Ricardo Arguello|Appleton Post-Crescent
HORTONVILLE – Thomas Burns has a no-nonsense approach when he's on the mound.
The Hortonville standout pitcherdoesn't like to get fancy when he's facing opposing batters —the ol' heater will usually do just fine.
But if he has to, the 6-foot-4 junior ace will go to the off-speed stuff to get his man — a true sign of an ace pitcher.
"Just like to dominate with the fastball," he said. "And if I know this guy is really good, I’ll mixit in or change it up a little bit and if I can’t locate the fastballreally good in a game, I’ll change it up with curveballs or whatever. It depends on the count too."
Burns was just about unhittable all season, finishing with a 7-0 record, a microscopic 0.88 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 47-plus innings.
But his overall game was a big reason why Burns was chosen The Post-Crescent's baseball player of the year.
"What an all-around year Thomas had for us," Hortonville coach Greg Yeager said. "We knew he would be great on the mound. He didn't give up his first earned run until the last conference game of the year. On top of that, due to some injurieshe needed to play outfield for us when he wasn't pitching. All he did was lead the team in hitting with a .384 average and tie for the team lead in RBI."
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Burns took time to talk about his stellar season, his busy summer and his thoughts on his collegechoice and upcoming senior season.
On his breakout season being a surprise
"A little bit, but I think I put in a lot of work this past offseason with joining a new club ball team — Hitters. They really helped me and I think with getting all the open gyms in and grinding in the weight room, that really helped me. Then it was just being on the mound and being confident."
On how he was introduced to the game
"I started really little. I was in T-Ball and just local at Hortonville and then I just grew up and just loved the game. I actually started out as a catcher when I was little and when I started club, I transformed into a pitcher."
On transitioning to pitcher
"It was different but I really just enjoyed it and I saw myself more on the mound at that point then. I feel like you always have to be in the game whether you’re a pitcher or a catcher. That’s just exciting."
On his team's performance this spring
"This past year was really fun. Our seniors were awesome and we started top fivein the state (rankings). Then it got a little rough, but we figured it out and made it to sectionals. And (next year) I think we have a shot to win it all."
On committing to Arizona State
"I went and visited there and on my way home I was just talking about it that it was just the place I felt the most at home. It was an awesome experience. I loved the coaches and got to talk to the players and they really loved it there. And the weather, you can't beat that."
On his summer season
"This summer started off pretty hot. This past weekend we just had a tournament in Iowa and I got the MVP pitcher for throwing a perfect game. And I’ve been really enjoying summer ball. I can’t wait to get back to high school and see what happens and to see all my friends again."
What his coach says
"Thomas'work ethic is second to none. I go up to our cages a lot with my own younger kids and most of the time when I go up there I will find Thomas up there working on something. This started back when he was a freshman during our COVID year. Thomas and Hayden Timm would be up there all the time. I get messages from himasking if he can get in the gym to throw or if I can turn the lights on at the field so he can hit on the field.
"He is alsosuch a humble, goodkid. Everything with Thomas was about the team winning.A story that tells me what kind of person Thomas is: He is getting ready in the pre-game at Neenah in a game that he is pitching and he takes the time to ask my 13-year-old son, who was our bat boy, how his game went the night before. Not a lot of high school kids would be interested in that. He pitched sixinnings that day, striking out 12, with no walks and two hits and didn't allow a run." – Greg Yeager, Hortonville baseball coach.
A closer look
Age: 17.
Year: Junior.
Position: Pitcher/outfield.
Family: Jim and Beth; sister, Kathleen (19).
Notable:First-team all-Fox Valley Association and second-team Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association all-state. Finished 7-0 with an 0.88ERA. Struck out 83 batters in 47⅔innings.Top performance was a 2-0 victory over Kimberly in which he got the win with 10 strikeouts in 6⅔innings pitched. Also led Polar Bears in batting average (.384) and had a .575 slugging percentage. Finished with two home runs, eight doubles and 18 RBIs. Verbally committed to play collegiately at Arizona State University.
Favorites
Food: Cheeseburgers.
TV show:"Stranger Things."
Movie: "Major League."
Baseball player: Corbin Burnes.
Musical artist: Lil Baby.
School subject: Math.
Go-to snack: Protein shake.
Post-Crescent All-Area Baseball
First team
Thomas Burns, jr., Hortonville: Athlete of the year.
