Video: Sam Keating, CanterburyWatch the two-time small schools All-American in action at the National High School Invitational.
If leading his team to three straight North Carolina Class 1A state championships and earning state MVP honors weren't enough to earn MacKenzie Gore of Whiteville (N.C.) MaxPreps Small School National Player of the Year honors, then he sealed it in the first half hour of the Major League Baseball Draft.
Gore was the third player chosen in the draft, going to the San Diego Padres as the third high school player chosen. He was the first small school player selected, thus making him an easy choice as this year's POY. He finished the season with an 11-0 record and a 0.19 ERA with 158 strikeouts in 74.1 innings pitched.
He had a tremendous career at Whiteville going 41-2 with 556 career strikeouts. He was also solid at the plate this year, batting .478 with seven home runs.
Travis Jackson of Central Heights (Nacogdoches, Texas) is the MaxPreps Small Schools Coach of the Year. He led the Blue Devils to a 37-2-1 record and a Class 3A state championship. Central Heights also finished the season ranked No. 1 in the MaxPreps National Small Schools Rankings. The Blue Devils won 18 games by forfeit, including both the semifinal and championship game at the state tournament.
Gore and Jackson head the 60-member small schools All-American team, which is split into a first and second team. Players are chosen from schools that belong to state enrollment divisions that contain schools that generally have fewer than 1,000 students.
2017 MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Baseball Team
First Team
P — MacKenzie Gore, Whiteville (N.C.), 6-1, 170, Senior
Honors: National High School Coaches Association All-Southeast Team; Gatorade North Carolina State Player of the Year; American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region 2 Team; North Carolina Coaches Association Class 1A State Player of the Year; Star News All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: 11-0 record, 0.19 ERA, 158 strikeouts, 5 walks, 74.1 innings pitched, 41-2 career record, 0.35 career ERA, 556 strikeouts, 315.1 innings pitched, .478 batting average, 11 doubles, seven home runs, 29 RBIs, 35 runs scored.
P — Griff McGarry, Menlo School (Atherton, Calif.), 6-2, 175, SeniorHonors: East Bay Times All-Bay Area Team; San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.
Stats: 8-1 record, 96 strikeouts, 57.1 innings pitched.
P — Sam Keating, Canterbury (Fort Myers, Fla.), 6-3, 175, SeniorHonors: Florida Dairy Farmers Class 3A State Player of the Year; Fort Myers News Press All-Area Team.
Stats: 11-1 record, 0.96 ERA, 93 strikeouts, 58.1 innings pitched, .400 batting average, 26 RBIs, two home runs.
P — Matt Blair, Tattnall Square Academy (Macon, Ga.), 6-3, 220, SeniorHonors: Macon Telegraph All-Middle Georgia Player of the Year; Georgia Dugout Club Preview Magazine Class 1A Private All-State Team.
Stats: 12-2 record, 122 strikeouts, 1.24 ERA.
P — Tyler Mattison, Fort Ann (N.Y.), 6-2, 190, SeniorHonors: Albany Times Union Small Schools Player of the Year.
Stats: 9-0 record, 111 strikeouts, 0.36 ERA, 58 innings pitched, .474 batting average.
P — Dan Vos, Chicago Christian (Palos Heights, Ill.), 6-2, 180, SeniorHonors: Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team; Daily Southtown All-Area Team.
Stats: 11-2 record, 0.68 ERA, 92.2 innings pitched, 163 strikeouts.
P — Zack Brockman, Savannah Christian (Savannah, Ga.), 6-1, 170, SeniorHonors: Georgia Dugout Club Preview Magazine Class 1A Private All-State Team; Savannah Now All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: 11-1 record, 84.2 innings pitched, 119 strikeouts, 0.50 ERA, .402 batting average, 10 doubles, 24 RBIs, 26 runs, two triples, one home run.
P — Michael Kirian, New Riegel (Ohio), 6-6, 240, SeniorHonors: Gatorade Ohio State Player of the Year; Ohio Baseball Coaches Association Division IV Player of the Year; National High School Baseball Coaches Association All-Upper Midwest Region Team; American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region 4 Team.
