Todd Rose | Daily Press Bark River-Harris catcher Johnnie Robinette readies his glove for a pitch as Superier Central batter Hayden Rockhill stands at the plate during a May 26 game in Bark River.

HARRIS — After an 18-8 season with the Broncos and a Skyline Central Conference All-Conference selection, Bark River-Harris’ Johnnie Robinette received another accolade as he was named to the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association Division 4 All-State Second Team last week.

The senior catcher said the honor boiled down to dedication and support from the Broncos coaches and his teammates, though it still came as a bit of a surprise.

“It feels great,” Robinette said. “A lot of work went into getting All-State. I did not think I was going to get All-State.

“But, if it wasn’t for my coaches and my team, it wouldn’t have happened. I mean, our coaches were there all winter working with us, so it was a blessing to have them.”

Robinette is the only athlete from the Upper Peninsula to make the list.

“There are a lot of really good players in the U.P., from north to south,” said Robinette. “I’m pretty honored, actually. I’ve been thinking about that the last few weeks that I am the only U.P. kid hanging with the lower Michigan kids that are big, big, schools down there. … So, it’s pretty cool. I’m pretty honored.”

For the season, Robinette batted .430 with 23 RBIs and 20 runs scored. His best game, a May 6 contest against the Escanaba Eskymos, which BR-H won 11-3, was one that stood out the Robinette as a bright spot in the successful year. He went 3-4 at the plate with four RBIs and three runs scored that day.

“Beating Esky was the big one,” he said. “They were rolling at that point, and I think we just had a couple losses.

“So, we went into that game pretty pumped. The coaches got us all riled up for that game, and we just did our thing. It was kind of the peak of the season. It was awesome to beat them.”

Another highlight of the season was an eleven-inning marathon — which the Broncos lost 10-3 — against the Superior Central Cougars that saw Robinette behind the plate for 231 pitches.

“That was a long, gruesome, game,” Robinette commented. “We were in it right to the end. All I really remember is just being beat from catching eleven. That’s a lot of innings to be played at any level, even the high school level. Not many people are used to that.

“That was a fun game. Not a lot of action but a lot of hard-hit balls. It just didn’t work out our way. It was a very fun game against Superior.”

After missing out on the opportunity to play his junior year, Robinette was happy with just being able to hit the field this year.

“Losing our junior year hurt. Our class didn’t really get to play as freshmen (because) they had that pretty stacked class as seniors with Logan Heim and Ryan Arndt,” he said. “So, we only had two years of experience coming into this year because we lost our junior year. I was just happy we got out on the field. With all the COVID tests, no one came back positive on our team, so that was a good part of the year just trying to stay healthy and get through the year.

“And it turned out pretty well for us. So, I was pretty happy.”

Robinette also thanked and gave praise to the Broncos coaches for all of their efforts and support.

“Thank you to the coaches for blessing us with a great season,” he said. “Our team would be nothing if we didn’t have our coaches. Coach Botwright has been there from day one with us since seventh grade. Coach Swanson has been there with us throughout the winter, same thing with Coach Botwright and Coach Peacock, almost every Sunday for the past four or five years.

“It’s been great to have them, and without the team, we wouldn’t have won 18 games. It was a fun season, and I appreciate them games. It wouldn’t be possible (without them).”

Broncos coach Al Botwright said Robinette making the Second Team was a “tremendous honor.”

“I can’t think of a student-athlete who deserves it more than him,” said Botwright. “I actually texted him the night I found out and told him how proud I was of him. Again, no one more deserving than him.

“It speaks to a large degree to what a great year he had. Not only was he our most consistent hitter — which is saying something because we had some very, very good hitters. … We leaned on him the entire year. He batted clean up for us, he probably could have batted leadoff for us and done just as well.”

As far as Robinette being the only U.P. athlete to make the list, Botwright hopes it will shine some light on Robinette’s performance this season.

“Who he had to beat out for that honor; there were tremendous players that were on that list of prospects,” he said. “For him to get it, I couldn’t be happier. I hope the entire Upper Peninsula looks at that and realizes what a spectacular year he had.”

Botwright added that among a great group of seniors, Robinette — who called pitches and defensive shift from behind the plate — captured the essence of the Broncos team.

“He exemplified what our entire team was about this year,” he said. “Hopefully, in the future, his legacy and this team’s legacy will live on through those same attributes.”