After earning national player of the year honors by both USA Today and Gatorade, Matt Hobgood of Norco has edged out fellow Californian Tyler Matzek and Nevada standouts Jeff Malm of Bishop Gorman and Bryce Harper of Las Vegas for the MaxPreps All-American MVP Award.
National Player of the Year
Matt Hobgood of Norco
Photo by Louis Lopez
Meanwhile Larry Knight of Sumrall, Miss., has been selected as the MaxPreps National Coach of the Year after guiding his team to the No. 1 overall ranking in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25 National Rankings.
For Hobgood, the deciding factor was his outstanding play not only at the plate, but on the hill as one of the nation’s best pitchers. While Matzek was undoubtedly one of the top pitchers in the country, as his selection by the Colorado Rockies with the 11th overall pick would attest, Hobgood was actually chosen six spots ahead of Matzek in the draft by the Baltimore Orioles as a pitcher.
Malm, who was the EA All-American MVP, was also an outstanding two-way performer for Bishop Gorman, which finished fourth in the MaxPreps Xcellent 25. He finished his career tied for the all-time national lead in basehits and was among the national leaders in RBI and home runs. Hobgood, however, had better numbers on the mound than Malm and was just as adept at the plate as he led the nation in home runs.
Harper, meanwhile, played almost strictly behind the plate for Las Vegas, although he did see some time on the mound. The Baseball America national player of the year, Harper was not eligible to be drafted because he is only a sophomore. While his hitting numbers were outstanding (including a batting average of over .600) and he obviously has tremendous potential, Harper’s overall numbers just didn’t quite match up to Hobgood’s.
As a result, the Baltimore Orioles draftee earns the nod as the MaxPreps National Player of the Year.
Knight and his Sumrall Bobcats won their second straight 3A state championship in Mississippi. With a 36-0 record, Knight’s team posted the best mark in the nation this year despite returning just three starters from last year’s state championship team. According to the Hattiesburg American, Sumrall lost six senior starters last year and had only three seniors on this year’s roster.
“This is the best team I’ve ever coaches,” Knight told the American. “Any time you go undefeated through the season, that sets it apart.”
The state title is the sixth for Knight, who also won four state titles while coaching at Hattiesburg. Knight is in his fourth season at Sumrall.
MaxPreps Small School All-American Teams
MaxPreps Medium School All-American Teams
MaxPreps Underclass All-American Teams
MaxPreps Baseball All-Americans
First Team
Shelby Miller, Brownwood (Texas), Sr, Pitcher
Quite possibly the top all-around pitcher in Texas, Miller was a 3A all-state pick after posting a 10-2 record with a 1.98 ERA. He struck out 153 batters in 77 innings pitched and was selected 19th overall in the MLB draft by the St. Louis Cardinals. Also solid at the plate, Miller batted .430 with five home runs and 37 RBI. He was the District 2-3A player of the year.
Tyler Matzek, Capistrano Valley
Photo by Jordan Anast
Tyler Matzek, Capistrano Valley (Mission Viejo, Calif.), Sr, Pitcher
Matzek led Capistrano Valley to the Southern Section Division 1 championship by picking up the win and also hitting the game-winning home run in a 1-0 victory over Edison in the championship game. Matzek had a 13-1 record on the year with five shutouts and 106 strikeouts in 85 innings pitched. He was the MVP of the South Coast League, the Division 1 All-Southern Section team and he was also MVP of the Orange County Register’s All-County team and the Los Angeles Times’ All-Southland Team. Matzek batted well, hitting .404 with eight home runs and 32 RBI. He was selected by the Colorado Rockies with the No. 11 pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
Jake Barrett, Desert Ridge (Mesa, Ariz.), Sr, Pitcher
Barrett led Desert Ridge to the Arizona 5A Div. II state championship on the mound and at the plate. He batted .510 with 66 RBI and 20 home runs to put him among the state and national leaders in round trippers. On the mound, Barrett had a 9-3 record with a 1.90 ERA and 96 strikeouts in 62 innings pitched. He was the state player of the year by the Arizona Republic, the East Valley Tribune and the Arizona Coaches Association. Barrett was chosen by the Toronto Blue Jays in the third round of the MLB draft.
