After the conclusion of the 2011 American Legion A/AA State Tournament in Casper where the Gillette Roughriders were the runners up for the 4th time in the last 5 seasons, 5 Riders were honored as part of the 1st team 2011 All-State Team.
Drake Kelley was named to his 3rd all-state team (2008 "A" All-State team), Dalton Cowen, JT Zigray and Westin Hinkel were honored for the 2nd time in their careers and Turner Lofing was named for the 1st time.
Leading the way with more 1st team honorees than any other team was the 3-time state champions from Cheyenne. Post 6 had six players on the 1st team and one on the 2nd team. Making the 1st team for Post 6 were Brandon Anderson, Cody Farrell, Zach Lain, Myles McVeigh, Jorden Mossey and Brandon Nimmo with Tanner Renner making the 2nd team.
Also making 1st team this season were Alex Hill from Casper, Douglas’ Dylan Klava, Nolan Carter and Tyler Mitchell from Laramie, Isaac Carrel and Lucas Geisey from Sheridan and Wheatland’s Tyler Pollack.
On the 2nd team is Casper: DeLayne Doyle, John Robinson. Cheyenne: Tanner Renner. Cody: Devin Roblyer, Taylor Hubbell. Evanston: Kade Lym. Jackson: Marc Rossolo. Laramie: Dylan Watson. Powell: Josh Cragoe, Tyler England, Seth Gilmore. Rock Springs: Lorenzo Webb. Sheridan: Drew Adriaens, Skyler Dietsche. Torrington: Gordon Kautz, Mark McKee, Chrystian Saucedo. Wheatland: Joe Hageman.
The 5 Riders named to this year’s all-state team is the most players honored on the AA team in a single season. Gillette had 4 players each honored in 2006 (Adam Necklason, Drew Baier, Ryan Iliff, Zach Hamilton), 2007 (Baier, Iliff, Ryan Hutchinson, Hamilton) and 2008 (Austin Cowen, Mick Peters, Hutchinson, Seth Means).
Drake Kelley
Kelley has one year left of eligibility with the Roughriders after he plays his 1st year with Scottsdale Community College this coming season. He had a monster year for Gillette as he led the Riders in 7 offensive categories including 25 doubles, 10 homeruns, 91 RBI and he broke the record for the most triples in a single season with 12. His 25 doubles helped him move into 2nd place on the career list with 72, just 11 behind the career leader Jared Wass with 83.
Kelley was also a force on the mound for the Riders as he led the team in wins with 10, which ties him with Evan Cunningham (2009), Ryan Illif (2006) and Ryan Hutchinson (2007) for the 2nd most in a single season. Kelley finished the season 10-3 with a 2:1 strikeout to walk ratio for the entire season.
Dalton Cowen
Dalton Cowen played his final games for the Riders this season after his 1st year at Iowa Central Community College. Cowen had another tremendous season as he got to play in his 4th State Tournament. He was the only active Rider to have played in Gillette’s only run to the State Title in 2008.
Cowen’s 53 RBI this season was good enough for 4th most on the team despite playing in nearly 20 fewer games than most of the players, because of his late arrival from college. Cowen moved into 2nd place on the all-time RBI list with 220. Jared Wass is the career leader at 279. Cowen also finished his career at #4 on the career doubles list with 66.
On the mound Dalton was routinely asked to take the mound for the Riders against their best opponents throughout the season and he was able to go 3-4 and he was 3rd on the team in total strikeouts, but he was #1 on the team in K’s per 9 innings pitched at 10.5.
JT Zigray
JT Zigray will return to Miles City Community College for his 2nd season of action. Zigray returned late to the Riders just like Cowen did because of his 1st season in College. Despite that he was still able to be 5th on the team in runs scored with 54. His 54 runs scored helped him to an average of 1.2 runs scored per game played, which was 3rd best on the team behind Dalton McCann (1.4) and Drake Kelley (1.3).
Zigray was once again a workhorse on the mound for the Riders as he went 5-1 in 10 starts and his only loss of the season came in the State Championship game. Zigray averaged 1 strikeout per inning pitched and walked just 23 batters in 54 innings pitched.
Turner Lofing
Turner Lofing will be taking his talents to Garden City Community College in Kansas this coming year, but he does have one year of eligibility left with the Riders. Lofing was in his 3rd full year with Gillette and he showed just what type of hitter he’s been capable of all along.
Lofing ended up 2nd on the team in with a .426 average, 90 RBI, 22 doubles and 6 homers. He was 1st on the team in singles with 64. He also struck out fewer than any other Rider, as he struck out just once every 12.5 plate appearances. Lofing was also a stellar fielder as he played an immaculate centerfield for Gillette this season as he covered from one gap to the other without any problems.
Westin Hinkel
Westin Hinkel will be back for his senior season as one of the locker room leaders for the Gillette Roughriders. Hinkel has already played in 3 state tournaments and don’t look for that streak to end any time soon.
Westin wrapped his season with a stellar state tournament where he made his presence felt on the mound, in the field and at the plate. Hinkel had the 2nd lowest ERA (4.50) at state for any Rider pitcher, and he was the only pitcher to not walk a single batter.
Offensively he was the lone Rider to not strikeout at all. He went 8-21 at state and was 4th on the team in average at .381. Throughout the season Hinkel was 3rd on the team in RBI with 66, he was 2nd on the team in sacrifices with 11 and he was 2nd on team with 20 stolen bases. Earlier this season when Hinkel picked up his 1st save of the season, he would finish with 7, he moved to the top of the career saves list in Roughrider’s history.
Austin Cowen and Drew Baier had previously shared the record of 9. Hinkel now has 16 going into his senior season.
