2017 All-GLIAC Baseball Release
Seven members of the Charger baseball team earned All-GLIAC honors during its final season in the conference.
Sophomore third baseman Colin Boerst, junior pitcher Will Kruse and senior designated hitter Ethan Wiskur all picked up First-Team All-GLIAC recognition. All-conference awards were presented Wednesday night prior to the start of this year's conference tournament in Xenia, Ohio.
Second-Team All-GLIAC players from the Chargers included sophomore catcher Steven Ring and junior outfielder Ryan O'Hearn. Honorable mention All-GLIAC selections were sophomore shortstop Colin Hites and freshman pitcher Kolton Rominski.
The seven all-conference players match last year's total as being the most All-GLIAC players to ever come from Hillsdale's program in one season.
Boerst and Wiskur have been at the center of one of the GLIAC's most potent batting lineups this season. The team's starting third baseman, Boerst hit .341 during the regular season with 11 home runs, 59 runs batted in and 16 stolen bases. The highlight of his season was hitting a walk-off two-run home run that helped Hillsdale beat Saginaw Valley State 19-17 back on April 15. That home run was part of a game that saw him drive in eight runs.
Wiskur was the prototypical cleanup hitter, a powerful bat right in the middle of the Charger lineup. He had his best power season in 2017 with 11 home runs, 42 RBI and a .350 batting average. Wiskur currently ranks in the top five in four career offensive categories for Hillsdale.
Kruse established himself as the ace of the pitching staff this season. He has a 9-2 record with a school-record 79 strikeouts this season. He hasn't had a losing decision since mid-March, and his nine victories are second-most in a season in school history.
Ring was voted Second-Team All-GLIAC by conference coaches despite finishing the regular season leading the GLIAC in both home runs (16) and runs batted in (61). Ring's home run total is a new school record for a single season, and he needs just two runs batted in to establish a new school record for RBI in a season. He hit two grand slams in as many at bats in a 14-1 win over Lake Erie May 6.
O'Hearn has enjoyed a breakthrough season in 2017, locking down the starting center field position. In addition to his superlative range and defense, O'Hearn batted .340 during the regular season and he currently leads the conference with 21 stolen bases.
Hites was an impactful player after moving into the starting shortstop position as well as the leadoff spot in the order. His leadership, slick defense and clutch hitting were key reasons why Hillsdale is still playing. He batted /293 during the season and scored 41 runs.
Rominski moved into the starting pitching rotation immediately and gave the Chargers quality starts throughout the season. He struck out 45 batters and won three games, including a key win over Lake Erie on the season's final weekend that allowed Hillsdale to qualify for the GLIAC Tournament.