Zach Wheeler, East Paulding (Dallas, Ga.), Sr, Pitcher
Wheeler was the top pitcher in Georgia this year, posting a 9-0 record with a 0.50 ERA in 76 innings pitched. He averaged close to two strikeouts per inning as he fanned 151 batters while walking just 20. Wheeler was the second high school pitcher chosen in the Major League Baseball draft, going to the San Francisco Giants with the No. 6 overall pick.
Zachary Von Rosenberg, Zachary (La.), Sr, Pitcher
Von Rosenberg won four state championships in his high school career, one with Barbe as a freshman and three with Zachary. Von Rosenberg was the winning pitcher in each championship game as well and finished his senior year with a 12-1 overall record and a 0.48 ERA in 82 innings pitched. He also struck out 119 batters and walked just 12. At the plate, Von Rosenberg batted .471 with 19 doubles, 10 home runs and 43 RBI. He also stole 28 bases. He was the 4A state player of the year for the second straight year. The Pittsburgh Pirates nabbed Von Rosenberg with their pick in the sixth round of the MLB draft.
Jacob Turner, Westminster Christian
Courtesy of Don Adams
Jacob Turner, Westminster Christian (St. Louis, Mo.), Sr, Pitcher
The top player in the state of Missouri, Turner was 7-2 on the season, but struck out 118 batters and walked just 13 in only 58.1 innings pitched. An all-state player and a member of the St. Louis Dispatch All-Metro team, Turner was selected by the Detroit Tigers with the ninth overall pick in the Major League Baseball draft.
Garrett Gould, Maize (Kan.), Sr, Pitcher
Gould was the Gatorade State Player of the Year and the Coaches 6A State Player of the Year in Kansas after going 6-1 with a 0.88 ERA. In just 45 innings pitched, Gould struck out 95 batters. A Wichita State recruit, Gould was taken with the 65th pick in the MLB Draft by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
David Holmberg, Port Charlotte (Fla.), Sr, Pitcher
Holmberg was named the Sarasota area player of the year by the Herald Tribune after using his 93 mph fastball to post a 7-0 record with a 0.22 ERA and 132 strikeouts in 64.2 innings pitched. He struck out 403 batters during his career at Port Charlotte. He was also solid at the plate with a .377 average that included 21 RBI and seven home runs. He has signed with the Chicago White Sox, who took him with the 71st pick in the MLB draft.
Max Stassi, Yuba City
Photo by Anthony Brunsman
Max Stassi, Yuba City (Calif.), Sr, Catcher
One of the most fundamentally sound catchers in the country, Stassi is a three-time All-Metro MVP by the Sacramento Bee. He batted .538 with 38 RBI, 56 runs scored, 11 doubles and 11 home runs for the Honkers while leading the team to its third straight Sac-Joaquin Section Div. 3 championship. He has a scholarship to UCLA, but he was also chosen in the fourth round of the MLB draft by the Oakland Athletics.
Tom Joseph, Horizon (Scottsdale, Ariz.), Sr, Catcher
One of the top home run hitters in Arizona, Joseph belted 15 round trippers with 36 RBI and five doubles while hitting for a .442 average. An Arizona 5A first team selection, Joseph was the first Arizona player chosen in the MLB draft, going to the San Francisco Giants with the 55th overall pick.
Bryce Harper, Las Vegas (Nev.), Soph, Catcher
Harper has been one of the most visible high school baseball players the past month after landing on the cover of Sports Illustrated and then deciding to forgo his final two years of high school and enrolling in a junior college in Nevada. Harper batted .626 during the season with 55 RBI, 36 stolen bases and 14 home runs, eight of which came during the postseason. He also swatted 22 doubles and nine triples.
Jeff Malm batted .564
Courtesy of Bishop Gorman
Jeff Malm, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), Sr, First Base
The two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year, Malm finished his career tied for the national record for most career hits with 277. As a senior, Malm batted .564 with 69 runs, 69 RBI, 13 doubles and 17 home runs while leading the Gaels to their fourth state title in as many years. Malm also pitched and was 11-1 on the mound with 87 strikeouts and a 1.50 ERA in 65.1 innings pitched. He was chosen by the Tampa Bay Rays in the fifth round of the MLB draft.
KC Hobson, Stockdale (Bakersfield, Calif.), Sr, First Base
Hobson led Stockdale to its second straight Central Section Div. 1 championship and was named the Bakersfield Californian’s Player of the Year for the second year as well. He posted a 7-1 record as a pitcher with a 2.72 ERA. He also led the Central Section in home runs with 15 while driving in 47 runs and batting .489. He was taken in the sixth round of the MLB draft by the Toronto Blue Jays.
Matt Hobgood, Norco (Calif.), Sr, First Base
The top California player chosen in the Major League Baseball draft, Hobgood went to the Baltimore Orioles with the No. 5 pick overall as a pitcher. The Gatorade National Player of the Year and USA Today’s National Player of the Year, Hobgood was one of the state’s best as a pitcher and a hitter. He had an 11-1 record on the mound with a 0.92 ERA with 101 strikeouts in 68.2 innings pitched. At the plate, Hobgood was the national leader in home runs with 21 while batting .475 with 55 RBI. He was the Southern Section Div. 1 co-player of the year with Matzek and was the player of the year on the Riverside Press-Enterprise all-county team.
Daniel Fields, University of Detroit Jesuit (Detroit, Mich.), Sr, Infield
Fields earned District 4 MVP honors by the Baseball Coaches Association after batting .626 with 42 runs scored, 67 basehits, 12 doubles, six triples and 13 home runs. He also drove in 44 runs and stole 25 bases while earning state player of the year honors by the Michigan Coaches Association. He was the first Michigan high school player chosen in the MLB draft, going to the hometown Tigers in the sixth round.
Matt Davidson, Yucaipa (Calif.), Sr, Infield
Drafted with the 35th pick in the supplemental portion of the Major League Baseball draft by the Diamondbacks, Davidson was one of the state’s top players along with Matzek and Hobgood. He batted .553 with 45 RBI and 11 home runs and was named to the All-Southern Section Div. 2 first team, the LA Times All-Southland team and the Press-Enterprise all-county first team.
Bobby Borchering, Bishop Verot
Courtesy of Tanya Johnston
Bobby Borchering, Bishop Verot (Fort Myers, Fla.), Sr, Infield
The Fort Myers News-Press player of the year, Borchering was also the first player from Florida chosen in the MLB draft, going to the Diamondbacks with the 16th overall pick. The third baseman batted .494 with 13 home runs, 37 RBI and 33 runs scored.
Chris Owings, Gilbert (S.C.), Sr, Infield
The two-time South Carolina 2A state player of the year, Owings was the first South Carolina chosen in the MLB draft as he went to the Arizona Diamondbacks with the 41st pick. Owings was known for his defense at shortstop for the Indians, but he also batted .400 with 30 runs, 20 RBI, seven doubles, five home runs and 22 stolen bases.
Nolan Arenado, El Toro (Lake Forest, Calif.), Sr, Infield
Named along with teammate Aaron Wirsch as the MVP of the Sea View League, Arenado was also picked to the Orange County Register’s all-county first team and the Southern Section Div. 2 team. He batted .517 on the year with five home runs and 12 doubles. Also landed a spot on the Los Angeles Times’ All-Southland squad., No. 59 Rockies
Nick Franklin, Lake Brantley (Altamonte Springs, Fla.), Sr, Infield
The Orlando Sentinel honored Franklin as the Central Florida player of the year after he led the Patriots to the 6A final four for the second year in a row. He also batted .538 with 11 home runs and was the second Florida high school player chosen in the MLB draft, going to the Seattle Mariners with the No. 27 pick overall.
