Iola’s Blake Ellis, Grady Dougherty, Gavin Jones and Kale Pratt of the American Legion Post 15 19U Indians received all-state recognition over the weekend.
Kansas American Legion Baseball League officials named the four to its inaugural all-state team.
It’s a memorable last honor for Ellis, Jones and Dougherty who have each signed to compete for Neosho County Community College. Ellis and Dougherty will play baseball for NCCC while Jones will run cross county and track.
“It’s a pretty cool deal for it being a first-time thing,” Dougherty said of the all-state selection.
Ellis, who also participated in the Shrine Bowl, wrapped up the Legion season with a .400 batting average and a .438 on base percentage at the state tournament.
Ellis will not return nextseason due to aging out of the 19U program by next summer and his summer plans at NCCC.
“It was great to play all summer and get those reps in,” Ellis said. “I’m hoping that will carry on to the college level.”
Earlier this summer, Dougherty accepted a scholarship offer to play for Neosho. Dougherty had a pair of RBIs, a .615 batting average and a .687 on base percentage at the state tournament. He also had an RBI and tallied four strikeouts.
“The bigger deal at the state tournament was getting confidence, especially for me,” Dougherty said.
Jones received recognition as the Indians’ primary reliever at the state tournament. In three appearances, he tallied seven strikeouts and got Post 15 out of more than a few pinches throughout the regular season. Jones said he considers his all-state medal a fitting ending to his baseball career.
“Though I’m going to be running track and cross country, I’ll be cheering these guys on from the stands. It’s bittersweet knowing I may not be able to play again but I went out with my team — the best friends I got.”
Pratt is the only Indian returning next season but brings with him plenty of expectations.
Along with competing for the 19U team, Pratt also competed for the 17U Indians, who made an unexpectedly early exit from the tournament a week before the 19U’s arrival.
While splitting pitching and fielding duties, Pratt posted two strikeouts over multiple appearances while also driving in a run and finishing the tournament with a .375 batting average and a .615 on base percentage.
“I have high hopes for next year,” Pratt said. “Hopefully, we can win state and do a little better than this year.”
