ABOVE: Fairmont pitcher Josh Soelter prepares to deliver a pitch during a 2025 prep baseball game in Fairmont. Soleter was named the Fairmont Sentinel All-Area Baseball Player of the Year for the 2025 season. Photo by Daniel Olson.

All-Sentinel Baseball Team

Josh Soelter, So., SS/P/OF, Fairmont

Player of the Year

Being named the 2025 All-Sentinel Baseball Player of the Year is Fairmont Cardinals utility player Josh Soelter. Getting game repetition at shortstop, outfield and pitcher, Soelter proved to be a valuable asset for head coach Don Waletich and the Cardinals. Offensively, Soelter finished the season with a .438 clip from the plate, stealing 10 bases and driving in 24 runs in the process. Soelter was just as valuable on the mound, however. In 30 innings of work, Soelter posted a 0.99 ERA while allowing just 22 hits.

Joe Long, Jr., OF/P, Fairmont

Long was a staple of the batting order for the Cardinals in 2025. At the end of the year, Long accumulated a .422 batting average with seven extra-base hits and 15 RBIs. At the same time, Long tallied 19 innings pitched for Fairmont on the season. He posted a 2.53 ERA in that stretch, striking out 17 batters and walking four.

Max Merrill, So., Utility/P, North Union

Merrill was a massive contributor to the North Union baseball team this past summer as a sophomore. Playing everywhere around the field, Merrill was a prototypical utility man for the Warriors. Merrill led the team in many offensive categories, such as RBIs(18), hits(24), batting average(.324), and total bases(32). Merill also highlighted the Warriors defensively, committing two errors in 48 total chances.

Griffin Studer, Jr., P/INF/OF, GHEC/T/ML

Described by GHEC/T/ML head coach Jordan Petschke as the leader of this season’s offense, Studer found himself as one of the more valuable bats in the Valley Conference. Hitting .345 with an on-base percentage of .425, Studer racked up 17 RBIs and four home runs in 2025. He also contributed on the mound. Studer tossed 21 innings for the Jaguars with an ERA of 5.11, striking out 14 batters in the process.

Bryce Borkenhagen, So., INF, GHEC/T/ML

Borkenhagen has been a two-year starter for Petschke during his time with the Jaguars. Offensively, the infielder has been a weapon, especially in 2025. Borkenhagen finished the season hitting .325 from the plate, with an on-base percentage of .380 and 12 RBIs.

Joey Crissinger, So., 1B/P,, Fairmont

Crissinger was another weapon for Waletich’s Cardinal team in 2025, contributing, like many others, on both sides of the field. At the plate, Crissinger finished his sophomore campaign with a .382 batting average. Out of his 26 hits, 10 were doubles. This led to Crissinger racking up 24 RBIs at the end of the season. While his time on the mound was limited to eight innings, Crossing didn’t allow a single run in that span, striking out 10 batters and allowing three hits respectively.

Joseph Hackett, Fr., C, Fairmont

An anchor for Fairmont behind the plate, Hackett became a valuable asset in the 2025 season offensively and defensively. Hackett finished the year with a .329 batting average on 25 hits, tallying 14 RBIs in the process. As a catcher, Hackett was as solid as they come, throwing out opposing runners at a 61% clip.

Cole Nicoson, Jr., 3B, North Union

Next to Merrill, Nicoson was one of the most impactful players on the 2025 North Union Warriors. Tallying 22 total bases, Nicoson hit .260 from the plate with 11 RBIs. Nicoson also flexed an on-base percentage of .393, respectively.

Caden Walders, Sr., C, North Union

Walders was the wall behind the plate this season for North Union. On defense, Walders threw out five runners on the base paths while posting a fielding percentage of .943. Hitting .220 on the year, Walders thrived in getting on base after ending the season reaching at a .420 clip.

Note: Only players nominated by area coaches were eligible for All-Sentinel honors.