In a season with a number of worthy candidates, a record-breaking postseason run proved to be the difference in selecting the National Player of the Year on the Small Town All-American Team.
The small town ranks had a number of outstanding players this year, including the Major League Baseball's No. 1 overall draft pick
Eli Willits of
Fort Cobb-Broxton (Fort Cobb, Okla.), the Mississippi brother combination of
JoJo Parker and
Jacob Parker of
Purvis (Miss.) and Texas two-way standout
Johnny Slawinski of
Johnson City (Texas).
But in the end, it was hard not to reward the postseason performance by
Zach Hare of
Riverside (Ellwood City, Pa.). In leading the Panthers to the Class 3A state championship and a No. 1 ranking in the Small Town Top 25, Hare threw 34 consecutive no-hit innings. While the streak is not the longest hitless inning streak in high school history, it is easily the longest in the postseason.
As a result, Hare is the Small Town National Player of the Year.
Small Town National Player of the Year Zach Hare (27) celebrates his team's win the Pennsylvania Class 3A state championship game. (PHOTO: Paul Burdick)
Jason Smith of
West Lauderdale (Collinsville, Miss.) is the Small Town National Coach of the Year. Going up against Purvis and the Parker brothers in the Class 4A state championship game, Smith and the Knights limited the high-scoring Tornadoes to just six runs and a .159 batting average over the three-game series.
Hare and Smith highlight the Small Town All-America Team, which includes only players who attend schools with an enrollment under 1,000 students in a town with a population under 10,000.
Small Town All-America Team
First Team
P — Zach Hare, Sr., Riverside (Ellwood City, Pa.)
Hare
earned MaxPreps Pennsylvania Player of the Year and All-America honors
after an astounding playoff performance. He threw 34 consecutive no-hit
innings in the postseason (36.1 including regular season) with three
no-hitters (one of them a perfect game). Riverside won the Class 3A
state championship as Hare went 10-0 with 138 strikeouts and a 0.68 ERA in
72.1 innings pitched. He batted .405 with 26 RBI, five doubles and four
home runs.
P — Landon Harmon, Sr., East Union (Blue Springs, Miss.)
The
Class 2A Player of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Coaches,
Harmon led the Urchins to the state championship. He batted .554 with 35
RBI, 26 runs, five doubles and seven home runs. On the mound, Harmon
had a 6-0 record with a 1.17 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 30 innings
pitched.
P — Johnny Slawinski, Sr., Johnson City (Texas)
Emerging
as one of the top draft picks from Texas, Slawinski was among the state
leaders in pitching and hitting. He led Class 2A in Texas with 13 home
runs and 177 strikeouts. He earned Class 2A All-State honors by the
Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association (THSBCA) and scored 46
runs with 42 RBI, and a .478 batting average. He also had nine wins and a
0.37 ERA. He was the No. 79 overall pick by the Anaheim Angels in the
2025 MLB Draft.
P — Evan O'Connor, Jr., Brock (Texas)
O'Connor
led Class 4A with a 14-1 record and a 142 strikeouts, according to
Texas High School Baseball. He batted .420 with 29 RBI and also had a
0.55 ERA. He was an All-State pick by the THSBCA.
P — Bradley Garrett, Sr., Holmes County (Bonifay, Fla.)
The
Dairy Farmers Association Rural Player of the Year led the Blue Devils
to a state championship. He had a 9-2 record with a 1.14 ERA, and 110
strikeouts in 67.2 innings pitched. He also batted .418 with 29 runs, 28
RBI and 13 doubles.
P — Johnny Nutt, Sr., Wilcox County (Rochelle, Ga.)
Named Class 1A All-State by the Georgia Dugout Baseball Club,
Nutt was among the national leaders in strikeouts with 162. He had a
10-1 record with a 0.30 ERA in 70.2 innings pitched. He also batted .337
with 22 runs, 20 RBI and seven doubles.
P — Chad Brown, Sr., Hemlock (Mich.)
The
Saginaw area player of the year and a member of the Michigan Baseball
Coaches Association Dream Team, Brown went 9-2 with a 0.16 ERA and 123
strikeouts with just 11 walks. He also finished his career with 383
career strikeouts.
P — Daniel LeMaster, Sr., Centerburg (Ohio)
Named All-State by the Ohio Baseball Coaches Association,
LeMaster led Ohio with a 12-0 record and 164 strikeouts in 79
innings pitched. He also had a 0.44 ERA with seven shutouts.
P — Colton Temple, So., Fort Cherry (McDonald, Pa.)
The WPIAL Class 2A Player of the Year was a two-way standout. He batted .621 with 28 runs, 36 RBI, nine doubles, a triple and 10 home runs. He also had a 7-2 record with a 3.23 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched.
P — Aiden Poe, Sr., Vincent (Ala.)
While earning Class 2A Pitcher of the Year by the Alabama Sportswriters Association (ASWA), Poe went 12-1 with 128 strikeouts and just 16 walks with a 1.18 ERA. He finished his career with 567 strikeouts, 47 wins and 10 no-hitters.
C — Luke Treece, Sr., Coalfield (Tenn.)
An All-State selection by the Tennessee Sportswriters Association (TSWA), Treece was among the state leaders with 63 runs and 52 RBI. He batted .562 with 20 doubles, three triples and six home runs.
C — Easton Sullivan, Jr., Greenfield (Tenn.)
The Class 1A Mr. Tennessee winner by the TSWA, Sullivan batted .515 with 21 runs, 23 RBI, eight doubles, two triples and three home runs. He also went 8-0 on the mound with 99 strikeouts and a 0.28 ERA in 50 innings pitched.
C — Hunter Burrell, Jr., New Home (Texas)
Playing for one of the highest-scoring teams in the nation, Burrell earned All-State honors from the THSBCA while batting .500 with 42 runs, 53 RBI, 18 doubles, six triples and nine home runs.
1B — Matt Maxon, Jr., Carmel (Calif.)
The player of the year in Monterey County and a MaxPreps Junior All-American, Maxon led Carmel to a Central Coast Section championship. He batted .467 with 48 runs, 42 RBI, seven doubles, two triples, and 11 home runs. He also went 8-1 on the mound with a 1.00 ERA and 80 strikeouts in 63 innings pitched.
1B — Brody Maroon, Sr., Murfreesboro (Ark.)
One of the heaviest hitters in the state and a member of the All-Arkansas Preps team, Maroon batted .554 with 20 doubles and 12 home runs. He knocked in 60 runs and scored 41 runs. He also pitched and went 8-4 with 69 strikeouts and a 3.32 ERA in 52.2 innings pitched.
IF — Eli Willits, Sr., Fort Cobb-Broxton (Fort Cobb, Okla.)
In
any other season, a small-town player who goes No. 1 in the MLB draft
would be the easy pick as the Small Town Player of the Year. However
Hare's record-setting effort couldn't be overlooked. Willits was named
the state POY by the Oklahoman and led the Mustangs to a state
championship. He batted .516 with 33 RBI, nine home runs and 48 steals.
IF — Brady Burns, Sr., Eagleville (Tenn.)
A candidate for Class 1A Mr. Tennessee honors by the TSWA, Burns led the state with 27 doubles. He was also among the state leaders with a .540 batting average, 61 runs, 63 RBI and nine home runs.
IF — Garrett Reid, Jr., Deshler (Tuscumbia, Ala.)
The Class 4A Player of the Year by the ASWA, Reid led Deshler to a state championship. He went 8-3 on the mound with a 1.01 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 83 innings pitched. He also scored 49 runs and had 29 RBI.
IF — Brayton Coomer, Sr., Adair County (Columbia, Ky.)
Made the All-State team by the Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association after batting .513 with 37 RBI, 44 runs, 12 doubles and 14 home runs. He also had a 4-2 record with 51 strikeouts in 42.2 innings pitched.
