CLEARFIELD — Three Clearfield Area High School players were named to the 2016 All-Mountain League Baseball Team with senior pitcher Brandon Orsich becoming first Bison to be a three-time selection.
Orsich was voted by the head coaches to the first team after landing on the second team as a junior and sophomore.
Junior catcher Zane Morgan and freshman outfielder Ty Bender were accorded second team honors, the latter as the designated hitter.
Orsich, one of three pitchers on the first unit, was 5-1 with six complete games in seven starts against league opponents, allowing 10 earned runs while striking out 54 and walking only six.
The right-hander punctuated his outstanding three-year career with a 7-1 record and 1.22 earned run average, striking out 68 and walking seven in 63 innings. He gave up 50 hits and 17 runs, 11 earned.
Morgan and Bender had very productive rookie seasons for the 12-9 Bison, who were in the league championship hunt until the final week before finishing 7-7 and going on to reach the District 9 Class AAA title game.
They combined for 15 of Clearfield’s 25 extra base hits, including the only two home runs.
Morgan, who also had four doubles and the lone triple, led the Bison with 23 hits and a .377 average as well as walks with 14 and runs scored with 19. He was second in runs driven in with 11.
Morgan’s average soared with a late-season eight-game hitting streak that was highlighted by six of his eight multi-hit games.
Bender, who missed two games because of an injury, topped the Bison in doubles with eight and RBIs with 12.
He was third in hits with 18 that generated a .310 average, fourth highest on the team.
Bellefonte pitcher Dom Masullo, Philipsburg-Osceola catcher Derek Shaw, Bellefonte first baseman Logan Mathieu and Central shortstop Alex Hoenstine are first-team repeaters. Matthieu was selected as the DH and Hoenstine as an outfielder last year.
Two others were honored for the second time, Central first baseman Josh McKnight tabbed as the first-team DH after making the 2015 team as a second-team pitcher and Philipsburg-Osceola shortstop Logan Williamson named to the second-team after receiving first-team selection laurels last year.
2016 All-Mountain League First Team
Pitchers – Brandon Orsich, Clearfield; Jarrett Imler, Central; Dom Masullo, Bellefonte.
Catcher – Derek Shaw, Philipsburg-Osceola.
First Baseman – Logan Mathieu, Bellefonte.
Second Baseman – Josh Earnest, Philipsburg-Osceola.
Shortstop – Alex Hoenstine, Central.
Third Baseman – Tyler Kreger, Bellefonte.
Outfielders – Jon Wagner, Huntingdon; Trey Butterworth, Bald Eagle Area; Nick Jabco, Bellefonte.
Designated Hitter – Josh McKnight, Central.
2016 All-Mountain League Second Team
Pitchers – Zack Soellner, Tyrone; Adam Armstrong, Bellefonte; Jared Showalter, Huntingdon; Brandon Barnyak, Bald Eagle Area.
Catcher – Zane Morgan, Clearfield.
First Baseman – Noah Chambers, Bald Eagle Area.
Second Baseman – Larry Corle, Central.
Shortstop – Logan Williamson, Philipsburg-Osceola.
Third Baseman – Allen Cain, Penns Valley.
Outfielders – Chase Smith, Central; Keith Butts, Penns Valley; Anthony Politza, Tyrone.
Designated Hitter – Ty Bender, Clearfield.