Video: Runner avoids tag at home plateHoudini trick on the base path by Washington player.MaxPreps chooses a Medium School All-American team at the conclusion of the baseball season. Here are the candidates for top honors, Medium School Player of the Year:
Riley Pint, Aquinas (Overland Park, Kan.)
A two-time Gatorade State Player of the Year in Kansas, Pint is being regarded as the potential No. 1 overall draft pick in next month's Major League Baseball draft. While Jason Groome of Barnegat (N.J.) has been the No. 1 prospect for most of the season, lately Groome's stock has fallen slightly while Pint's has risen. The 6-foot-5 righthander is 6-1 on the season with 75 strikeouts in 42 innings pitched. He also reportedly hit 102 mph with his fastball during an off-season showcase.
Bo Bichette, Lakewood (St. Petersburg, Fla.)
The son of former MLB slugger Dante Bichette, Bo had a huge season at Lakewood. He finished among the national leaders in home runs with 13 and he batted .569 with a 1.400 slugging percentage and 40 RBI. He is regarded as one of the top shortstops in the country and will likely be drafted on the second day of the MLB draft.
Thomas Dillard, Oxford (Oxford, Miss.)
Dillard moved into the national home run lead when he hit two home runs in the Class 5A state championship game against Hattiesburg. The final home run gave Oxford a 10-0 lead and ended the game via the mercy rule. Dillard's 16 home runs currently lead the nation and he is also ranked as one of the top catchers in the nation. Although headed to Ole' Miss, Dillard will likely be drafted on the second day of the draft.
Photos by Randy Sartin, Mike Janes and Alyson Boyer Rode
The senior third baseman helped lead Calvary Christian Academy to a Class 4A state championship as he belted 12 home runs and had 11 doubles during the season. He batted .440 with 38 RBI and 35 runs scored. He led South Florida in home runs.
Bryse Wilson, Orange (Hillsborough, N.C.)
One of the top prospects in North Carolina, Wilson posted a 10-2 record with 133 strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA. He also threw a pair of no-hitters and a perfect game and finished the season with five shutouts. For his career, Wilson won 33 games and struck out 335 batters.
Landon Oliver, Russellville (Russellville, Ala.)
Oliver was one of several prolific hitters for the Golden Tigers, who won the Class 5A state championship. He batted .451 with 62 RBI, 19 doubles and six home runs.
Danny Zimmerman, Redondo Union (Redondo Beach, Calif.)
One of the top juniors in the nation, Zimmerman has the defending Southern Section Division 3 champions back in the hunt for a section crown as he is batted .450 on the season. He also has a team-best 11 home runs with eight doubles and 37 RBI. On the mound, Zimmerman is 5-1 with a 1.56 ERA.
Adan Fernandez, Archbishop McCarthy (Fort Lauderdale, Fla.)
The Mavericks won their sixth state title in seven season and Fernandez was the team offensive leader with a team-best 32 RBI and seven home runs. He also had nine doubles and 26 runs scored.
Hunter Barco, Bolles (Jacksonville, Fla.)
Perhaps the top candidate for National Freshman of the Year, Barco posted a 12-0 pitching record for the Class 5A state champions, striking out 89 batters in 77.2 innings pitched with a 0.54 ERA. Two of his wins came in the playoffs, including the quarterfinal win over Rutherford, in which he pitched a two-hit shutout with 10 strikeouts, and a semifinal win over Melbourne Central Catholic, in which he threw a shutout with eight strikeouts.
Sam Huff, Arcadia (Phoenix, Ariz.)
Huff was among the state leaders in several offensive categories as he belted 14 home runs and finished the season with a .554 batting average. He also had 11 doubles, 49 RBI and a 1.195 slugging percentage.
Note: Medium schools are those schools that play in state enrollment divisions with generally between 1,000 and 2,000 students.
