NH's Ball wins 17-A MVP for second consecutive season
From Staff Reports
May 25, 2008 - Cumby and North Hopkins led the way on the District 17-A All-District baseball team as voted on by the district coaches.
The Trojans had 10 players nominated on the list, while North Hopkins had nine selections and the coaching staff of the year.
North Hopkins received three superlative awards as senior Bradley Ball was named the Most Valuable Player after hitting .500 with 10 RBI during district play. He also had a 2-1 record with 41 strikeouts and a 3.50 ERA in 22 innings.
Teammate Lorenzo Rivera shared the Defensive MVP award with Saltillo senior Derek McClure (.516, eight RBI) as Rivera batted .480 with 11 RBI this season. Paco Castro rounded out the superlative awards as Newcomer of the Year after batting .416 with six RBI in district.
First Team nominations went to NH senior infielder Joe Smiddy and freshman outfielder Canyon Cockrum, while Second Team selections went to freshman pitcher Brandon Joslin, freshman infielder Jason Leber and sophomore infielder Dillon Mitchell. Junior Patrick Gold was named Second Team outfielder.
For Cumby, senior Nick Newsome was named the Offensive MVP as he batted .783 with 11 RBI, two home runs, three triples and two doubles in district play.
On the First Team for Cumby was senior pitcher Kris Stanford, sophomore infielders Brixx Hawthorne and Tim Cook, senior outfielder Jake Vann, junior outfielder Ryan Vaughn, junior designated hitter Jason Wallace and freshman utility player Donnie Rodriguez. Junior Devin Owens rounded out the selections as a Second Team outfielder.
Saltillo had three players named to the First Team: junior pitcher Nolan Garmon, infielder Chase Carr and senior outfielder Kenneth Poor. On the Second Team were senior catcher Steven Mobley and junior outfielder Mikeal Groenwold.
Sulphur Bluff had two players named to the team as senior infielder Michael Hale was named to the First Team, while junior outfielder Mason Littrell was named to the Second Team.
Below is the District 17-A All-District baseball team:
MVP - Bradley Ball, Sr., North Hopkins
Offensive MVP- Nick Newsome, Sr., Cumby
Co-Defensive MVP - Lorenzo Rivera, Soph., North Hopkins; Derek McClure, Sr., Saltillo
Newcomer of the Year - Paco Castro, Fr., North Hopkins
Coaching Staff of the Year - Tim Henderson and staff, North Hopkins
FIRST TEAM
Pitcher - Kris Stanford, Sr., Cumby; Nolan Garmon, Jr., Saltillo
Catcher - Tanner Gomez, Soph., Cumby
Infielders - Brixx Hawthorne, Soph., Cumby; Joe Smiddy, Sr., North Hopkins; Chase Carr, Jr., Saltillo; Ryan Seale, Sr., Campbell; Tim Cook, Soph., Cumby; Michael Hale, Sr., Sulphur Bluff
Outfielders - Canyon Cockrum, Fr., North Hopkins; Kenneth Poor, Sr., Saltillo; Jake Vann, Sr., Cumby; Ryan Vaughn, Jr., Cumby
Designated Hitter - Jason Wallace, Jr., Cumby
Utility Player - Donnie Rodriguez, Fr., Cumby
SECOND TEAM
Pitcher - Brandon Joslin, Fr., North Hopkins; Alex Stephensen, Soph., Roxton
Catcher - Steven Mobley, Sr., Saltillo
Infielders - Wesley Duke, Jr., Roxton; Caleb Moore, Jr., Roxton; Jason Leber, Fr., North Hopkins; Dillon Mitchell, Soph., North Hopkins; Dakota Dawson, Soph., Campbell; David Higginbotham, Jr., Campbell
Outfielders - Mason Littrell, Jr., Sulphur Bluff; Patrick Gold, Jr., North Hopkins; Patrick Cook, Jr., Campbell; Mikeal Groenwold, Jr., Saltillo; Devin Owen, Jr., Cumby
Utility Player - Nick Simmons, Sr., Campbell
