MaxPreps 2014 Preseason Mr. Baseball in each state

MaxPreps begins its 2014 high school baseball coverage with its annual look at the best baseball player in each state.

Each player named is not necessarily the top recruit in the state. The selection may also be based on past performance. This year's group includes returning MaxPreps National Player of the Year Jack Flaherty of Harvard-Westlake (North Hollywood, Calif.), Florida Gatorade State Player of the Year Nick Gordon of Olympia (Orlando, Fla.) and the nation's No. 1 prospect Tyler Kolek of Shepherd (Texas).


Alabama – Jesse McCord, Spanish Fort, P
Named the area player of the year by the Mobile Press Register, McCord also earned a spot on the Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 5A All-State Team. He has been instrumental in Spanish Fort's recent run of success, posting a 9-1 record last year with 106 strikeouts and a 0.91 ERA in 69.1 innings pitched.

Alaska – Erickson Fish, Sitka, 1B/P
The Gatorade State Player of the Year batted .469 with four home runs and 32 RBIs. On the mound, he was 5-1 with 34 strikeouts and a 2.33 ERA in 24 innings pitched.

Arizona – Alex Verdugo, Sahuaro (Tucson), P
Verdugo posted huge numbers on the mound and at the plate while earning All-Arizona honors by the Arizona Republic in 2013. He batted .484 with nine doubles, seven triples and seven home runs and 40 RBIs. On the mound, Verdugo was 10-0 with 130 strikeouts and a 1.29 ERA in 65 innings pitched. He played in the Under Armour All-American Game.

Arkansas – Blake Wiggins, Pulaski Academy (Little Rock), IF
Wiggins helped Pulaski Academy win a state championship last year and was named to the all-tournament team. He's headed to Arkansas next year.

California – Jack Flaherty, Harvard-Westlake (Studio City), P
The MaxPreps National Player of the Year as a junior, Flaherty earned every honor in the Los Angeles area including Player of the Year honors from the Los Angeles Daily News, the Los Angeles Times and the Southern Section. He posted a 13-0 record with a 0.63 ERA and he had 112 strikeouts and only 10 walks in 89 innings pitched. He helped lead the Wolverines to a Southern Section Division I championship. Also a member of Team USA 18U.

Colorado – David Peterson, Regis Jesuit (Aurora), P
A participant in the Perfect Game All-American Classic and the Under Armour All-American Game, Peterson posted a 4-2 record and struck out 55 batters in 39.1 innings pitched for Regis Jesuit last year.

Connecticut – Marvin Gorgas, East Hampton, IF/P
Besides playing for Team USA 18U over the summer, Gorgas has past experience playing in the Little League World Series. He also helped East Hampton win a state title in 2011.

Delaware – Nicholas Spadafino, Dover, 1B
A standout since his freshman season, Spadafino was second team all-state as a freshman and first team all-state the past two seasons.

Florida – Nick Gordon, Olympia (Orlando), IF
Considered in some circles as the top prospect in the class of 2014, Gordon was the Gatorade State Player of the Year and made the All-Central Florida Team by the Orlando Sentinel. He batted .505 with 15 doubles and 30 RBIs. Also pitched, posting a 5-1 record and a 0.78 ERA. He also played in both the Under Armour All-American Game and the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

Georgia – Michael Gettys, Gainesville, P
One of the highest rated players in the country heading into the 2014 draft, Gettys played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic last summer and was named as the region Pitcher of the Year in Georgia. He batted .406 while striking out 114 batters in 73 innings pitched with a 0.99 ERA for the Red Elephants.

Hawaii – Kodi Medeiros, Waiakea (Hilo), P/OF
Although he played mostly outfield and first base last year, Medeiros is expected to be one of the top left-handed pitching prospects in the country this year. A Perfect Game All-American Classic participant, Medeiros batted .585 with 36 RBIs and four home runs last year.

Idaho – Nick Nyquist, Coeur d'Alene, IF
An All-Inland Empire selection and a participant in the Idaho Top 40 Showcase, Nyquist is rated as the top infield prospect in Idaho. He's headed to Gonzaga.

Illinois – Darius Day, Simeon (Chicago), OF
Considered one of the top outfield prospects in the nation, Day played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic and the Under Armour All-American Game.

