THE SPORTS REPORTS: HORSEHEADS' BALL NAMED ZIFF LAW FIRM 'BASEBALL PLAYER OF YEAR;' ATHENS' WHEELER ALSO EARNS ALL-REGION TOP HONOR — BRADFORD COUNTY WELL-REPRESENTED (July 28, 2026)

The Sports Reports
Horseheads junior Cooper Ball led the Blue Raiders to the state semifinals with his performance on the mound and at the plate. He is The Sports Reports / Ziff Law Firm 2026 All-Region "Baseball Player of the Year."

Waverly senior Ronin Ault also had an excellent year and led the Wolverines on its deepest postseason run ever. He is the "Offensive Player of the Year."

Horseheads sophomore backstop Lyncoln Bennett is the "Defensive Player of the Year," while his teammate junior Mason Markle is the "Newcomer of the Year," and Blue Raider mentor Andy Scott is the "Coach of the Year."

Athens junior Kam Wheeler is the "Breakout Player of the Year."

Ball, who is also the All-Region "Pitcher of the Year", was 9-2 on the mound with 109 strikeouts in 71 innings. He posted a 0.89 ERA, allowing just nine earned runs this season. 

At the plate, Ball hit .416 with 12 extra-base hits. He had 25 RBI and stole 16 bases. 

The Binghamton commit led Horseheads to the state semifinals, after helping them to the state title the previous season.

Ault, who also excelled on the mound (see below), hit .506 with 44 hits in 87 at-bats, and walked 14 times for a .569 on-base percentage. He had an .839 slugging percentage and a 1.408 OPS.

Ault had 10 doubles, two triples, five home runs, 37 RBI, 35 runs scored, and 25 stolen bases.

Markle was dominant on the mound. His four-pitch mix kept hitters off balance. He posted a 0.94 ERA, going 8-3 on the year, allowing 10 earned runs in 74 1/3 innings. He pitched the deciding game of sectionals and also the regional final. 

He was also a strong defensive shortstop on days he didn’t pitch. 

Bennett was a difference-maker behind the plate. He threw out 70 percent of runners trying to steal on him, while also hitting cleanup for the Blue Raiders. Runners could not run on him and his ability to field bunts and catch difficult pop-ups made him a force behind the plate. He helped lead Horseheads to the state semifinals a year after starting at catcher as a freshman on a state title team. 

Scott's Blue Raiders became the first Horseheads team to win two regional games in same year.

They played 27 games which is the most ever, and won back-to-back regional titles for first time in school history. Scott also piloted Horseheads to its fifth straight Section IV title. 

Wheeler, who batted .260 as a sophomore, hit .413 (26 hits in 63 ABs) with one double, one triple, 13 RBI, 23 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. He walked 16 times for a .549 on-base percentage, and had a 1.009 OPS.

On the mound, Wheeler was 3-0 with a 1.33 ERA. He struck out 30 and walked 15 in 26 1/3 innings, and opponents hit .170 against him.

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Player of Year: Cooper Ball, junior, Horseheads
Offensive Player of Year: Ronin Ault, senior, Waverly
Pitcher of Year: Cooper Ball, junior, Horseheads
Newcomer of Year: Mason Markle, junior, Horseheads
Breakout Player of Year: Kam Wheeler, junior, Athens
Defensive Player of Year: Lyncoln Bennett, sophomore, Horseheads
Coach of Year: Andy Scott, Horseheads

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Cooper Ball, junior, Horseheads: See above.

Ronin Ault, senior, Waverly: The All-Region "Offensive Player of the Year," Ault also excelled on the mound. He was 9-0 with one save, and a 0.96 ERA on the season. 

Ault was 3-0 in the postseason, earning both wins in Waverly's 2-1 series win over M-E in the Class A Championship series, and the win in the state quarterfinals. On the season, he fanned 73 and walked 25 in 58 1/3 innings, and allowed only 31 hits for a 0.96 WHIP. Opponents hit .152 against him.

