Lower Columbia College baseball coach Kelly Smith will serve as the keynote speaker at the second annual Daily News Prep Sports Awards celebration on June 24 at Monticello Middle School.

The event begins at 6:30 p.m. in the Monticello cafeteria, and features nominees in 16 different categories with separate awards for the male and female Inspirational Athletes of the Year.

The recipients of the inspirational awards are Makaio Mobbs, the Kelso baseball player who began the season on the junior varsity and ended up earning first-team all-league honors in the Greater St. Helens 4A League; and Wahkiakum track star Jasmine Bingham, who fought through diabetes to capture three individual state titles.

All nominees and their families are invited to attend the event, along with members of the nominated teams, their coaches, school athletic directors and their families. Admission is free. Refreshments and cookies will be served.

In addition to Smith, the Red Devils’ highly successful head coach, the crowd also will hear from invited guest Bill Marshall, former R.A. Long volleyball coach and a member of the Washington State Volleyball Coaches Hall of Fame.

Kirc Roland, LCC athletic director and longtime KLOG radio personality, will serve as the master of ceremonies for the second straight year.

Nominees will receive a certificate to commemorate the night, and winners will take home personalized plaques. Monticello Middle School is located at 1225 28th Ave. in Longview, behind R.A. Long High School.

The top male and female athletes from the fall, winter and spring will be named, as well as the Mr. Stud and Ms. Star three-sport Athletes of the Year. Scholar Athlete of the Year awards to those who excelled in the classroom and in athletics, as well as Team of the Year and Coach of the Year for boys and girls, and Play of the Year.

A new award for the area’s top school also will be handed out, based on team performances in boys’ and girls’ sports throughout the year. The inaugural nominees are Rainier, Mark Morris and Castle Rock.

All winners will be announced at the event, with the exception of the Inspirational Athletes of the Year. Nominees were chosen by The Daily News sports staff.

DAILY NEWS PREP SPORTS AWARDS 2009 FINALISTS

Top Male Athlete, Fall:

Zack Gehring, Castle Rock football

Jeff Campbell, Toutle Lake football

Andrew Allen, Rainier football

Top Female Athlete, Fall

Rebecca Haight, Mark Morris volleyball

Colby Pittman, Mark Morris soccer

Heather Shulke, Castle Rock volleyball

Top Male Athlete, Winter

Dalton Earlywine, Rainier wrestling

Matt Payne, Castle Rock wrestling

Kyler Roden, Mark Morris wrestling

Top Female Athlete, Winter

Mollee Schwegler, Rainier basketball

Carly Perkins, Kelso basketball

Riann Bogner, Mark Morris bowling

Top Male Athlete, Spring

Nick LaRoy, Kalama baseball

Adam Scalesse, Kelso track

Brandon Walker, Kalama baseball

Top Female Athlete, Spring

Crystal Nyman, Kelso fastpitch

Jenna DeRosier, Kelso fastpitch

Emily Holt, Woodland fastpitch

Mr. Stud 3-Sport Athlete

Zack Gehring, Castle Rock (football, basketball, baseball)

Robby Sanders, Kalama (football, basketball, baseball)

Austin Burkhalter, Naselle (football, basketball, baseball)

Ms. Star 3-Sport Athlete

Mollee Schwegler, Rainier (football, volleyball, basketball, fastpitch)

Lacey Seidl, Castle Rock (volleyball, basketball, fastpitch)

Kelsey Craft, R.A. Long (swimming, basketball, tennis)

Play of the Year

Nick LaRoy’s 21st strikeout

Karina Paavola’s walk-off HR wins state title

Austin Bragg’s dunk against Black Hills

Team of the Year, Girls

Kelso Lassies fastpitch

Woodland Beavers fastpitch

Castle Rock Rockets volleyball

Team of the Year, Boys

Kalama Chinooks baseball

Naselle Comets football

Ilwaco Fishermen golf

School of the Year

Rainier

Castle Rock

Mark Morris

Coach of the Year, Girls

Mike McMahon, Kelso fastpitch

Damon Yeo, Woodland fastpitch

Jeanna Bays, Castle Rock volleyball

Coach of the Year, Boys

Jeff Eaton, Naselle football

Jody Stemkoski, Kalama basketball

Len Hiatt, Kalama baseball

Academic Athlete, Boys

Taylor Woodruff, R.A. Long (4.0 GPA)

Colin Smith, Mark Morris (4.0 GPA)

Willie Brenc, Mark Morris (4.0 GPA)

Academic Athlete, Girls

Lacey Seidl, Castle Rock (3.97 GPA)

Kayla Davis, Kelso (3.98 GPA)

Katie Gudgell, R.A. Long (4.0 GPA)

Inspirational Athlete, Boys

Makaio Mobbs, Kelso baseball

Inspirational Athlete, Girls

Jasmine Bingham, Wahkiakum track