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Gonzales claims top 4A prize North star named player of the year By Don Hunt All those years of playing whiffle ball in his backyard paid off in a big way for Colby Gonzales Tuesday. Gonzales, who batted .515 and led North Medford to a runner-up finish in the Class 4A state playoffs, was named the 4A player of the year. "It was the biggest surprise in the world � I didn�t expect to get it," Gonzales said. "There�s a lot of good players in the state." None, however, was more deserving of the award than the Black Tornado first baseman. Not only did Gonzales get a hit in more than half of his plate appearances, he registered a 23-game hitting streak and struck out just four times in 130 at-bats. Those who watch Gonzales take his cuts marvel at what a natural swing he has. But the truth is, the 6-foot, 190-pounder is a self-made hitter. Ever since his Little League days, Gonzales has played whiffle ball and baseball in his backyard with his father, Rick, and grandfather, Jim McAbee, who served as the Black Tornado coach for 26 years. Both took their turns pitching to the youngster, and it wasn�t long before a hitting cage and pitching machine were installed in the Gonzales� back yard. Gonzales hit .400 as a sophomore and .420 as a junior, but he still spent almost every day honing his hitting skills once the football season ended last fall. "I didn�t look at it as work because I just love to swing the bat," Gonzales said. "I love to get in the cage and swing away ." Gonzales plans on playing college baseball next season at either Lassen College in Susanville, Calif., or Cerro Coso College in Ridgecrest, Calif. He is the second North Medford player in three years to win the state�s player-of-the-year award. Pitcher/outfielder K. C. Rumrey bagged the honor in 1998. "Colby is one of the toughest outs I�ve seen in a long time," North Medford coach Brett Wolfe said. "He has the ability to select a pitch and drive it to any part of the ballpark, even when he�s got two strikes on him. "And what a lot of people don�t know is that he was probably the best bunter on our team. You didn�t get a chance to see it much, but the two or three times we asked him to bunt he laid them down." Brent Foster, who led Crater to the Class 4A state championship, was also named to the first team. North Medford shortstop Nate Mayben and Crater pitcher Casey Campbell were chosen to the second team, while Crater outfielder Ken Strate and North Medford catcher Ken Halpin were selected to the third team. Honorable mention honors went to Roseburg infielders Kevin Linderman and Ole Sheldon and Eagle Point�s Scott Stockton. Chuck Dominiak, who guided Crater to a 27-3 record this season and has a 402-123 career record in 23 years as a head coach, was tabbed coach of the year. Mazama pitcher Jake Nelson, who fueled the Vikings to the Class 3A state championship, made the first team. Joining him from the Skyline Conference was Hidden Valley�s Seth Pietsch. Three Phoenix players were selected to the third team: infielder Andy Bartels, outfielder Joel Bath and utility selection Travis Dunlap. Henley outfielder Nick Thede also made the second team. Henley infielder Greg Conover made the third team. Earning honorable mention 3A honors were Henley pitcher Brad Bailey, North Valley infielder Sam Jarrett and North Valley catcher Cory Pedersen. At the 2A level, Cascade Christian infielder Don Jenkins, outfielder Blane Newfield and catcher Nolan Roberts were all named to the first team, and Challengers pitcher Bryan Edwards was chosen to the second team. Obituaries | Sports | Business | Classifieds | Tempo | Prime Times | So Oregon Sites | Outdoor Journal | Subscribe | Contact | Movies | Advertise | Real Estate Showcase | Archive | Editorials | Letters to the editor | Religion | Wake-up Call | NIE | Cyber Chef | Job Network | So Oregon Weather | WSJ Northwest | Forums | AP Wire | AP Money | F.A.Q. | Awards Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. The Community Newspaper Subsidiary of Dow Jones & Co, Inc Copyright �The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA