by Lisa Hinton-Valdrighi
Matthew Kleinfelter, a sophomore pitcher and third baseman who led Lancaster High to the Region 1A East baseball semifinals, has been named the Conference #43 player of the year and received four conference and regional honors.
Kleinfelter, who had a 9-2 record on the mound with one shutout, was named to both the conference and region first teams as a pitcher and third baseman. He was the only conference player to earn first-team region honors.
Kleinfelter had a 1.11 ERA with 94 strikeouts in 68 innings. He also led the Devils at the plate with a .478 batting average. He had 33 hits with 14 doubles and one homer for 25 RBIs and 13 runs scored.
Lancaster took four spots on the All-Conference #43 first team with Kleinfelter capturing two spots and junior Danny Hinson chosen as a first-team second baseman and sophomore Spencer Crittenden selected as the utility player. Both Hinson and Crittenden also pitched for the Devils.
Hinson had a .304 batting average with nine doubles and 17 runs scored and Spencer had a .300 batting average with 10 RBIs and 12 runs.
Lancaster also placed one on the second team in freshman catcher Adam Wilmore, who had a .320 batting average with six doubles, one triple, eight RBIs and 22 runs scored.
Essex High’s Reed Harmon was chosen as the coach of the year and he placed two of his players on the first team in first baseman Justin Lankford and outfielder Hunter Shackleford. Three Trojans were named to the second team including pitcher Max Steorts, shortstop Terrell Hundley and utility player Ah-Kaliq Martin.
Northumberland shortstop Collin Saunders and catcher Blake Edwards made the first team cut, while teammates pitcher Thomas Bingham and third baseman Brian Harris were chosen for the second team.
Others named to the first team were Colonial Beach’s pitchers Connor Lutz and Mason Delane and outfielder Wyatt Feltner; Rappahannock High’s outfielder Joseph Pierson and designated hitter Tyler West.
Those named to the second team were Rappahannock High’s pitcher Cody Broache, catcher Tyler Hennage, first baseman Jordon Hoover and outfielder Connor France; Colonial Beach’s outfielder AJ Phillips, second baseman Henry Bowler and designated hitter Andrew Burrell and Rappahannock County’s pitcher Brett Midkiff and outfielder Ryan Atkins.
