By Craig Beilfuss
LocalSportsJournal.com

MUSKEGON–Two area seniors have been selected to participate in the 2023 Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association East-West All-Star Game.

Kent City’s Kyler Larson and Mona Shores’ Jaxon Huffman will be playing in the game Monday, June 26 at Comerica Park in Detroit.

Larson will suit up for the 4 p.m. game with the West All-Stars while Huffman will see action in the 7 p.m. game for the West.

Larson, who was a starting pitcher and shortstop, played his senior season with a torn ACL in his right knee. He injured it about halfway through the basketball season, and after talking with the doctor, he decided he wanted to try and play his senior year and wait until after the season for surgery. During this season he mostly was the designated hitter when he wasn’t on the mound.

He pitched 65.1 innings and allowed only 27 hits and 12 runs (six earned). He struck out 127 batters and walked nine. He had a record of 7-1.

At the plate, Larson had a .414 batting average. In 111 at bats, he collected 46 hits (nine doubles, two triples, three home runs). Larson scored 19 runs and drove in 38 runs.

Larson was a 3-year varsity player. He was an all-conference selection each season, All-State honorable mention as a pitcher during his sophomore year and all-state second team as an infielder his junior season. He had a 21-4 pitching record during is career. He finished with a .414 career batting average, which included 98 RBI and 92 runs.

Larson will attend Grand Rapids Community College this fall.

“I think it will be pretty cool,” said Larson of the opportunity to play at Comerica Ballpark. “It will be cool to play with some guys that I have played against, or in some cases guys, be on the same team with guys that I have played with. Because of tearing my ACL, I’ll be pitching or just a designated hitter.”

Also heading to the all-star game will be Huffman, a righthander, who is heading to Michigan State University this coming fall on a baseball scholarship. He plans to major in business.

Huffman (6-2, 215) played a key role in the Sailors’ 26-9 overall record this season and to a 30-5 record as a junior. Mona Shores won a Division 1 district championship for the first time in 10 seasons in 2023 before falling to Cedar Springs in the regional semifinals. The Sailors finished with a 16-5 OK-Green record, which was good for a second place position behind undefeated Zeeland East (21-0). During Huffman’s junior season, the Sailors won the league title with a 20-1 record.

Photo/Eric Sturr

During his Sailors’ career Huffman hit .361 average with 90 hits, 89 RBIs and he belted 22 home runs. In 2023, he batted .396 with 40 hits, 42 RBI and 11 home runs.

While on the mound, Huffman compiled a 21-5 record in 167 innings. He had a career 1.13 ERA with 281 strikeouts.

During the 2023 season, Huffman finished with a 10-2 record with a 0.88 ERA. He only threw 64 innings, but struck out 103 hitters.

Huffman also plays for the Muskegon Clippers in the Great Lakes Summer Collegiate Baseball League.

“I am definitely honored to represent Mona Shores and the west side of the state,” said Huffman. “I’ll have the opportunity to play with some guys that are going to Michigan State and against some guys that are going to Michigan State. I’m very thankful for what Coach Bard has done for me and my family during my career at Mona Shores. Overall, I am very happy with the outcome of what I was able to accomplish at Mona Shores.”

Huffman is rated as the No. 3 pitcher and No. 10 overall player in the state of Michigan by Prep Baseball Report.