Clear Lake players earn NCC honors

Eight members of the Clear Lake baseball team and one member of the Lions softball team have received All-North Central Conference honors.

Pitcher Brock Adams, infielder Cooper Merrill and outfielder Mitch Keeran were each named to the First Team All-NCC.

Adams, a senior, compiled a record of 3-0 in the NCC (8-1 overall) with an ERA of 0.50.  He struck out 34 and walked just seven in 28 innings pitched and limited opponents to a batting average of .139.  He was a unanimous First Team choice.

Merrill, a junior, boasted a batting average of .348 in conference games, with a slugging percentage of .565.  The Lion shortstop was near-perfect in the field, with a fielding percentage of .929 in 14 NCC contests.

Keeran was also excellent in the field with a .980 fielding percentage.  The senior finished near the top of the conference with 15 RBIs and had a .341 batting average and .610 slugging percentage in conference games.  His trips to the plate included two home runs.

Junior Ethan McHenry was a Second Team All-NCC selection as a pitcher.  McHenry had a 2-1 record in conference games with an ERA of 2.03  He struck out nine batters and walked three in 17 and one-third innings pitched.

Rowdy Yates was a Second Team pick at catcher.   Yates, a senior, made 137 put-outs and had a fielding percentage of .994.  At the plate, he had a .297 batting average in conference games with a slugging percentage of .541.  He had one home run and 11 RBIs in NCC play.

Ben Mason was a Second Team choice as a utility player.  Mason, a junior, batted .273 with a slugging percentage of .409.  He finished the conference season with nine RBIs.  Mason also had a 3-0 record on the mound with an ERA of 2.05.  He struck out 12 in 13 and two-thirds innings played.

Seniors Devin Uhlenhopp and Jacob Hogan were named to the All-NCC Third Team.  Uhlenhopp, who played centerfield for the Lions, had a .370 batting average and .482 slugging percentage in 13 NCC games.  He had a perfect 1.000 fielding percentage.   Hogan batted .385 in conference games with a slugging percentage of .654.  He had one home run and nine RBIs in 10 games played.  He also had a fielding percentage of 1.000 as the Lions’ first baseman.

The Lions finished as runner-up in the NCC Conference this year with an 11-3 record.  Humboldt, which won the conference with a 12-2 record, had seven players named to the All-NCC team.

Adams (pitcher), Merrill (utility), Keeran (outfield), Yates (catcher), Hogan (first base) and Mason (utility) were also First Team All-District selections.

Softball honors

Clear Lake’s Michaela Niles was a Second Team All-North Central Conference selection.

Niles, a sophomore who played outfield for the Lions, had a batting average of .385 in 13 conference games, with a  slugging percentage of .410. The sophomore had an on-base percentage of .415.

“She was dependable at bat and was always able to put the ball into play. She was quick on the bases, as well,” said Coach Megan Smith.  “She made a great switch when we needed her from right field to left field.”