Miller, Hecht Win State Baseball Awards

St. Anthony High School Baseball Coach Kenny Miller and Bulldogs' hurler Ben Hecht received statewide honors Saturday at the Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association meeting in Chicago suburban Lombard.

Miller was named 2012 Class A Coach of the Year for leading the Bulldogs to the state championship, while Hecht was honored as Class A Player of the Year.

Miller's St. Anthony squad finished the season with a 31-8-1 record.  The Bulldogs closed out things in strong fashion, allowing just seven runs in their seven post-season games.

Hecht was just the second athlete to receive Player of the Year honors for what he accomplished as a junior.  The only other athlete to be honored as Player of the Year for what they did as a junior was Derek Thompson of Teutopolis.

Hecht batted .460 last spring and was 10-0 on the mound with a 0.75 ERA.  He's the son of Mr. and Mrs. Jerry Hecht.