Pioneers place three on All-District teams

Ostermiller, Queen make first team, Schmidt named to second team

Posted 8/6/19

Another season of Powell Pioneers baseball is in the books, and three of the team’s players have received post-season honors.

Pitchers/outfielders Kobe Ostermiller and Colin Queen were …

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Pioneers place three on All-District teams

Ostermiller, Queen make first team, Schmidt named to second team

Posted

Another season of Powell Pioneers baseball is in the books, and three of the team’s players have received post-season honors.

Pitchers/outfielders Kobe Ostermiller and Colin Queen were named to the West All-District first team, while catcher Cameron Schmidt was named to the second team.

Pioneers’ manager Joe Cates said all three players were very deserving of the recognition.

“Colin [Queen] and Kobe [Ostermiller] both did a great job at the plate this year, and both played well in the field and on the mound,” Cates said. “We’re gonna miss Schmidt behind the plate; good catchers are hard to find. I was very impressed with all three guys.”

Ostermiller spent most of the season in the leadoff spot, a place he’s held since late last season. He hit .364 for the season, and led the team with 36 hits — including five doubles and two triples.

“Kobe did great in the leadoff spot and got it done in center field when needed,” Cates said. “He was just a good outfielder for us this year. We need to build up his arm strength a little this off-season, get him throwing a little harder and a little further next year.”

Queen hit .333 for the season, with 30 hits — including seven doubles and a triple. The left-hander had a 4-4 record on the mound, with a 2.76 ERA and 54 strikeouts.

“Colin pitched well this year and played a great center field,” Cates said. “At the plate, he understood he was getting pitched away all season long, and that’s what he worked on. That’s how he survived, because no one pitched him middle-in. He did a great job at the plate this year being very aware of what his strike zone was. He was patient and didn’t chase very often.”

With Ostermiller leading off and Queen batting second, the Pioneers were usually guaranteed a baserunner.

“It wasn’t very often they both got out,” Cates said. “That was nice to have.”

Schmidt finished his final season with 27 hits, including nine doubles, and a .314 average. Behind the plate, he caught 145 innings.

“We’re definitely gonna miss Cameron [Schmidt]. He’s been a great asset to our ball club,” Cates said. “It’s very hard at this level to find a quality catcher; it’s a lot of work. He hit in the low to mid-.300s, so it was great to see that. And when you look at how many pitches went to the wall, for him, a lot of them were wild pitches — not much got by him.”

Ostermiller and Queen will return next season, along with the majority of the team. Schmidt will be missed behind the plate, but Cates said the future looks promising.

“Having everyone return next year is going to be helpful,” he said.

“Ending the way we did, not having the season we wanted, it was a grind. So I’m hoping the guys kind of learn from this,” Cates added of the Pioneers’ 6-26 campaign. “If we can play next season like we’re capable of, we can win a lot more games.”

Powell Pioneers

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