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Gonzales, Newmann share top nod Consistency leads SOC duo to honor By KEVIN GOFF Eagle Point's Nick Newmann and North Medford's Colby Gonzales were models of consistency this baseball season. Gonzales sailed through much of the regular season with a 23-game hitting streak, while Newmann continually gave the Eagles a chance at victory whenever he took the mound. On Monday, the two seniors were named co-players of the year in the Southern Oregon Conference. Gonzales' hit streak came to an end on the final day of the regular season with an 0-for-4 performance during a twin bill against Crater. He finished the season with a lofty .539 batting average to go along with two home runs and 31 RBIs. "I didn't do anything differently during the streak," Gonzales said. "I was just seeing the ball really well this year and trying to find some gaps." While Gonzales' hitting success surpassed his expectations, the player of the year honor was a preseason goal. "I expected to have a good year but I was surprised at my numbers," he said. Gonzales' bat speed and discipline at the plate is what impressed North Medford coach Brett Wolfe the most. "I knew coming in that he was going to be our leader at the plate," said Wolfe. "He takes great pride in hitting and has such superior bat speed. I expected him to have a big year because he maintains such discipline at the plate." Newmann, meanwhile, went the distance in all seven conference games he started. "He (Newmann) was the glue that kept this team together," said Eagle Point coach Tom Britton, who was named coach of the year after leading his team to a third-place SOC finish at 9-5. "Every time he stepped on the mound, the kids playing behind him knew that we had a pretty good chance at winning. He's a competitor." Newmann finished 5-2 in SOC play with his only two losses coming against Crater and Klamath Union, the latter game a 1-0 defeat in which the only run Newmann allowed was unearned. He also batted .460 on the season and played a solid shortstop for the Eagles. "A lot of times during the season, when we needed a win, he would step up and give us one," said Britton. "He pitched well against Klamath and Crater but we just didn't give him any runs in those games." Gonzales was joined on the first team by Black Tornado teammates Ken Halpin (catcher), Nate Mayben (infielder), Phil Ouellette (outfielder) and Josh Bottjer (designated hitter). Halpin, a senior, batted .404 on the season and led the Black Tornado with four home runs and 14 stolen bases while Mayben, also a senior, hit .379 and was a stellar 9-3 on the mound. Juniors Ouellette and Bottjer hit .343 and .411, respectively, on the season with Ouellette leading the team in walks with 23. Crater placed three members on the first team, with Casey Campbell (pitcher), Brent Foster (infielder) and Ken Strate (outfielder) all making the list. Junior outfielder Matt Skundrick was South Medford's lone first-team representative. Juniors Mike McInerny (pitcher) and Ole Sheldon (infielder) and senior Kevin Linderman (infielder) all made the list from Roseburg. Eagle Point also placed catcher Ryan Garrett and utility player Scott Stockton on the first team. First Team CATCHER -- Ryan Garrett, jr., Eagle Point; Ken Halpin, sr., North Medford. FIRST BASE -- Colby Gonzales, sr., North Medford. INFIELD -- Brent Foster, sr., Crater; Kevin Linderman, sr., Roseburg; Ole Sheldon, jr., Roseburg; Nate Mayben, sr., North Medford. OUTFIELD -- Ken Strate, jr., Crater; Matt Skundrick, jr., South Medford; Phil Ouellette, jr., North Medford. PITCHER -- Casey Campbell, sr., Crater; Nick Newman, sr., Eagle Point; Mike McInerny, jr., Roseburg. UTILITY -- Scott Stockton, sr., Eagle Point. DH -- Josh Bottjer, jr., North Medford. CO-PLAYERS OF THE YEAR -- Nick Newmann, Eagle Point; Colby Gonzales, North Medford. COACH OF THE YEAR -- Tom Britton, Eagle Point. Second Team CATCHER -- Chuck Shine, sr., South Medford. FIRST BASE -- Jake Kleker, sr., Eagle Point. INFIELD -- Dan Bruce, sr., North Medford; Derrick Draper, so., Grants Pass. OUTFIELD -- Charlie Jackson, sr., Eagle Point; Nate Monosoff, sr., Ashland; P.J. Pardee, sr., Crater. PITCHER -- Brent Kircher, so., North Medford; John Zumwalt, jr., Roseburg. UTILITY -- K.J. Chubb, sr., Crater. HONORABLE MENTION CATCHER -- Josh Hinojosa, sr., Crater. FIRST BASE -- Matt Liston, sr., Roseburg; Adam Kallstrom, sr., Klamath Union. INFIELD -- Ryan Gipson, jr., Crater; Jeremiah Toews, sr., Crater; Kellen Walker, so., Roseburg; Gabe Barbee, sr., Grants Pass. OUTFIELD -- Tony Conklin, sr., South Medford; Jesse Stevenson, sr., Eagle Point; Mitch Black, sr., Roseburg; Charlie Jensen, sr., North Medford. UTILITY -- Shawn Backstrom, jr., North Medford. Today's Edition : News | Sports | Business | Weather | Tempo | Classifieds Mail Tribune Copyright � The Mail Tribune 2000, Medford, Oregon USA