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Kash Kalkowski may have already received the biggest surprise of his senior high school baseball season.
It didn't come from an opposing pitcher in the form of an unexpected sharp breaking ball.
It didn't come from a ball taking a bad bounce on the infield in front of his shortstop position.
No, the Grand Island standout got it from his mailbox.
That's where he found out on Saturday that he earned national recognition with a pair of prestigious honors.
Kalkowski was named as one of the multi-position players on the 12th annual Louisville Slugger Preseason High School All-American First Team.
He also was named to the 50-player third team of the Rawlings Preseason All-American squad.
The honors caught the Islanders shortstop/pitcher off guard.
"I was very surprised," Kalkowski said. "I got it in the mail and opened it. I didn't know what it was at first.
"It's a great honor for me. It's a great plus."
The Lousiville Slugger All-American team is selected by the staff of Collegiate Baseball. Nominations are submitted by their high school coaches.
While Kalkowski, a University of Nebraska recruit, had heard of that honor and knows that Islander coach Rick Kissack had submitted information for his nomiation, his other preseason award is more of a mystery.
The Rawlings Preseason teams are made up of a total of 400 players on a regional basis. Of those, 150 are named to the Rawlings All-American Team. They are divided in groups of 50 to the first, second and third team.
The award is given in partnership with Perfect Game USA, a scouting report service. Most of the players on the teams earned attention while attending Perfect Game camps.
Not Kalkowski.
"It was really exciting," Kalkowski said of the Rawlings honor. "I haven't been to any Perfect Game camps, or any camps at all. It's nice to get recognized here in Grand Island.
"Not a lot of people (from out of state) know we have baseball in Grand Island. They only think of Omaha."
Not only did Kalkowski represent Grand Island, he represented the state. He was the only Nebraskan to make either high school All-American list.
"I'm honored to be the only guy from Nebraska," Kalkowski said. "Most of the other (players) are from warmer states like Texas and Florida."
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