By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Highlands senior pitcher Drew Rom has been named Mr. Kentucky Baseball by the Kentucky High School Baseball Coaches Association.
Highlands pitcher Drew Rom is the first local player named Mr. Kentucky Baseball since 2009.
A fourth-round pick by the Baltimore Orioles in the Major League Baseball entry draft last week, Rom will take a 9-6 record and 2.27 ERA into his team’s state semifinal game against McCracken County on Friday. The left-hander has 129 strikeouts and 23 walks in 74 innings on the mound this season.
Rom plays right field for Highlands when he’s not on the mound. He has a .370 batting average (20 of 54) with 14 RBI and eight extra-base hits. If he doesn’t sign with the Orioles, he will attend the University of Michigan on a baseball scholarship.
This is the 30th year that the state coaches association has selected a Mr. Kentucky Baseball. The only previous winner from Northern Kentucky was Luke Maile of Covington Catholic in 2009. He’s now a catcher for the Toronto Blue Jays.
Rom was the only local player voted first-team all-state by a committee of coaches. Jack Coldiron of CovCath and Braxton Foley of Walton-Verona were second-team selections. The third team included Gunner Smith of Newport Central Catholic and Logan Castleman of Beechwood.
Six local players were among the all-state nominees that received honorable mention — Ethan Kavanagh and Hunter Dreves of Highlands, Noah Brewer and Austin Hoeh of Campbell County, Zach Hamberg and Trent Parker of Bishop Brossart.
Local coaches selected six players to represent the 9th Region in state all-star games scheduled for June 19 at Pleasure Ridge Park High School in Louisville.
The senior all-star game will include Rom and Cooper outfielder Braydon Runion. The junior nominees are Castleman and Coldiron with Evan Webster of Ryle as the alternate. The sophomore selections are Kavanagh and Gavin Hayes of Bellevue.
