Co-Players of the Year
Cooper Ball of Horseheads and Ronin Ault of Waverly have been named Co-Players of the Year for the 2026 baseball season, a testament to their extraordinary contributions on the diamond.
Ball finished the year with a 9-2 record on the mound and a 0.89 earned-run average, while also batting .416 at the plate. He threw a 1-hit shutout against Garden City, fanned 109 batters and limited opponents to just 36 hits and 18 walks over 71 innings.
Ault went 9-0 with a 0.96 ERA, striking out 73 batters while allowing only 31 hits and 25 walks in 58 1/3 innings. At the plate he posted a .506 average, added 10 doubles, two triples, five homers, drove in 37 runs and stole 25 bases with a 92% success rate.
Horseheads coach Andy Scott called Ball the best all-around player in Section 4, praising his dual-threat ability that helped the team capture the Southern Tier Athletic Conference West title and advance to the New York State Public High School Athletic Association Class AA final four.
Waverly’s Wolverines, guided by Ault, secured both the STAC Central and Section 4 Class A championships, underscoring the impact of his leadership on both sides of the ball.
Statistically Dominant Performances
The numbers speak for themselves: Ball’s on-base percentage of .469 and slugging percentage of .739 complement his pitching dominance, while Ault’s .569 OBP and .839 slugging mark a rare blend of power and precision.
Their statistical footprints extend beyond the box score; Ball’s 16 stolen bases and Ault’s 35 runs scored illustrate the all-field impact that coaches say is increasingly valuable in modern high school baseball.
Looking Ahead
Both players are expected to attract attention from college recruiters, with Ball eyeing a potential future in pitching and Ault poised to continue his dual role as a hitter and basestealer at the next level.