Published: June 17, 2007 01:37 am            

Quinnette wins Mental Attitude Award

INDIANAPOLIS — Kokomo High School senior Andrew Quinnette became the second Wildkat to be honored with the Mental Attitude Award here at Victory Field Saturday night.

The Kats’ third baseman was honored following Cathedral’s 7-2 win in the Class 4A championship game. Kokomo’s Jamie Callane won the award in 1988.

“It’s the kind of award that every parent wants to see their kid get,” Quinnette said. “It’s just an honor to get this with all the other outstanding seniors in the game.”

He was the perfect choice, according to Kokomo coach Steve Edwards who has had Quinnette in his lineup for the past three seasons.

“He’s just an all-around great kid,” Edwards said. “He’s an unbelievable student and person and has all the attributes you would want in a mental attitude award winner. He’s a classy, quality kid who has been great for our program. I’m excited that he’s headed to an outstanding college next fall.”

Quinnette ranked 29th in his graduating class of 342 with an overall GPA of 3.87. He earned the President’s Award for educational excellence, was a scholar athlete and academic K winner.

The son of Gary and JoAnn Quinnette, he was president of Boys Legion, secretary of Rotary Club and a two-year member of National Honor Society. He was awarded the Rotary’s Total Person Scholarship and he received the K Club’s Mike Cowan Memorial Scholarship.

Quinnette had two of Kokomo’s four hits Saturday night, finishing the season with a .386 batting average. He led the team in doubles (eight) and home runs (six).

Game notes

• Kokomo finished its season as North Central Conference, sectional, regional and semistate champions and with the second best season record (28-4) in school history.

• Kokomo junior Bryce Robinson suffered his first career loss. The lefthander was 9-0 last season and 10-1 this year following the loss to Cathedral. Robinson came into the finals with a 0.83 ERA having allowed only nine earned runs all season. All seven of Cathedral’s runs were earned in the final. Robinson finished the season pitching 842/3 innings, fanning 133, walking 39.

• Kokomo entered the game with a 15-game winning streak, falling just short of winning the school’s 20th state championship.

• Kokomo had just one error on the night and 34 in 32 season games.

• Kokomo graduated nine of the 19 players on the roster, including starters Nick Sale, Ryan Herr, Andrew Quinnette, Corey Ringley and Evan Skiles. Another senior, Cameron Cunningham replaced Robinson in the final inning, retiring the only batter he faced.

• Cathedral has now won 18 state championships and Saturday night became just the third school in IHSAA history to win football and baseball championships the same school year. T.J. Stark, Jack Lupo and Justin Cureton were starters on both teams.

        

• Click to discuss this story with other readers on our forums.