Video: MaxPreps 2015 Baseball All-American TeamSee the best high school baseball players in the country.MaxPreps 2015 Player of the Year: Joe DeMers, College ParkWhether it was on the mound or at the plate, Joe DeMers came up big for College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) all season long.
Joe DeMers, College Park
Photo by Alyson Boyer Rode
As a pitcher, DeMers posted a 13-1 overall record. The one loss came against De La Salle's Justin Hooper, one of the top left-handed pitchers in the country. DeMers also posted three no-hitters on the season, including a perfect game, and came within a fair-ball-down-the-line of pitching a fourth no-hitter. Among his wins were victories over Tennessee Class 3A runner-up Farragut, Central Coast Section Open Division champion Saint Francis and De La Salle (in the North Coast Section championship game).
DeMers also finished the season with a 0.51 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 96 innings pitched.
At the plate, he was one of the top hitters in Northern California, batting .447 with 44 RBIs, 16 doubles and six home runs. He also came up big in big games, belting two home runs against Saint Francis, going 3-for-5 against Florida Class 5A runner-up Mosley and knocking a double with an RBI in the championship game against De La Salle.
For his impressive play all season long, DeMers is the 2015 MaxPreps National Baseball Player of the Year.
DeMers was also the leader of a team that won back-to-back North Coast Section championships for the first time in school history. College Park finished 26-4 overall and ended the year ranked No. 7 in the
MaxPreps Xcellent 50 National Rankings.
The best part about DeMers, according to coach Andy Tarpley, might be his ability to win.
"The knack that he has for
knowing how to win a baseball game ... When some of the players would
struggle, he would understand the situation and get a big hit when we
needed it ... close a game, start a game, play third base," Tarpley told Phil Jensen of the Contra Costa Times.
DeMers did not get drafted in the Major League First Year Player Draft last month, however that might be due more to his intent to follow through on his scholarship to the University of Washington than a mark against his abilities as a pitcher. DeMers was considered a second-round talent entering the draft.
Also named the Cal-Hi Sports State Player of the Year, DeMers finished his career with a 44-5 pitching record and 332 strikeouts compared to just 37 walks. He also had a career batting average of 382 with 112 RBIs, 39 doubles and 13 home runs.
MaxPreps 2015 Coach of the Year: Chan Brown, Parkview
Chan Brown, Parkview head coach
Photo by Steve Hampton
In 2015, Brown and the Panthers received a consensus No. 1 ranking by MaxPreps, Baseball America, Perfect Game, Collegiate Baseball Newspaper and USA Today. The Panthers finished the season 34-2 and won the sixth state title in school history, the third in the past five seasons.
"Obviously from a program standpoint, we’re very excited,"
Brown told the Gwinnett Daily Post. "We’re just proud of our kids, our
community, our school, our coaches, everyone who helped support us. It
was a group effort, and something we definitely hang our hat on."
DeMers and Brown highlight the MaxPreps 2015 Baseball All-American teams, which consist of a first and second team with 30 players each.
MaxPreps 2015 All-American Baseball Teams
Photos by MaxPreps photographers/Graphic by Ryan Escobar
P – Beau Burrows, Weatherford (Texas), 6-2, 200, Senior
Honors: Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 6A All-State Team; All-Parker County Player of the Year; Fort Worth Star Telegram Super Team.
Drafted: No. 22 overall by the Detroit Tigers.
Stats: 8-3 pitching record, 0.79 ERA, 132 strikeouts, 15 walks, 71 innings pitched, 2 shutouts.
P – Peter Lambert, San Dimas (Calif.), 6-2, 190, Senior
Honors: American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region 8 Team; National High School Baseball Coaches Association Region 8 Player of the Year; Southern Section Division 3 Player of the Year; Los Angeles Times All-Area Player of the Year; Inland Daily Bulletin All-Area Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 44 overall by Colorado Rockies.
