2009 All-Gazette Baseball Team

FIRST TEAM

Randy Beard, East Lincoln, Sr., Outfielder -- Led the area with 41 hits for a .477 batting average. Also had two home runs and 26 RBIs, helping the Mustangs to the Southern Piedmont Conference championship.

Brantley Blalock, Kings Mountain, Sr., Catcher/Pitcher -- Belmont Abbey signee batted .333 with two home runs and 19 RBIs. Four-year varsity starter and three-year all-conference selection.

Bryan DaCanal, Cherryville, Sr., Pitcher/Infielder -- The Ironmen's clutch hitter in the playoffs finished with a .388 batting average, four home runs and 31 RBIs. Also pitched 30 1/3 innings for a 4-1 record with one save, 31 strikeouts and 3.00 ERA. Signed with Davidson.

Trey Deason, East Gaston, Sr., Left field/Designated hitter -- Big South 3A/4A Conference player of the year batted .423 with six home runs and 28 RBIs. Signed with South Carolina-Lancaster.

Zade Denton, North Gaston, So., Shortstop -- Solid defensive shortstop also led the Big South 3A/4A Conference with a .481 batting average. Had a hit in all but one game and was named team MVP.

Trey Drewery, West Lincoln, Jr., Pitcher/Third base -- Led area public schools with .515 batting average to go with six home runs and 36 RBIs. Pitched 63 innings for a 6-2 record, 2.33 ERA and 78 strikeouts, helping Rebels to second-place tie in the SPC.

Jeffry Howell, Kings Mountain, Sr., Pitcher/Third base -- Gazette and Southwestern 2A/3A Conference player of the year led the area with nine pitching victories (9-1 record). Also ranked second in innings pitched (70 2/3), fourth in strikeouts (87) and fourth in ERA (1.49). Batted .338 with eight home runs, which tied for second in the area. Signed with Gardner-Webb.

Ryan Huneycutt, South Point, Jr., Shortstop -- Led the Big South 3A/4A Conference with eight home runs and ranked third with a .427 batting average. Also stole seven bases and drove in 25 runs for conference champion Red Raiders.

Weston Lawing, South Point, Jr., Pitcher/Infielder -- Team co-MVP led the area in innings pitched (74) and led all area public schools in ERA (0.57). Struck out 73 batters and walked 13. Also batted .279 with two home runs.

Clint Medlin, Forestview, Sr., Pitcher/outfielder -- Gaston County Baseball Tournament MVP recorded a 0.92 ERA over 61 innings in first full season as a pitcher. Struck out 89 batters and finished with 5-3 record. Signed with Limestone.

Cory Parks, Cherryville, Sr., Pitcher/Catcher/Outfielder -- Ranked second in the area in strikeouts (98) and saves (five). Pitched 67 innings for a 6-3 record and 4.18 ERA, helping Ironmen to third straight regional final series.

Drew Spear, East Lincoln, Sr., Pitcher/Utility -- Southern Piedmont 1A/2A Conference player of the year pitched 45 innings for a 7-0 record, 1.71 ERA and 71 strikeouts. Also batted .403 with five home runs and 25 RBIs.

SECOND TEAM

Logan Armstrong, East Gaston, So., First Base -- East Gaston's "Best Offense" award recipient ranked fourth among area public school players with .477 batting average. Also had four home runs and 26 RBIs.

Thomas Bess, Cherryville, So., Pitcher/Outfielder -- Known for his speed in center field and around the bases, Bess led the Ironmen with eight stolen bases and batted .300 with three home runs. Pitched 52 1/3 innings for a 6-4 record, 2.41 ERA and 57 strikeouts.

Michael Dodd, North Gaston, Sr., Third base/Pitcher -- All-conference pick batted .397 with 15 RBIs. Pitched 38 1/3 innings for a 5-2 record, 4.57 ERA and 35 strikeouts.

Ryan Doty, Gaston Christian, Jr., First base/Pitcher -- Led area with .656 batting average and ranked second with 40 hits. Also had five home runs and 21 RBIs.

