By GARY VAN CLEAVE
Special to Great Bend Post
HOISINGTON - Tony Moore is an all-star who put up all-star numbers this spring for the Hoisington baseball Cardinals.
Now he hopes to have a chance to put those numbers up at the next level.
“I knew coming into the year I had to play really well in order to have a chance in playing at the next level,” Moore said. “So it felt necessary to lead the team in almost every category in order to be seen.”
That he did as his .875 slugging percentage was tops in Class 3A and he finished fourth in 3A with a .484 batting average. He led the Central Kansas League in batting, slugging and on-base percentage (.600).
“He was a great all-around athlete,” Cimarron incoming junior Logan Heddlesten, whose Bluejays lost 13-2 to the Cardinals, said. “He pitches well, he’s a great third baseman and he can hit the ball anywhere you throw it.”
“He’s a great player, he plays the game well,” Abilene’s Stocton Timbrook, a Cloud County signee, said. “Elite contact guy.”
Moore currently doesn’t have a college baseball home yet this fall. He’s hoping stints on the local Legion team and Great Bend Bombers this summer stimulate interest from a college.
“If I were to describe myself as a baseball player, it would be hardworking and team guy as I want to see my guys win and work hard to do so,” Moore said.
He was on the mound when Hoisington did something special in the first round of the 3A state tournament.
“My biggest accomplishment would be winning the first state game in school history this year while throwing a three-hit, eight-strikeout complete game,” Moore noted.
Moore was definitely in the zone.
“That was special because I felt like I was untouchable for those seven innings,” he said. “Just the support from the community made it feel like we won the Super Bowl.”
“I think he can be amazing on the offensive side, but on the defensive side he can play anywhere,” teammate Ethan Grubb said. “He has a pretty powerful arm throwing mid 80s with great speed and always makes a diving effort.”
He logged a 6-1 pitching record this spring with 62 strikeouts and only 11 walks. On the mound he throws a 4/2-Seam, change up, curve, slider and splitter.
“Being able to play college baseball would be an incredible honor as a lot of people don’t get the opportunity to play past high school,” Moore said. “And I would be the first in my family to.”
On Wednesday he played in the KBCA all-star game at Wichita’s Riverfront Stadium. He had an RBI single, stole two bases and scored a run.
On Thursday in his Great Bend Bombers’ debut, More went 2-for-2 with a pair of singles.
“He’s great at the plate and hit for contact and hit for power,” Cardinal teammate Mason Martin said. “He has it all at the plate and he has a great glove in the field when he plays third and short. His pitching is so consistent and throws hard to every batter and is intimidating.”
“Tony is a player who brought competition every game,” Nickerson’s Camden Cornelius said. “Every time we played them and I saw Tony in the lineup I knew he was going to do whatever he needed to compete. Tony is a guy that will push you to compete. Not only was he a great player he also showed great sportsmanship on the field.”
“As a pitcher he doesn’t throw the hardest but he’s always in the zone,” Heddlesten said. “He rarely walked people. As an infielder, I never saw him miss a ball.”
Grubb thinks Moore has a bright future ahead of him.
“His foot is always on the gas,” Grubb said. “I think he will match up pretty well against college pitchers having faced multiple D1 pitchers this year.”
“Tony is one of the best leaders I’ve seen on the baseball field,” Ellsworth senior Lane Rolfs said. “He respects all of his teammates, coaches and the game as a whole no matter the situation. I know that he works hard and is willing to do anything for his team.”
“If I were given the opportunity to play at the next level, I could make an impact by leading and trying to make everyone better every day,” Moore said. “Whether that’s pushing them to be their best or to bring them up when they’re struggling or having a hard time.”