Gus Henley ended his junior year with one final honor for the Mingus Union High School baseball team — first team all-Division III.
The Marauders senior catcher was “relieved” after being recognized as one of the division’s top 11 players.
“I can’t really take anything for granted,” said Henley, who batted in 39 runs, hitting safely in one out of every two of his at-bats to finish third in the section in both categories. “I just go out, I hustle and try to play as hard as I can.”
Henley achieved the lowest stolen base percentage in Section I and finishing among its top five in four other hitting categories. Another run-scoring hit or two in the Division III quarterfinals or semifinals, where the Marauders lost, 8-7, to Alhambra High School, and it could have been more.
“I had a good year,” said Henley, who was also fifth in his section with a .570 on-base percentage. “Overall, it’s a good feeling knowing that all the hard work I put in — all the time in the cage in practice — is finally paying off and kind of coming together.”
Henley, who also hit three home runs this spring, had his final two RBIs April 29 in a 10-0 run-ruling of Chino Valley High School the first round of the Division III tournament.
“I’m shooting to break the school record for batting average,” said Henley, who finished the season batting .500. “I’ve advanced 100 points every year so far.”
Former Marauder Tony Vocca set the seven-year-old record of .595 after leading the Marauders to consecutive state titles in 2008 and 2009.
Henley thinks he can surpass that as well as the .562 his Class of 2015 teammate, shortstop Tom McCarty, managed in his final season.
“I’m going for it,” he said. “I’m shooting for .600.”
Henley threw out 11 of the 24 baserunners who attempted to steal on him in his 32 games behind the plate this spring, a .458 defensive percentage.