Korey Martin, West Lincoln, Sr., Center field -- Batted .435 with seven home runs and led area with 38 RBIs. Stole 26 bases. Plans to play at South Carolina-Upstate.

Brad Mosteller, North Lincoln, Sr., Shortstop/Pitcher -- Batted .509 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 25 runs. On the mound, had a 3-2 record with a 1.63 ERA and three complete games.

Tyler Radford, Hunter Huss, Sr., Pitcher/Shortstop -- Batted .340 with one home run and six RBIs. Pitched 42 1/3 innings, striking out 38 batters. Signed with Guilford.

Rai Robinson, Kings Mountain, Sr., First base -- Lenoir-Rhyne signee batted .343 with an area-best 10 home runs. Also drove in 26 runs.

Jeffrey Springs, South Point, So., Pitcher/Infielder -- Red Raiders' co-MVP led the area with 102 strikeouts in 68 innings. Finished with an 8-1 record and 1.84 ERA. Also batted .267 with two doubles.

Chaztin Venezia, Clover, So., Pitcher/Outfielder -- All-Region III selection batted .375 with 11 RBIs. Pitched 22 innings for a 5-1 record, four saves and 2.05 ERA.

Chris Williams, Bessemer City, Sr., First base -- All-conference selection batted .361 with three home runs and 17 RBIs, helping Jackets reach playoffs.

Griffin Wise, Forestview, Sr., Shortstop/pitcher -- Emerged as strong No. 2 pitcher, finishing with 6-2 record, 2.14 ERA and 43 Ks in 49 innings. Headed to Catawba.

HONORABLE MENTION

Patrick Armstrong, East Gaston, Sr., SS

Cody Austin, Kings Mountain, Jr., SS/P

Ethan Beck, West Lincoln, Sr., C

Travis Blake, Bessemer City, So., 2B

Stephen Butler, East Gaston, Sr., CF

Bradley Carpenter, West Lincoln, Sr., P

R.J. Colichio, East Lincoln, Sr., SS

Ryan Craft, Cherryville, So., P/C

Logan Craig, Forestview, So., 1B

Tripper Crisson, Lincolnton

Zach Daly, Forestview, Fr., OF

Aaron Dishman, East Lincoln, Sr., 1B

Garrett Duke, Clover, Jr., OF

Jordan Edgerton, South Point, So., 3B

Spencer Gardner, West Lincoln, So., SS

Taylor Gunn, Gaston Christian, So., OF/IF

Brandon Hammond, Gaston Christian, Sr., SS/P

Logan Hammond, Gaston Christian, Sr., C/P

Seth Hazelton, Forestview, Sr., OF

Jonathan Henderson, Bessemer City, Sr., 1B

Hayden Hendry, Clover, So., OF

Evan Jackson, Clover, Jr., P

Ethan Johnson, East Lincoln, Sr., Utility

Chris Melton, Lincolnton

Blake Mosteller, Cherryville, So., OF

Justin Parker, North Gaston, Jr., C

Jay Puckett, East Gaston, Jr., P

Austin Ray, North Gaston, Sr., OF

Dustin Richardson, West Lincoln, Jr., 2B

Dariel Rogers, South Point, Jr., CF

Tyler Ross, Kings Mountain, Sr., OF

Henry Rundio, North Gaston, So., 3B/P/OF

Byron Sherrill, North Lincoln, Jr., 1B/P

Dylan Smith, Kings Mountain, Jr., C/3B

Kyle Tate, Ashbrook, Sr., P/1B

Kris Thompson, Clover, Jr., SS

Derek Treffinger, South Point, So., OF

Johnny Walker, North Lincoln, Jr., C/P

Chris Waugh, Forestview, Sr., 3B

Dylan White, North Gaston, Sr., CF/P

Lincoln Willis, South Point, Sr., C

How the team was chosen

The All-Gazette baseball team was chosen by members of The Gaston Gazette's sports staff and based on game observation, statistics and nominations by area coaches. Not all schools submitted nominations or stats. The first and second teams consist of 12 players each, regardless of position.