What will Nick LaRoy do for an encore? Kalama’s sensational junior left-handed pitcher was named the Class 1A state baseball Player of the Year in a comprehensive vote by the state’s print journalists on Friday, highlighting a strong all-state showing by area pitchers in both baseball and fastpitch.

Kelso fastpitch coach Mike McMahon was named the Class 4A state Coach of the Year, and Kelso senior Crystal Nyman was a first-team selection at pitcher as the state champion Lassies made a big splash in the voting.

Boys soccer all-state teams also were announced on Friday, and Mark Morris was well-represented. Monarchs midfielder Sam Oakley was named to the first team, and three other MM players earned honorable mention status.

All-state voting for all spring sports was coordinated by Rene Ferran of the Tri City Herald, and reflected the opinions of a broad, statewide sample of sportswriters and sports editors. According to Ferran, the number of ballots submitted in 2009 set a record for a spring sports all-state vote.

LaRoy, who was also named to the first team as a pitcher, was 9-0 with a 0.30 earned run average. He threw three no-hitters, including a 21-strikeout no-no, and had 114 strikeouts in 46 innings before sustaining an elbow injury that kept him from pitching in the state championship game. LaRoy edged Naches Valley outfielder Ethan Flory by three points — or one second-place vote — in Player of the Year balloting.

LaRoy and Flory each received four first-place votes; Naches Valley pitcher Thomas Wilcox, the Washington State Baseball coaches Association Player of the Year, did not receive a first-place vote.

Nyman was one of six local fastpitch players named to the first team of their respective classifications, including three from 1A state runner-up Castle Rock. Nyman was joined on the first-team tier by R.A. Long senior pitcher Baily Harris (Class 2A), Woodland sophomore pitcher Emily Holt (2A), and Castle Rock seniors Danielle Nevers (1A pitcher), Lacey Seidl (infielder) and Lindsay Melton (infielder).

Nine local pitchers in baseball and fastpitch were recognized with at least an honorable mention. In addition to first-teamers Nyman, Harris, Holt, Nevers and LaRoy, Kelso senior Chris Armstead was a 4A baseball honorable mention, Woodland senior Mike Hartley was a 2A honorable mention, and Kalama senior Brandon Walker and Castle Rock senior Dustin Hamilton were 1A honorable mentions, all on the mound.

A notable — and startling — pitching omission was Kelso junior Jenna DeRosier, who was named an honorable mention infielder but was overlooked at pitcher. DeRosier, who was undefeated at state and pitched the Lassies to victory in the district championship game, out-dueled Kori Seidlitz of Mountlake Terrace in the state title game. Seidlitz made the first team as a pitcher.

Amanda Fitzsimmons of Auburn-Riverside, whom Kelso defeated with Nyman in the circle in the state semifinals, was named the 4A Player of the Year. She received 10 first-place votes to Nyman’s three.

Six Castle Rock players and four Lassies earned at least honorable mention recognition.

Local fastpitch athletes earning second-team nods included R.A. Long junior infielder Sadie Petersen, Mark Morris senior infielder Meaghan House, and Kalama outfielder Chelsea Rinard.

Honorable mention recipients included DeRosier and fellow junior infielder Tailer Snow, as well as senior teammate Kelli Snyder at catcher. R.A. Long senior catcher Kaylie Dobbins and Woodland senior infielder Staci McClendon were 2A honorees. In Class 1A, Castle Rock standouts Samantha Moore (catcher), Kayleigh Klingberg (infielder) and Ashley Moore (outfielder) were honorable mentions, along with Winlock outfielder Tessa Lawrence and Toledo catcher Brittany Hope.

The top Class 3A fastpitch honors went to Player of the Year Lindsay Willmann of Bainbridge and Coach of the Year Liz McCloskey of Bainbridge. The 2A Player of the Year was Sarah McNamee of Ellensburg and the Coach of the Year was Darcy Taylor of Burlington-Edison. Montesano catcher Aubree Pocklington was the 1A Player of the Year, and her coach, Pat Pace, was Coach of the Year. Adna pitcher Jessika-Jo Sandrini and Adna coach Mike Raschke were Player and Coach of the Year, respectively, in 1A.

Only one local baseball player aside from LaRoy was named to a first team: Castle Rock senior outfielder Mikey Murray. Several of LaRoy’s teammates earned second team- and honorable mention attention. Infielder Dylan Slunaker and outfielder Robby Sanders made the second team, joining Toledo infielder Peter Martin, and Kalama catcher Sean McVicker and infielder Robbie Neal were honorable mentions.

For Castle Rock, infielders Bryce Garbe, Kyle Karnofski and Zack Gehring, and outfielder Steven Horsley were honorable mention picks on the 1A squad.

Kelso sophomore Makaio Mobbs made the 4A honorable mention list at outfielder, and R.A. Long junior outfielder Boston Peterson earned honorable mention as a 2A outfielder.

Baseball’s top honors in 4A went to Coach of the Year Ben Jacobs and Player of the Year Brett Jacobs, both from Richland. O’Dea coach Mike Doyle, Jr. was named Coach of the Year for 3A, and Liberty infielder Eric Peterson was named Player of the Year. Cedarcrest swept 2A’s top honors, with coach Scott Goldsberry and pitcher Travis Cook, while Bill Walker, Jr. of Naches Valley was named the 1A Coach of the Year.

Local honorable mentions in soccer included MM midfielder Chris Melink, MM defender Edgar Vasquez and MM goalkeeper Jon Suek.

2008-09 Prep Sports Photo Gallery