Stats: 13-0 pitching record, 0.34 ERA, 5 shutouts, 113 strikeouts, 16 walks, 83 innings pitched, .295 batting average (31 for 105), 23 runs, 27 RBIs, 6 doubles, 3 home runs.
P – Austin Smith, Park Vista (Lake Worth, Fla.), 6-4, 215, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 3 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 3 Team; Palm Beach Post All-Area Large Schools Team; Sun Sentinel All-Palm County Large Schools Team.
Drafted: No. 51 overall by the San Diego Padres.
Stats: 8-2 pitching record, 3 shutouts, 1.03 ERA, 98 strikeouts, 23 walks, 81.2 innings pitched, .333 batting average (26 for 78), 13 RBIs, 7 doubles.
P – Juan Hillman, Olympia (Orlando, Fla.), 6-2, 183, Senior
Honors: NHSBCA All-Region 3 Team; Orlando Sentinel All-Area Team; Florida Athletic Coaches Association Class 8A All-State Team.
Drafted: No. 59 overall by the Cleveland Indians.
Stats: 10-0 pitching record, 1.20 ERA, 77 strikeouts, 9 walks, 58.1 innings pitched, .363 batting average (33 for 91), 15 runs, 21 RBIs, 6 doubles, 2 triples.
P – Kale Breaux, Sulphur (La.), 6-0, 180, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 6 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 6 Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 5A State Player of the Year.
Stats: 9-1 pitching record, 0.75 ERA, 125 strikeouts, 14 walks, 75 innings pitched, .372 batting average, 20 RBIs, 28 runs, 3 home runs.
P – Donny Everett, Clarksville (Tenn.), 6-2, 220, Senior
Honors: NHSBCA All-Region 3 Team; Clarksville Leaf Chronicle All-Area Player of the Year; Nashville Tennessean All-MidState Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 871 overall by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Stats: 9-1 pitching record, 0.94 ERA, 125 strikeouts, 8 walks, 67 innings pitched, .412 batting average (47 for 114), 32 runs, 34 RBIs, 9 doubles, 2 triples, 2 home runs.
P – Max Wotell, Marvin Ridge (Waxhaw, N.C.), 6-3, 190, Senior
Max Wotell, Marvin Ridge
Photo by Troy Cherry
ABCA All-Region 2 Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Charlotte Observer All-Area Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 88 overall by the New York Mets.
Stats: 14-0 pitching record, 0.66 ERA, 148 strikeouts, 27 walks, 81 innings pitched.
P – Jason Barber, Oxford (Miss.), 6-0, 190, Junior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 6 Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Mississippi Coaches Association Class 5A All-State Player of the Year; Jackson Clarion Ledger All-State Team.
Stats: 12-0 pitching record, 1 perfect game, 8 shutouts, 110 strikeouts, 14 walks, 0.00 ERA, 78 innings pitched, .337 batting average (29 for 86), 20 runs, 35 RBIs, 7 doubles, 8 home runs.
P – Tristan McKenzie, Royal Palm Beach (Fla.), 6-5, 160, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 3 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 3 Team; Palm Beach Post Large Schools All-Area Player of the Year; Sun Sentinel Large Schools All-Area Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 42 overall by the Cleveland Indians.
Stats: 9-5 pitching record, 0.79 ERA, 157 strikeouts, 16 walks, 91 innings pitched.
P – Joe DeMers, College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.), 6-2, 215, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 8 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 8 Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Contra Costa Times All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: 13-1 pitching record, 10 complete games, 5 shutouts, 3 no-hitters, 1 perfect game, 0.51 ERA, 103 strikeouts, 10 walks, 96 innings pitched, .447 batting average (42 for 94), 26 runs, 44 RBIs, 16 doubles, 2 triples, 6 home runs.
C – Tyler Stephenson, Kennesaw Mountain (Kennesaw, Ga.), 6-4, 210, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 3 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 3 Team; Braves 400 Fan Club Metro Atlanta All-Stars; Marietta Daily Journal All-County Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 11 overall by the Cincinnati Reds.