Stats: 8-0 record, 56 innings pitched, 0.50 ERA, 129 strikeouts, .519 batting average, 14 doubles, four home runs, 26 runs, 43 RBIs.
P — Anthony Quattrocchi, Joy Christian (Glendale, Ariz.), 6-4, 190, SeniorHonors: Arizona Republic Small Schools Player of the Year.
Stats: 9-1 record, 0.14 ERA, 95 strikeouts, 50.2 innings pitched, .431 batting average, 21 RBIs, four doubles, three home runs.
P — Reid Vanscoter, Livonia (N.Y.), 6-1, 175, SeniorHonors: All-Greater Rochester Area Player of the Year.
Stats: 11-0 record, 0.50 ERA, 147 strikeouts, 70.2 innings pitched, tossed 21-strikeout no-hitter in state semifinals.
C — Aaron Walters, Center Point (Texas), 6-1, 195, SeniorHonors: San Antonio News Express All-Area Team; News Express Sub-5A Player of the Year.
Stats: .662 batting average, 46 runs, 47 RBIs, 13 doubles, four triples, 13 home runs.
C — Joe Donovan, Westmont (Ill.), 5-10, 160, SeniorHonors: Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team; DuPage County All-Area Team Player of the Year.
Stats: .523 batting average, 49 RBIs, 16 home runs.
C — Ronnie Allen, Cincinnati Country Day (Cincinnati), 6-3, 218, SeniorHonors: Ohio Baseball Coaches Association Division III Player of the Year; Cincinnati Enquirer Division III Player of the Year.
Stats: .552 batting average, eight doubles, five home runs, 33 runs, 28 RBIs.
1B — Will Richardson, Woodlawn (Rison, Ark.), 6-3, 185, JuniorHonors: Arkansas Preps All-State Team; American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region 6 Team.
Stats: .420 batting average, 29 runs, 42 RBIs, seven doubles, eight home runs, 7-0 g record, 1.02 ERA, 71 strikeouts, 48 innings pitched.
1B — Cody Muncy, Red Oak (Okla.), 6-3, 235, SeniorHonors: Oklahoma City Oklahoman All-State Team.
Stats: 20 home runs, 62 RBIs.
IF — Jeremiah Jackson, St. Luke's Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.), 6-0, 170, JuniorHonors: Alabama Sports Writers Association All-Super State; ASWA Class 2A State Player of the Year; All-Coastal Alabama Team.
Stats: .486 batting average, 53 runs, 37 RBIs, 27 stolen bases, 12 home runs.
IF — Angel Tiburcio, Trinity Christian Academy (Lake Worth, Fla.), 6-3, 210, JuniorHonors: Sun-Sentinel All-Palm County Small Schools Player of the Year; Palm Beach Post Small Schools Player of the Year.
Stats: .440 batting average, seven home runs, 4-1 record, 53 strikeouts, 40.1 innings pitched.
IF — Logan Simmons, Tattnall Square Academy (Macon, Ga.), 6-3, 190, JuniorHonors: Macon Telegraph All-Middle Georgia Team; Georgia Dugout Club Preview Magazine Class 1A Private All-State Team.
Stats: .382 batting average, 47 runs, 47 RBIs, nine home runs.
IF — Grayson Rodriguez, Central Heights (Nacogdoches, Texas), 6-4, 200, JuniorHonors: Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Team.
Stats: .511 batting average, 43 runs, 52 RBIs, eight doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 14-1 record, 89.3 innings pitched, 0.31 ERA, 175 strikeouts.
IF — Robert Cruz, Arrowhead Christian (Redlands, Calif.), 6-0, 165, SeniorHonors: Southern Section Division VII Player of the Year; Riverside Press-Enterprise All-Area Second Team.
Stats: .658 batting average, 45 RBIs, 13 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs.

Robert Cruz, Arrowhead Christian
Photo by Donn Parris
IF — Max Dineen, Pennsville Memorial (N.J.), 5-11, 180, JuniorHonors: Star Ledger All-Group 1 Team; South Jersey Times Player of the Year.
Stats: .580 batting average, 51 RBIs, 11 doubles, eight triples, seven home runs.
OF — Drew Williamson, T.R. Miller (Brewton, Ala.), 6-4, 200, JuniorHonors: Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A Hitter of the Year.
