Aden Burnside pitched three innings during his freshman season in 2019.
After losing the whole 2020 season due to COVID-19, he was the only pitcher returning for the Owls this season that had previously pitched a varsity inning.
Seymour head coach Jeremy Richey knew Burnside would have to have a big year for the team, and the junior did just that.
Burnside pitched 50 innings this season with a 1.82 ERA and 5-2 record. He threw 55 strikeouts, allowed 32 hits and only walked 16 batters.
As a result, Burnside has earned The Tribune’s Co-County Player of the Year alongside Trinity Lutheran’s Tyler Goecker.
“We needed him to come out and have a good year for us, and he came out and exceeded expectations,” Richey said. “He was so good all year.”
One of the keys to Burnside’s success this season was his ability to mix up his pitches. He has multiple pitches that move different directions, and one pitch that came along well for him this year was his slider.
Richey said Burnside worked on his slider a lot, and it became an effective pitch for him.
“Just the way that he went out and competed every time he took the mound,” Richey said. “He was put out in some tough games this year, and his demeanor was always the same. He’s a very competitive kid.”
Burnside was honorable mention in the Hoosier Hills Conference, and he was Seymour’s team MVP and most valuable pitcher.
The junior always kept his poise throughout the season, and he never tried to overthrow when things started to go awry.
“Very rare because that’s kind of an instinct,” Richey said. “You think by throwing harder, it gives you a better chance, but it flattens out and straightens out and you’re more hittable. He was just able to get out of a lot of big innings throughout the whole year by trusting his stuff.”
Goecker got it done on both sides for Trinity
The word Trinity Lutheran head coach Ben Kleber used to describe senior Tyler Goecker was “game-changer.”
Goecker was effective on both sides of the ball for the Cougars this season. He had a .471 batting average with 10 doubles, three triples, 27 stolen bases, 13 RBI and a .602 on-base percentage.
On the mound, Goecker pitched 28 innings with a 1.25 ERA, 43 strikeouts, five walks and a 4-1 record.
The Trinity senior has been named The Tribune’s Co-County Player of the Year along with Seymour’s Aden Burnside.
“Tyler was a game-changer for us in pretty much every aspect of the game,” Kleber said. “Set the tone as a leadoff hitter and base-stealer. He was really tough to defend on that side of things.”
In addition to Goecker’s impressive season on the mound, one of the more memorable moments came in the first game of the season when Goecker threw a perfect game against Edinburgh.
One of the unwritten rules of baseball is when someone has a no-hitter or perfect game going, no one is supposed to say anything about it. Kleber said it was funny how quiet it got in the dugout during the game because no one wanted to say anything.
“It was a very special moment,” Kleber said. “It was our first game of the year, so it really set a tone for us as a team, and it set a tone for himself on the mound. It was fun to watch.”
One of the things that stood out to Kleber was Goecker’s commitment to working hard in every practice and every drill. Goecker would also ask a lot of questions, wanting to learn about the game.
“He’s one the hardest-working kids I’ve had the pleasure of coaching,” Kleber said. “Having a kid like that who wants to work and wants to learn, it really puts a good impression on some of these younger kids.”
2021 Baseball All-County Team:
Tyler Goecker, Trinity Lutheran, Sr.: .471 batting average, 10 doubles, 3 triples, 27 stolen bases, .602 on-base percentage; threw a perfect game against Edinburgh; 1.25 ERA, 43 strikeouts, 5 walks, 4-1.
Jack Marksberry, Trinity Lutheran, Sr.: .426 batting average, 3 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs, 26 hits, 24 RBI, .527 on-base percentage.
Jake Mau, Trinity Lutheran, Sr.: .282 batting average, 2 doubles, 4 triples, 20 hits, 14 RBI, .346 on-base percentage.
Lawson Woods, Trinity Lutheran, Sr.: .328 batting average, 1 double, 21 hits, 10 RBI, .494 on-base percentage; 34 innings pitched, 3.03 ERA, 45 strikeouts.
Aden Burnside, Seymour, Jr.: 50 innings pitched, 1.82 ERA, 5-2 record, 55 strikeouts, 32 hits, 16 walks, .960 WHIP; all-HHC honorable mention; SHS MVP and most valuable pitcher.
Charlie Longmeier, Seymour, So.: .360 batting average, 29 runs, 6 doubles, 8 triples, 19 RBI, 16 walks, 15 stolen bases, .479 on-base percentage; 10.67 innings pitched, 1-0, 1 save, 0 runs, 0.00 ERA, 8 strikeouts, 4 walks.
Bret Perry, Seymour, Fr.: .398 batting average, 27 runs, 2 doubles, 1 home run, 13 RBI, 10 walks, 15 stolen bases, .457 on-base percentage; 34 innings pitched, 3-1, 2.47 ERA, 21 strikeouts.
Vince Wilson, Seymour, So.: .355 batting average, 24 runs, 3 doubles, 1 home run, 13 RBI, 14 stolen bases, .438 on-base percentage.
Brayden Wilson, Seymour, Sr.: .325 batting average, 1 run, 6 doubles, 1 home run, 26 RBI.
Cody Ruble, Seymour, Sr.: 28.33 innings pitched, 4-2, 18 earned runs, 4.45 ERA, 19 strikeouts, 28 hits.
Jake Pauley, Brownstown Central, Jr.: .382 batting average, 4 doubles, 13 stolen bases, 14 RBI, 18 runs, .521 on base percentage.
Ethan Davis, Brownstown Central, Jr.: 43 innings pitched, 2.12 ERA, 62 strikeouts, .250 batting average, .250 on base percentage
Cristos McCormick, Brownstown Central, So.: 43 innings pitched, 1.95 ERA, 50 strikeouts, 6-1 record, .388 batting average, 6 doubles, 10 RBI, .474 on base percentage.
Lucas Hilton, Crothersville, Fr.: .385 batting average, .448 on-base percentage, .500 slugging percentage, .871 fielding percentage, 9 strikeouts.