Stats: .425 batting average (31 for 73), 10 runs, 6 doubles, 9 home runs, 26 RBIs.
C – Cory Zangari, Carl Albert (Midwest City, Okla.), 6-4, 240, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 6 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 6 Team; Oklahoma City Oklahoman All-State Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 172 overall by the Chicago White Sox.
Stats: .490 batting average (48 for 98), 37 runs, 64 RBIs, 7 doubles, 1 triple, 19 home runs.
C – Chris Betts, Woodrow Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.), 6-2, 210, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 8 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 8 Team; Southern Section All-Division 1 Team; Los Angeles Times All-Area Team; Long Beach Press Telegram Dream Team Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 52 overall by Tampa Bay Rays.
Stats: .473 batting average (35 for 74), 30 runs, 29 RBIs, 5 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs.
1B – Luken Baker, Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas), 6-4, 240, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 6 Team; NHSBCA Region 6 Player of the Year; Gatorade National Player of the Year; THSBCA Class 6A All-State Team; Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 1099 overall by the Houston Astros.
Stats: 12-1 pitching record, 1.19 ERA, 131 strikeouts, 21 walks, 88 innings pitched, .440 batting average (37 for 84), 24 runs, 16 RBIs, 5 doubles, 8 home runs.
1B – Luke Shilling, Notre Dame Prep (Pontiac, Mich.), 6-5, 250, Senior
Honors: Michigan Baseball Coaches Association Dream Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; NHSBCA All-Region 4 Team.
Drafted: No. 588 overall by the Texas Rangers.
Stats: 7-1 pitching record, 0.70 ERA, 104 strikeouts, 49.2 innings pitched, .400 batting average, 8 doubles, 6 home runs, 23 RBIs.
IF – Brendan Rodgers, Lake Mary (Fla.), 6-1, 190, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 3 Team; NHSBCA Region 3 Player of the Year; Orlando Sentinel All-Area Team; FACA Class 8A All-State Team.
Drafted: No. 3 overall by the Colorado Rockies.
Stats: .360 batting average (27 for 75), 19 runs, 23 RBIs, 8 doubles, 8 home runs.
IF – Cadyn Grenier, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas), 5-10, 180, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 8 Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Nevada All-State Division 1 Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 641 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Stats: .472 batting average (51 for 108), 65 runs, 35 RBIs, 12 doubles, 5 triples, 5 home runs.
IF – Ke'bryan Hayes, Concordia Lutheran (Tomball, Texas), 6-1, 207, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 6 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 6 Team; TAPPS All-State Team; Houston Chronicle All-Greater Houston Team; Houston 5A Baseball First Team.
Drafted: No. 32 overall by the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Stats: .436 batting average (41 for 94), 22 runs, 27 RBIs, 16 doubles, 1 triple, 3 home runs.
IF – Cornelius Randolph, Griffin (Ga.), 6-1, 190, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 3 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 3 Team.
Drafted: No. 10 overall by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Stats: .540 batting average, 39 runs, 33 RBIs, 11 doubles, 1 triples, 7 home runs.
IF – Tyler Nevin, Poway (Calif.), 6-3, 200, Senior
Honors: NHSBCA All-Region 8 Team; San Diego All-Section Team.
Drafted: No. 38 overall by the Colorado Rockies.
Stats: .409 batting average (45 for 110), 41 runs, 22 RBIs, 15 doubles, 7 home runs.
IF – Tyler Wyatt, Liberty (Peoria, Ariz.), 6-0, 170, Senior
Honors: NHSBCA Region 7 Player of the Year; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Arizona Republic State Player of the Year.
Stats: .571 batting average (40 for 70), 42 runs, 9 doubles, 3 triples, 8 home runs, 36 RBIs.
