junior
Batted .500 with 56 runs, 38 RBI, 14 doubles, six home runs and two triples. On the mound, he went 9-0 with a 1.58 ERA, and 51 strikeouts in 35.1 innings.
Jaxon Herod, West Union (Myrtle, Miss.)
Infield | Sophomore
Led his team to the Class 1A state championship by batting .523 with 52 runs, 39 RBI, 10 doubles and 10 home runs. He also had a 6-2 record on the mound with a 3.96 ERA and 42 strikeouts in 40.2 innings.
Ryder Starkey, New Home (Texas)
Infield | Senior
Led New Home to a Class 2A Division 1 championship by batting .529 with 74 runs, 59 RBI, 17 doubles, 10 home runs and five triples.
Garrett Reid, Deshler (Tuscumbia, Ala.)
Infield | Senior
The MaxPreps Male Athlete of the Year in Alabama, Reid batted .400 with 39 RBI, 28 runs, 14 doubles, five home runs and a triple. On the mound went 7-1 with 85 strikeouts and a 1.17 ERA in 65.2 innings.
Hudson Morgan, Marlow (Okla.)
Infield | Senior
Led Marlow to the Class 3A state final by batting .534 with 60 runs, 41 RBI, 16 doubles, 10 home runs and five triples. He also had a 5-1 record with 99 strikeouts and a 1.41 ERA in 44.2 innings.
Grady Monigold, Hiland (Berlin, Ohio)
Infield | Senior
Monigold batted .524 with 50 RBI, 30 runs, 11 doubles, 11 home runs and one triple. He also had a 5-0 record with a 1.88 ERA and 32 strikeouts in 26 innings.
Kaeden Schatsiek, Brimfield (Ill.)
Outfield | Senior
Schatsiek led Illinois in home runs with 17 while batting .486 with 61 RBI, 47 runs, 13 doubles and four triples.
Gunnar Alm, Polk County (Columbus, N.C.)
Outfield | Senior
A two-time Small Town All-American, Alm batted .451 with 50 runs, 33 RBI,11 home runs, three doubles and two triples.
Jett McCoy, Tuttle (Okla.)
Outfield | Senior
Hit leadoff for the Class 4A state champions, batting .514 with 53 runs, 38 RBI, seven doubles, seven home runs and one triple.
Gavin Lang, Collinsville (Ala.)
Outfield | Junior
Lang batted .587 with 61 RBI, 51 runs, 21 doubles, six home runs and one triple. On the mound, went 7-2 with a 3.66 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 57.1 innings.
Trevor Ames, St. Joseph-Ogden (St. Joseph, Ill.)
Outfield | Senior
Led the Spartans to the Class 2A state title while batting .451 with 67 RBI, 43 runs, 15 doubles, 11 home runs and two triples.
Kellan Oliver, Wall (Texas)
Outfield | Senior
Helped Wall reach the regional finals by batting .436 with 56 RBI, 42 runs, 10 doubles, five triples and four home runs. He also had 10 wins and 92 strikeouts with a 1.64 ERA.
SMALL TOWN NATIONAL PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Hunter Watson, Tuttle
All-Around | Senior
Led Tuttle to the Class 4A state championship, batting .505 with 45 RBI, 30 runs, 13 doubles, eight home runs and two triples. On the mound, he compiled a 6-0 record with a 0.24 EA and 55 strikeouts in 29.1 innings.
Tyler Witt Jr., Burton (Texas)
All-Around | Junior
Tied for the national lead in pitching wins, Witt was 15-0 with a 0.42 ERA, four no-hitters and 125 strikeouts in 84 innings pitched. Batted .349 with 38 runs, 17 RBI, five doubles, four triples and a home run.
Drew Davis, Sumrall (Miss.)
All-Around | Junior
Davis makes the Small Town All-American team for the third time after going 13-1 with a 0.86 ERA and 149 strikeouts in 81.1 innings. He also batted .521 with 48 RBI, 47 runs, 11 home runs, 11 doubles and four triples.
Second Team
Kam Smith, Girard (Kan.)
Pitcher | Junior
Led Girard to a state championship, going 9-1 with a 0.33 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 64.1 innings.
Tanner Abbott, Gridley (Calif.)
Pitcher | Senior
The Northern Section Player of the Year, Abbott went 9-0 with three no-hitters, a 0.72 ERA and 134 strikeouts in 58.2 innings.
Jared Hagwood, Bunn (N.C.)
Pitcher | Senior
Hagwood led Bunn to a Class 4A state championship with a 10-2 record, 0.76 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 73.2 innings. He also batted .367 with 22 RBI, 20 runs, four doubles and two home runs.
Chase Rhodes, Tremont (Ill.)
Pitcher | Senior
Rhodes led the Turks to a Class 1A championship with a 9-1 record, 0.52 ERA and 119 strikeouts in 53.2 innings.
Jake Ivey, Gunter (Texas)
Pitcher | Junior
Ivey
led Conference 3A in Texas with 157 strikeouts. He had 12 wins and a 0.41
ERA while also batting .405 with 45 RBI, 34 runs and 11 doubles.
Hudson Ohm, Zumbrota-Mazeppa (Zumbrota, Minn.)
Pitcher | Senior
Posted a 6-0 record with a 1.00 ERA and 75 strikeouts in 35 innings. Batted .413 with 27 runs, two doubles, three triples and three home runs.
Tate Becker, Madelia (Minn.)
Pitcher | Senior
Led the Blackhawks to a Class A state title with a 9-0 record, 126 strikeouts and a 0.53 ERA in 66 innings.
