Submitted photo by DL Youth Baseball Association
Detroit Lakes, MN (KDLM) – Catcher Grady Kirchner and Third baseman Jacob Thomas have been named to the 2022 Legion All-Star team. Kirchner and Thomas are two of sixty players from across the state that will form four teams to play in the Prospect Series Tournament on August 6th at Toro Stadium in Bloomington. All-Star players were nominated by players, peers and coaches that felt represented the top Legion talent in the state. Players in the graduating classes of 2023 thru 2025 were eligible for nomination.
Thomas and Kirchner were regular starters last summer for the Detroit Lakes legion team and were named to the Mid-State All-Conference team this spring. Thomas is hitting .480 for American Legion Post 15 this summer.
“Thomas brings power, hits for average, and plays many defensive positions at a high level.” coach Phil Kirchner said. “He has a huge baseball IQ, too. Kirchner is a speedy, athletic catcher who makes defensive plays at a high level and understands how to call a game behind the dish.”
Both players will be seniors at Detroit Lakes High School this fall.
Other area players named to the Legion All-Star Team include Jaxon Schoenrock, Matthew Hornstein of Alexandria, and Ben Shumansky and Gamble Bye of Perham.
Saturday morning of All-Star weekend begins with a College Recruitment Breakfast with a panel of college coaches, followed by the tournament at 11:00.
You can get more information on All-Star Weekend on the MN Legion Prospects website.
2022 Legion All-Stars:
Alexandria – P Jaxon Schoenrock, P Matthew Hornstein
Andover – 2B Patrick Kelly, P Luke Dehnicke
Armstrong – 1B Dayton Franke
Breckenridge – OF Cam Nieto
Cold Spring – SS Jack Spanier
Coon Rapids – C Jayden Kopp, OF Mason Myhre
Crookston – OF Alex Longoria
Detroit Lakes – C Grady Kirchner, 3B Jacob Thomas
Duluth Lakeview – 3B/P Charlie Sutherland, UTL/SS Dylan Cole
Eagan – P Danny Lachemayer
Excelsior/Minnetonka – P Jack Koechevar, OF Braden Storts
Eyota – 1B Karsen Behnken
Foley – OF Bryce Gapinski, C Josiah Peterson
Forest Lake – P Jake Johnson, OF/C Nolan Domonceaux
Glenwood/Starbuck – C Dylan Alexander, P PJ Johnson
Grand Rapids – P Easton Sjostrand
Granite Falls – 1B Bryce Sneller
Hopkins – P Olin Lysne
International Falls – 3B Cody Joslyn
Inver Grove Heights – P Brendon Koester, UTL/SS Max Krebs
La Crescent – P Eli McCool
Lanesboro – 1B Stephan Schultz
Little Falls – OF Beau Thoma, 2B Matt Filippi
Mankato – P Logan Swalve
Maple Grove – P Sam Kliber
Minneapolis Washburn – UTL/2B Riley Jensen
Montevideo – P/1B Brady Snell
New Prague – C Nolan Eischens, P/UTL Jake Hemann
Osseo – OF Davis Wick, SS Spencer Pederson
Paynesville – UTL/SS Grayson Fuchs, C/P Eli Nelson
Perham – C Ben Shumansky, UTL/SS Gamble Bye
Prior Lake – 3B Jaxson Barrett
Rochester A’s – 2B Jerry Fletcher
Rochester Redhawks – 1B/P Ian Regal
Rockridge/Virginia – P Dylan Hedley
Rosetown – OF Evan Fischer
RTR – UTL/SS Cody Wichmann
Sartell – UTL/SS Gavan Schulte, 3B Kade Lewis (honorary All-Star)
Shakopee – P Jaden Case
STMA – C Drew Luster
Watertown – Jaren Vogt
White Bear Lake – OF Kyle Gibson, OF Kaden Johnson
Windom – OF Drew Rothenberger