Indiana – Brandon Murray, Hobart, P
Solid at the plate and on the mound, Murray batted .396 with 19 doubles and 31 RBIs and earned a spot in the Perfect Game All-American Classic. He also pitched and struck out 111 in 58 innings.

Iowa – Keaton McKinney, Ankeny Centennial, P
A member of Team USA 18U and a participant in the Perfect Game All-American Classic, McKinney was 8-0 with a 0.59 ERA for Ankeny last year. He was the Pitcher of the Year in Iowa and a first team all-state pick.

Kansas – Zach Engelken, Blue Valley West (Stilwell), P
The Pitcher of the Year in Class 6A after leading his team to a state championship, Engelken is committed to play at Nebraska next year. He was 5-0 with 69 strikeouts in 47.1 innings pitched with a 1.04 ERA.

Kentucky – Micah Miniard, Boyle County (Danville), P
A participant in the Under Armour All-American Game, Miniard earned third team all-state honors last year, but he has been rising up the recruiting charts. He won five games as a junior, one of them a no-hitter, and struck out 76 batters in 56 innings with a 2.49 ERA.

Louisiana – Gregory Deichmann, Brother Martin (New Orleans), Util
Earned a spot in both the Perfect Game All-American Classic and Under Armour All-American Game after earning all-state honors and All-Metro New Orleans honors as a junior. He batted .338 on the season.

Maine – Ben Greenberg, Scarborough, Util
Named the Gatorade State Player of the Year, Greenberg had a 6-1 record with 0.54 ERA and batted .415 on the season.

Maryland – Gavin Sheets, Gilman (Baltimore), P/IF
Selected to the Baltimore Sun All-Metro team, Sheets, batted .425 with 34 RBIs and 19 doubles. He is headed to play at Wake Forest.

Massachusetts – Justin Bellinger, St. Sebastian's School (Needham), 1B
Posted a .415 batting average with 36 RBIs and eight home runs, including three home runs in one game. Played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

Michigan – Matt Ruppenthal, Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills), P
The only junior on the USA Today all-state team, Ruppenthal came up big in the playoffs as he threw three straight shutouts to help Brother Rice reach the Division I championship game. He was also named to the coaches association Dream Team.

Minnesota - Sam Hentges, Mounds View (Arden Hills), P
Selected for the Under Armour All-American Game after batting .420 with six home runs and a 4-0 record on the mound.

Mississippi – Bobby Bradley, Harrison Central (Gulfport), 1B
Selected to the Jackson Clarion Ledger All-State Team and also named the Class 6A state player of the year by the Mississippi Coaches Association, Bradley batted .567 with eight home runs and 32 RBIs.

Missouri – Shane Benes, Westminster Christian (St. Louis), IF
Benes led the St. Louis area with 11 home runs. He also batted .417 and was named to the St. Louis Dispatch All-Metro team and the coaches association all-state team.

Nebraska – Jakson Reetz, Norris (Firth), C
A top performer for Team USA 18U, Reetz also played well in the Perfect Game All-American Classic. The Gatorade State Player of the Year as a junior, Reetz earned All-Super State honors after batting .464 with five home runs, 14 doubles and 49 RBIs.

Nevada – Michael Blasko, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), C
Blasko will try to lead the Gaels back to their championship-winning ways after losing the state championship last year for the first time in nearly eight years. Blasko earned all-state last year while batting .443 with five home runs and 40 RBIs.

New Hampshire – Connor Sahlin, Campbell (Litchfield), P
Posted a 5-0 record with just two earned runs allowed in 26.1 innings last year while earning all-state honors.

New Jersey – Tom Flacco, Eastern (Voorhees), OF
The brother of Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco, Tom earned all-state honors while hitting .412 with five home runs, eight doubles and two triples. He also knocked in 38 runs and scored 38 runs.

New Mexico – Connor Prentiss, Carlsbad, P
An all-state player last year, Prentiss posted a 10-1 record with 87 strikeouts.

New York – Scott Blewett, Baldwinsville, P
Head to St. John's University, Blewett was the Pitcher of the Year in Central New York after going 7-0 with a 0.14 ERA and 84 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched.

North Carolina – Ryder Ryan, North Mecklenburg (Huntersville), IF
Named to the all-state team by NC Preps and the North Carolina Coaches Association, Ryan struck out 109 batters and had a 0.72 ERA, but also produced at the plate with a .593 batting average and five home runs.