Jake Stewart, Rocky Mountain
Photo by Patrick Miller
Jacob Stewart, Rocky Mountain (Fort Collins, Colo.), Sr, Outfield
One of the top two-sport athletes in the country, Stewart was an all-state receiver for Rocky Mountain and was named the state MVP in baseball by the Denver Post after leading the Lobos to the state title for the second year in a row. He batted .511 with 44 runs, 50 RBI, five doubles and 11 home runs. He was chosen in the 14th round of the MLB draft by the Phillies, however he has also committed to play baseball at Stanford.
Slade Heathcott, Texas (Texarkana, Texas), Sr, Outfield
He missed some games early in the season while recovering from a knee injury sustained during football, but once he was at full strength, Texas was nearly unstoppable. Heathcott led the team to its first 4A state championship with a win over the No. 1 team in the nation, Moody of Corpus Christi. The 4A all-state pick batted .472 with 46 RBI, 12 doubles and nine home runs on the season. The New York Yankees selected Heathcott with the 29th overall pick in the MLB draft.
Randall Grichuk, Lamar Consolidated (Rosenberg, Texas), Sr, Outfield
The national leader in home runs, along with Hobgood, Grichuk belted 21 on the season and drove in 46 runs for Lamar Consolidated. He also batted .613 and was the Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Player of the Year. The 4A all-state pick went to the Los Angeles Angels with the 24th overall pick in the MLB draft.
Donavan Tate, Cartersville (Ga.), Sr, Outfield
The No. 1 high school player chosen in the MLB draft, Tate went with the No. 3 overall pick to the San Diego Padres. Committed to play at North Carolina on a football scholarship next year, Tate was one of the state’s top baseball players after batting .560 with 50 runs, 17 doubles, five triples, seven home runs and 63 RBI.
Mike Trout batted .531
Courtesy of Debbie Trout
Mike Trout, Millville (N.J.), Sr, Outfield
The state player of the year in New Jersey, Trout set a state record with 18 home runs while driving in 45 and batting .531. He also scored 49 runs and had six doubles. He was the District 2 MVP by the Baseball Coaches Association and was taken with the 25th overall pick by the Los Angeles Angels in the MLB draft.
Everett Williams, McCallum (Austin, Texas), Sr, Outfield
Chosen by the San Diego Padres with the 52nd overall pick in the MLB draft, Williams was the most valuable player in District 26-4A and was also named to the All-Central Texas team by the Austin Statesman. He batted .463 on the season with six home runs and 27 stolen bases.
Austin Kirk, Owasso (Okla.), Sr, Utility
Kirk landed state player of the year honors in Oklahoma after leading Owasso to yet another state championship. The Rams won three straight state titles with Kirk on the team. He led the Rams with a 9-1 overall record and a 0.45 ERA with 111 strikeouts and 24 walks in 67.2 innings pitched. He was also steady at the plate with a .408 average, 13 doubles, five home runs and 50 RBI. He went to the Chicago Cubs in the third round of the MLB draft.
John Ryan Murphy, Pendleton (Bradenton, Fla.), Sr, Utility
Murphy was one of the national leaders in RBI for Pendleton, knocking in 66 while batting .627 with 56 runs scored. He also had 17 doubles, six triples and 11 home runs while playing catcher for the Panthers, who were 31-1 while playing an independent schedule. Murphy went to the New York Yankees with the 76th overall pick in the MLB draft.
Zackry Dodson, Medina Valley (Castroville, Texas), Sr, Utility
The San Antonio Express News player of the year, Dodson was spectacular on the mound and at the plate for the Panthers. He was 10-0 as a pitcher with 129 strikeouts and a 1.20 ERA in 64.1 innings pitched. He also had a five-inning no-hitter against Southside. At the plate, Dodson batted .465 with 52 RBI, 15 doubles and 11 home runs. The Pittsburgh Pirates selected him in the fourth round of the MLB draft.