Alex Breckheimer, sr., Chilton: Unanimous first-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference and the league's player of the year. Was 8-1 on the mound with a 0.79 ERA and 66 strikeouts in 53 innings. Batted. 286 with five doubles and 20 RBIs.
Brayden Deering, jr., Kimberly:First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Had a 7-0 record with a 1.66 ERA. Struck out 57 batters in 46⅓innings.
Ian Dohms, so., Menasha: Unanimous first-team all-Bay Conference and honorable- mention WBCA all-state. Finished 4-1 with a 2.08 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 33⅔ innings pitched. Also batted .370 with 20 hits and 14 RBIs.
Bryce Duszak, so., Menasha:First-team all-Bay Conference. Led the Bluejays in hitting (.394) and also had a .563 slugging percentage. Finished with eight doubles, two triples and 23 RBIs.
Garrett Hieptas, jr., Appleton North: First-team all-Fox Valley Association and honorable-mention WBCA all-state. Batted .377 with 29 hits, six doubles and 16 RBIs.
Carter Kriewaldt, jr., Freedom: First-team all-North Eastern Conference. Batted .391 with three home runs and 19 RBIs. Set the school record with 32 runs scored in 23 games. Also had 22 walks and a .567 on-base percentage. Finished with 19 stolen bases. Was also 5-2 on the mound with a 2.80 ERA. Finished with 50 strikeouts in 50 innings.
Al Leitner, sr., Kimberly:First-team all-Fox Valley Association and third-team all-state. Finished 7-2 with a 0.41 ERA overall and 59 strikeouts in 43 innings pitched.
Max Mueller, jr., Chilton: First-team all-Eastern Wisconsin Conference. Batted .385 with a home run,25 total hits, 14 stolen bases and 13 RBIs.
Vin Nikolai, sr., Waupaca: First-team all-North Eastern Conference. Batted .384 with 28 total hits, including eight doubles and three triples. Also had 22 RBIs.
Colin Obermann, sr., Kimberly: First-team all-Fox Valley Association and second-team all-state. Batted .417 with an on-base percentage of .543. Finished with a home run and 22 RBIs, with 17 stolen bases and 32 runs scored.
Alex Pankratz, sr., Waupaca: First-team all-North Eastern Conference. Batted .486 with 35 hits, including six doubles and three triples. Also scored 25 runs.
Carson Peeters, jr., Kimberly:First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .348 with two home runs, eight doubles and 24 RBIs.
Brock Salm, jr., Appleton North: First-team all-Fox Valley Association.Batted .364 with a .515 slugging percentage. Finished with eight doubles and 20 RBIs.
Griffin Smith, sr., Appleton North: First-team all-Fox Valley Association and honorable-mention all-state. Finished 3-4 with a 2.59 ERA and 63 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched.
Nate Vela, jr., Hortonville:First-team all-Fox Valley Association. Batted .352 with a .676 slugging percentage. Finished with four home runs, seven doubles, two triples and 18 RBIs. Was also 3-2as a pitcher with a 0.52ERA and 32 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched.
Honorable mention
Cooper Brown, jr., Appleton West;Will De Bruin, sr., Seymour; Daniel Decker, sr., St. Mary Catholic;Cole Dornfeld, jr., Appleton West;Trenton Feucht, jr., Freedom;Alex Hanneman, jr., Appleton East; Kolden Hunter, jr., Hortonville; Drew Joten, jr., Little Chute; Calvin Keesler, sr., Xavier;Brady Koester, so., Kimberly;Camden Kuhnke, jr., Hortonville;Quinn Ludvigsen, so., Menasha; Jace Midbon, sr., Freedom; Evan Olson, jr., Kimberly; Tyler Pigeon, sr., Freedom; Jaden Rice, jr., Weyauwega-Fremont; Jamison Rudie, sr., Freedom; Collin Ryan, sr., Winneconne; Nathan Schopf, sr., Appleton North; Chayce Schultz, jr., Appleton East; Sean Severson, jr., Kaukauna; Dakota Stroud, so., Manawa; Carter Thomas, sr., Neenah; Quade Thompson, so., Wrightstown; Kale Twombly, jr., Kimberly; Ethan Van Dyke, so., Neenah; Jake Weigman, sr., Little Chute.
