Gerrard Diaz, gdiaz@shawanoleader.com
Shawano sluggers Chase Henning and Alex Frechette will be heading to Fox Cities Stadium on Aug. 9 for the Fox River Valley American Legion All-Star game.
The Fox River Valley stars are scheduled to play at noon. The game will be preceded by the Central Wisconsin American Legion All-Star game, set to begin at 9 a.m.
Henning, who batted third for Shawano all season, was sixth in the Fox River Valley American Legion with a .462 batting average.
“He hit the ball very consistently,” Shawano coach Will Gillis said. “He did very good in league, but also nonconference as well.”
Henning had 12 RBIs and 18 hits in league play, and finished the season with five home runs, including a pair against Bonduel and a grand slam against Waupaca.
Gillis said Henning evolved as a hitter this season, facing more curve balls as pitchers tried to limit his effectiveness.
Frechette was second on the team with a .405 batting average. He had nine RBIs and 17 hits in league play.
“Al is more of a streaky guy,” Gillis said. “When he’s hot, he’s a guy that can carry your team, for sure.”
Gillis said Frechette’s attitude set him apart.
“He’s one of the best teammates I’ve seen,” Gillis said. “He’d do almost anything for you. His will to win and his enthusiasm for the game is unparalleled. He was fun to coach, always positive, always supporting his teammates.”
Gillis added that both players shined on the bases.
“Chase and Al both have incredible speed,” Gillis said. “They were never thrown out on the bases on steal attempts.”
Central Wisconsin All-Stars
Four players from each Central Wisconsin American Legion team were selected to the All-Star roster.
Connor Rosin, Hunter VanderLinden, Colton Dobratz and Trevor Pederson will represent Bonduel on the North Division team.
Richard Corn, Walker Miller, Brady Hoffman and Dallas Madosh will represent Menominee.
Woodrow Nelson, Justin Miller, Andrew Cunliff and Aaron Hoffman were selected for Marion/Tigerton.
Turner Doornink, Parker Mindel, Jake VanAllen and Nick Hogan will represent Clintonville, the Northern Division champion.
Clintonville coach Jeremy Schoenike will coach the Northern Division team.
Wisconsin Legion All-Stars
Shawano pitcher Taylor Prey and Bonduel pitcher Jake Luepke were among the 54 players selected to participate in the Wisconsin Legion All-Star game Aug. 10 at Miller Park.
“He worked harder than almost anyone I’ve seen in the offseason,” Gillis said of Prey. “He was unbelievable down the stretch.”
Prey had solid days on the mound against Bay Port to end the regular season and against Oconto Falls in the American Legion Class AA Region 3 tournament, racking up 23 strikeouts in two games.