OF – Dazmon Cameron, Eagle's Landing Christian Academy (McDonough, Ga.), 6-0, 186, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 3 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 3 Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Henry Herald All-County Team.
Drafted: No. 37 overall by the Houston Astros.
Stats: .455 batting average (35 for 77), 38 runs, 32 RBIs, 10 doubles, 1 triple, 8 home runs.
OF – Kyle Tucker, Plant (Tampa, Fla.), 6-4, 175, Senior
Kyle Tucker, Plant
Photo by Del Mecum
ABCA All-Region 3 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 3 Team; Gatorade State Player of the Year; Tampa Tribune All-Area Player of the Year; FACA Class 8A All-State Team.
Drafted: No. 5 overall by the Houston Astros.
Stats: .484 batting average (31 for 64), 9 doubles, 10 home runs, 27 RBIs.
OF – Ashton Bardzell, Ramsey (N.J.), 6-1, 185, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 2 Team; NJ.Com All-State Hitter of the Year; North Jersey Player of the Year; NJ.com All-Group 2 Team.
Stats: .586 batting average (51 for 87), 55 runs, 55 RBIs, 10 doubles, 4 triples, 18 home runs.
OF – Nick Plummer, Brother Rice (Bloomfield Hills, Mich.), 5-11, 200, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 4 Team; ABCA National Player of the Year; NHSBCA Region 4 Player of the Year; Michigan Baseball Coaches Association All-State Dream Team Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 23 overall by the St. Louis Cardinals.
Stats: .500 batting average (54 for 108), 68 runs, 22 doubles, 6 triples, 6 home runs, 23 RBIs, 32 stolen bases.
OF – Trent Clark, Richland (North Richland Hills, Texas), 6-0, 200, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 6 Team; Dallas Morning News All-Area Hitter of the Year; THSBCA Class 6A All-State First Team; Fort Worth Star Telegram Super Team Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 15 overall by the Milwaukee Brewers.
Stats: .550 batting average, 33 runs, 8 doubles, 3 triples, 2 home runs, 24 RBIs.
OF – Jahmai Jones, Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.), 6-0, 210, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 3 Team; Gwinnett Daily Post All-County Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 70 overall by the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.
Stats: .464 batting average, 52 runs, 21 RBIs, 40 stolen bases, 13 doubles, 8 home runs.
UT – Bryan Hudson, Alton (Ill.), 6-7, 205, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 4 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 4 Team; Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Class 4A All-State Team; St. Louis Post Dispatch All-Metro Player of the Year; Prep Baseball Report All-State Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 82 overall by the Chicago Cubs.
Stats: 10-2 pitching record, 0.56 ERA, 152 strikeouts, 29 walks, 75.1 innings pitched, .427 batting average (47 for 110), 26 runs, 49 RBIs, 14 doubles, 6 triples, 4 home runs.
UT – Mike Nikorak, Stroudsburg (Pa.), 6-5, 224, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 2 Team; NHSBCA Region 2 Player of the Year; Gatorade State Player of the Year.
Drafted: No. 27 overall by the Colorado Rockies.
Stats: 5-1 pitching record, 50 strikeouts, 21 walks, 1.42 ERA, 29.2 innings pitched, .413 batting average (31 for 75), 26 runs, 22 RBIs, 8 doubles, 1 triple, 6 home runs.
UT – Austin Riley, DeSoto Central (Southaven, Miss.), 6-2, 230, Senior
Honors: ABCA All-Region 6 Team; NHSBCA All-Region 6 Team; Mississippi Baseball Coaches Association Class 6A State Player of the Year; Jackson Clarion Ledger All-State Team; Memphis Commercial Appeal All-Metro Team.
Drafted: No. 41 overall by the Atlanta Braves.
Stats: .423 batting average (44 for 104), 30 runs, 31 RBIs, 14 doubles, 1 triple, 11 home runs, 7-2 pitching record, 2.70 ERA, 82 strikeouts, 19 walks, 59.2 innings pitched.
