AREA PREP PLAYERS CATCH STATE HONORS

The high school baseball season has long been over, but a few area players continue to accumulate postseason honors.

The 1998 Missouri Sportswriters and Sportscasters Association All-State Baseball Teams were announced today with six players in the immediate area earning the distinction.

The two most successful local teams this past season -- Sikeston and Oran -- led the area with two all-state selections each. Cape Central and Kelly, both coming off 20-win seasons, acquired the other two all-state nods.

Oran seniors Justin McAlister and Jeff Schaefer were named to the Class 1A all-state squad after the Eagles' 22-3 state-runner-up finish. Sikeston, which reached the 4A quarterfinals with an 18-4 mark, put seniors Brent Self and Clay Hooper on the 4A team.

Kelly senior Denver Stuckey repeated on the 2A first-team as an infielder after leading the Hawks to their second straight district crown and a 20-5 record. Cape Central senior center fielder Ross Bennett took second team honors in 4A as the Tigers completed the season 20-7.

The all-state baseball teams were selected by a panel of Missouri sportswriters and sportscasters following the state championships in early June.

McAlister, Oran's top pitcher and infielder, earned first-team honors as a pitcher while battery-mate Schaefer took a spot on the second team at catcher.

In his fourth year as a starter, McAlister compiled an 8-1 mark with 64 strikeouts in 57 innings. Offensively, he batted .402 with 18 stolen bases as the Eagles' leadoff batter. He fanned only four times in just over 90 plate appearances.

"Justin did a lot for us pitching-wise and showed he's a good all-around player," said Oran coach Mitch Wood. "As a batter, he was better than he's ever been."

After batting around .250 last year, Schaefer, a three-year starter, surprisingly led Oran with a .412 batting average. Despite batting seventh the entire season, he also was one of the Eagles' top run producers with 19 RBIs and 24 runs scored.

"Jeff was a pleasant surprise and did a steady job behind the plate," Wood said. "He got in a groove and rhythm at the plate late in the year and that really helped us."

To no one's surprise, Stuckey made a repeat all-state showing on the 2A team. As Kelly's catalyst, Stuckey batted .420 and was brilliant once again as the Hawks' shortstop.

Expected to play baseball at Southeast Missouri State University, Stuckey was also the Hawks' top pitcher. He compiled a 6-2 record with 76 strikeouts in 61 innings.

"When you look at all the statistics, what makes Denver a complete player is he takes a lot of pride in his defense," said Kelly coach Mike Scott. "I think he's the best defensive infielder in the area."

The top pitcher in the area might be a good description of Self after he compiled an 8-1 mark and 1.11 earned run average with 92 strikeouts in just over 63 innings to attain 4A first team honors. Self fanned 15 in the Bulldogs' 6-0 district championship win over Cape Central.

Despite being named the SEMO Conference player of the year earlier this month, Hooper took just second team all-state honors as an infielder. Hooper posted a school-record total of 49 RBIs this season, led the team with a .553 batting average, eight home runs and 11 doubles. He also went 5-1 on the mound as Sikeston's No. 2 pitcher.

Bennett completed his athletic career at Central with another outstanding season on the baseball diamond. Despite playing with two injured shoulders, Bennett batted .495 with three home runs 26 RBIs and 17 stolen bases.

Earlier this month, Bennett was drafted in the 42nd round by the Montreal Expos and also signed a letter of intent to play baseball at Baylor University in Waco, Texas.

* Several other players from outside the immediate area also received all-state mentions.

Holcomb put senior pitcher Josh Buchanan and junior outfielder Justin Gentry on the 1A first team. Gentry was also a first-team member last year. Holcomb (16-5) lost to Oran 4-2 in a 1A sectional.

Senath-Hornersville (20-9), which beat Kelly 7-5 in a 2A sectional, put senior infielder Brian Branum on the first team and sophomore outfielder Jonathan Binkard on the second team.

Kennett senior Nathan Lyons took 3A first-team honors as a pitcher.