Stats: .616 batting average, 63 runs, 41 RBIs, nine doubles, two triples, eight home runs.
OF — Colin Hall, Wesleyan (Norcross, Ga.), 6-0, 180, SeniorHonors: Gwinnett Daily Post All-Area Team; Georgia Dugout Club Preview Magazine Class 2A All-State Team.
Stats: .481 batting average, 23 RBIs, nine doubles, 36 runs, seven home runs.
OF — Cole Brannen, Westfield School (Perry, Ga.), 6-1, 185, SeniorHonors: American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region 3 Team.
Stats: .439 batting average, 23 doubles, three triples, five home runs, 42 runs, 22 stolen bases.
OF — Ledgend Smith, Binger-Oney (Binger, Okla.), 6-3, 195, SeniorHonors: Oklahoma City Oklahoman All-State Team; American Baseball Coaches Association All-Region 6 Team.
Stats: 12-0 record, 0.55 ERA, 119 strikeouts, nine home runs, 62 RBIs.
OF — Justin Bullock, South Granville (Creedmoor, N.C.), 6-1, 198, SeniorHonors: North Carolina Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A State Player of the Year; American Baseball Coaches Association/Rawlings All-Region 2 Team.
Stats:.476 batting average, 52 runs, 46 RBIs, 16 doubles, two triples, 11 home runs, 11-1 record, 0.55 ERA, 124 strikeouts, 63.2 innings pitched.
OF — Jadarius Munford, Lamar (S.C.), 6-1, 175, SeniorHonors: South Carolina Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A State Player of the Year; Morning News Player of the Year.
Stats: .542 batting average, 11 doubles, six home runs, 34 RBIs.
AP — Alex Deleon, Lago Vista (Texas), 6-0, 190, SeniorHonors: Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Team; Austin Statesman All-CenTex Player of the Year.
Stats: .506 batting average, 35 RBIs, 12-1 record, 0.71 ERA, 91 strikeouts.
AP — Blake Malatestinic, Indianapolis Cardinal Ritter (Indianapolis), 5-10, 160, SeniorHonors: Indy Star Super Team Player of the Year; Coaches All-City Team Player of the Year; Indiana Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team.
Stats: .474 batting average, 24 RBIs, 25 runs, 8-1 record, 0.99 ERA, 60 strikeouts, 51 innings pitched.
AP — Trace Henry, Mooreville (Miss.), 5-9, 165, SeniorHonors: Clarion-Ledger All-State Team; Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: .387 batting average, five doubles, 15 RBIs, 35 runs, 12-1 record, 1.21 ERA, 120 strikeouts, 61 innings pitched.
Second Team

Spencer Davis, Sterlington
Photo by Kenneth P Steib
P — Trent Simmons, Trenton (Fla.), 5-11, 150, SeniorHonors: Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A State Player of the Year; Gainesville Times All-Area Small Schools Player of the Year.
Stats: 12-0 record, 92 strikeouts, 0.74 ERA, 66.2 innings pitched.
P — Thomas Langdon, Gordo (Ala.), 6-2, 165, SeniorHonors: Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A Pitcher of the Year; Tuscaloosa News Super Nine Team.
Stats: 10-1 record, 2.45 ERA, 54 strikeouts, 65.2 innings pitched.
P — Collin Searcy, Long (Skipperville, Ala.), 6-1, 175, SeniorHonors: Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 2A Pitcher of the Year.
Stats: 12-0 record, 1.32 ERA, 61 strikeouts, 47.2 innings pitched.
P — Jonah Smith, Sweet Water (Ala.), 6-3, 168, JuniorHonors: Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 1A Pitcher and Player of the Year.
Stats: 14-2 record, 1.11 ERA, 123 strikeouts, 88.1 innings pitched, .372 batting average, 11 doubles, eight triples, 37 RBIs, 29 runs.
P — Eric Kremer, Teutopolis (Ill.), 6-6, 180, JuniorHonors: Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team.
Stats: 8-0 record, 1.17 ERA, 66 strikeouts, .325 batting average, two home runs, 37 RBIs.
