By Cort Reynolds

In voting recently conducted by league coaches, Pirate mentor Kasey Krendl shares NWC Coach of the Year honors with Lincolnview’s Eric Fishpaw for the 2023-2023 school year.

Bluffton junior left fielder Luke Jebsen was named first team All-Northwest Conference. Jebsen sparked the Pirate offense from his leadoff spot.

Pirate junior third baseman Evan Speicher was tabbed second team All-NWC.

Senior catcher Kerry Wright and junior center fielder Landen Worcester earned honorable mention notice.

Bluffton finished 11-11 overall and 5-3 in the NWC to come in a solid fourth place in the nine-team league.

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Luke Bollenbacher of league champion Lincolnview (8-0) was named NWC Player of the Year. 

Leipsic finished second in the NWC at 7-1, followed by Crestview in third place at 6-2. Bluffton finished fourth at 5-3, with Columbus Grove fifth (4-4).

AE, Delphos Jefferson and Spencerville tied for sixth at 2-6. Ada was last (0-8).

2024 All-NWC baseball teams:

NWC Player of the Year: Luke Bollenbacher – Lincolnview
NWC Co-Coaches of the Year: Kasey Krendl – Bluffton & Eric Fishpaw – Lincolnview

1st Team
Luke Bollenbacher – Sr – Lincolnview
Quin Schroeder – Sr – Leipsic
Hunter Jones – Sr – Crestview
Tommy Offenbacher – Jr – Leipsic
Austin Bockrath – Sr – Lincolnview
Jackson Thompson – So – Allen East
Ethan Zeisloft – Sr – Leipsic
Luke Jebsen – Jr – Bluffton
Preston Kreischer – Sr – Crestview
Kyle Hopkins – Jr – Columbus Grove
Chase Overholt – So – Lincolnview

2nd Team
Bryson Penix – Jr – Crestview
Evan Osting – Sr – Spencerville
Jack Dunlap – Sr – Lincolnview
Brady Basinger – Fr – Columbus Grove
Karder Agner – Jr – Delphos Jefferson
Caden Hedrick – Sr – Allen East
Myles Moody – Jr – Lincolnview
Evan Speicher – Jr – Bluffton
Tyler Lammers – Jr – Leipsic
Holden Price – So – Lincolnview
Max Puerto – Jr – Ada

Honorable Mention
Donovan Kennedy – Sr – Allen East
Kerry Wright – Sr – Bluffton
Everett Palte – Sr – Columbus Grove
Connor Sheets – Sr – Crestview
Aiden Hardesty – Sr – Lincolnview
Trent Siefker – Sr – Leipsic
Landen Worcester – Jr – Bluffton
Gavin Schwartz – Jr – Spencerville
Evan Sautter – Sr – Columbus Grove
Carter Layman – Sr – Spencerville
Caleb Lybarger – Fr – Allen East
Mason Wibley – So – Ada