Lesher Named Captain of Class AA All-State Team and Teammate Kiefer also Lands First Unit Selection
By Jeff Toquinto on June 06, 2018 via Connect-Bridgeport.com
With a fifth-straight Class AA title to their credit and another 30-win season on the books as well, it’s probably no surprise the Bridgeport Indians have players selected to the 2018 Class AA All-State team. And one of the honors is the first-team captain.
Senior Brayden Lesher was not only chosen as a pitcher on the first team, he was also voted on as the first team captain. Lesher is joined 
on the first team by senior infield Koby Kiefer.
on the first team by senior infield Koby Kiefer.
The teams are voted on by the West Virginia Sports Writers Association.
As for Lesher, he was the leader of the Indians’ pitching staff and started all the big games. His only rough outing was in the Class AA state title game, but veteran Coach Robert Shields says his team isn’t there without him.
“I’m pleased he received this type of attention from the coaches and writers throughout the state. He’s a good ball player, and not just as a pitcher, but as a fielder and as a hitter as well,” said Shields. “Here’s a kid that was our number nine hitter that moved into the three spot this year and produced.
“There’s no doubt he was the ace of our staff and always got the ball against the top teams and usually went start to finish of those games,” Shields continued. “Whether it was a Jefferson or a Saint Albans in the regular season or against Elkins or Lewis County in the postseason, if it was the big game he got the ball.”
According to Shields’ stats, prior to the state tournament Lesher finished 5-0. He went 44 innings and allowed 13, 19 hits, struck out 48 and walked just 13. Lesher also batted .433in 60 plate appearances.
Shields also had equal faith in Kiefer. The standout, who will be punting for Cornell next year, was solid at the plate and on and off the field.
“What can you say about a kid that contributed everywhere? I asked him to be the leadoff hitter, take pitches and so much more and he just did it,” said Shields. “He was a leader in the field, in the dugout and at practice. Basically, he was just all over the place doing everything a coach wants.
“Koby was just such a positive influence and never had moments where he was upset about anything,” Shields continued. “There would be big value in that if that was all that he did, but he knows how to play the game too.”
Kiefer finished the year with a.390 average in 105 plate appearances. He collected a team-high 41 hits that included a pair of home runs. Kiefer also led the team by drawing 22 walks.
Bridgeport did not have anyone on the second team. The Tribe did have two players named to special honorable mention. Senior third baseman Chapin Murphy and junior pitcher Tim Via were selected to that designation.
Shields openly was dismayed about Murphy not making either the first or second team.
“I’m disappointed Chapin didn’t get rewarded for the year he had. It’s a shame because I truly feel he was slighted,” said Shields, who rarely publicly voices his displeasure with postseason honor squads.
Two more members of the Tribe earned honorable mention status. Seniors Tyler Pitzer and Brice Haines were singled out for that designation.
Several individuals from Harrison County and the Big 10 Conference were included on the honor squads as well. They are listed below.
Class AA
First Team
P — Tyler Komorowski, Weir, jr.
P — Brayden Lesher, Bridgeport, sr. (captain)
P — Wyatt Milum, Wayne, fr.
C — Kobie Carpenter, Lincoln, sr.
INF — Zack Whitacre, Frankfort, jr.
INF — Cayden Ross, Wayne, sr.
INF — Brett Morris, Winfield, sr.
INF — Koby Kiefer, Bridgeport, sr.
OF — Jaden Kuroski, East Fairmont, sr.
OF — Noah Dingess, Chapmanville, sr.
OF — Blake Wasson, Frankfort, sr.
Utility — Fisher Horton, Independence, sr.
Utility — Grant Mohler, James Monroe, sr.
Utility — Ethan Payne, Poca, fr.
Utility — Caden Carpenter, Sissonville, sr.
Second Team
P — Matt Gainer, Elkins, jr.
P — Logan Stump, Independence, soph.
P — Nick Edwards, Winfield sr.
C — Logan Lawhorn, Oak Hill, fresh.
INF — Tre Junkins, RCB, sr.
INF — Jacob Oates, Braxton County, jr.
INF — T. Jay Mullins, Logan, sr.
INF — Zach Perry, Wayne, sr.
OF — Broderick Lantz, Liberty Harrison, sr.
OF — Justin Lovell, Shady Spring, jr.