IF — Ryder Starkey, Jr., New Home
The national leader in RBI with 67, Starkey was a member of the Class 2A All-State team by the THSBCA. He batted .545 with 65 runs, 24 doubles, seven triples and nine home runs.
IF — Brooks Hipp, Jr., West Side (Greers Ferry, Ark.)
Made the All-Arkansas Preps All-State team as a dual threat. He was among the state leaders with a .615 batting average that included 61 runs, 41 RBI, 15 doubles, seven triples and three home runs. He also posted a 5-2 record with 75 strikeouts in 46.2 innings pitched.
The
Class 2A Player of the Year by the Texas High School Coaches
Association on its Super Elite Team and a member of the Elite Team by
the THSBCA, Fiala had 168 strikeouts and won 10 games with a 0.59 ERA.
He also batted .391 with 50 basehits, five triples, two home runs, 38
RBI, and 49 runs scored.
OF — Jacob Parker, Sr., Purvis (Miss.)
Along
with twin brother JoJo, Jacob earned MaxPreps Mississippi Player of the Year and was a MaxPreps All-American. He was No. 2 in the nation
in home runs with 17 while batting .525 with 63 runs, 54 RBI and 10
doubles. He also has 42 career home runs and 186 career RBI.
OF — Gunnar Alm, Jr., Polk County (Columbus, N.C.)
The Class 1A Player of the Year by the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association batted .544 with 40 runs, 22 RBI, 10 doubles, two triples and eight home runs.
OF — Gavin Williams, Sr., St. Elizabeth (Mo.)
The Class 1 Player of the Year by the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association batted .457 with 38 runs, 26 RBI, six doubles, two triples and eight home runs. He also went 5-3 on the mound with a 2.10 ERA and 60 strikeouts in 46.2 innings pitched.
OF — Tanner Thomas, Sr., Arcola (Ill.)Thomas made the Illinois Baseball Coaches Association All-State team as he batted .580 with 41 runs, 40 RBI, 15 doubles, and nine home runs.
OF — Jaxson Heard, Sr., Blanchard (Okla.)
Named to the All-State team by the Oklahoman, Heard led Blanchard to a state championship. He batted .453 with 14 doubles, one triple, 13 home runs and 66 RBI. He was also 9-0 on the mound with 87 strikeouts and a 0.93 ERA in 60 innings pitched.
UT — JoJo Parker, Sr., Purvis
The
No. 8 overall pick in the MLB Draft on Sunday, JoJo was the MaxPreps Mississippi POY along with brother Jacob. He was also MaxPreps
All-American after batting .465 with 70 runs, 35 RBI, 11 doubles and 13
home runs. He also went 9-2 on the mound with 99 strikeouts and a 2.68
ERA in 62.2 innings pitched.
UT — Blaise Vickery, Sr., Hackleburg (Ala.)
The Alabama Class 1A Player of the Year by the ASWA, Vickery batted .396 with 41 runs, 49 RBI, 13 doubles and
four home runs. On the mound, he went 10-2 with a 1.57 ERA and 84
strikeouts in 71.1 innings pitched.
UT — Cole Pladson, Sr., Clay Center (Kan.)
The Class 4A Player of the Year by the Kansas Baseball Coaches Association, Pladson batted .594 with 13 home runs, 47 RBI, nine doubles, 46 runs and 18 stolen bases. He was also 5-0 on the mound with 68 strikeouts.
Second Team
P — Aiden Goodwin, Sr., Gordon Lee (Chickamauga, Ga.)
Made the Class 1A All-State team and was region player of the year after leading Gordon Lee to a state championship. Goodwin had an 11-1 record with 111 strikeouts and a 0.65 ERA in 74.2 innings pitched.
P — Hyatt Richardson, Sr., Lafayette (Mayo, Fla.)
