COLDWATER, MI (WTVB) – For the second year running, Owen Tappenden was selected by his teammates as the Most Valuable Player for the Coldwater Cardinal baseball team at their end-of-season banquet, which was held Wednesday at Heritage Hall.
Tappenden was also named the Most Valuable Pitcher. He was also recognized as the leading hitter for this year’s Cardinals, setting a new school record with a .514 batting average and 18 home runs. For the second year in a row, he was named to the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Division 2 All-State team, becoming the first Coldwater baseball player to receive All-State recognition in consecutive years since Chris Dorr in 1976 and 1977. Tappenden also became the first Cardinal to be named to the MHSBCA Dream Team, recognizing the top players in the state regardless of division.
Dayton Ennis was selected as the Most Valuable Defensive Player for the second straight year, while Logan Turner and Cayden Searing were named Most Improved Players. Kayden Roby and Rylan Edwards shared the Mr. Hustle Award, Evan Slusarski picked up the Best Teammate Award, and Mayson Moore received the Coach’s Award.
Coldwater went 21-17 overall this past season and finished second in the Interstate 8 at 8-4. They won their first District championship since 2023 and their first Regional title since 2013.
A complete list of awards follows.
Team Awards
- LEADING HITTER: Owen Tappenden (.514)
- MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: Owen Tappenden
- MOST VALUABLE PITCHER: Owen Tappenden
- BEST DEFENSIVE PLAYER: Dayton Ennis
- MOST IMPROVED PLAYER (tie): Logan Turner, Cayden Searing
- MR. HUSTLE AWARD (tie): Kayden Roby, Rylan Edwards
- BEST TEAMMATE AWARD: Evan Slusarski
- COACH’S AWARD: Mayson Moore
Interstate 8 Athletic Conference
- ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM: Dayton Ennis, Owen Tappenden
- ALL-CONFERENCE HONORABLE MENTION: Royale Fleming, Logan Turner, Finn Hanson
- ACADEMIC ALL-CONFERENCE: Owen Tappenden, Kayden Roby, Matthew Hurley, Finn Hanson, Royale Fleming, Dayton Ennis, Aiden Adams
Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association
- DISTRICT COACH OF THE YEAR: Randy Spangler
- ALL-DISTRICT: Owen Tappenden, Dayton Ennis, Royale Fleming, Finn Hanson, Logan Turner
- ALL-REGION: Owen Tappenden, Dayton Ennis
- DIVISION 2 ALL-STATE FIRST TEAM: Owen Tappenden (Utility)
- DREAM TEAM: Owen Tappenden (Utility)
- ACADEMIC ALL-DISTRICT: Owen Tappenden, Kayden Roby, Finn Hanson, Dayton Ennis
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