Guzman, McGowan earn Player of the Year honors

Spencer Patterson

Friday, June 1, 2001 | 10:26 a.m.

The 2001 all-state teams were selected by the Las Vegas Sun, with input from coaches and other media outlets statewide.

When the 4A baseball and softball state tournaments kicked off two weeks ago, the Sun's 2001 all-state squads couldn't have been much hazier, with nearly every spot on the first teams and both players of the year still up in the air.

Over the next four days, however, the Green Valley Gators and Wooster Colts quickly brought things into focus.

Green Valley captured its seventh state baseball title in nine years, thanks largely to the presence of senior outfielder Garrett Guzman. A career .530 hitter, Guzman only improved his credentials during the state tournament, going 14-for-19 (.737) with four homers, 11 RBIs and 13 runs in six games, making him the obvious choice as the Sun's 2001 State Baseball Player of the Year.

Likewise, Wooster defended its state softball championship behind the strong arm of sophomore pitcher Brianne McGowan. The fireballer pitched all three games on the final day of the state tournament, going 3-0 to up her season record to 20-2 and secure her selection as the Sun's 2001 State Softball Player of the Year.

Along with Guzman, the Gators placed shortstop Zeke Parraz on the baseball first team, and garnered three honorable mention selections: pitchers Jake Dittler and Adam Morris and outfielder Chris McGovern.

The Colts wound up with a state-best five players on the softball first team: first baseman Chelsea Crosby, shortstop Maggie Lazzari, outfielders Jenne Bator and Cindy Elkins and McGowan. Crosby and Lazzari, in particular, upped their stock at state, with Crosby keeping her team in the winner's bracket with a key two-run double on day one and Lazzari finishing the final day 8-for-9 with a homer and five RBIs.

State runner-up Galena led the baseball first team with three selections: first baseman Billy Paganetti, second baseman Joe Hoft and outfielder Dustin Hahn -- a trio that combined for 47 home runs this season.

Joining them on the baseball first team were: Cimarron-Memorial catcher Robert Grana, Bishop Gorman third baseman J.C. Sibley, Durango outfielder Coltyn Simmons, Reno pitcher Darrick Cummings and Basic pitcher Matt Elliott.

Basic second baseman Micah Schnurstein earned a spot as the team's designated hitter, while Reed shortstop Bub Madrid -- the Northern Region's Player of the Year -- was included as a utility player.

State runner-up Durango placed three players on the softball first team: second baseman Sara Spenia, pitcher Tisha Salamino and first baseman Toni Del Toro, who made the squad at designated hitter.

Also named to the softball first team were: Galena catcher Teresa Miller, Reno third baseman Stacy May, Reno outfielder Jackie Rinehart, Reed pitcher Whitney Smith and Centennial's Shannon Crisp, a dominant pitcher and hitter selected as a utility player.

Foothill's Tom Crine, who took the fledgling Falcon baseball program from 0-8 in league play to 20 wins and an appearance in the state tournament in just one year, was tabbed as the Sun's 2001 Baseball Coach of the Year.

Softball coaching honors went to Reed's Ray Charles, whose team ended Wooster's 40-game league winning streak and captured the Northern Region championship before falling to the Colts in the state tournament.

Guzman and Elkins are both three-time first team selections. Paganetti, McGowan, Bator, Crosby and Miller all made the 2000 first team.