In the running for the Rural Player of the Year by the Dairy Farmers Association, Richardson was the Lake City Reporter's Player of the Year and batted .457 with 24 runs, 30 RBI, seven doubles, and three home runs. He also had an 8-2 record with a 0.94 ERA and 110 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched.
P — Jase Wilkinson, So., Miller (Mo.)
The Class 2 Player of the Year by the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association, Wilkinson went 11-1 with a state-best 156 strikeouts and a 0.63 ERA in 66.1 innings pitched.
P — Malachi Dato, Jr., East Rutherford (Bostic, N.C.)
Named to the Class 2A All-State team by the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association, Dato led East Rutherford to a state championship. He had a 12-0 record with 66 strikeouts and a 0.67 ERA in 63 innings pitched.
P — Ethan Rogers, Sr., Lone Jack (Mo.)
The Class 3 Player of the Year by the Missouri Baseball Coaches Association posted an 8-1 record with a 0.53 ERA and 118 strikeouts in 52.2 innings pitched.
P — Kaden Myers, Sr., Mid-Carolina (Prosperity, S.C.)
The Class 2A Player of the Year by the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association and the Midlands Player of the Year by The State, Myers went 10-1 on the mound with a 0.71 ERA and 97 strikeouts in 58.2 innings pitched. He also batted .356 with 24 RBI and three home runs.
P — Gage Reichenau, Jr., Wall (Texas)
The Class 3A Player of the Year on the Texas High School Coaches Association Super Elite team and a member of the THSBCA all-state team, Reichenau won 14 games and had 101 strikeouts with a 0.55 ERA.
P — Grayson Schneider, Sr., Tri-County (Wolcott, Ind.)
Made the Class 1A All-State team by the Indiana Baseball Coaches Association, Schneider went 8-1 with 125 strikeouts and a 0.81 ERA in 58.1 innings pitched. He also batted .378 with 20 runs, 18 RBI, six doubles, four triples and two home runs.
P — Carter Horton, Sr., West Lauderdale (Collinsville, Miss.)
Made the Class 4A All-State team by the Mississippi Association of Coaches and led his team to a state championship. He had a 10-1 record on the mound with a 2.27 ERA and 99 strikeouts.
P — Cody Ells, Jr., Asotin (Wash.)
Earned all-state honors with an 8-0 record and a 0.00 ERA with 114 strikeouts in 56.1 innings pitched. He also batted .543 with 42 runs, 26 RBI, 13 doubles, three triples and a home run. A standout basketball player with over 1,000 career points.
C — Gunnar Dillard, Sr., Wall
Made the Texas High School Coaches Association Super Elite Team, winning Gold Glove honors. Also named to the THSBCA All-State team. Batted .515 with 12 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 63 RBI and 34 RBI.
C — Rylan Holleman, Jr., Overton (Texas)
Made the THSBCA All-State team while batting .433 with 26 runs, 38 RBI, six doubles, one triple and eight home runs.
C — Colin Flurry, Sr., Booneville (Miss.)
A member of the All-State team selected by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, Flurry batted .407 with 20 runs, 30 RBI, 14 doubles, two triples and seven home runs.
1B — Carson Wallace, Sr., Harleton (Texas)
Wallace was a two-way standout as he batted .466 with 12 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 44 RBI. He also had an 11-2 record with 145 strikeouts and a 0.21 ERA.
1B — Dean Hannah, Sr., China Spring (Texas)
The Class 4A MVP by the Texas High School Coaches Association and the all-area Player of the Year by the Waco Tribune-Herald, Hannah batted .482 with 50 RBI, 19 doubles and five home runs.
IF — Braylon Cordonnier, Sr., Russia (Ohio)
The Division VII Player of the Year by the Ohio Baseball Coaches Association, Cordonnier batted .475 with 27 runs, 14 RBI, five doubles and five home runs.
IF — Hunter Spencer, Sr., Bennington (Neb.)
