3 Trailblazers top Sun all-state first team

Spencer Patterson

Thursday, June 3, 1999 | 10:17 a.m.

To the victors go the spoils.

Fresh off its first 4A state baseball championship, Durango High School headlines the second annual Sun All-State Baseball Team, as three Trailblazers are featured on the 15-member first squad.

Durango seniors John DiBetta (second base) and Sean Havens (outfield) earned the nod, as did junior Chris Kelly (designated hitter). In addition, three more Durango players received honorable mention on the honor team chosen by prep writers at the Las Vegas Sun and the Sparks Daily Tribune with input from the state's coaches.

The Baseball Player of the Year came from state runner-up Cimarron-Memorial. Spartan right-hander Mike Esposito was a runaway selection after a season that saw him baffle opponents with a 10-1 record and 0.71 ERA.

Baseball coaching honors went to Wooster's Ron Malcolm, who led a group of unheralded Colts through a deep 4A Northern Zone Tournament and into the elite four-team state tournament.

In softball, Northern Zone runner-up Reed led the way with four first-team selections: seniors Trish Carthen (second base) and Laura Edmonds (outfield), junior Cassie Vanderbeek (pitcher) and sophomore Megan O'Connor (designated hitter).

Wooster sophomore Chelsea Crosby earned Softball Player of the Year honors after leading the Colts to the 4A Northern Zone title with a 20-6 record on the mound. State champion Galena produced one first-team selection -- senior Vanessa Vanderburgt (third base).

The Softball Coach of the Year award went to Silverado's Chuck Pope, whose squad battled injuries all season yet managed to win the 4A Southern Zone title and earn a berth in this year's state title game.

Along with Esposito and Durango's trio, other first-team baseball selections from the Las Vegas-area were: Silverado junior Jeremy West (first base), Bishop Gorman seniors Nate Fouts (pitcher) and Ben Quinto (shortstop), Cheyenne senior Jake Laidlaw (utility) and Green Valley sophomore Garrett Guzman (outfield).

Northern Nevada placed five players on the first-team baseball squad: Reed seniors Kenny Riley (catcher) and Chris Wiskerchen (third base), Reno senior John Cruz (outfield), Reno junior Marc Kasier (outfield) and Churchill County senior Pat Spacher (pitcher).

The all-state softball team was dominated by the northern half of the state, with the south placing just four players on the first squad: Green Valley seniors Kathy Waddilove (catcher) and Renee Hietbrink (pitcher), Silverado junior Kristen Toner (outfield) and Bonanza senior Kelly Glass (outfield).

Rounding out the all-state softball team were: Douglas senior Rebecca Rippee (first base), Wooster freshman Cindy Elkins (outfield), Carson senior Margie Foster (third base) and Carson junior Nicole Freeman (utility).

Esposito, Riley and West marked their second year on the all-state baseball first team. The same goes for Rippee, Edmonds and Vanderbeek in softball.