University of Minnesota Athletics
Incoming Golden Gophers Finish Senior Seasons Strong
6/26/2008 12:00:00 AM | Baseball
The Minnesota baseball program had several of its incoming players finished their senior years in high school in strong fashion.
Locally, Kurt Schlangen was named the St. Cloud Times 2A Area Player of the Year. Schlangen, who was a catcher and pitcher for Albany High School, helped lead his team to the consolation championship and the squad’s highest finish since 1970. Schlangen had entered the postseason with a .462 batting average, 13 doubles and 24 RBI during the regular-season. He also had a 0.25 ERA as a pitcher and struck out 75 batters in 56 innings of work.
The Golden Gophers also had a pair of late signees that collected awards both from a team and individual perspective. Sam Schissel, out of Kenosha, Wis., helped lead Kenosha Bradford to its first state title since 1963. In the state tournament, Schissel was 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and had 13 strikeouts in 14.0 innings. He pitched a complete-game in Kenosha Bradford’s 3-1 victory in the State Championship game against Kimberly. Overall, Schissel finished the season with a 9-0 record and a 1.88 ERA
One of Minnesota’s other late additions was Ethan Liederman, from Queens, N.Y. Liederman received the New York City PSAL Wingate Award for being the top senior in his sport in the area. He was a PSAL Daily News First-Team All-City honoree, was named the Times Ledger All-Queens Baseball Player of the Year and was the Francis Lewis High School Male Athlete of the Year as well a Hall of Fame Inductee. Liederman finished the season batting .450 with 17 runs, two home runs and stole 24 bases. He was also 3-0 with three saves and a 3.78 ERA on the mound.
Three of the Golden Gophers other incoming freshman will play in the Twin Cities High School All-Star Game at Midway Stadium on Friday, June 27 at 7 p.m. Playing for the East Squad will be Hill-Murray’s Troy Larson and Mahtomedi’s Justin Gominsky. Eden Prairie’s J.T. Canakes will play for the West Squad. Those three players also joined future Golden Gopher Matt Puhl (North St. Paul High School) in the Lions All-Star Tournament last week.
Puhl, Gominsky and Larson each earned Pioneer Press Honorable Mention All-State honors as well. Larson also received Star Tribune All-Metro honors, after batting .427 with 17 runs and 12 RBI during the regular-season.
Austin Lubinsky (Lacrosse, Wis.) was named All-City and Second-Team All-State as a senior at Logan High School. Lubinsky finished the season 10-1 with a 1.24 ERA, with only six walks and 62 strikeouts. He is one of the candidates for the LaCrosse Tribune Area Player of the Year, which will be announced on Sunday, June 29.
Locally, Kurt Schlangen was named the St. Cloud Times 2A Area Player of the Year. Schlangen, who was a catcher and pitcher for Albany High School, helped lead his team to the consolation championship and the squad’s highest finish since 1970. Schlangen had entered the postseason with a .462 batting average, 13 doubles and 24 RBI during the regular-season. He also had a 0.25 ERA as a pitcher and struck out 75 batters in 56 innings of work.
The Golden Gophers also had a pair of late signees that collected awards both from a team and individual perspective. Sam Schissel, out of Kenosha, Wis., helped lead Kenosha Bradford to its first state title since 1963. In the state tournament, Schissel was 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA and had 13 strikeouts in 14.0 innings. He pitched a complete-game in Kenosha Bradford’s 3-1 victory in the State Championship game against Kimberly. Overall, Schissel finished the season with a 9-0 record and a 1.88 ERA
One of Minnesota’s other late additions was Ethan Liederman, from Queens, N.Y. Liederman received the New York City PSAL Wingate Award for being the top senior in his sport in the area. He was a PSAL Daily News First-Team All-City honoree, was named the Times Ledger All-Queens Baseball Player of the Year and was the Francis Lewis High School Male Athlete of the Year as well a Hall of Fame Inductee. Liederman finished the season batting .450 with 17 runs, two home runs and stole 24 bases. He was also 3-0 with three saves and a 3.78 ERA on the mound.
Three of the Golden Gophers other incoming freshman will play in the Twin Cities High School All-Star Game at Midway Stadium on Friday, June 27 at 7 p.m. Playing for the East Squad will be Hill-Murray’s Troy Larson and Mahtomedi’s Justin Gominsky. Eden Prairie’s J.T. Canakes will play for the West Squad. Those three players also joined future Golden Gopher Matt Puhl (North St. Paul High School) in the Lions All-Star Tournament last week.
Puhl, Gominsky and Larson each earned Pioneer Press Honorable Mention All-State honors as well. Larson also received Star Tribune All-Metro honors, after batting .427 with 17 runs and 12 RBI during the regular-season.
Austin Lubinsky (Lacrosse, Wis.) was named All-City and Second-Team All-State as a senior at Logan High School. Lubinsky finished the season 10-1 with a 1.24 ERA, with only six walks and 62 strikeouts. He is one of the candidates for the LaCrosse Tribune Area Player of the Year, which will be announced on Sunday, June 29.
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