The 2009 Talawanda baseball team was among the most successful of all time, at least in team statistics, and the senior-dominated team saw that success rewarded at post-season awards time.
Two of the Braves’ senior players, Noah Zipko and Braden Park, were given spots to play on a team in the Ohio High School Mizuno Tournament at Veterans Memorial Stadium in Chillicothe today and Saturday, June 12 and 13.
The Mizuno All Ohio Series is made up of seniors from all over the state of Ohio. Players, as well as coaches, are selected by members of the Ohio High School Baseball Coaches Association based on their high school careers.
The players come from a mix of Divisions I through IV and the tournament is made up of four teams based on the schools’ geographical locations.
Zipko and Park will play on the Blue Team made up of players from Southwest Ohio. Talawanda coach Pete Maus was selected to coach the Blue Team this year.
All four teams will play four games over the two days with the championship game is scheduled for 5 p.m. on Saturday.
“It is a great honor for both players. They have spent many hours practicing to reach a high level of play. This is a reward for all the extra work both Noah and Braden have put in,” Maus said.
Zipko played varsity for Maus for three years as a shortstop. He was selected to the all conference team for the third time this year. Zipko led the Fort Ancient Valley Conference in RBI.
Maus said he was also selected to the SWOBCA East/West All Star Game.
He has been recognized at quarterly honor roll ceremonies all four years of high school and is a member of the National Honor Society. Zipko will continue his baseball career at the college level in the fall at Campbell University in North Carolina.
“Noah has been a steady force past three years defensively and will continue to grow as a player of the next four years at Campbell,” Maus said.
Park started at third base for three years on the varsity team. He led the FAVC in runs, hits and average. He also led the team in doubles, triples and walks and was second in stolen bases and RBI. He is still undecided on a university but is looking to play baseball at the College of Wooster or Marietta College.
“Braden has been a great team leader over the past three years,” Maus said.
Park was also a member of the National Honor Society and played three sports – football, hockey and baseball – throughout his high school career.
During the baseball award ceremony on May 28 at Talawanda High school, FAVC conference and team awards were given out.
Park earned FAVC Scarlet Player of the Year and First Team selection. Zipko, Todd Weiser and Stephen Kuehn were given First Team FAVC Scarlet honors. Josh Claytor and Kyle Elza were named to the second team FAVC Scarlet.
Weiser, Park, Zipko, Claytor, Kyle Elza, David Fasick, Ben Hammons, Morgan Retherford and Austin Huff were all awarded All FAVC Scarlet Scholar Athlete Awards.
Park, Zipko, Claytor and Elza were all awarded OHSBCA Academic All State honors.
Maus presented eight team awards.
MVP was given to Park; Best Outfielder, Weiser; Best Infielder, Zipko; Most Improved, Elza; Braves Award Varsity, Weiser; Braves Award Junior Varsity, Mike Dyer; Braves Award Freshman, Alex Kane.