Logan Demember, senior, Elmira: Demember hit .431 on the year  with 25 hits, 15 RBI, 26 runs, seven doubles, one triple, and 22 stolen bases. He also had 21 walks on the year for a .580 on-base percentage. He had and struck out only four times. 

On the mound, Demember was 5-0 with 56 strikeouts in 34 1/3 innings. He allowed 15 hits on the year, and posted a .41 ERA, which is a school record, with two shutouts. He is a D-I commit at the University of Albany. 

Brady Flynn, junior, Athens: Flynn hit .478 with (31 hits in 67 ABs) with five doubles, one triple, 13 RBI, six stolen bases, and 24 runs scored. He walked 12 times for a for a .560 on-base percentage, and had a 1.142 OPS.

On the mound, Flynn was 5-2 with a 3.41 ERA. He struck out 18 and walked 21 in 26 2/3 innings of work.

Nick Grazul, senior, Athens: Grazul hit .456 (31 hits in 68 ABs) with seven doubles, one home run, 14 RBI, 25 runs scored, and 11 stolen bases. He walked 12 times for a .548 on-base percentage, and had a 1.151 OPS. Opponents hit .250 against him.

On the mound, Grazul was 1-0 with a 2.33 ERA. He fanned 38 and walked 16 in 18 innings. Opponents hit .113 against him.

Marek Mascho, senior, Wellsboro: Marek Mascho hit. 456, with 36 base hits, including 10 doubles and one home run. HJe scored 35 runs, had 27 RBI, eight stolen bases, and a .500 on-base percentage.

On the mound, Marek Mascho went 3-1 over 26 innings of work with a 5.19 ERA and 22 strikeouts.

Max Mascho, junior, Wellsboro: Max Mascho went 7-1 with a 2.68 ERA and 71 strikeouts. He also produced at the plate, hitting .327 with 18 hits, 24 runs scored, 16 RBI and 20 walks drawn to finish with a .519 on-base percentage.

Andy Hermansen, senior, North Penn-Mansfield: Hermansen hit .475 with 29 base hits, including two home runs, three triples and nine doubles. He also scored 29 runs, stole 22 bases, drove in 14 runs, and got on base at a .569 clip.

He also went 2-0 from the mound, throwing 19 innings with a 3.00 ERA and 17 strikeouts.

Coen Tennis, senior, Wellsoro: Catcher committed just one error, while allowing a fraction over one stolen base per game throughout the Hornets’ championship season.

Tennis hit .463 with 31 hits, including three home runs, one triple and five doubles, 31 RBI, 21 runs scored and a .537 on-base percentage. 

Brendan Gilliland, senior, Troy: Gilliland had an outstanding season at the plate, hitting .478 with 23 RBI and 31 runs scored, with four doubles and two triples.

Mason Smith, senior, Troy: Smith hit .438 with 42 runs scored, 14 RBI, two doubles, and two triples.

Aedan Palmer, senior, Elmira: Palmer went 6-2 with a 1.50 ERA a 0.935 WHIP, and 85 strikeouts in 51 1/3 innings. His losses were to a Kentucky powerhouse in Myrtle Beach, and to Christian Brothers Academy in the state regionals. 

Palmer, a D-I commit to LeMoyne, hit .317 with a .463 on-base percentate. He had 19 hits, 18 RBI, 18 walks and a home run.

He owns the school records for games played, RBI, wins, strikeouts, innings pitched and is second in program history in home runs and doubles.

SECOND TEAM
Tanner Buchanan, junior, Edison: On the mound, Buchanan went 7-3 with 90 strikeouts and a 2.28 ERA. He also hit .333 with 11 walks and three doubles.

Jack Cavalier, senior, Elmira: Cavalier hit .389 with a .520 on-base percentage. He had 21 hits, including five doubles and four home runs, and 23 RBI. 

