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Four locals earn first-team nods By Kris Henry Updated: Jun 16, 2022 09:43 PM A A 3 View all photos North’s Horsley, South’s Sewell and Cascade’s Wallace, Thompson head all-state selections One baseball player apiece from North and South Medford high schools and two from Cascade Christian were honored recently with first-team all-state selections after a vote of the state’s baseball coaches. North Medford junior Aiden Horsley and South Medford junior Cameron Sewell each highlighted the Class 6A list for the locals with their first-team nods, while another pair of juniors from Cascade Christian — Triston Wallace and Owen Thompson — were honored with first-team recognition on the 3A list. Horsley earned his spot as a first-team outfielder after sporting a .500 batting average to go with 19 runs scored and 19 RBIs, while Sewell added to his resume as the Southwest Conference co-pitcher of the year by landing on the first team as a pitcher after the right-hander went 4-0 with six saves and a 0.00 ERA through the regular season. Wallace posted a .406 batting average and led Cascade Christian in home runs with six and was fourth with 33 RBIs to help propel the Challengers and earn his first-team selection at catcher. Thompson paced Cascade Christian with a .488 batting average and 37 RBIs to earn a first-team nod as an infielder. He finished with four home runs and 15 doubles, walking more times (22) than striking out (17) in 113 plate appearances. South Medford senior first baseman Tanner Douglas earned second-team honors at the 6A level after batting .449 with 28 runs and 26 RBIs despite drawing 26 walks — 18 in league play alone. Fellow Panther Jace Miller earned honorable mention nods after batting .356 with 19 runs and 14 RBIs. Grants Pass sophomore Troy Osborne was an honorable mention catcher. McMinnville senior Ky Hoskinson was the 6A player of the year and Jesuit junior Noble Meyer was named 6A pitcher of the year. West Linn’s Joe Monahan was the 6A coach of the year. At the 5A level, Ashland junior Gabe Brabec and freshman Evan Rhoden were each named second-team pitchers and Crater senior Caleb Randolph was an honorable mention outfielder. Brabec compiled a 7-4 record and 2.44 ERA, striking out 110 with 31 walks in 63 innings pitched for the Grizzlies. Rhoden made a splash in his debut season by going 5-2 with a 3.33 ERA, posting 77 strikeouts and 25 walks in 48 1/3 innings. Randolph batted .435 with 12 runs and six RBIs and had a .976 fielding percentage for the Comets. Thurston junior Maddox Malony was named 5A player of the year, with Willamette senior Blake Stavros earning 5A pitcher of the year honors to sweep the top awards for the Midwestern League. Crescent Valley’s Scot McDonald was named 5A coach of the year. Also in 3A voting, Cascade Christian junior Cole Shields was named as second-team outfielder and senior teammate Austin Waits was selected to the second team as a utility player. Challengers senior Cody Reece was an honorable mention infielder. Shields batted .411 with five home runs, 31 runs and 36 RBIs, while Waits posted a .321 batting average to go with 33 RBIs and four home runs. Reece hit .365 with 10 RBIs and a team-high 41 runs scored for Cascade Christian. At the 3A level, Santiam Christian senior Ely Kennel was named player of the year and the Eagles’ Matt Nosack was chosen 3A coach of the year. Have a story idea? Reach sports editor Kris Henry at 541-776-4488, [email protected] or www.twitter.com/Kris_Henry Photo by Denise Baratta. Cascade Christian's Triston Wallace, left, is congratulated by Owen Thompson after hitting a home run earlier this season. Both Challengers juniors were named to the Class 3A all-state first team. Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune South Medford's Cameron Sewell, seen here making a play to first base, was a first-team all-state pick at the Class 6A level as a pitcher. base.Andy Atkinson / Mail Tribune North Medford's Aiden Horsley, seen in a file photo, was a first-team all-state selection at the Class 6A level.