Pitchers shine among selections

Adam Candee

Thursday, June 10, 2004 | 9:48 a.m.

Whether it is baseball or softball, everyone repeats the timeworn adage: Pitching wins games.

Nowhere is better proof of that found than in Reno's Jeff Schoenbachler and Centennial's Shannon Crisp. They are the 2004 Sun All-State players of the year in baseball and softball, respectively, after both led their team to 4A state championships.

Schoenbachler, a left-handed pitcher drafted by the Minnesota Twins, is one of three players from Reno's first state title team in two decades to make the All-State first team. A stellar 12-1 season in which Schoenbachler recorded 115 strikeouts made him indispensable to Reno's state title hopes.

Crisp, a dominant pitcher signed to play college ball at UNLV, is the easy choice as the state's top softball player. She led Centennial to its third consecutive state title game and this one proved to be the charm as the Bulldogs took home the trophy. Second baseman Tory Healy also represents Centennial on the first team after a remarkable season at the plate.

Extensive input from baseball and softball coaches and various media sources throughout the state was used to select the All-State teams, which weigh in playoff performance while still evaluating the entire season. Coaches and media are asked to select the best players at some fixed positions and are also allowed to vote for at-large slots for players at any position.