Butler, Ramirez, Yager named All-State

Three Patroon Conference baseball players were All-State selections the New York State Sportswriters Association announced on Thursday.

Jeremy Ramirez, fresh off leading Hudson to its third straight Patroon Conference title and earning league Most Valuable Player honors, was named to the Class B fifth team as a pitcher/shortstop.

In Class C, Maple Hill’s Nick Butler was a first-team selection as a catcher, while his teammate, Alec Yager, made the second team as a pitcher.

Ramirez batted .397 with 26 hits, six doubles, two triples, four home runs, 22 RBI and 33 runs scored. He struck out just three times in 20 games. On the mound, Ramirez compiled a 5-0 record with a 0.49 earned run average, striking out 58 and walking 19 in 43 innings.

“Jeremy is an incredible multi-sport athlete,” Hudson coach Kevin Bowes said. “He does everything well on the baseball field. He started for me for three years and he’s the kind of kid that just goes out and plays. He never gets down on himself and thrives under pressure. When he was throwing a no-hitter early in the year against Greenville and I had to ask him how he felt because his pitch count was around 90, he said ‘I’m finishing this game’ before I could finish my sentence. The Columbia-Greene Community College coaches should be so excited to get him because he’s so coachable.”

Butler was not only an offensive threat for Maple Hill, he was one of the best defensive catchers in the Patroon as well. The St. Lawrence-bound Butler hit .519 (40 for 77) with three home runs, 30 RBI, 10 doubles and six stolen bases.

“I thought Nick had one of the best years in the Patroon and an exceptional sectional season as well,” Maple Hill coach Rico Frese said. “He’s going to St. Lawrence, which is a D-3 program, but a lot of people I’ve talked to feel like he’s a Division 2 or borderline Division I player. He really took off for us this year and I felt he had one of the biggest years, not just for Maple Hill, but in the Patroon. I think this is definitely well-deserved and well-earned.”

Yager was one of the best pitchers in the Patroon this past season and was at his best in postseason play when he helped the Wildcats reach the state Class C regional final.

The right-hander compiled a 9-1 record with a 1.50 earned run average, allowing 63 hits and 19 runs (16 earned) with 89 strikeouts and 17 walks in 74 2/3 innings.

“Alec’s numbers are gaudy,” Frese said. “He was 9-0 going into the regional final and it’s hard to dispute nine wins at the high school level, especially with a 20-game schedule. I think with Alec and Nick, both have a long way go in regard to upside, and I’m saying that in a positive way. Alec, when he gets a little bit physically bigger and when they both mature physically, I think the sky’s the limit for both of them in college.”

Frese credits Butler an Yager with being the keys to the Wildcats winning the Section II, Class C title and getting to the brink of the state Final Four.

“Those two are the catalysts,” Frese said. “Nick dominated offensively and defensively and Alec on the mound, getting wins even when he wasn’t as sharp as he can be. He always put us in a position to win, which is all you can ask from a pitcher. Both are great kids, tremendous leaders, tremendous competitors and they’re going to be sorely missed on so many different levels, not just ability-wise, but what they bring to the team and to their peers.”