2021 Pine River
ATHLETE YEAR
8
ATHLETE OF THE YEAR | July 2021
HUNTER KANOUSE LEROY – Hunter Kanouse’s senior sports season at Pine River was a productive one especially in basketball and baseball. It’s why he was named Pine River’s Male Athlete of the Year. Baseball was a key sport for Kanouse. He pitched a perfect game in an 11-0 Pine River victory over McBain in Highland Conference action. He didn’t allow a hit, walk or error. Highland Conference games are scheduled for six innings. “Of the 18 outs, he had 14 strikeouts,” Pine River coach Shawn Ruppert said. On the mound, Kanouse was a force to be reckoned with and proved to be Pine River’s established ace in what was his final season as a Buck. “He worked hard at becoming a good pitcher,” Ruppert said. “Threw a perfect game at McBain and led our team in steals.” As a pitcher, Kanouse went 8-3, posted a 1.82 earned run average and struck out 100. Basketball was also an excellent sport for
Kanouse. In a 62-57 overtime loss to Manton during the regular season, Kanouse had eight points and four rebounds. In a 47-37 loss to Houghton Lake, he had 10 points and five rebounds. A sweet win was a 6638 triumph over Evart. Kanouse had 10 points and five rebounds. Kanouse also played golf for the Bucks. One of his best matches was an 18hole round of 95 at the Big Rapids Cardinal Invitational at Katke Golf Course. It made up for a disappointing 2020 spring season when Kanouse was getting ready to play baseball. But COVID canceled it. Kanouse was a junior this past sports season and was in basketball and baseball. Had there been a baseball season, “we would have been pretty good,” Kanouse said. “We had two foreign exchange students that were really talented. We had Lane Ruppert, who was a great senior. Kris Green would have been a nice pitcher. It was a strong team all-
Hunter Kanouse also played golf for Pine River.
of the
Kanouse had great seasons in basketball and baseball
around.” Kanouse was slated to play third, second and shortstop. Kanouse got called up to the varsity as a freshman for districts and played half the season as a sophomore. The 2020 campaign would have been his first full baseball season. As an infielder, “I have a good glove,” he said, adding at the plate, “I’d just like to see some improvement from last year. I struggled. I’d like to bounce back. You have to get in a stance that looks comfortable and wait for a pitch to hit.” Kanouse said baseball is his best sport and he worked with his dad, Ken Kanouse, during the offseason to get ready for the spring campaign. Basketball was headed to the 2020 district title game for the Bucks, but the postseason was suspended on March 12. “We felt we could have won that game,” Kanouse said.
Hunter Kanouse looks to make a move for Pine River during the basketball season.