OF — Josh Adkins, Nitro, sr.
Utility — Cole Barker, Lewis County, sr.
Utility — Nathan Kuhn, Scott, jr.
Utility — Matt Brown, Logan, sr.
Utility — Mike Stone, Nitro, sr, (captain)
Special Honorable Mention
Jonathan Lyons, Oak Hill; Cam Cook, Wyoming East; Matt Caldwell, Wyoming East; Andrew Hazelwood, James Monroe; Connor Moore, James Monroe; Trenton Begley, Liberty Raleigh; Chris Begley, Liberty Raleigh; Nick Nutter, Nicholas County; Jared Gregory, Nicholas County; Noel Sizemore, Shady Spring; Jaedon Diggs, Bluefield; Luke Nash, PikeView; Derek Chapman, Herbert Hoover; Peyton Gillispie, Winfield; Conner Mullins, Chapmanville; Michael Pinkerton, Sissonville; Trad Harman, Petersburg; Jakob Mauzy, Petersburg; Tanner Champ, Petersburg; Nick Corwell, Frankfort; Wyatt Yates, Frankfort; Josh Cline, Oak Glen; Elijah Gillette, Weir; Payton Lockard, Braxton County; Corey Elswick, Clay County; Isiah Thompson, Wayne; Jeremiah Milum, Wayne; Chase Berry, Chapmanville; Devin Hensley, Logan; Justin Stone, Berkeley Springs; Andrew Butts, Berkeley Springs; Cole Kiddy, Robert C. Byrd; Hunter Moore, Lincoln; Chapin Murphy, Bridgeport; Tim Via, Bridgeport; Read Schumacher, Elkins; Luke Swecker, Elkins; Andrew Hamilton, North Marion; Dalton Boyce, East Fairmont; Ian Fairley, Fairmont Senior; Connor Neal, Fairmont Senior; Leo White, Lewis County; Luke White, Lewis County, Jaedon Diggs, Bluefield; Connor Moore, James Monroe; Andrew Hazelwood, James Monroe; Brock Muncy, Man; Miles Williams, Point Pleasant; Tucker Mayes, Point Pleasant; Carter Lyles, Scott; Dominic Lough, Grafton; David Shriver, Philip Barbour.
Honorable Mention
Tanner Hall, Wyoming East; McQuade Canada, Wyoming East; Nick Lester, Independence; Monroe Mohler, James Monroe; Mikey Belcher, James Monroe; Josh Pritt, Nicholas County; Lane Jordan, Oak Hill; Bradley Lokant, Oak Hill; Caleb Lilly, Shady Spring, Jo Jo Brooks, Bluefield; Ben Price, Westside; Aaron Blackwell, Winfield; Jason Douglas, Nitro; Jake Hamrick, Nitro; Sam Ingram, Winfield; Isaac McClanahan, Poca; Tanner Miller, Poca; Cayd Snyder, Sissonville; Luke Stricker, Herbert Hoover; Rhett White, Herbert Hoover; Josh Zigmond, Chapmanville; Lucas Berg, Petersburg; Peyton Sindledecker, Petersburg; Brendan Whiteman, Frankfort; Reid Hoover, Weir; Tayton Stout, Braxton County, Colton Moore, Clay County; Jake Whiting, Roane County; Josh Perry, Wayne; Peyton Branham, Logan; Tobin Cain, Berkeley Springs; Jackson Tucker, Liberty; Tyler Pitzer, Bridgeport; Brice Haines, Bridgeport; Patrick Bart, Lincoln; Holden Santee, North Marion; Dylan Kincell, East Fairmont; Broderick Rohrbaugh, East Fairmont; Drew Sivak, Fairmont Senior, Cam Hines, Fairmont Senior; Jared Skinner, Lewis County; JoJo Brooks, Bluefield; Joseph Schmidlen, Elkins; Nick Jewell, James Monroe; Cody Moore, James Monroe; Evan Moreland, Keyser; Zack Frye, Man; Carter Smith, Point Pleasant; Aaron Epling, Scott; Nate Baldwin, Philip Barbour; T.J. Summers, Grafton; Eli Kirkendall, Lincoln County; Broc Crist, Lincoln County.
Editor's Note: Top photo of Brayden Lesher and bottom photo of Koby Kiefer by www.benqueenphotography.com.
