Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Sun All-State baseball team

Steve Lerud IF, Sr., Galena

Noteworthy: High Desert Division Player of the Year as a catcher led scrappy Grizzlies on strong state tournament run ... the best power hitter in the state ... slugged 21 homers this season to pace all Nevada players ... went deep 58 times in his excellent high school career ... hit .466 with 1.127 slugging percentage ... drove in 60 runs and scored 59 runs ... 13 doubles ... third-round selection of Pittsburgh Pirates in 2003 draft.

Said Grizzlies coach Gary McNamara: "He was the best hitter in the state, just as far as power. There would be one mistake thrown to him and he'd take care of the mistake. It seemed like he was in a little bit of a different league."

Brady Dolan IF, Sr., Reno

Noteworthy: An off-the-charts season for Sierra Division Player of the Year ... set Huskies' team records in runs (63) and hits (65) ... batted .512 with 11 homers and 59 RBIs -- as a leadoff hitter ... also legged out 16 doubles and eight triples, slugging stellar 1.024 for the year ... stole 16 bases as well ... will continue his baseball career at UC Irvine next year ... helped Reno compile unbeaten streak of 37 games.

Said Huskies coach Pete Savage: "Dolan was a very productive offensive player. He was an exceptional player and even a better leader."

Kyle Price IF, Sr., Green Valley

Noteworthy: Do-it-all anchor of the Green Valley lineup ... consistent performance helped steady Gators in the second half of the season ... All-Sunrise Region selection ... a .420 average and a .763 slugging percentage ... knocked eight homers and drove in 37 runs ... led Gators with 55 hits and also scored 43 runs ... hit 17 doubles ... chosen in the 49th round of Major League Baseball draft by Atlanta ... a CCSN signee, will honor his commitment.

Said Gators coach Nick Garritano: "He did a phenomenal job of hitting leadoff for us. He played very good defense for us in the later part of the year. He does everything well. He's probably our best all-around hitter."

Casey Coon IF, Sr., Silverado

Noteworthy: A big-time athlete and playmaker in the infield and at the plate for a strong Silverado team ... also an All-Sunrise Region first team choice ... selected as shortstop of the All-Southern Nevada first team ... sparked the Skyhawks' offense all season long ... a .444 average at the top of the Silverado lineup.

Said Skyhawks coach Brian Whitaker: "He was a real catalyst for us, getting on base for us, scoring a lot of runs. Athletically, he's one of the top guys in the state as far as an overall athlete. He can do it all. He's the whole package. Shortstop is where everyone's best athlete is and that's no exception for us."

Warren Whitley IF, Sr., Galena

Noteworthy: The table-setter for Lerud and the Galena offense ... an All-High Desert first team selection for the Grizzlies, who showed well in the 4A state playoffs ... on the mound, went 10-1 with a 1.97 ERA ... struck out 49 and walked 10 in 64 innings ... batted .474 with a .561 on-base percentage ... scored 58 runs and went 14 of 15 in steal attempts ... homered three times and drove in 32 runs, with 13 doubles and two triples.

Said Grizzlies coach Gary McNamara: "If Steve (Lerud) wasn't on our team, Whitley would have been the MVP of the league just because of his stats on both sides. He's probably the best second baseman I've seen defensively as far as range. If Warren was going, we were going."

Jeff Schoenbachler LHP, Sr., Reno

Noteworthy: Sierra Division Pitcher of the Year anchored dominant Huskies pitching staff all season long ... Reno did not lose a game between March 6 and state championship final ... put together a 9-1 record in 58 innings ... al- most 3-to-1 K to BB ratio (82 strikeouts, 30 walks) ... 2.17 ERA ... also recorded a save ... Huskies4 top three pitchers went 23-2 this year.

Said Huskies coach Pete Savage: "Schoenbachler pitched well with his good fastball and his ability to change speeds. He won some huge games."

Mike Dunn LHP, Sr., Cim.-Memorial

Noteworthy: Southern Nevada Player of the Year dominated both on the mound, in the field, and at the plate ... helped Spartans make strong run through Sunset Region playoffs ... 5-1 record, and regular season totals of 1.86 ERA and 61 Ks as a pitcher in competitive Northwest Division ... as a batter, a powerful force with .446 average and 13 homers ... drafted in the 14th round by Houston, but will instead honor commitment to play at Community College of Southern Nevada.