Max Walla, Albuquerque Academy (Albuquerque, N.M.), Sr, Utility
The state 4A player of the year, the Gatorade State Player of the Year and the Albuquerque All-Metro player of the year, Walla was an outstanding offensive and defensive player. He batted .555 with 10 doubles, 12 home runs and 40 RBI. He also was 13-0 on the mound with a 1.09 ERA and 112 strikeouts in 57.2 innings pitched. He went to the Milwaukee Brewers in the second round of the MLB draft.
Second Team
Josh Patton, Naples (Fla.), Sr, Pitcher
Patton was the player of the Year by the Naples News after leading the Golden Eagles to the Florida 4A state championship. He was the 4A state player of the year as well after going 12-0 on the mound with four shutouts, a 0.90 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 77.2 innings pitched. He also batted .355 with 19 RBI.
Steven Matz, Mellville (East Setauket, N.Y.), Sr, Pitcher
Matz was named the 2A player of the year in New York by the sportswriters association and he was also the District 1 player of the year by the Baseball Coaches Association. An All-Long Island pick, Matz was 6-1 with a 0.35 ERA and 71 strikeouts in 46 innings pitched. He was the first New York high school player chosen in the MLB draft, going to the Mets with the 72nd overall pick.
DJ Baxendale, Sylvan Hills (Sherwood, Ark.), Sr, Pitcher
The Gatorade Player of the Year in Arkansas, Baxendale led Sylvan Hills to 32 wins on the season. He was perfect on the mound with a 12-0 record and a 0.30 ERA in 69 innings pitched. He also struck out 115 batters and walked just 14. He also batted .359 with five home runs and 38 RBI. The Arkansas Democrat Gazette’s player of the year, who was 24-1 over the past two seasons, will play at Arkansas next year.
Tanner Bushue, South Central (Farina, Ill.) Sr, Pitcher
The top pitcher in Illinois, Bushue was 8-2 with a 0.62 ERA in 68.1 innings pitched. He struck out a phenomenal 140 batters and walked only 22 while earning all-state honors by the Chicago Tribune. He was the first Illinois player chosen in the MLB draft, going to the Houston Astros with the 69th overall pick.
Patrick Schuster, Mitchell (New Port Richey, Fla.), Sr, Pitcher
Schuster caught the nation’s attention by setting the Florida state record with four consecutive no-hitters. He earned 6A state player of the year honors and was All-Suncoast by the Tampa Tribune. Schuster was 8-1 on the season with 115 strikeouts and a 0.93 ERA in 60 innings pitched. He also posted three shutouts and was part of a combined no-hitter. Offensively he batted .403 with 21 RBI. He was drafted in the 13th round of the MLB draft by the Arizona Diamondbacks.
Jordan John, Calallen (Corpus Christi, Texas), Sr, Pitcher
John was one of the premier pitchers in Texas, leading Calallen to a No. 2 overall ranking in the country at one point in the season. John was 13-0 overall with nine shutouts and 145 strikeouts in 82 innings pitched. His 0.26 ERA is one of the top marks in the country. He was named to the All-South Texas team by the Caller Times and he was a Class 4A all-state selection. He will play at Oklahoma next season.
Chad James, Yukon (Okla.), Sr, Pitcher
The first high school player from Oklahoma chosen in the MLB draft, James went to the Florida Marlins with the 18th overall selection. The tall lefthander was 8-2 overall with a 1.28 ERA and 100 strikeouts in 63.1 innings pitched. He was the Big City Player of the Year by the Oklahoma City Oklahoman.
Thomas Dorminy, Alonso (Tampa, Fla.), Jr, Pitcher
Dorminy helped lead the Ravens to a 6A state championship as he went 12-0 on the season with a 1.04 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 74.1 innings pitched. He was 3-0 in the playoffs, including a no-hitter in the region finals. He also defeated Lake Brantley, the defending state champion, in the semifinals. As a batter, he hit .370 with 31 RBI and six home runs.
