PLAYER OF THE YEAR
Justin Garza, Bonita, Sr., Pitcher
Garza finished a dominant two-year run by earning three wins and two saves in the playoffs as Bonita won the CIF-SS Division 3 championship. The senior pitcher won 25 games in 26 starts since the beginning of his junior year, finishing 12-1 this season with a 0.72 ERA. Garza was selected by the Cleveland Indians in the 26th round of the MLB draft but has decided to play at Cal State Fullerton.
Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer
COACH OF THE YEAR
John Knott, Bonita
Knott led Bonita to the CIF-SS Division 3 championship, the school’s first baseball title since 1951. After losing 2-1 in the 2010 CIF final and dropping out in the semifinals last season, Knott finally captured that elusive championship. Bonita won its league for the fifth consecutive season under Knott, also a school record. The Bearcats went 32-2 this season, including a 20-game win streak following their first loss.
Thomas R. Cordova/Staff Photographer
FIRST TEAM
P: Nolan Sheridan, Alta Loma, Sr.
The senior went 9-0 with a 0.69 ERA for the Baseline League champion Braves. In 61 innings, the San Francisco State-bound senior allowed just six earned runs and struck out 66 batters.
P: Parker Merritt, Bonita, Jr.
The All-CIF selection went 8-1 with a 1.16 ERA and walked just six batters in 48 1/3 innings. The first-team All-Hacienda League selection earned his biggest victory by pitching into the seventh inning of a 3-0 semifinal victory on the way to a CIF-SS championship.
P: Tyler Rowe, Los Osos, Sr.
The first team all-Baseline League selection headed to New Mexico in the fall went 6-3 with a 1.49 ERA his senior season. Rowe recorded 72 strikeouts in 65 2/3 innings pitched and had just a .183 batting average against.
C: Christian Kelley, Don Lugo, Sr.
The Mt. Baldy League co-MVP hit .434 with three home runs, 31 RBIs and 32 runs scored. Kelley will play at UC Santa Barbara in the fall after helping Don Lugo to a Mt. Baldy League championship this season.
INF: Daniel Robertson, Upland, Sr.
The 34th pick of the MLB Draft, who has signed with the Oakland Athletics organization instead of attending UCLA, hit .560 with six home runs and 31 RBIs. The feared All-CIF shortstop was walked 29 times in 112 plate appearances.
INF: Thomas Castro, Bonita, Sr.
The All-CIF third baseman hit .480 with 32 RBIs for the CIF-SS Division 3 champion Bearcats. Castro also scored 34 runs and stole 10 bases for a Bonita team that went 32-2 on the season. He struck out just nine times in 121 plate appearances.
INF: Aaron Bernal, Colony, Sr.
The All-CIF first baseman hit .466 with four home runs and 41 RBIs for the Titans. The first-team All-Mt. Baldy League selection had a .777 slugging percentage and also went 4-4 as a pitcher with a 2.55 ERA.
INF: Anthony Virgen, Don Lugo, Sr.
The co-MVP of the Mt. Baldy League hit .514 with two home runs and 28 RBIs, helping Don Lugo to the league championship. The All-CIF third baseman also scored 36 runs and had a team-high 13 doubles for a 20-6 Don Lugo squad.
OF: Dustin Frailey, Alta Loma, Sr.
The sparkplug for the Alta Loma offense hit .389 with 19 RBIs and 32 runs scored. With a .531 on-base percentage, the first-team All-Baseline League center fielder was a run-producing machine as a lead-off batter that stole 25 bases.
OF: Shawn Kennedy, San Dimas, Sr.
The first-team All-Valle Vista League selection hit .419 with two home runs and 21 RBIs for the league runner-up Saints. Kennedy had a .689 slugging percentage, scored 25 runs and stole nine bases.
OF: Jacob Sanchez, Kaiser, So.
The first-team All-Sunkist League outfielder hit .394 with 17 RBIs and 19 runs scored for the second-place team in league. The sophomore had a .478 on-base percentage and struck out just nine times in 92 plate appearances.
DH: Garrett Dean, Alta Loma, Jr.
The catcher ranked 29th in the CIF-Southern Section with a .519 batting average. The first-team All-Baseline League selection had one home run, 21 RBIs, scored 22 runs and had an .805 slugging percentage for the Baseline League champions.
UTL: Michael Reina, Chino, Jr.
The first-team All-Mt. Baldy League selection won six games as a pitcher with a 2.41 ERA for the Cowboys in addition to batting .310 with 19 RBIs for the second-place team in league.
SECOND TEAM
P: Sam Stavang, Bonita, Jr.
P: Landon Moore, San Dimas, Jr.
P: Kenny Chapman, Claremont, Sr.
C: Tyler Heslop, Bonita, Sr.
INF: Zeph Walters, Diamond Bar, Jr.
INF: Rodnee Little, Don Lugo, Sr.
INF: Justin Row, Bonita, Jr.
INF: Grant Hockin, Damien, So.
OF: Wade Witherel, Chino, Sr.
OF: Jesus Gomez, Rialto, Sr.
OF: Joseph Guadarrama, Ontario Christian, Sr.
DH: Chris Iriart, Chino Hills, Sr.
UTL: Aaron Digiamarino, Webb, Sr.
THIRD TEAM
P: Adam Ramos, Kaiser, Sr.
P: Ryan Olson, Western Christian, Jr.
P: Robert Peterson, Calvary Baptist, Fr.
C: Dylan Goodwin, Diamond Ranch, Sr.
INF: Greg Giordano, Carter, Sr.
INF: Jeremy Giles, Claremont, Jr.
INF: David Banuelos, Damien, So.
INF: Daniel Sandoval, Chino, Jr.
OF: Austin Harvey, Chino Hills, Jr.
OF: John Hernandez, Chaffey, Sr.
OF: Isaiah Delsi, Los Osos, Sr.
DH: Angel Mariscal, Rialto, Sr.
UTL: David Robles, Rialto, Jr.
