David Richards, a senior slugger who rewrote the Grain Valley High School record book, and junior pitcher Payton Bosserman are the lone area representatives on the Class 3 Missouri All-State team, as voted on by members of the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Richards made the first team as an outfielder and Bosserman was selected to the second team as a pitcher.
Lee’s Summit North senior pitcher Dylan Jensen and junior infielder Caleb Cole made the Class 4 first team and senior infielder Gavin Stark made second team. Infielders Corbin Berkstresser and Brad Phillips were named to the honorable mention squad.
“I had a good feeling that David would make it,” Grain Valley coach Mark Lyford said. “He had an unbelievable year. Every time he stepped to the plate, he had the chance to make a difference in the game – and he was that productive all season.”
Richards hit a school single-season record 11 homers, hit .418 with 38 RBIs and an out-of-this-world slugging percentage of 1.016.
Richards, who was with his Oak Grove Post 379 American Legion team at a tournament in Minnesota, was thrilled to receive the news.
“When I got the voice mail that I was all-state I just couldn’t believe it,” Richards said. “You never think about things like that during the season. You just want to do anything you can to help the team win.
“But now that the season is over, it’s amazing. It’s an honor. I really feel humbled, because I was all-state in football (as a wide receiver), and to do it in baseball, too, is just unbelievable.”
Bosserman was among the winningest pitchers in the area, finishing 6-2 with a 1.44 ERA and 69 strikeouts in just 53 1/3 innings.
“Bosserman had two losses – to Harrisonville and Kirksville,” Lyford said. “And if he’d have had support those two games, he would have probably won them, too. You look at his record, 6-2, and it’s impressive. But that ERA and his strikeout total – 69 in 53 1/3 innings – is pretty amazing.
“They are two great kids and they had unbelievable seasons. They both deserve to be all state, and I’m really glad that Payton will be back next year.”
Not only did Richards and Bosserman have stellar individual years, they helped the Eagles win a district title and earn a state playoff berth.
After a 5-3 loss to Kirksville in the Class 3 sectional round, they finished 17-6. Lyford said the two were a big part of a turnaround from a 10-14 record a year ago.
“I’ve been lucky to coach some great kids out here and they rank among the best I’ve been associated with,” Lyford said. “I doubt if we ever see anyone do what David did this year.
“Most kids don’t hit 11 homers from T-ball through their senior year of high school and he hit 11 this past season. That’s a lot of home runs for high school ball.”
North’s five selections tied Oakville for the most on the Class 4 team. Jensen compiled a 9-2 record with a 1.78 earned run average and 65 strikeouts in 67 innings while leading the Broncos to a second-place finish in the Class 4 state playoffs.
“Dylan is extremely smart, and just knew how to pitch,” North coach Jeff Diekmann said. “Dylan did a great job moving the ball around and changing speeds.”
Cole sparked the offense from his leadoff spot, hitting a team-high .441. He also compiled 20 extra-base hits, including 14 doubles and four home runs, and scored 43 runs. He was chosen as the Suburban Big Seven’s most outstanding player.
“Caleb was our offensive catalyst,” Diekmann said. “Caleb was also our best glove on the infield.”
Stark, who had a .406 average, hit a school-record 17 doubles, slugged five home runs and had a team-best 39 RBIs. Phillips broke Kevin Medrano’s school record for hits with 51, hitting .440 with 31 RBIs and 40 runs.
Grain Valley, MO —
