By Kenton Brooks
Phoenix Staff Writer
May 17, 2008 12:44 am
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By Kenton Brooks
Phoenix Sports Writer
Antonio Horn, Hunter Cunningham and Derek Ellison have a few things in common this spring.
Not only did they play on successful high school baseball teams, but they now have the ultimate honor for a player — selection to the All-State Team.
Muskogee’s Horn and Sequoyah’s Cunningham are on the Large East squad and Ellison is on the Small East team.
The trio also were named as outfielders.
Horn had the kind of year that players dream about: 14 home runs, 39 RBIs and 28 stolen bases.
By the way, he also had four doubles, two triples and batted .333.
Horn especially shined in the regional tournament, hitting a three-run home run and a grand slam against Enid.
“It’s said that the cream rises to the top,” MHS coach Mack Chambers said. “He rose to the top when we needed him. He did a great job offensively for us.
“Antonio had an outstanding regional. Making all-state is good for him and it’s good for Muskogee baseball. It shows the younger kids in the area and lets them know they can have success if they put in the time.”
Cunningham, a Northeastern State University football signee, put in the time on the diamond with his .444 batting average in helping the Indians to the regional tourney.
He also had seven home runs, five doubles, four triples and drove in 30 runs. He had 28 stolen bases and scored 30 runs.
“If it comes right down to it, he likes baseball more than anything,” Sequoyah coach Jeff Turtle said. “He competes hard in anything he does. He had four good years for us.”
Ellison had a good year in leading the Tigers to the Class 2A state championship game.
Also a pitcher for Oktaha, Ellison batted .371 with three homers, six doubles and 34 runs scored. He also drove in 18 runs and had a fielding percentage of .948.
“He was steady the last two to three years in our lineup,” Oktaha coach Chris Burt said. “He pitched quite a bit as a freshman and got in our lineup after that. He’s steady and dependable. He’s very deserving of being named all-state.”
The trio play in the all-state games on July 28 at AT&T Bricktown Ballpark in Oklahoma City. Horn and Cunningham play at 7 p.m.., while Ellison plays at 4:30 p.m.
The coaches for the games will be announced later.ﯓ
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