Awards continue for Wildcat Baseball
Photo by Shari Harris
The Class 3 State Champion Wildcats were honored to be recognized by 143rd District Rep. Bennie Cook at the June meeting of the Licking Board of Education.
By Shari Harris, Publisher
All-State, All-District and All-Conference teams for baseball have been announced for the 2023 Spring Season, recognizing individual accomplishments, and the Class 3 Champion Licking Wildcats baseball team received several recognitions at Monday night’s meeting of the Licking Board of Education.
The Class 3 All-State baseball first and second teams were announced Monday, as voted on by the Missouri High School Baseball Coaches Association (MHSBCA).
Licking athletes included on the teams were:
Pitchers – First Team – junior Kellar Davis; Pitchers – Second Team – junior Keyton Cook; Catchers – First Team – senior Malachi Antle; DH/Utility – First Team – junior Rusty Buckner.
These same four players received All-District honors for Class 3 District 9 as well.
The All-Frisco League baseball team included these four players and senior Cole Wallace.
In addition, the Licking Baseball team was an Academic All-State team in 2023, with a cumulative 3.53 grade point average, fourth highest in Class 3. Individual players receiving Academic All-State recognition included: Silas Antle, Austin Stephens, Keyton Rinne, Keyton Cook, Kellar Davis, Kannon Buckner, Cole Wallace, Malachi Antle, Garrett Gorman and Logan Gorman.
At Monday evening’s meeting of the Licking Board of Education, Head Coach Harv Antle expressed his pride in his team for finishing in the top four in Class 3 both in the classroom and on the field. The team was also recognized with resolutions by State Representative Bennie Cook and State Senator Karla Eslinger and a Congressional Record by U.S. Representative Jason Smith.
State Representative Bennie Cook gave framed, inscribed copies of the House resolution recognizing the team’s accomplishments to Head Coach Harv Antle and to the three seniors on the team, Malachi Antle, Keyton Rinne, and Cole Wallace (unable to attend). He also had United States and Missouri flags flown at the Capitol on June 1, the day the team won the championship, and gifted them to the team.
Photo by Shari Harris
Will Wheeler, left, attended the school board meeting on behalf of State Senator Karla Eslinger. He congratulated the team and presented a Senate resolution to the team commemorating their accomplishments.
Will Wheeler, legislative assistant to State Senator Karla Eslinger, bestowed a similar inscribed copy of the Missouri Senate resolution recognizing the team.
Photo by Shari Harris
Grant Wilson, from U.S. Representative Jason Smith’s Rolla office, hands Licking Baseball Head Coach Harv Antle the Congressional Record praising the team’s achievements.
On behalf of U.S. Representative Smith, Grant Wilson presented a Congressional Record signed by Rep. Smith and read on the House floor, which will be entered into the Library of Congress, recognizing the team’s success and commenting on the community’s response to their victory.
The Licking Board of Education congratulated the team on their accomplishments and Head Coach Harv Antle, Assistant Coach Cole Roark and Assistant Coach Chris Harris were awarded trophies as Spotlight Staff of the month.