North Dakota – Demitry Zafra, Minot, P
A transfer from Florida last year, Zafra was used effectively as a closer toward the end of the season and helped Minot earn the No. 1 seed for the Class A playoffs.

Ohio – Cameron Varga, Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy (Cincinnati), P
After transferring from IMG Academy to Cincinnati Hills Christian Academy last year, Varga earned all-state honors from the Associated Press and all-area honors from the Cincinnati Enquirer after going 8-2 with a whopping 148 strikeouts and just 14 walks with a 0.21 ERA in 64 innings pitched.

Oklahoma – Gavin Lavalley, Carl Albert (Midwest City), 1B
Selected to the Oklahoma City Oklahoman all-state team, Lavalley led the nation in RBIs as a junior with 76. He also posted 20 home runs and 19 doubles to go with 61 runs scored and a .477 batting average.

Oregon – Trace Loehr, Putnam (Milwaukie), IF
Selected the top player in the northwestern part of the United States by Baseball Northwest, Loehr batted .574 last year and started at second base for Team USA 18U. Also earned Class 5A all-state honors.

Pennsylvania – Brendan McKay, Blackhawk (Beaver Falls), 1B
Named the Player of the Year in Western Pennsylvania by the Pittsburgh Post Gazette, McKay batted .400 and also had a 7-0 record on the mound with 117 strikeouts and a 0.09 ERA in 60 innings pitched.

Rhode Island – Dominic Grillo, North Kingstown, P
After posting a 9-2 record with a 0.72 ERA in 68 innings, Grillo was the only junior to earn all-state first team honors by the Providence Journal. He struck out 68 batters and had six shutouts.

South Carolina – Grant Holmes, Conway, P
A Class 4A all-state pick last season, Holmes played in both the Perfect Game All-American Classic and the Under Armour All-American Game over the summer. He won seven games with 55 strikeouts and a 0.18 ERA as a junior.

South Dakota – Josh Baumgart, Roosevelt (Sioux Falls), P
Made the all-state team last season after posting a 4-0 record with a 0.52 ERA and 38 strikeouts in 27 innings pitched.

Tennessee – Justus Sheffield, Tullahoma, P
Named the Middle Tennessee Player of the Year by the Nashville Tennessean, Sheffield posted a 10-2 record on the mound with a 1.28 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 71.1 innings pitched as a junior. He was also a member of Team USA and played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic.

Texas – Tyler Kolek, Shepherd, P
You won't find Kolek's name on any All-American teams in 2013, but he begins the season ranked as the No. 1 prospect in the country. Hitting 102 mph with a fastball will do that for a player. Kolek, who missed the majority of last season with a broken bone on his non-throwing hand, played in the Perfect Game All-American Classic and wowed scouts when he broke the century mark at a showcase in early June. At 6-5, 260 pounds, Kolek could be the No. 1 pick in the 2014 draft.

Utah – Colton Shaver, Jordan (Sandy), C/P
Named to the Deseret News Class 5A All-State Team, Shaver batted .542 with nine home runs and eight doubles. Also a pitcher, Shaver was 6-1 on the mound. He was the only junior on the Class 5A All-State Team.

Vermont – Joey Robertson, Essex (Essex Junction), IF
Earned all-state honors as a sophomore last year while batting .475 with 15 RBIs.

Virginia – Charlie Cody, Great Bridge (Chesapeake), IF
One of the state's top players since his freshman season, Cody was Group AAA All-State choice by Virginia Preps and the coaches association as a junior while batting .446 with six home runs, 32 RBIs and eight doubles.

Washington – Branden Kelliher, Lake Stevens, P
Earned Class 4A all-state honors while posting an 8-1 record with 2.61 ERA and 83 strikeouts in 51 innings pitched. Also excelled as a middle infielder and the team's cleanup hitter.

West Virginia – Seth Kinker, Cabell Midland (Ona), P
Named to the Class AAA all-state team, Kinker batted .468 as a junior and posted a 6-4 record with a 2.30 ERA.

Wisconsin – Scott Schreiber, Kimberly, P
Selected the State Player of the Year by the Wisconsin Baseball Coaches Association, Schreiber was 10-0 with a 0.86 ERA.