Javier Baez is the MaxPreps Small Schools Baseball Player of the Year after leading his team to a national title.
Photo by Stuart Browning
He led his team to a national championship and he was considered the best pure hitter among the high school players eligible for this year's Major League Baseball Draft. Those credentials help make Javier Baez of Arlington Country Day the MaxPreps Small Schools National Baseball Player of the Year.
Arlington Country Day is not a member of the Florida High Schools Athletic Association and as a result it did not compete for a state championship. However, the Apaches, based in Jacksonville, are members of the National Association of Christian Athletics and Baez led the school, with an enrollment of about 500, to the organization's national championship.
Baez had incredible statistics this year, hitting .771 with 22 home runs, 20 doubles and 52 RBIs. That type of hitting talent did not go unnoticed by the professional scouts. Regarded as one of the top pure hitters eligible for the draft, Baez went to the Chicago Cubs with the No. 9 overall pick in the first round.
The National Small Schools Baseball Coach of the Year also hails from the northern part of Florida. Mike Posey of North Florida Christian guided his team to the Florida 2A state championship, beating a pair of teams loaded with All-Americans in the process.
In the semifinals, North Florida Christian whipped Westminster Christian, led by All-Americans David Thompson and Andy Chacon, by a score of 7-1. In the finals, Posey's team got past Orangewood Christian, a team that included MLB first-round draft pick Dante Bichette Jr. and with two other All-American picks in Alex Carter and Thomas Nido, by a score of 8-4.
Posey has an All-American of his own in first baseman/pitcher John Nogowski, who limited Westminster Christian to three hits in the semifinals and went 3-for-3 with a home run against Orangewood Christian.
The Small Schools All-American Team consists of 60 players, 30 on the first team and 30 on the second team, from schools who play in state enrollment divisions of less than 1,000 students.
MAXPREPS SMALL SCHOOLS ALL-AMERICAN TEAM
First Team
Pitcher - David Palladino, Emerson (N.J.), Senior
New Jersey All-State Team... New Jersey All-Group 1 Team... North Jersey Player of the Year... Drafted by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 13th round.
Stats - Record of 10-1 with 1.07 ERA and 131 strikeouts in 72.1 innings pitched. Also batted .488 with 33 RBIs and eight home runs.
Pitcher - Luke Lowery, Sumrall (Miss.), Senior
Jackson Clarion-Ledger All-State Team... Hattiesburg American All-Area Team... Led team to Mississippi Class 3A state championship.
Stats - Record of 10-0 with 115 strikeouts and 0.94 ERA in 66.2 innings pitched. Also batted .309 with 19 RBIs and nine doubles.
Pitcher - Matt Geislinger, Eden Valley-Watkins (Eden Valley, Minn.), Senior
Minnesota Coaches Association Class 1A Player of the Year... Led team to Minnesota 1A state championship.
Stats - Record of 13-0 with 100 strikeouts and 1.14 ERA.
Pitcher - Kyle Zimmerman, Frankfort (Mich.), Senior
Michigan Coaches Association Dream Team.
Stats - Record of 16-1 with 0.27 ERA and 186 strikeouts in 90 innings pitched. Also batted .654 with 71 runs, 43 RBIs, 19 doubles, four triples and 12 home runs.
Pitcher - Steven Perry, Maxwell (Calif.), Senior
All-Northern Section Team... Led team to Northern Section Division V championship.
Stats - Record of 10-0 with 117 strikeouts and 0.00 ERA in 54 innings pitched. Zero runs allowed with seven consecutive shutouts and five no-hitters. Also batted .533 with 60 runs, 48 RBIs, 20 doubles and five home runs.
Pitcher - Rob Woodcock, Marin Catholic (Kentfield, Calif.), Senior
Marin County Athletic League Pitcher of the Year... Led team to North Coast Section Division IV championship.
Stats - Record of 12-0 with 110 strikeouts and 0.60 ERA in 81.1 innings pitched.
Zach Brashear, Cameron Yoe.
Photo by Jim Redman
Texas Coaches Association 2A All-State Team... Austin Statesman CenTex Player of the Year... Texas Sports Writers Association 2A Player of the Year... Led team to Texas 2A state championship.
Stats - Record of 12-2 with 1.20 ERA. Tallied 50 runs, 37 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.
Pitcher - Laramie Blackwell, Johnson City (Texas), Senior
Texas Coaches Class 1A All-State second team... Texas Sports Writers 1A State Player of the Year... Led team to Texas Class 1A championship.
Stats - Record of 10-2 with 78 strikeouts. Batted .420 with 58 RBIs, 47 runs, 13 doubles and three home runs.
Pitcher - Jake Burnette, Buford (Ga.), Senior
All-Gwinnett County Team... Led team to Georgia AA state championship... Drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates in the seventh round.
Stats - Record of 8-0 with 80 strikeouts and 1.72 ERA in 57 innings pitched.
Pitcher - Derek Thompson, Teutopolis (Ill.), Senior
Chicago Tribune All-State Team... Led team to Class 3A state championship... Drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the 29th round.
Stats - Record of 10-0 with 107 strikeouts and 0.12 ERA in 60.1 innings pitched. Also batted .414 with 37 RBIs and nine home runs.
Catcher - Christin Stewart, Providence Christian Academy (Lilburn, Ga.), Junior
All-Gwinnett County Co-MVP.
Stats - Batted .500 with 70 RBIs, 65 runs and 26 home runs.
