Sun All-State baseball team

Thursday, June 6, 2002 | 9:20 a.m.

BRYCE MASSANARI

Centennial, C, Soph.

Noteworthy: Bulldogs' cleanup hitter bounced back from early shoulder injury to bat .445 with 4 homers, 15 doubles and 47 RBIs for 37-4 4A state runner-ups...scored 44 runs, striking out only 9 times in 110 at-bats...threw out 9 would-be base stealers...two-year varsity starter...first-team Sunset Region catcher.

Said Bulldogs coach Charlie Cerrone: "That's where it all starts -- with your catcher. He's like the field general out there, and Bryce does a great job with that. He's got good baseball savvy, and he's a very intelligent kid."

DON SUTTON

Durango, 1B, Sr.

Noteworthy: Blazers' No. 4 hitter batted .422 with 10 homers, 10 doubles and 46 RBIs...scored 34 runs, finishing with a slugging percentage of .874...as team's closer's went 2-0 with 4 saves, 1.37 ERA, 39 Ks and 5 BBs in 20 1/3 IP...CCSN signee...two-year letter winner after transfer from Bishop Gorman...Southwest Division Player of the Year.

Said Trailblazers coach Mike Gomez: "As a hitter, he has tremendous raw power to all fields, and he was also very overpowering for us all year as a closer. His stuff is as good as anybody's in town, and he brings a lot of attitude to the mound."

C.J. LANG

Reed, 2B, Sr.

Noteworthy: Raiders' three-year starting second baseman hit .487 with 14 homers, 10 doubles state-best 61 RBIs...scored 47 runs and struck out only 5 times in 119 at-bats...stole 10 bases and made just four errors in 2002...first-team All-High Desert Division.

Said Raiders' coach John Phenix: "He's just so consistent -- offensively, defensively. He's a real smart baseball player. He's got a knowledge of the game most people in high school don't have."

SEAN KAZMAR

Las Vegas, SS, Sr.

Noteworthy: Four-year varsity starter batted .414 with .480 on-base and .830 slugging percentages...finished with 43 runs, 12 doubles, 4 triples, 9 homers and 53 RBIs while leading Wildcats to 10-0 Northeast Division mark...CCSN signee...2001 NE Player of the Year..two-time first-team All-Southern Nevada.

Said Wildcats coach Sam Thomas: "He was very team oriented -- he led by example on the field, and he always had some motivating words during games in the dugout. You kind of look at him, and he's only 5-8 and you might not think he's going to do much. But he sure showed why he hit third for us."

CHRIS BONNELL

Centennial, 3B, Sr.

Noteworthy: No. 3 hitter in state's highest-scoring offense batted .496 with 16 doubles, 7 triples, 3 homers and 47 RBIs for Sunset Region champs...scored 57 runs and struck out only 7 times in 137 at-bats...wound up with .781 slugging and .580 on-base percentages...three-year varsity starter...first-team All-Southern Nevada...Northwest Division Player of the Year.

Said Bulldogs coach Charlie Cerrone: "He's been one of the building blocks for our program. We have a lot of kids with a good works ethic, but he's probably got the best work ethic on our team. He really attacked it this year."

COLTYN SIMMONS

Durango, OF, Sr.

Noteworthy: Four-year varsity starter hit .480 with .760 slugging percentage and .589 on-base percentage...knocked in 40 runs and scored 47 more with 13 doubles and five homers...struck out only four times in 133 plate appearances...UNLV signee...two-time first-team All-Southern Nevada...two-time first-team Sun All-State.

Said Trailblazers coach Mike Gomez: "Coltyn is extremely dedicated, extremely hard-working, almost to the point where we've had to lock him out of the cages. I think he'll step in at UNLV and have a legitimate chance to make an impact right away."

CHRIS TOTO

Wooster, OF, Sr.

Noteworthy: Unofficial MVP of 4A State Tournament won two and saved two of Colts' four tourney contests...right-hander compiled 6-3 overall record, 4 saves, 2.80 ERA and 63 Ks and 21 BB in 60 IP...pitched in all eight of team's postseason games...batted .500 with 9 doubles, 2 homers, 38 RBIs and 30 runs...finished with .642 on-base and .703 slugging percentages...three-year starter...first-team All-Sierra Division.