On the mound, he went 3-2 a 1.21 ERA and 23 strikeouts in 27 1/3 innings. He tossed shutouts against Maine-Endwell and Corning. Defensively, he committed only one error in 90 chances defensively, nearly all at first base. 

Jack Pipher, sophomore, Waverly: Pipher hit .342 (27 hits in 79 ABs) with five doubles, three triples, three home runs, 19 RBI, 34 runs scored, and 18 stolen bases. He walked 16 times for a .475 on-base percentage, and logged a 1.070 OPS.

On the mound, Pipher was 1-1 with one save, and a 0.89 ERA. He fanned 19 and walked three in 15 2/3 innings, and opponents hit .232 against him.

Duncan Thetga, sophomore, Athens: Thetga was 6-1 with one save and a 2.08 ERA. He struck 34 and walked 20 in 47 innings, and opponents hit .238 against him.

Thetga hit .347 (17 hits in 49 ABs) with two doubles, 17 RBI, and 12 runs scored.

Axel Murray, freshman, Waverly: Murray hit .273 (21 hits in 77 ABs) with five doubles, one triple, 22 RBI, 15 runs scored, and 13 stolen bases. He also walked 12 times for a .374 on-base percentage.

On the mound, Murray was 5-2 with a 1.97 ERA. He fanned 53 and walked 17 in 39 innings, and opponents hit .223 against him.

Kam Wheeler, junior, Athens: See above.

Ayren Morgan, senior, Cowanesque Valley: Morgan hit .426 with 26 hits, 27 runs scored, 24 RBI, 13 stolen bases and a .537 on-base percentage.

On the mound, he was 2-3 with a 4.26 ERA and 25 strikeouts.

Dave Hess, junior, Cowanesque Valley: Hess hit .392 with 29 hits, including five doubles and three triples, 32 runs scored, 30 stolen bases, and 21 RBI.

On the mound, Hess was 3-1 with a 3.21 ERA and 22 strikeouts in 24 innings pitched.

Baily Gardner, junior Canton: Gardner hit .436 with nine doubles, one triple, 19 runs scored, and 13 RBI.

Porter Daddona, senior, Waverly: Daddona posted a 6-2 record with one save and a 2.01 ERA. He fanned 60 and walked 27 in 48 2/3 innings, and opponents hit .195 against him.

Daddona had just four plate appearances on the season, reaching all four times with a double, a single, and two base on balls. He scored two runs.

Cooper Dember, junior, Tioga: Dember hit .434 (23 hits in 53 ABs) with nine doubles, one home run, 19 RBI, 14 runs scored, and seven stolen bases. He also walked nine times, and was hit by pitches four times for a .537 on-base percentage to go with a .660 slugging percentage and a 1.138 OPS.

Kohen Hugo, senior, Northeast Bradford:  Kohen Hugo played a little bit of everywhere for NEB - catcher, shortstop, second base - and finished with a .933 fielding percentage to be the Bradford County "Defensive Player of the Year." He also had a strong year on the mound with 77 strikeouts.

THIRD TEAM
Lucas Vincent, junior Towanda: Vincent hit .406 with 21 runs scored, and 12 RBI, while sporting a 2.95 ERA on the mound.

Reed Palmer, junior, Troy: Palmer hit .352 with 29 RBI, nine doubles, two home runs, and 18 runs scored, while striking out 42 in 37 innings on the mound.

Daniel Inman, freshman, Canton: Inman hit .444 with 18 RBI, while sporting a 3.88 ERA and striking out 53 in 43 1/3-innings.

Jace Schiller, senior, Edison: Schiller hit .400 with nine doubles, two home runs, three triples, 16 RBI, 13 walks and 18  stolen bases. 

Beckett Doane, senior, Horseheads: Doane hit .354 with five steals and six doubles. 

Karter Green, senior, Sayre: Green was 2-4 with one save and a 3.27 ERA. He fanned 75 and walked 33 in 40 2/3 innings, while allowing 30 hits. Opponents hit .190 against him.

