BANGOR, Maine —- Eric Hoogterp admits basketball is his first love.
But the Old Town High School senior also has put a lot of time in on developing his baseball skills and it paid off Friday night as he was named the state’s Mr. Baseball and presented the Dr. John W. Winkin Award before the annual East-West Classes A and B senior all-star game at the Winkin Complex on the Husson University campus.
He was one of eight finalists for the 24th annual award, which goes to the state’s top senior player.
Other finalists were Gage Feeney of East Machias’ Washington Academy, John Parker of Brunswick, Henry Curran of South Portland, Will Bryant of Greely of Cumberland Center, Kyle Bourget of Lisbon, Zach Quintal of Marshwood of South Berwick and Cam Brochu of Maranacook of Readfield.
The University of Maine-bound Quintal earlier was named the Gatorade Maine Player of the Year.
Hoogterp was named the Penobscot Valley Conference Class B player and co-pitcher of the years after leading the league in batting average (.611), hits (33), singles (21), doubles (12), runs scored (25) and stolen bases (18 of 19).
He didn’t strike out in 61 plate appearances and was third in RBIs with 21.
As a pitcher, he was 4-0 with an 0.67 earned-run average. He gave up 19 hits and struck out 39 in 31⅓ innings.
The Coyotes were the only team in the state to complete an undefeated regular season (16-0). They were upset by Winslow in the Eastern Maine Class B semifinals.
Hoogterp said he was surprised by the award.
“I honestly think there are a lot of better players in the state than me,” said the 17-year-old Hoogterp, who led Old Town to a state Class B basketball championship in 2014.
But Hoogterp also said he put a “lot of hard work” into baseball before the season “and it paid off.”
“I became a better player,” said Hoogterp. “I hit .400 last year and over .600 this year. Even though I was busy, I always found time to work out or go to the gym and try to get myself better as an athlete.”
He said he put countless hours in the batting cage at Blackbeard’s Family Fun Park in Bangor.
And he knows about the man after whom the award is named. Winkin was inducted into 11 Halls of Fame after compiling 1,043 wins during his coaching career at Colby College, the University of Maine and Husson.
“He was a legend,” said Hoogterp. “I’m still in shock right now. I’m blessed. This is a huge award.”
The 6-foot-2 Hoogterp said even though he likes basketball more, “I guess baseball is my gift.”
He will attend the University of Southern Maine in the fall to play basketball but he also said he is going to try to play baseball.
Old Town baseball coach Brad Goody said Hoogterp had an “amazing year.”
“He had a great year stats-wise but he also had a great year as a teammate as well,” said Goody. “He really stepped up as a leader on and off the field.
”He got the players going. They would have Sunday practices,” added Goody. “He did it on the basepaths, he did it on the mound with an 0.67 earned-run average. He was a big part of our undefeated season.”