Caden Hopper, Southern Columbia Area (Catawissa, Pa.)
Pitcher | Senior
All-state pick for the Class 2A state champions went 8-0 with a 0.91 ERA and 68 strikeouts in 54 innings. Batted .484 with 31 runs, 22 RBI and five doubles.
Preston Woodworth, Medina (N.Y.)
Pitcher | Junior
The MaxPreps New York Player of the Year went 10-1 with a 0.61 ERA, 132 strikeouts, eight shutouts and two no-hitters in 69.1 innings. He also batted .400 with 29 RBI, 25 runs and 14 doubles.
Billy Miller, Kouts (Ind.)
Pitcher | Sophomore
Led the Mustangs to the Class 1A championship with an 8-0 record, 91 strikeouts and a 0.37 ERA in 56.2 innings. He also batted .489 with 57 runs, 39 RBI, five home runs and five doubles.
Catcher | Senior
A repeat Small Town All-American, Burrell batted .550 for the state champions with 67 RBI, 49 runs, 22 doubles and seven home runs.
J.R. Zeimet, Gordon Lee (Chickamauga, Ga.)
Catcher | Senior
Led Trojans to a Class A Division 1 state title while batting .554 with 54 RBI and 10 home runs.
Parker Clubb, Mulvane
Catcher | Senior
Batted .444 with 46 RBI, 19 runs, five home runs, five doubles and four triples and five home runs.
Wade McConnell, Bushland (Texas)
First Base | Senior
McConnell led Conference 3A in Texas with 68 RBI. He batted .579 with 23 doubles and 11 home runs.
Noah Spaulding, Marion County (Lebanon, Ky.)
First Base | Senior
Batted .468 with 36 RBI, 35 runs, 11 home runs, eight doubles and two triples.
Brody Watson, Pigeon Forge (Tenn.)
Infield | Junior
Batted .458 with 49 runs, 37 RBI, 11 home runs, eight doubles and six triples.
Hadley Hardesty, Westlake (La.)
Infield | Senior
Led the Rams to the Non-Select Division 3 state title and earned state MVP honors after batting .362 with 48 runs, six doubles and four home runs. He also went 10-3 with a 1.97 ERA and 86 strikeouts in 68.2 innings.
Griffin Meeker, Tremont
Infield | Senior
Earned all-state honors for the Class 1A state champs with a .478 batting average, 63 runs, 45 RBI, 16 doubles, eight triples and five home runs.
Kye Jacobs, Clinton Prairie (Frankfort, Ind.)
Infield | Senior
Batted .576 with 49 runs, 24 RBI, seven doubles, seven home runs and two triples. He also had a 3-1 record with 51 strikeouts in 35.2 innings.
Alex Allain, Fryeburg (Maine)
Infield | Senior
Led the Raiders to the Class B state title by batting .500 with 33 runs, 21 RBI, seven doubles, five home runs and two triples.
Brock Bumgardner, Cherryville (N.C.)
Infield | Junior
Led the Class 2A runner-up by batting .430 with 59 RBI, 30 runs, 15 doubles, two triples and six home runs. He also went 10-3 with a 2.61 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 56.1 innings.
Bryce Love, Peyton (Colo.)
Outfield | Senior
Batted .679 with 55 runs, 27 RBI, 15 doubles, five home runs and three triples. He also went 7-3 on the mound with a 2.45 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 60 innings.
Josyah Napoleon-Umeda, Honoka’a (Hawaii)
Outfield | Senior
The MaxPreps Hawaii Player of the Year led Honoka’a to a Division 2 state championship. He was 7-0 with a 0.42 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 33.2 innings while .577 with 22 RBI, seven doubles, six home runs and three triples.
Ira Hilbelink, Cedar Grove-Belgium (Wis.)
Outfield | Junior
Batted .557 with 57 runs, 36 RBI, nine doubles, seven triples and six home runs. He also went 8-1 with 96 strikeouts and a 1.65 ERA in 55 innings.
Kaden Dean, Preston (Okla.)
Outfield | Senior
Led Pirates to the Class 2A Division II championship while batting .511 with 50 runs, 50 RBI, 12 doubles, five home runs and two triples. Recorded a 6-2 record on the mound with a 0.30 ERA and 106 strikeouts in 47 innings.
Carter Allen, Bremen (Ga.)
Outfield | Junior
Batted .442 with 39 runs, 33 RBI, 11 doubles, four home runs and one triple. Went 9-1 as a pitcher with a 1.17 ERA and 93 strikeouts in 53.2 innings.
Dawson Luther, Pittsville (Wis.)
Outfield | Senior
Batted .585 with 60 runs, 44 RBI, 15 doubles, three triples and a home run. He was also 7-0 as a pitcher with 70 strikeouts an a 2.72 ERA in 56.2 innings.
Brennen McGowan, Seminole County (Donalsonville, Ga.)
All-Around | Junior
McGowan batted .558 with 39 runs, 26 RBI, 12 doubles, four home runs and two triples. Also posted a 7-1 record with 106 strikeouts and a 1.52 ERA in 50.2 innings.
Luke Tagliente, Sherman (Seth, W.Va.)
All-Around | Senior
Went 13-0 with a 0.00 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 67.2 innings. He also batted .430 with 56 runs, 21 RBI, seven doubles, two triples and a home run.
Wyatt McDaniels, Mooreville (Miss.)
All-Around | Junior
Led the Troopers to a state championship with a 10-0 record and a 1.19 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 64.2 innings. He also batted .312 with 39 RBI, 27 runs, nine home runs and five doubles.