Said Spartans coach Mike Hubel: "He was phenomenal. He just did it all -- pitching, hitting, playing outfield. Mike came into such very clutch situations and beat some key teams along the way."

Wes Johnson RHP, Sr., Silverado

Noteworthy: Silverado's fireballer was an intimidating presence on the mound ... a member of the All-Southern Nevada pitching staff for state qualifier Skyhawks ... used an array of pitches to keep hitters consistenly guessing ... compiled a 9-1 record with 83 strikeouts in 60 innings ... signed with UNLV.

Said Skyhawks coach Brian Whitaker: "He's a four-pitch guy with a fastball, slider, change, and curve -- all for strikeouts. In high school baseball, that's pretty rare. He's going on to UNLV and will help them quickly."

Jordan Parraz OF, Sr., Green Valley

Noteworthy: First team All-Southern Nevada in the outfield, but also made a huge impact on the mound ... tossed complete-game win with 13 strikeouts against Carson in his only state tournament start ... Gators also used his 95-mph fastball in closer4s role ... went 5-1 with 1.12 ERA and 30 Ks in 25 innings ... at the plate, hit .420 with .786 slugging.

Said Gators coach Nick Garritano: "He was the total package. He did it all. He played center field, hit No. 4, and then down the road, he was a phenomenal pitcher for us. We would not have won a state championship without him. He left his mark at Green Valley High School."

Anthony Rodriguez OF, Sr., Palo Verde

Noteworthy: First-team All-Southern Nevada left fielder led Palo Verde offense ... batted .476 with a .935 slugging percentage ... of his 59 hits, 31 went for extra bases (12 doubles, 12 triples, 7 homers) ... also scored 48 runs and knocked in 36 runs ... led Panthers to a third-place finish in the Sunset Region playoffs and a berth in the 4A State Tournament.

Said Panthers coach Mike Besser: "The biggest thing with Anthony is that he's a converted infielder. He made that sacrifice for the team during his junior year and never complained one bit. He definitely put the team first before himself. He really had a breakout year."

Zack Borba OF, Sr., McQueen

Noteworthy: One of the best all-around athletes in the North ... a first-team All-Sierra Division choice in the outfield ... quarterbacked McQueen's undefeated state championship football team ... a .480 average with outstanding power -- 15 homers and 54 RBIs ... totaled 49 hits and 45 runs ... stole seven bases ... hit for the cycle twice ... batted .600 in postseason play ... smooth defensive player.

Said Lancers coach Brian Nelson: "He brought that same leadership (from football) to the baseball side. The second half of the season, Zack was pretty much our offense. When we needed a two-out hit to keep a rally going, Zack always seemed to be the guy up there to do it for us."

Spud Low Utility, Sr., Foothill

Noteworthy: Hard-nosed, scrappy leader of tough Foothill squad that fell to state champion Green Valley in Sunrise Region playoffs ... All-Southern Nevada first team choice at the utility spot ... a solid defensive catcher with a good arm ... a .505 average with an .859 slugging percentage ... knocked in 40 runs and scored 31 ... selected by the Chicago Cubs in the 41st round of the Major League Baseball draft ... signed with CCSN.

Said Falcons coach Tom Crine: "He was a great defensive catcher. He was a four-year letterman who has been here since our program began, so he's been a big part of it. I don't have any doubt that Spud was the best defensive catcher (in Nevada)"

Bryce Massanari DH, Jr., Centennial

Noteworthy: Two-time Sun All-State first team selection ... a good regular season followed by an amazing playoff campaign ... cranked five of his 11 homers in postseason play ... hit two homers (including a grand slam) and had six RBIs against state champion Green Valley in the playoffs ... batted .492 and drove in 53 runs ... led Bulldogs to second consecutive Sunset Region championship.

Said Bulldogs coach Charlie Cerrone: "He stepped it up against the best competition. What I like about the kid is when it's on the line and people are watching, and it's big, he performs."

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