10 Broncos Earn All-Region Honors, Garcia Named Premier Region Coach of the Year

4/24/2024

The Brophy College Prep baseball team garnered 10 Premier Region honors, as voted by the region coaches. Junior Benton Hickman was named the Premier Region Defensive Player of the Year, and Head Coach Josh Garcia ‘07 was named the Coach of the Year.

Hickman posted a 4-0 record with five saves over 10 appearances with a 1.26 ERA, allowing only two earned runs over the final seven appearances, and had a 0.54 ERA in region games.

Four Broncos were named to the All-Premier Region first team, including seniors Johnny Casale, Jack Ohman, Jack Meissner, and junior Jack Lafflam. Casale hit .353 on the season, including .519 in region play, with six doubles and eight RBI while posting a 6-1 record with a 2.33 ERA. Ohman had the second-best average on the team at .389 with a team-best three triples and 21 RBI, tied for second on the team. Meissner led the team with 31 hits, 24 runs, three home runs, and 26 RBI while hitting .378 in the season. Lafflam went 5-0 on the season with a 1.84 ERA.

Three Broncos were selected for the All-Premier Region second team. Smith hit .349 on the season with a team-best seven doubles, while Niezgodzki batted .329 and knocked in 21 runs on 25 hits, the second-best totals on the team. Castle, a sophomore, led the team in hitting at .396.

Jack Ryan and Brandon Wirtz both earned honorable mention honors. Ryan hit .321 on the season and tied for the team lead with three home runs. Wirtz also hit .321 with 14 RBI and 18 runs scored.

Garcia led the Broncos to their first Premier Region title, posting an 8-0 record in region play. This is the program's first region title since winning the 5A Desert Valley section in 2009.

Brophy was 21-5 overall and won 17 of their final 19 games after a 4-3 start. The 21 wins are the most since winning 24 in 2012.
They upset nationally ranked Valley Christian in the All Faiths Classic in Las Vegas on March 25 and posted an 11-game in-state winning streak after a loss to Desert Ridge on March 5.
The program's win over Hamilton on April 19 was it's first since 2016 and its first series sweep over the Huskies since 2012.
The Broncos have been among the top teams in the state rankings all season, entering the playoffs as the top-ranked team in the state. Baseball America ranks them No. 11 in the nation.

Brophy All-Region Selections