Catcher - Austin Knight, Sumrall (Miss.), Senior
Jackson Clarion Ledger All-State Team... Hattiesburg American All-Area Team... Led team to Mississippi Class 3A state championship... Drafted by the Philadelphia Phillies in the 43rd round.
Stats - Batted .379 with 44 RBIs, 12 doubles and nine home runs.
Catcher - Tomas Nido, Orangewood Christian (Maitland, Fla.), Junior
Orlando Sentinel All-Central Florida Team.
Stats - Batted .577 with 64 RBIs and 17 home runs.
First Base - John Nogowski, North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.), Senior
Tallahassee Big Bend Player of the Year... Led team to Florida 2A state championship.
Stats - Batted .519 with 12 home runs, 42 runs, 10 doubles and 45 RBIs. Also pitched and had a 10-2 record with 1.90 ERA and 76 strikeouts in 59 innings pitched.
First Base - Walter Lockett, Providence (Jacksonville, Fla.), Junior
Jacksonville Union Times All-First Coast Player of the Year.
Stats - Batted .468 with 57 RBIs and 18 home runs.
First Base - Tyler Wells, Maxwell (Calif.), Senior
Northern Section Player of the Year... Led team to Northern Section Division V championship.
Stats - Batted .631 with 53 runs, 78 RBIs, 18 doubles and 14 home runs. Pitched and had a record of 12-0 with 0.00 ERA and 121 strikeouts in 60 innings pitched. Threw six shutouts and three no-hitters and won 35 consecutive games.
Infield - Javier Baez, Arlington Country Day (Jacksonville, Fla.), Senior
Led team to National Association of Christian Athletics national championship... Drafted in the first round by the Chicago Cubs.
Stats - Batted .771 with 64 hits, 20 doubles, 52 RBIs and 22 home runs.
Infield - Francisco Lindor, Montverde Academy (Fla.), Senior
Orlando Sentinel All-Area Team... Drafted in the first round by the Cleveland Indians.
Stats - Batted .528 with 31 runs, seven doubles, six home runs and 13 RBIs.
Infield - David Thompson, Westminster Christian (Miami), Junior
Miami Herald All-Dade County Team.
Stats - Batted .533 with 18 home runs and 50 RBIs.
Infield - Dante Bichette Jr., Orangewood Christian (Maitland, Fla.), Senior
Orlando Sentinel All-Central Florida Player of the Year... Drafted in the first round by the New York Yankees.
Stats - Batted .640 with 40 RBIs, 58 runs, 14 doubles and 10 home runs.
Infield - Charles Masonia, Brooks (Killen, Ala.), Senior
Alabama Sports Writers Association All-Super State Team... Alabama Class 4A Hitter of the Year... Times Daily Player of the Year.
Stats - Batted .475 with 13 doubles, four triples, 20 home runs, 58 RBIs and 59 walks (state record). Finished career with 66 home runs for an Alabama state record.
Infield - Connor Barron, Sumrall (Miss.), Senior
Jackson Clarion Ledger All-State Team... Hattiesburg American All-Area MVP... Led team to Mississippi 3A title game... Drafted by the Florida Marlins in the third round.
Stats - Batted .490 with 53 runs, 37 RBIs, 11 doubles and eight home runs.
Outfield - Andy Chacon, Westminster Christian (Miami), Senior
Miami Herald All-Dade County Team.
Stats - Batted .454 with 16 home runs and 47 RBIs.
Outfield - Ajay Snow, Leroy (Ala.), Senior
Alabama Sports Writers Association All-Super State Team... Alabama Class 2A Hitter of the Year.
Stats - Batted .651 with 38 runs, 69 RBIs, 16 doubles and 21 home runs.
Outfield - Braden Strickland, Eustace (Texas), Senior
Texas Coaches Association 2A All-State Team.
Stats - Batted .500 with 32 runs, 44 RBIs, eight doubles and 10 home runs. Also pitched and had a record of 7-1 with 132 strikeouts and 0.54 ERA in 64.1 innings pitched.
Outfield - Billy Flamion, Central Catholic (Modesto, Calif.), Senior
Modesto Bee Player of the Year... Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 25th round.
Stats - Batted .388 with 39 runs, 33 RBIs, 13 doubles and four home runs.
Outfield - Larry Greene, Berrien (Nashville, Ga.), Senior
Region 1-AA Player of the Year... Drafted in the Compensatory Round by the Philadelphia Phillies.
Stats - Batted .562 with 58 runs, 52 RBI, 11 doubles and 19 home runs.
Outfield - Hoke Granger, Northside Methodist Academy (Dothan, Ala.), Senior
Dothan Eagle Super 12... Drafted by the Houston Astros in the 42nd round.
Stats - Batted .590 with 71 runs, 98 RBIs, 19 doubles, seven triples and 19 home runs.
All-Purpose - Stephen Gant, Riverside (Decaturville, Tenn.), Junior
Jackson Sun All-West Tennessee Player of the Year... Led team to Tennessee 1A state championship.
Stats - Batted .458 with 51 RBIs, 60 runs, eight doubles and 17 home runs. Also pitched and had a 12-1 record with 144 strikeouts and a 0.86 ERA in 73.1 innings pitched. Threw seven shutouts.
All-Purpose - Jose Trevino, John Paul II (Corpus Christi, Texas), Senior
TAPPs All-State Team.
Stats - Batted .544 with 72 runs, 85 RBIs, 18 doubles and 25 home runs. Also pitched and was 9-0 with 87 strikeouts and a 0.70 ERA in 50 innings pitched.
Continue reading for the second team
