While their season may have ended one game short of their goal of winning a district championship, four members of Bryce Gehlert’s Belle Tiger baseball team earned postseason recognition from the Gasconade Valley Conference (GVC) and the coaches of the Missouri State High School Activities Association (MSHSAA) Class 3, District 8 Baseball Tournament hosted by Belle High School at Tiger Field inside Belle City Park.

Named the Most Valuable Player (MVP) of the GVC, Tiger senior Hank Stratman led Belle in a number of statistical categories.

Posting a team-high batting average of .480, Stratman also led the Tigers with a .556 on-base percentage (OBP), 1.302 OPS (on-base plus slugging), and a .747 slugging percentage.

Also at the plate, the East Central College (ECC) bound Stratman also recorded a team-leading 36 hits, 13 doubles, 22 runs batted in (RBI), five hit-by-pitches (HBP) and 24 stolen bases.

He was also second on the team with 20 singles, two triples and 24 runs scored.

As a pitcher, Stratman also recorded a team-high 57 strikeouts while pitching 41 and two-thirds innings good for second on the team behind Garrett Gehlert’s 51 innings pitched.

Of his team-leading 36 hits, Stratman recorded three singles against St. Francis Borgia, Jefferson City and Eugene.

Going for two singles in six games, Stratman achieved this in contests against Borgia, Fatima, Cuba, Crocker, Jefferson City and Eugene.

He posted a season-high two doubles against Steelville helping the Tigers win an outright GVC titles while also touching three bases for a triple against Bourbon and Cuba.

Tied with four other players with one home run on the season, Stratman hit his lone round-tripper of the season against Capital City’s Cavaliers.

Posting just over half of his team-leading 22 RBIs in four games, Stratman drove in three runs in games against Hermann, Capital City, Jefferson City and St. James.

Among his 24 runs scores, Stratman crossed the plate three times in action against Cuba, St. James and Jefferson City.

Drawing two walks against Fatima, Stratman was hit by a pitch in five games against St. James, Jefferson City, Steelville, Vienna and St. Elizabeth.

Stratman also stole a season-best four stolen bases against Jefferson City’s Jays.

As a pitcher, Stratman posted a season-high 11 strikeouts against Cuba in GVC play while also throwing an eight-inning complete game shutout of MSHSAA Class 1 runner-up St. Elizabeth while striking out nine Hornet batters.

Also named to the All-GVC Baseball Team for the Tigers was fellow senior Garrett Gehlert.

Gehlert led the red and black with three triples, a home run, 29 runs scored and 51 innings pitched.

He was also second on the team with a .440 on-base percentage, .940 OPS and a .500 slugging percentage.

His .329 batting average also put him third in the Tiger roster.

Also at the plate, Gehlert drew 13 walks good for second on team while also being third with 25 hits and fourth with 17 singles, four doubles and 11 stolen bases.

In addition to his 51 innings pitched, Gehlert was second on the team with 53 strikeouts.

Among his 25 hits, Gehlert picked on blue and gold teams posting a season-high three hits against Fatima and Borgia.

All three of his hits against Borgia turned out to be singles.

He also had a double in contests against Skyline, Vienna, Hermann and Bourbon while also touching three bases for a triple against Cuba, Fatima and Bourbon.

Gehlert’s lone home run of the season came against Fatima’s Comets in addition to a season-high four RBIs.

Among his team-leading 29 runs scored, Gehlert crossed the plate three times in action against Jefferson City, Steelville and St. James.

Drawing two walks against Steelville’s Cardinals, Gehlert also swiped a season-high three stolen bases against the Jays.

On the pitching mound, Gehlert struck out a season-high 10 batter against Skyline while also striking out nine Pintos against California.

Sophomore pitcher Ryder Butler also earned All-GVC honors for Bryce Gehlert’s Belle Tigers.

Second on the team with a .346 batting average, Butler also posted an .850 OPS and a .436 slugging percentage good for third place on the Tiger roster while also recording a .414 on-base percentage good for fourth place on the team.

Leading the Tigers with 23 singles, Butler was also first on the team with one home run and five hit by pitches.

He was also second on the team with 27 hits, 19 RBIs and 13 stolen bases.

Butler also placed third for the Tigers with a triple and 20 runs scored.

When he was on the pitching mound, Butler was third with 30 and a third innings pitched to go with 26 strikeouts.

Hitting well against GVC foes, Butler had three hits apiece against Cuba and Viburnum with all of them turning out to be singles.

Doubling against Eugene and Hermann, Butler also posted his lone triple against Bourbon.

His lone home run of the spring came against Hermann’s Bearcats.

Helping the Tigers claim an outright GVC title on the road, Butler’s season-high RBI total came with four against Steelville.

In addition to his three hits against Viburnum’s Blue Jays, Butler also had three runs scored.

Drawing four walks on the season, Butler earned a free pass in action against South Callaway, Vienna, Hermann and Viburnum.

On the base paths, Butler stole three bases against Cuba and Viburnum.

While pitching for the Tigers, Butler struck out a season-high nine against Cuba.

Rounding out Belle’s quartet of All-GVC honorees was sophomore Gage Terrill.

Sixth on the Tigers with a .264 batting average, Terrill was also eighth with a .340 OBP, .674 OPS and a .333 slugging percentage.

Third on the team with 19 singles and 12 stolen bases, Terrill was also fourth for the Tigers in hits (23), RBIs (13) runs scored (19) and walks (10).

Among his 23 hits, Terrill went for a season-high three hits against Hermann while recording two singles against Eugene, Jefferson City, Crocker, St. James and Hermann.

Hitting a pair of doubles against Viburnum, Terrill’s lone home run of the season also came against Hermann.

Driving in three runs apiece against Viburnum and Cuba, Terrill also scored three times in non-conference action against Hermann.

Drawing two walks against Steelville and Viburnum, Terrill swiped a season-high three bases against St. James.

Joining the Tiger quartet on the All-GVC Baseball Team were Cuba junior Braden Gipson, Cuba senior Wyatt McMillian, Bourbon senior Ian Mueller, Steelville freshman Ripken Halbert, Cuba senior Adam Doyle, Bourbon sophomore Emmett Jones, Bourbon junior Anson Hormann, Cuba freshman Carter Meadows and Viburnum senior Austin Turnbough.

That same Tiger foursome earning All-GVC honors also claimed All-District honors following the conclusion of the MSHSAA Class 3, District Baseball Tournament at Tiger Field inside Belle City Park.

Also among the 16 Class 3, District 8 All-District players were Fatima senior Blake Kliethermes, Gipson, Dixon senior Rafen Baker, Fatima freshman Jackson Crede, Fatima junior Bryce Wieberg, Dixon sophomore Sawyer Baker, McMillian, Halbert, Fatima junior Thomas Heisler, Dixon senior John Creamer, Doyle and Fatima senior Colten Scheulen.