Local baseball players recognized for achievement on field at White Sox game

[July 25, 2015]  LINCOLN - Michael Lowery, a 2015 Mount Pulaski High School graduate and Luke Bleyer, a 2015 Williamsville High School graduate, were recognized Tuesday night at the Chicago White Sox game. The two young men were brought down to the field for their baseball accomplishments this past season and honored as part of the 2015 Illinois High School Coaches Association All-Star Team.

Teams consisting of 20 players from each of the four classes were introduced down on the field prior to the game between the St. Louis Cardinals and the Chicago White Sox.

Lowery and Bleyer were childhood teammates on the Sherman Slam traveling baseball team for eight years.

Lowery represented the Class 1A Mount Pulaski Hilltoppers at the shortstop position, while Bleyer represented the Class 2A State Runner Up Williamsville Bullets in the pitching position.

Lowery earned All-State honors for the second consecutive year and led Mount Pulaski with a .478 batting average, 31 RBIs and 3 home runs.

Meanwhile, Bleyer was receiving the honor for the first time as he was a key component to the Bullets reaching the state championship game at Dozer Field in Peoria this past June. Bleyer, who also played first base for Williamsville, batted .330 with 25 RBIs and on the mound he led the team with 11 wins.

Both men will also further their careers at the collegiate level with Lowery attending Illinois Central College in East Peoria and Bleyer becoming a two-sport college athlete at Augustana College in Rock Island. He will play both baseball and football for the Vikings.

Congratulations and good luck to both these fine young men!

[Teena Lowery]