Butler Baseball players tabbed with All-Conference honors
The season ended for BJ McVay and the Butler Grizzlies at Tointon Family Stadium in Manhattan last week, but the Grizzlies were still represented in the all conference honors that were announced on Tuesday. Pitcher Braxton Hyde was named to the KJCCC West first team while catcher Zach Stroh, shortstop Hayden Dyer and centerfielder Josh Holmes were named to the second team. In addition, Cache Stone, Izack Tiger and Cooper Torres received honorable mention honors.
Braxton Hyde, sophomore from Liberal, KS, was the only representative on the first team for the Grizzlies, and with good reason. He was the ace of Butler's rotation, starting in 15 games, earning five wins. He earned an ERA of 4.68 with 96 strikeouts, good for second in the conference, including a 12 strikeout performance against Coffeyville in the first round of the Plains District playoffs. He earned two complete game performances and allowed only 12 home runs in 73 innings pitched.
Zach Stroh, sophomore catcher from Elk River, MN, picked up second team honors after quarterbacking the Grizzly defense from behind the plate. Stroh caught in 48 of the Grizzlies 59 games this season. He hit .284 on the season and came up big offensively in some major games throughout the year with one of the most notable against Dodge City winning in a walkoff. Stroh recorded a KJCCC best 405 putouts behind the dish and held a .988 fielding percentage.
Hayden Dyer, freshman from Gardner, KS, represents the Grizzlies on the second team, playing in 56 games with a batting average of .354 and earning eight home runs and 48 RBIs. His 68 hits put him at 17th in the conference. Dyer closed out the season with a 26-game hitting streak that came to an end in the final game of the season.
Josh Holmes, freshman outfielder from Lenexa, KS, played in 50 games this season batting .339 with a .554 slugging percentage. He worked his way to the leadoff spot throughout the season and was a threat on the base path as he led the team in stolen bases with 22. Holmes his12 doubles and eight homeruns during his freshman campaign
Cache Stone, a sophomore middle infielder from Kiowa, OK, came in second on the team in batting average hitting .349 on the season, and he earned eight home runs as well. He earned his way on the base paths all year, with 27 walks and getting tagged with 26 pitches, leading the conference in hit by pitches. His on base percentage of .490 was 17th in the conference.
Izack Tiger, sophomore pitcher from Del City, OK, earned 14 starts on the mound and won nine games, with an ERA of 4.32 and 94 strikeouts in 77 innings pitched. His 94 punchouts was third in the conference and his 10.99 strikeouts per game was also third best in the league this year.
Cooper Torres, freshman infielder from Woodstock, GA, led the Grizzlies in home runs with 14, and his 54 runs batted in also led the team and was good for 20th in the conference. He led the Grizzlies in triples with three, and he totaled 32 extra base hits, also leading the team.
This is the most All-Conference players the Grizzlies have had awarded since the 2019 season that saw Butler win the KJCCC West and place eight on the All-Jayhawk list.
Complete All-Conference List