Said Colts coach Ron Malcolm: "He lived for the competition and the pressure of the situation. When it came time for regionals and state, he wanted the ball in his hands. And every time I put the ball into his hands, you could feel a burst of confidence going through the entire team."

TIM WHEELER

Centennial, OF, Sr.

Noteworthy: Bulldogs' No. 6 hitter led team with 54 RBIs...centerfielder batted .424 with 13 doubles, 8 triples, 4 homers and 34 runs...slugged .752 and stole11 bases...tripled home three runs in state tournament win over Green Valley...first-team All-Southern Nevada.

Said Bulldogs coach Charlie Cerrone: "We made an adjustments with his hands, and it paid great dividends. He had a lot of big RBIs in key situations for us. He clutched up for us, especially in region and in state.

MICAH SCHNURSTEIN

Basic, DH, Sr.

Noteworthy: Sweet-swinging third baseman batted .469 with 15 doubles, 7 HR, 52 RBIs as Wolves' No. 3 hitter...scored 47 runs, stole 6 bases and struck out just 6 times in 113 at-bats...three-year varsity starter...moved from 2B to 3B this season...CCSN signee...first-team All-Sunrise Region...two-time first-team Sun All-State.

Said Wolves coach Mike Kazek: "The kid could swing it, no question about it. He's capable of hitting pitches off the plate, and it's tough to pitch him inside. It will be hard to replace the numbers he's put up for us."

TYLER COON

Silverado, P, Sr.

Noteworthy: State Player of the Year went 11-0 with 1.27 ERA, 84 Ks and 19 BB in 66 IP...left-hander completed 9 of 10 starts for Sunrise Region champs...first baseman batted .438 with 14 doubles, 37 RBIs, 36 runs...slugged .612... four-year varsity starter...started for 2000 Skyhawk state title squad...signed early with both BYU and CCSN...coaches' pick as Southern Nevada Player of the Year.

Said Skyhawks coach Brian Whitaker: "Statistically, he's the best kid I've ever coached. We were 25-13 and Tyler went 11-0. You just take his pitching away and we're a .500 club."

MATT ELLIOTT

Basic, P, Sr.

Noteworthy: Four-year varsity standout finished career with 30 wins for Wolves...right-hander went 9-3 as a senior with a 1.11 ERA, 81 Ks, 15 BB in 63 IP...leadoff hitter batted .505 with 13 doubles, 3 HR, 21 RBIs and 51 runs...struck out only 6 times in 109 at-bats and stole 7 bases...UNLV signee...three-time first-team All-Southern Nevada...two-time first-team Sun All-State.

Said Wolves coach Mike Kazek: "He really was our catalyst. He started it offensively for us at the top of the order and shut them down on the mound. That's a blue-chip kid right there."

KEVIN JEPSEN

Bishop Manogue, P, Sr.

Noteworthy: Hard-throwing right-hander went 9-1 with 1 save, 0.84 ERA for Class 3A state champs...struck out 116 and waled 18 in 58 2/3 IP...saved game one of 3A state tournament...fastball clocked at 98 mph...Nevada-Reno signee...3A State Pitcher of the Year...2002 Gatorade State Player of the Year...potential first-round pick in today's MLB draft.

Said Miners coach Charles Oppio: "Especially for our area, he's a once in a lifetime player. He was under the microscope all year, with scouts at every game, and he never had a bad day. Most importantly, he did a great job of putting the team first."

JESSIE WELLER

Reno, P, Sr.

Noteworthy: Huskies' ace went 9-1 with 1.21 ERA, 57 Ks and 15 BB in 58 IP...allowed only 10 runs in 11 appearances, leading Reno to 32-6 record and state tournament appearances...transfer from Hug...batted .414 with 10 doubles, 28 RBIs and 23 runs.

Said Huskies coach Pete Savage: "He is by far our most mentally tough pitcher. He was able to locate all three of his pitches all season long. And he's an outstanding young man."

RON MALCOLM

Wooster, Coach

Noteworthy: Coached Colts to 30-9 overall record, first-ever Class 4A state title...squad finished with 13 straight wins, including perfect 8-0 postseason mark...defeated four Southern Nevada opponents to bring large-school championship back to north for first time since 1992 and back to Reno-area for first time since 1984.