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This year’s All-Messenger Baseball Team features a number of area athletes that have also been named to the All-State Team.

Pike Lib is represented on the 2024 All-Messenger squad by catcher John Lott, outfielder Houston Gunter and utility Luke Barron. Lott, who also earned All-State honors, is the All-Messenger Baseball Player of the Year after posting a senior campaign that saw him earn a .436 batting average with a .540 on-base percentage despite battling through injuries late in the season. He also led Pike Lib with six doubles, one triple, a home run, 14 stolen bases, 27 RBIs and 44 runs. On the defensive end, the future Reid State Lion earned a .982 fielding percentage with 211 putouts from behind the plate.

Barron also captured All-State honors as one of Pike’s most versatile athletes. As a pitcher, he boasted a 2.154 ERA with 59 strikeouts in 39 innings of work. He also held an .878 fielding percentage with 48 putouts in the infield. As a batter, Barron earned a .474 batting average with six doubles, one triple, one home run, 30 RBIs and 22 runs. Gunter earned a .316 batting average with a .460 on-base percentage, three doubles, four stolen bases, 14 RBIs and 25 runs.

Charles Henderson is represented on the All-Messenger team by pitcher Parker Adams, infielder Chase Vaznaian and outfielder Cooper Johnson. Adams pitched 45 and 1/3 innings and earned a 5-3 record as a starter with 35 strikeouts. He also earned a .305 batting average as a hitter with 19 RBIs, 14 stolen bases and 13 runs. Vaznaian was the CHHS leader at the plate, earning a .330 batting average with four doubles, one triple, 17 RBIs and 22 runs. He also pitched 19 innings with 12 strikeouts and a 3.64 ERA. Johnson earned a .319 batting average with 17 RBIs, 24 runs and 25 stolen bases.

Senior infielder Cade Edwards represents Goshen on this year’s All-Messenger after posting a .485 batting average and .614 on-base percentage with 14 RBIs, eight runs, six doubles and one triple.

Senior infielder Omari Barrow represents Pike County on the All-Messenger. As a senior, he earned a .321 batting average and .615 on-base percentage with two doubles, a home run, 11 RBIs, 17 runs and 22 stolen bases. He also boasted a .900 fielding percentage with 43 putouts, two assist and a double play. As a pitcher, he earned a 3.500 ERA with 57 strikeouts in 28 innings of work on the mound.

The reigning back-to-back 2A State Champion Ariton Purple Cats are represented by All-Messenger Pitcher of the Year Austin Evans, senior outfielder Myles Tyler, and senior utility Ian Senn and Lawson Leger. All four Purple Cats earned All-State honors with Tyler taking the 2A Player of the Year honor. Tyler finished the season with a .393 batting average, 37 RBIs, 37 runs, six doubles, three triples and 26 stolen bases. On the defensive end, he boasted a .953 fielding percentage with 40 putouts and one assist.

Evans was Ariton’s ace pitcher, striking out 54 batters with an 8-0 record as a starter and a 1.78 ERA and 1.08 WHIP in 70 and 2/3 innings on the mound. Senn also earned a 6-2 record as a starter on the mound with a 2.69 ERA and 53 strikeouts. In the infield he earned a .956 fielding percentage with 67 putouts, 20 assists and an area leading seven double plays. As a batter, Senn earned a .231 batting average with 16 stolen bases, three doubles, two triples, a home run, 17 RBIs and 24 runs.

Leger earned a .338 batting average and .418 on-base percentage with a team-leading four homers, 43 RBIs, 40 runs, nine doubles, two triples and 19 stolen bases. He also held a .905 fielding percentage defensively with 34 putouts, 32 assists and two double plays. As a pitcher, Leger earned a 1.52 ERA with 14 strikeouts in 23 innings pitched.

The 2024 All-Messenger Coach of the Year is Ariton’s Bob Pickett. Pickett took over as head coach at Ariton mid-year last season and since that time has led his Cats to two straight state championships, the first two in school history.

Representing Zion Chapel on the All-Messenger squad is senior infielder Austin Jordan and senior utility Wes Braisted. Braisted also earned All-State honors after finishing the season with a .455 batting average, .548 on-base percentage, six doubles, two triples, one home run, 26 RBIs and 26 runs. He also pitched 44 and 1/3 innings with 60 strikeouts and a 2.70 ERA with a .920 fielding percentage on defense. Jordan earned a .324 batting average with seven doubles, 20 RBIs and 11 runs.

All-Messenger Baseball 2024
P: Parker Adams, Sr., Charles Henderson
P: Austin Evans, Jr., Ariton
IF: Chase Vaznaian, So., Charles Henderson
IF: Austin Jordan, Sr., Zion Chapel
IF: Omari Barrow, Sr., Pike County
IF: Cade Edwards, Sr., Goshen
C: John Lott, Sr., Pike Liberal Arts
OF: Houston Gunter, Sr., Pike Liberal Arts
OF: Myles Tyler, Sr., Ariton
OF: Cooper Johnson, So, Charles Henderson
UTL: Lawson Leger, Sr., Ariton
UTL: Luke Barron, Jr., Pike Liberal Arts
UTL: Wes Braisted, Sr., Zion Chapel
UTL: Ian Senn, Sr., Ariton

Player of the Year: John Lott, Pike Lib
Pitcher of the Year: Austin Evans, Ariton
Coach of the Year: Bob Pickett, Ariton