Spencer made the All-Super State team by the Lincoln Journal-Star, batting .406 with 31 runs, 42 RBI, 12 doubles, three triples and five home runs.
IF — Jerod Smith, Sr., Fowler (Calif.)
Made the Fresno Bee's All-Area Team with an 11-2 record, 1.17 ERA and 99 strikeouts in 72 innings pitched. He also batted .458 with 32 runs, 33 RBI, 11 doubles, one triple and one home run.
IF — Beau Blake, Sr., Hughson (Calif.)
The Trans Valley League MVP and a member of the Modesto Bee's All-District Team, Blake batted .495 with 50 runs, 45 RBI, 12 doubles and eight home runs.
IF — Brody Thompson, Sr., Mooreville (Miss.)
The Class 3A Player of the Year by the Mississippi Association of Coaches, Thompson batted .442 with 44 RBI, and 10 home runs. He also had 45 strikeouts and a 1.77 ERA in 43.3 innings pitched.
IF — Tate Hall, Sr., Woodlawn (Rison, Ark.)
Made the All-State team by All-Arkansas Preps after batting .387 with 38 runs, 57 RBI, eight doubles, five triples and five home runs.
OF — Maddux Thach, Sr., Perquimans (Hertford, N.C.)
Named to the Class 1A All-State team by the North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association, Thach batted .412 with 56 runs, 20 RBI, four doubles and two triples. He also had a 7-1 record with a 3.14 ERA and 72 strikeouts in 55.2 innings pitched.
OF — Cole McLean, Jr., Taylor County (Campbellsville, Ky.)
McLean landed on the All-State team by the Kentucky Baseball Coaches Association after batting .368 with 24 RBI, four doubles, six home runs and 32 runs scored. He also had a 9-1 record with 127 strikeouts and a 0.75 ERA in 65.1 innings pitched.
OF — Bryson Wittmer, Jr., Edison (Milan, Ohio)
The
Division V Player of the Year by the Ohio Baseball Coaches Association,
Wittmer batted .460 with 39 runs, 23 RBI, two doubles, two triples and
six home runs.
OF — Jake Buetler, Jr., Canute (Okla.)
Made the Oklahoman All-State team after batting .519 with 38 RBI and eight home runs. He also posted a 6-1 pitching record with a 1.20 ERA and 67 strikeouts.
OF — Mason Ligenza, Sr., Tamaqua (Pa.)
Selected to the Pennsylvania Baseball Coaches Association All-State team, Ligenza batted .448 with 44 runs, 16 RBI, four doubles and 11 home runs. He also pitched and went 7-1 with 100 strikeouts and a 0.25 ERA in 55.1 innings pitched.
OF — Cameron Austin, Sr., Barnwell (S.C.)The Class 2A Player of the Year by the South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association, Austin batted .523 with 43 runs, 41 RBI, 10 doubles, three triples and nine home runs. He posted a 7-3 pitching record with 75 strikeouts and a 2.03 ERA in 51.2 innings pitched.
UT — Emmett Stacher, Sr., Etna (Calif.)
Led the Lions to the Northern California Division V regional championship and was a two-time All-Northern Section pick. He batted .494 with 40 runs, 28 RBI, nine doubles, three triples and seven home runs. He went 7-1 on the mound with a 0.49 ERA and 112 strikeouts.
UT — Dawson McInelly, Sr., Sugar-Salem (Sugar City, Idaho)
The MaxPreps Idaho Player of the Year, McInelly had a state-best 14 home runs and batted .558 with 44 runs, 41 RBI, nine doubles and four triples.
UT — Drew Davis, So., Sumrall (Miss.)
Earned all-state honors for the third year in a row despite being just a sophomore. He batted .410 with 37 runs, 30 RBI, 11 doubles, one triple and three home runs. He also had a 9-1 record with a 0.81 ERA and 87 strikeouts in 52 innings pitched. Heads into junior year with 31 career wins and 253 career strikeouts.