Nick Tindall, O’Fallon (Ill.), Sr, Catcher
The St. Louis Post Dispatch player of the year, Tindall batted .480 with 18 home runs, 65 RBI and he scored 57 runs in leading his team to a third-place finish in the Illinois 4A state championship. He was drafted in the 17th round by the Minnesota Twins and has committed to play at Southern Illinois.
Will Myers, Wesleyan Christian Academy (High Point, N.C.), Sr, Catcher
Possibly the top player in North Carolina, Myers earned all-state honors all four years at Wesleyan and was drafted by the Kansas City Royals in the third round of the MLB draft. He batted .532 with 14 home runs, seven doubles and 41 RBI.
Luke Maile, Covington Catholic (Park Hills, Kent.), Sr, Catcher
The state player of the year in Kentucky, Maile batted .514 with 11 doubles and 12 home runs. He scored 56 runs and had 55 hits and 55 RBI for Covington Catholic. The Boston Red Sox selected Maile in the 43rd round of the MLB draft.
Chad Gough-Fortenberry, Northshore (Slidell, La.), Sr, Catcher
Fortenberry was the 5A state player of the year in Louisiana after leading Northshore to the state championship. He batted .534 with 13 doubles, 16 home runs and 48 RBI for the Panthers. He was chosen by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 43rd round of the MLB draft.
Jonathan Gonzales, Hays (Buda, Texas), Sr, First Base
The CenTex player of the year by the Austin Statesman, Gonzales played third and first base for Hays and was an all-state 4A player. He batted .548 and clouted 16 home runs with 48 RBI. He also pitched and had a 6-0 record. He is headed to Temple College next year.
Colton Cain, Waxahachie (Texas), Sr, First Base
The Dallas Morning News player of the year, Cain was a threat with his arm and with his bat. He batted .417 with six doubles, 12 home runs and 33 RBI and also had a 6-1 record with a 1.67 ERA and 115 strikeouts in just 54 innings pitched. He was chosen by the Pirates in the eighth round of the MLB draft.
Cameron Perkins, Southport (Indianapolis, Ind.), Sr, Infield
The two-time Indianapolis Marion County player of the year, Perkins also earned state MVP honors after batting .521 with 13 doubles, three home runs and 38 RBI for Southport. The Seattle Mariners chose Perkins in the 43rd round.
Curt Powell, Farragut (Knoxville, Tenn.), Sr, Infield
The two-time Knoxville player of the year in Tennessee, Powell led Farragut to back-to-back state championships and was named the Gatorade State Player of the Year. Headed to Vanderbilt next year, Powell batted .504 with eight home runs, 39 RBI, 79 runs scored, and 17 doubles. He also stole 21 bases.
Mychal Givens, Plant (Tampa, Fla.), Sr, Infield
The Dairy Farmers 5A state player of the year, Givens was also All-Suncoast by the Tampa Tribune and was drafted in the second round by the Baltimore Orioles. He batted .374 on the season with 31 RBI, nine doubles and four home runs and also posted an 8-4 pitching record with 113 strikeouts and a 1.71 ERA in 78 innings pitched.
Jake Schrader, Pasco (Dade City, Fla.), Sr, Infield
The Tampa Tribune player of the year ahead of the likes of Dorminy, Givens and Schuster, the Pasco shortstop batted .554 and led the Tampa area with 13 home runs. He also had 46 RBI and had 21 extra basehits out of his 36-hit season total.
Chris Taylor, Cox (Virginia Beach, Va.), Sr, Infield
Taylor earned Virginia state player of the year honors by the coaches association after leading Cox to a victory over Menchville in the region tournament and a final four appearance in the state tournament. Cox, who will play at Virginia Tech next year, The shortstop batted .444 with 37 runs scored and 24 stolen bases. He was also the Beach District MVP and the Eastern Region MVP in Virginia.
