These two Galesburg-area baseball players earned all-state honors. Find out who here...

Galesburg's Grant Aten and United's Cormaic Flynn meant a lot to their respective high school baseball teams this spring.

The Illinois High School Baseball Coaches Association has recognized the pair for their performances in 2022, as Aten and Flynn were recently named all-staters.

Aten was honored in Class 3A as a third baseman. Flynn was selected as a catcher in Class 1A.

More:Find out which five Galesburg baseball players grabbed All-WB6 honors right here...

Aten led Galesburg in four offensive categories — batting average (.416), hits (52), runs (39), and triples (4). The Streaks finished the season with a 20-16 overall record, and they saw things come to an end at the beginning of the month, as Galesburg suffered a 3-2 loss to Washington in sectional semifinal action. 

Aten also toed the pitching rubber for the Streaks. He allowed 31 runs (26 earned) on 40 hits, struck out 64 and walked 30 in 48 innings of work for a 3.80 ERA and 1.46 WHIP. 

"Any time as a coach you can get a guy on the all-state team it’s pretty cool," Galesburg baseball coach Jeremy Pickrel said. "I told him after we lost against Washington that I was extremely proud of him. 

"It’s because of the work in the offseason. He did a good job preparing for the season," Pickrel added of Aten. "We’re proud of him and happy for him.”

Flynn batted .500 this spring to lead the Red Storm in the category. He also led United in hits (43), and RBIs (43). The Red Storm finished 2022 with an overall mark of 21-7, and they saw their season come to a close against Triopia in sectional semifinal action. 

More:United baseball ties sectional in sixth inning, but rainout rule ends season

"We are extremely proud of Cormaic and his accomplishments. His success played a huge hand in the success of our program over the last several years," United baseball coach Ryan Molek said. "Cormaic and the rest of the senior group left an indelible mark on our program that will never be forgotten."

Aten missed two seasons of hardball

Before this spring, Aten hadn't suited up and played baseball for two seasons. Due to a torn ACL in his left knee, Aten didn't play for Galesburg in 2021. Thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, the 2020 season was nixed. 

Aten, who served as a quarterback for the Streaks, suffered the knee injury in Galesburg's home football game against Quincy on Friday, March 26, 2021 in Western Big 6 action. Aten exited the game with just over four minutes left in the first quarter, and he didn’t return. 

“Being named an all-stater is quite the accomplishment with everything he’s dealt with. Anyone that watched him work in the offseason knew he had prepared himself to do some big things," Pickrel said of Aten. "We kind of moved him around to different spots in the lineup and different positions, and he succeeded.

"He hadn’t played varsity baseball ever. It's just a great story," Pickrel added. "He was a great leader for us, and he helped set the tone for us to close out the way we did."

Aten's brother, dad also all-staters

Aten isn't the first member of his family who has earned all-state recognition as a baseball player. His brother, Connor, a 2020 GHS grad, did as a pitcher in 2020. Their father, Lance Aten, a 1989 GHS grad, was an all-stater, too.

"That’s obviously a special moment and recognition for the entire family. I’m not sure that has happened," Pickrel said. "I was able to coach both (Connor and Grant), and the three of them that’s got to be pretty special for the family.”

Lance was a member of Galesburg’s only state championship baseball team (1988) and played collegiately at Eastern Illinois University, which is where Connor will play next after two seasons suiting up for Heartland Community College, an NJCAA Division II school in Normal. Grant will follow his brother’s footsteps and will also play baseball for Heartland. 

"His best baseball is ahead, I just wish we would have had him for his sophomore year and junior year," Pickrel said of Grant Aten. "It would have been cool to see what he did with those two extra years."

Galesburg High School senior Grant Aten decides to play baseball at Heartland

Flynn all-stater in 3 sports in 2021-22

Flynn earned first team all-state honors from the Illinois High School Football Coaches Association in Class 1A. He also secured third team all-state honors in Class 1A from the Illinois Basketball Coaches Association, and Flynn nabbed honorable mention all-state honors from the Illinois Associated Press for his efforts on the hardwood in 2021-22.

More:This United grad knows where he will continue his football career. Meet Cormaic Flynn

Flynn averaged 18 points, nine rebounds, four steals, three assists, and three deflections per game for United's basketball team. The Red Storm went 27-7 overall and fell to Southeastern 51-35 in sectional semifinal action to end the 2021-22 season. United's 27 wins was a school record, and Flynn was a big part of them.

Check out:IBCA names its boys basketball all-staters. Which six in Galesburg-area made it?

On the gridiron, Flynn had 143 carries for 1,291 yards and 24 touchdowns in 2021. He also had 12 grabs for 330 yards and four TDs. Flynn had 14 kick returns for 330 yards and four touchdowns. 

On defense, Flynn had 67 tackles and an interception for the Red Storm, who went 6-4 overall this past fall. 

"There are no doubts that we are extremely proud of Cormaic's recognition on the playing field, but how many kids are multi-sport all-staters who are also the valedictorian of their graduating class?," Molek said. "The fact that Cormaic was able to do all of that puts him in elite company as both a student and an athlete.

"Cormaic has left an incredible mark on our program, not just for the statistics he was able to accomplish, but through his selflessness as a leader," Molek added. "Cormaic was quick to help those younger players in practices and games by passing on knowledge of the game to our younger guys."

Flynn will don only football cleats on the next level. He'll do so for Loras College, an NCAA Division III school located in Dubuque, Iowa.

Matthew Wheaton can be reached at (309) 315-6073 or at mwheaton@register-mail.com. Follow him on Twitter @matthewlwheaton