Jackson’s Ben Steck (left) is congratulated after scoring a run by Bradley Lundquist during a game on May 2, 2019, at Everett Memorial Stadium. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Jackson’s Ben Steck (left) is congratulated after scoring a run by Bradley Lundquist during a game on May 2, 2019, at Everett Memorial Stadium. (Kevin Clark / The Herald)

Sports

The Herald’s 2019 All-Area high school baseball teams

A look at the top prep baseball players in the area this season.

Eds. note: The Player of the Year and All-Area teams were chosen by The Herald sports staff based on coach recommendations, season statistics and first-hand observations.

PLAYER OF THE YEAR

Owen Bishop, jr., Arlington

Bishop helped lead the Eagles to an undefeated regular season and a 3A state tournament appearance with an exceptional season on the mound, at the plate and in center field. The hard-throwing right-hander posted a 0.68 earned-run average in 51 2/3 innings pitched, striking out 85 batters and walking just 20. He also batted .429 with one home run, one triple, five doubles, a .517 on-base percentage and a .571 slugging percentage.

COACH OF THE YEAR

Alex Barashkoff, Everett

Barashkoff guided the Seagulls to a milestone-filled 18-6 campaign that included a district title and the program’s first state appearance since 1995. It was a massive turnaround for Everett’s long-struggling program, which had gone more than a decade without topping seven wins in a season.

FIRST TEAM

PITCHERS

Owen Bishop, jr., Arlington

Josh Latimer, sr., Lynnwood

Latimer posted a 0.70 earned-run average in 60 innings pitched, striking out 92 batters and walking just six. He also batted .353 with one home run and three doubles.

CATCHER

Ben Steck, sr., Jackson

Steck batted .370 with two triples, six doubles, a .500 on-base percentage and a .550 slugging percentage. The Oregon State signee allowed just three passed balls at catcher all season.

INFIELDERS

Pierce Leavengood, sr., Glacier Peak

Leavengood batted .463 with four home runs and six doubles. He posted a .597 on-base percentage and .833 slugging percentage.

Brandon King, sr., Archbishop Murphy

King batted .462 with one triple, three doubles and a .613 on-base percentage while helping lead the Wildcats to the Wesco 3A/2A South title and a third-place finish in the 2A state tournament. In addition to playing third base, he posted a 1.91 earned-run average in 14 2/3 innings pitched.

Joe McBride, jr., Cascade

McBride batted .373 with one triple, five doubles, a .476 on-base percentage and a .509 slugging percentage. He played pitcher and infield for the Bruins, posting a 1.75 earned-run average and 45 strikeouts in 36 innings pitched. He helped lead Cascade to the Wesco 4A title.

Theron Perkins, sr., Lake Stevens

Perkins batted .422 with one home run, two triples and seven doubles. He posted a .465 on-base percentage and a .547 slugging percentage. He also was a threat on the base paths, stealing a base in all 14 of his attempts.

OUTFIELDERS

Andrew Smith, sr., Arlington

Smith batted .453 with seven doubles, a .520 on-base percentage and a .562 slugging percentage. He helped the Eagles to an undefeated regular season and a state tournament appearance.

Ryan Cacatian, soph., Mountlake Terrace

Cacatian batted .385 with one home run, four triples, 10 doubles, a .461 on-base percentage and a .707 slugging percentage. In addition to playing both outfield and infield, he posted a 1.43 earned-run average in 14 2/3 innings pitched.

Bryce Lindberg, jr., Shorewood

Lindberg batted .385 with one home run, one triple and 10 doubles. He posted a .474 on-base percentage and a .615 slugging percentage while helping lead the Thunderbirds to a state tournament appearance.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Caden Lockhart, jr., Everett

Lockhart batted .377 with three home runs, two triples, 10 doubles, a .462 on-base percentage and a .675 slugging percentage. He played catcher and pitcher for the Seagulls, helping lead them to a district title and the program’s first state appearance since 1995.

UTILITY

Jack Sheward, sr., Arlington

Sheward batted .343 with one home run, one triple, seven doubles, a .473 on-base percentage and a .514 slugging percentage. He excelled behind the plate, catching a pitching staff that posted a team 1.18 earned-run average. He also pitched eight scoreless innings and stole 11 bases in 12 attempts while helping the Eagles to an undefeated regular season and a 3A state tournament appearance.

SECOND TEAM

PITCHERS

Case Matter, jr., Jackson

Matter posted a 0.86 earned-run average and struck out 60 batters in 40 innings pitched. He also batted .364 with one home run, five doubles and a .500 on-base percentage.

Cameron Smith, sr., Arlington

Smith posted a 1.35 earned-run average in 46 2/3 innings pitched, striking out 76 batters and walking just 17. The right-hander tossed a one-hit shutout, a two-hit shutout and a five-inning no-hitter. He was a key part of a dominant pitching staff that propelled the Eagles to an undefeated regular season and a 3A state tournament appearance.

CATCHER

Kegan Velie, sr., Monroe

Velie batted .305 with five doubles and a .447 on-base percentage while helping lead the Bearcats to their first state appearance since 1996.

INFIELDERS

Aiden Van Rensum, soph., Archbishop Murphy

Van Rensum batted .465 with four doubles, a .547 on-base percentage and a .558 slugging percentage while helping lead the Wildcats to the Wesco 3A/2A South title and a third-place finish in the 2A state tournament. In addition to playing second base, he posted a 2.01 earned-run average and 28 strikeouts in 24 1/3 innings pitched.

Aaron Robertson, jr., Everett

Robertson batted .406 with one triple, 12 doubles, a .476 on-base percentage and a .608 slugging percentage. He helped lead the Seagulls to a district title and the program’s first state appearance since 1995.

Remy Heckman, soph., Edmonds-Woodway

Heckman batted .438 with one triple and seven doubles. He posted a .506 on-base percentage and a .578 slugging percentage while helping lead the Warriors to a state tournament appearance.

Paul Chung, sr., Arlington

Chung batted .386 with one triple, eight doubles, a .470 on-base percentage and a .528 slugging percentage. He excelled defensively at shortstop and helped the Eagles to an undefeated regular season and a state tournament appearance.

OUTFIELDERS

Sam Stayner, sr., Snohomish

Stayner batted .366 with two home runs and five doubles. He posted a .460 on-base percentage and .555 slugging percentage.

Jayden Talt, jr., Cascade

Talt batted .311 with two home runs, two triples, six doubles, a .476 on-base percentage and .524 slugging percentage. He also posted a 2.06 earned-run average in 17 innings pitched and helped lead the Bruins to the Wesco 4A title.

Luke Klein, sr., Monroe

Klein batted .325 with one home run, one triple and seven doubles. He posted a .395 on-base percentage and .480 slugging percentage while helping lead the Bearcats to their first state appearance since 1996.

DESIGNATED HITTER

Thomas Blahous, jr., Edmonds-Woodway

Blahous batted .386 with two home runs, one triple, eight doubles, a .494 on-base percentage and a .614 slugging percentage. He also posted a 2.70 earned-run average in 36 1/3 innings pitched and helped lead the Warriors to the 3A state tournament.

UTILITY

Cole Calnon, sr., Archbishop Murphy

Calnon posted a 0.70 earned-run average in 50 1/3 innings pitched and allowed just six walks. He also batted .323 with one home run, one triple and four doubles. The right-hander helped lead the Wildcats to the Wesco 3A/2A South title and a third-place finish in the 2A state tournament.

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