Benton’s Sheppard named All-District 1-4A baseball MVP

Benton’s Aaron Sheppard has been named the All-District 1-4A baseball MVP.

Sheppard, a Louisiana Tech signee, went 9-2 in the regular season with a 0.95 ERA. He had 71 strikeouts in 73 2/3 innings.

Sheppard was one of seven members of the district champion Tigers to make the first team. The others were junior pitcher Tanner Craft, senior shortstop Cameron Horton, senior first baseman Branson Woodward, senior third baseman Jaret Gill, junior outfielder Wade Grubbs and senior outfielder Tyler Stephens.

Horton, a Louisiana-Lafayette signee, battled .405 with six home runs, 15 doubles, two triples and 35 RBI. Woodward hit .356 with 11 doubles and 22 RBI. Gill batted .333 with nine doubles and 17 RBI.

Grubbs batted .339 with seven doubles and 25 RBI. He also stole 16 bases. Stephens batted .304 and had 15 RBI.

Craft went 7-0 with a 1.86 ERA. He struck out 40 in 56 1/3 innings.

Benton junior pitcher Jackson Rutledge, senior pitcher Aaron Thompson, freshman infielder Cody Norris, senior outfielder Josh Scherer and junior designated hitter Taylor Ward all made the second team.

The All-District 1-4A team was selected by the district’s coaches.

Russell Hedges, rhedges@bossierpress.com