By RICK PETERSON
TopSports.news
Seaman High School's baseball program will induct its inaugural Hall of Honor class on Friday at approximately 5:30 p.m. at the Optimist Field, north of Seaman High School.
The Hall of Honor ceremony was originally scheduled to follow Seaman's varsity game against Washburn Rural, but due to COVID-19 protocols, that game will not be played Friday. Instead, the ceremony is not scheduled to follow a C team game.
Seaman will induct two former head coaches, a contributor, a state championship team and nine former Viking players in the on-field Hall of Honor ceremony.
Among the inductees will be a pair of former Seaman head baseball coaches, the late Duane 'Blackie' Melvin, who coached the Vikings in 1986 and '87, and Phil Loomis (1988-98), as well as longtime program contributor Dan Carlson.
Former Viking standout players being inducted include Ben Carlson (Class of 2006), Chris Carlson (Class of 2002), Eric Cheray (Class of 2011), Ryan Colombo (Class of 2013), Rick DeHart (Class of 1986), Robbie Rea (Class of 2009), Chad Rodriguez (Class of 1992), Richard Thomas (Class of 1989) and Ryan Zeferjahn (Class of 2016).
The induction class includes several players who went on to earn All-America honors at the Division I and Division II level as well as multiple players who went on to play professionally, including former Major Leaguer DeHart and current Minor Leaguer Zeferjahn.
Seaman's state championship team of 2000 will also be inducted Friday. The 2000 team captured the first of the Vikings' nine state championships.
Players and coaches on that team include Larry Kelly, Jeff Kurdziel, Travis Northup, Ryan Brooks, Derek Child, Charlie Dillon, Michael Hansford, Austin Hanson, Nick LaBin, Nick Butler, Chris Carlson, Steve DeForest, Kyle Edwards, Ryan Heston, Chris McCulloch, Adam Schroeder, Chad Brown, David Duckworth, Mark Simoneau, Richard Thomas and Steve Bushnell.
Honorees will also be recognized at a ceremony in the Seaman High School auditorium at 9 a.m. Saturday.