Green hit .250 (10 hits in 40 ABs) with 12 base on balls (also hit by pitches four times) for a .464 on-base percentage. He had three doubles, one triple, seven RBI, and five runs scored.

Gage Baltzley, freshman, Wellsboro: Baltzley hit .362 with 17 base hits, 20 runs scored, 25 RBI, 18 stolen bases and a .557 on-base percentage. He went 4-0 on the mound with 30 innings pitched, a 2.40 ERA and 32 strikeouts.

Ryder Breon, freshman, North Penn-Mansfield: Breon hit .338 with 22 base hits, 13 runs scored, 12 RBI and a .403 on-base percentage. He also threw 16 innings with 15 strikeouts and a 3.94 ERA.

Levi Stahli, senior, Cowanesque Valley: Stahli hit .328 with 22 hits, 14 runs scored, 19 RBI, seven stolen bases, and a .439 on-base percentage. He also post a 1-0 record with two saves and a 0.36 ERA, striking out 30 in 19 2/3 innings.

Griffin Morral, sophomore Wellsboro: Morral hit .323 with 21 hits, including five doubles, 30 runs scored, 12 RBI, 17 stolen bases, and 20 base on balls for a .488 on-base percentage.

Lucas Hamilton, junior, Cowanesque Valley: Hamilton hit .375 with 24 hits, including four doubles and one home run, 25 runs scored, 19 RBI and a .461 on-base percentage.

Boom Thompson, sophomore Towanda: Thompson had a .407 on-base percentage with 17 runs scored, while playing strong defense at shortstop. He also posted a 2.33 ERA on the mound.

Andrew Welch, junior, Corning: Welch posted a 2.75 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 40 innings. He also hit .280. 

ALL-REGION NEWCOMERS
Mason Markle, junior, Horseheads: See above.

Zeke Noble, freshman, Athens: Noble hit .420 (21 hits in 50 ABs) with three doubles, 12 RBI, 11 runs scored and two stolen bases. He had a .517 on-base percentage and a .997 OPS.

Gage Baltzley, freshman, Wellsboro: See above

Ryder Breon, freshman, North Penn-Mansfield: See above.

Cooper Hugo, freshman, Northeast Bradford: Hugo had a big year, hitting .390 with 20 RBI, 15 runs scored, and three doubles, while sporting a 3.19 ERA and striking out 29.

Daniel Inman, freshman, Canton: See above.

Beckett Doane, sophomore, Horseheads: See above.

A.J. Sheehan, junior, Horseheads: Turned into Horseheads' leadoff hitter midway through the season, and played every position but catcher for the Blue Raiders. His versatility was credited as a big reason Horseheads won a Section IV title.

Camden Grover, freshman, Edison: Grover hit. 305, with seven doubles, 15 base on balls, nine RBI, and six steals.

Frankie D'Angelo, sophomore, Elmira: D'Angelo hit .304 and had a .500 on-base percentage. In 10 games, he had 12 RBI, two home runs, three doubles and 10 base on balls.

Nathan Bretch, sophomore, Corning: Bretch hit .372 with four doubles and nine RBI. 

Jay Richards, sophomore, Notre Dame: Richards had a .941 fielding percentage and hit .250.

Shea Davidson, freshman, Athens: Shea Davidson hit .304 (14 hits in 46 ABs) with 11 RBI, seven runs scored, and three stolen bases.

Alex McQuay, junior, Athens: McQuay hit .325 (13 hits in 40 ABs) with four doubles, one triple, 10 RBI, and 11 runs scored.

Daltton Davis, senior, Waverly: Davis hit .310 (18 hits in 58 ABs) with one double, 10 RBI, 18 runs scored, and eight stolen bases. He also walked 18 times and was hit by pitches three times for a .494 on-base percentage.

GOLD GLOVES
Lyncoln Bennett, sophomore, Horseheads: See above.Kam Wheeler, junior, Athens

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