Jack Carey, St. Paul’s (Brooklandville, Md.), Sr, Infield
The Wake Forest-bound third baseman set school records for a season and a career at St. Paul’s as he finished the year with 53 hits, 61 RBI, 16 home runs and 12 doubles. That gave him four-year career totals of 168 hits, 149 RBI, 27 home runs and 44 doubles. His RBI total is believed to be a state record, according to the Baltimore Sun, which picked Carey as the All-Metro player of the year. He batted .509 on the season.
Brett Jacobs, Richland (Wash.), Sr, Infield
Jacobs earned Player of the Year honors in Washington after leading Richland to back-to-back 4A state championships. He batted .417 on the season with five home runs, 33 RBI and nine doubles. He had 24 home runs and 117 RBI for his career. He will play at Washington State next year.
Tony Vocca, Mingus (Cottonwood, Ariz.), Sr, Outfield
The 4A state player of the year by the Arizona Coaches Association, Vocca batted .593 with 60 RBI, 13 doubles and 10 home runs. He was also 12-1 on the mound, including a win over nationally ranked Notre Dame Prep in the 4A state finals, and had 120 strikeouts and just 19 walks in 74.2 innings pitched.
Levon Washington, Buchholz (Gainesville, Fla.), Sr, Outfield
The Gainesville Sun’s player of the year, Washington batted .400 on the season despite battling an injury. When healthy, Washington actually batted close to .590 and finished with seven home runs and 32 runs scored. He was taken in the first round of the MLB draft by the Tampa Bay Rays.
Joey Rickard, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas, Nev.), Sr, Outfield
One of the top offensive performers in the country, Rickard batted .545 with 62 RBI, 23 doubles, six triples and seven home runs. He also set a national record with 87 runs scored and he is second on the national career runs scored list with 265.
Justin Meza, Moody (Corpus Christi, Texas), Sr, Outfield
The South Texas player of the year by the Caller Times, Meza was an outstanding pitcher, boasting a 16-2 overall record with a 1.13 ERA and 130 strikeouts. However he was also outstanding in the outfield, batting .402 with five home runs, 52 RBI and 32 runs scored. He was also the District 30-4A player of the year and was a 4A all-state first team selection.
Cory Falvey, Socorro (El Paso, Texas), Sr, Outfield
Socorro won its first ever 5A state championship in baseball and Falvey was the big reason why. He was the 5A tournament MVP and was also a 5A all-state pick. He batted .437 on the season with 67 RBI, 19 home runs and 14 doubles.
Luke Bole, Hartselle (Ala.), Sr, Utility
Bole earned state player of the year honors in Alabama after leading Hartselle to the 5A state championship and a national best 50 wins. Bole batted .412 with 68 basehits, 73 RBI and 20 home runs. He also scored 53 runs. One of the team’s pitchers, Bole was 11-4 on the mound.
Keyvius Sampson, Forest (Ocala, Fla.), Sr, Utility
Sampson was a force to be reckoned with. On the mound, Sampson was 9-1 with a 0.84 ERA and 134 strikeouts. At the plate, he hit .522 with 30 RBI and 38 runs scored. He was named the Ocala Star Banner player of the year and he was drafted in the fourth round of the MLB draft by the San Diego Padres.
Austin Maddox, Eagle’s View Academy (Jacksonville, Fla.), Sr, Utility
Maddox earned player of the year honors for the Jacksonville area after leading Eagle’s View to the 1A semifinals. He batted .544 with nine home runs and was a three-time All-First Coast first-team pick. He was chosen by Tampa Bay in the 37th round of the MLB draft and has committed to play at Florida next year.
Darren Farmer, West Lauderdale (Collinsville, Miss.), Sr, Utility
The state player of the year in Mississippi by the Clarion Ledger, Farmer led West Lauderdale to the 4A state championship by batting .535 with 11 doubles, 18 home runs and 60 RBI. He had 33 home runs in his career. The Milwaukee Brewers chose him in the 50th round of the MLB draft.
