2008 HighDesertVarsity.com All-Area Baseball Team

PITCHERS
Steven Messner, sr., Apple Valley Christian
Messner carried the Warriors to the CIF-SS Division VI quarterfinals. The Agape League MVP went 8-0 with a 0.24 ERA while striking out 125 and walking 12 in 59 innings during the regular season. At the plate, he finished with a .596 batting average, 28 runs scored, 28 RBIs, nine doubles, two home runs, a .694 on-base percentage, and a .957 slugging percentage.

Dean Fouse, sr., Serrano
As the workhorse of his staff, Fouse threw 79 1-3 innings and finished with a 2.65 ERA and struck out 60 to 20 walks. Fouse hit .329 with 19 RBIs (14 coming in league play), a .377 OBP and .486 SLG. He won two playoff games to get the D’backs to the quarterfinals.

Alex Neelans, sr., Serrano
Neelans averaged just over a strikeout per inning (57 in 56 1-3 innings) and only walked 11 batters. He finished with a 6-2 record, a 2.36 ERA and picked up three saves. He manned center field when he wasn’t on the mound and carried a .973 fielding percentage. Neelans also stole 10 of 11 bases.

CATCHER
Will Kocot, sr., Hesperia
Kocot mainly played third base, but filled in down the stretch behind the plate and earned all-MRL honors. Kocot had a .429 batting average, a .437 OBP and had a .973 fielding percentage in league play. His 22 RBIs were second on the team.

FIRST BASE
Terrell Lacewell, sr., Victor Valley
Lacewell ended his prep career on a 17-game hitting streak. His .487 batting average (.407 overall), .563 on-base percentage (.471), .744 slugging percentage (.632) and 12 RBIs (18) in league play all ranked in the top five. He also slugged three HRs.

SECOND BASE
Robert Vindiola, jr., Sultana
Vindiola provided the Sultans with a big bat in the middle of the lineup and earned all-area honors for the second straight year. He finished the season with a .435 batting average, a team-leading 26 RBIs, a .573 OBP, and a .661 SLG.

SHORTSTOP
Andrew Disbrow, jr., Granite Hills
Disbrow’s power in the middle of the lineup helped the Cougars take the final nine regular season games and finish as co-DSL champs. He led Granite in RBIs (34) and stolen bases (15) and was second in home runs (6), batting average (373), OBP (.464), and a .SLG (.711) to Athlete of the Year Christian Griffiths.

THIRD BASE
Jake Whiting, sr., Serrano
Whiting provided a tough out toward the bottom of the lineup and stepped up his play during the MRL season to earn all-league honors. His .500 batting average (.344 overall) and . 606 on-base percentage (.456) led league play.

OUTFIELDERS
Steve Beltran, so., Hesperia
Despite being only a sophomore, Beltran had a stellar season that earned him the MRL’s MVP honor. He finished the season with a .432 batting average (.487 in league), 11 doubles, 32 RBIs, a .456 OBP, a .568 SLG and was a perfect 13-for-13 in base stealing attempts.

Jacob Muir, jr., Barstow
Muir was a standout center fielder that provided the Aztecs with a tough out at the top of the lineup. He led Barstow in batting average (.422), OBP (.506), SLG (.703) and runs scored (23). He also hit three HRs. On the mound, he had a 3.42 ERA with 39 strikeouts to 11 walks and threw three complete games.

Skyler Bellanger, jr., Serrano
Bellanger mainly played in right field for the Diamondbacks but provided flexibility with his ability to play multiple positions defensively. The speedy Bellanger batted .349 with 17 stolen bases, 25 runs scored, a .455 OBP and a .489 SLG.

UTILITY
Trevor Haas, sr., Sultana
Haas provided the Sultans with a good glove at shortstop and stepped up his game during the second half en route to an all-MRL season. Haas batted .388 (.415 in league) with 20 RBIs, a .436 on-base percentage, a .513 slugging percentage and 10 stolen bases.

Freezy Smalls, sr., Barstow
After missing his junior season due to a shoulder injury, Smalls helped the Aztecs to a co-DSL title on the mound and at the plate. Smalls batted .368 with three HRs, 17 RBIs, a .476 OBP and a .603 SLG. On the mound, he carried a 3.47 ERA and struck out 34 to 17 walks in 36 DSL innings.

COACH OF THE YEAR
Dave Hill, Sultana
Hill’s Sultans held off cross-town rival Hesperia for their first outright league title in the school’s 12-year history. Sultana finished with a 19-7 overall record and went 9-3 in league in its fifth year under Hill.

HONORABLE MENTION
(listed alphabetically by school)
Kyle Covarrubio, Robert Cha (Apple Valley); Bryce Ely (Apple Valley Christian); Eric Osterman (Granite Hills); Adam Estrada (Hesperia); Jamie Berrios, Chad Archambo (Serrano); Chris Senn (Silverado); Mike Mierish (Sultana); Alex Pollard (Victor Valley); Aaron Hewus (Victor Valley Christian).