Escanaba sophomore Mikaiden Hughes celebrates after ripping a triple during a game against Bark River-Harris on May 23, 2025 at Al Ness Field in Escanaba. (“The Big Dog” Mitch Vosburg/Daily Press)

ESCANABA — He’s only a sophomore, and he’s All State.

Escanaba catcher Mikaiden Hughes has been named First Team All-State by the Michigan High School Baseball Coaches Association.

In his first full season behind the plate Hughes hit .404 with 42 hits, 14 doubles, a triple and 25 RBIs. He drew 13 walks and struck out 16 times while owning a .475 on-base percentage and a slugging percentage of .558. Defensively, Hughes had a perfect fielding percentage of 1.000 while recording 249 putouts.

He was not only the lone U.P. baseball player to earn All-State recognition in Division 2, but the only sophomore to earn First Team recognition.

Here’s the full list of Division 2 All-State honorees:

First Team

Pitcher 

Colton Brinks, junior, Forest Hills Eastern; Ryan Bosch, senior, Fruitport; Mike Giroux, senior, Flat Rock; Colton McCaleb, junior, Mason; Preston Kann, junior, Standish Sterling

Infield

Brian Dopp, junior, Adrian Mason; Andrew Hampton, junior, Plainwell; Brendan Thompson, senior, Forest Hills Eastern; Drake Roa, junior, Notre Dame Prep; Noah Banas, junior, NB Huron; Hudson Brzustewicz, junior, OLSM; Luke Crighton, junior, OLSM

First base

Brenden Olson, junior, Niles; Trevor Rusnak, junior, Fruitport

Outfield

Tyler Bruggeman, senior, Adrian; Owen Tappenden, junior, Coldwater; Andrew Jerome, senior, North Branch; Sam Briggs, senior, Standish Sterling; Oliver Simies, junior, Spring Lake

Catcher

James Dempsey, senior, Forest Hills Eastern; Evan McGlothin, senior, Pinkney; Mikaiden Hughes, sophomore, Escanaba

Utility

Henry Ewles, junior, Notre Dame Prep; Max Ferrick, senior, Forest Hills Eastern; Ashton Rooney, senior, Trenton 12

Second Team

Pitcher

Owen Yens, senior, North Branch; Jayden Yancy, junior, Flat Rock; Evan Thelen, senior, Portland; Jaxson Hartley, junior, Saginaw Swan Valley; Michael Wambaugh, senior, Muskegon Oakridge; Maddux Kipling, junior, Spring Lake

Infield

Aiden Speigl, senior, Petoskey; Ryan Louch, senior, Clare; Tyler Pangborn, junior, Sparta; Ben Fausey, junior, Forest Hills Eastern; Mason Awe, junior, Three Rivers; Cross Darby, senior, Goodrich 12

First base

Drew Duthler, senior, Coopersville; Ty Gielczyk, senior, Big Rapids

Outfield

Hudson Hazekamp, sophomore, Fruitport; Josh McCune, junior, East Grand Rapids; Miles Grace, senior, NB Huron; Henry Streeter, senior, Grand Rapids Christian; Hunter VanSickler, junior, Williamston 11

Catcher

Brady Stevens, sophomore, Swan Valley; Michael Hurlbutt, senior, Allendale; Carson Moore, senior, Owosso

Division 2 Coach of the Year

Ian Hearn, Forest Hills Eastern