P — Spencer Davis, Sterlington (La.), 6-2, 190, SeniorHonors: Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 2A State Player of the Year; All-Northeast Louisiana Small Schools Team.
Stats: 12-0 record, 1.29 ERA.
P — Collin Kiernan, Verona (N.J.), 6-1, 185, SeniorHonors: Star Ledger Group 1 All-State Team.
Stats: 8-1 record, 121 strikeouts, 1.08 ERA, 64.2 innings pitched.
P — Skyler Johnson, Katella (Anaheim, Calif.), 5-10, 165, SeniorHonors: Southern Section Division V Player of the Year.
Stats: 11-2 record, 0.38 ERA, 103 strikeouts, 93.1 innings pitched.
P — Ryan Gully, Wall (Texas), 5-11, 169, SophomoreHonors: Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Team; San Angelo Standard Times All-West Texas Player of the Year.
Stats: 12-0 record, 0.27 ERA, 138 strikeouts.
P — Brian Hamilton, Albany (Texas), 6-2, 190, JuniorHonors: Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team; Abilene Reporter All-Big Country Team.
Stats: 13-0 record, 94 strikeouts.
C — David Avitia, Alhambra (Phoenix), 5-11, 200, SeniorHonors: Arizona Republic All-State Team.
Stats: .488 batting average, 49 runs, 30 RBIs, seven doubles, eight triples, four home runs.
C — Carson Bridges, St. Joseph Notre Dame (Alameda, Calif.), 6-2, 180, SeniorHonors: San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.
Stats: .494 batting average, 28 runs, 30 RBIs, 11 doubles, three triples, two home runs.
C — Tucker Watts, Loyd Star (Brookhaven, Miss.), 5-10, 215, JuniorHonors: Clarion-Ledger All-State Team.
Stats: .512 batting average, 14 doubles, one triple, 11 home runs, 45 RBIs.
1B — Ryan Weathers, Loretto (Tenn.), 6-2, 210, JuniorHonors: Tennessee Baseball Report All-State Team; Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A All-State Team.
Stats: .516 batting average, 36 runs, 19 doubles, two triples, seven home runs, 26 RBIs, 9-0 record, 0.11 ERA, 139 strikeouts.
1B — Cayden Cobb, Whitesboro (Texas), 6-4, 200, SeniorHonors: Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Team; All-Texomaland.
Stats: .413 batting average, 39 RBIs, 13-1 record, 1.62 ERA, 107 strikeouts.
IF — Peyton Thomas, Phil Campbell (Ala.), 6-1, 190, JuniorHonors: Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 2A Hitter of the Year; Times Daily All-Area 1A-3A Hitter of the Year.
Stats: .437 batting average, 12 doubles, 12 home runs.
IF — Cody Milligan, Binger-Oney (Binger, Okla.), SeniorHonors: Oklahoma City Oklahoman All-State Team.
Stats: .571 batting average, 49 RBIs, 10 home runs.
IF — Dylan Grogan, Stanfield/Echo (Stanfield, Ore.), 6-4, 190, SeniorHonors: Class 3A All-State; East Oregonian All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: .488 batting average, 52 runs, 34 RBIs, 0.95 ERA, 53 strikeouts, two no-hitters.
IF — Fisher Norris, Seminary (Miss.), 6-3, 180, JuniorHonors: Clarion-Ledger All-State Team.
Stats: .451 batting average, 37 RBIs, five home runs, 31 runs.
IF — Jared Healey, Neumann-Goretti (Philadelphia), 6-1, 185, SeniorHonors: Philadelphia News All-Southeastern Pennsylvania Team.
Stats: .382 batting average, 25 runs, 20 RBI, two home runs, two triples.
IF — Drew Hill, Gunnison Valley (Gunnison, Utah), 5-11, 170, SeniorHonors: Deseret News Class 2A All-State Player of the Year.
Stats: .513 batting average, eight home runs, 9-1 record, 1.77 ERA.
OF — Blake Begner, Peoria Heights (Ill.), 5-10, 160, SeniorHonors: Illinois Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A All-State Team; Peoria Journal Star All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: 6-0 record, 52 innings pitched, 0.13 ERA, 101 strikeouts, .421 batting average, 32 runs, 30 RBIs, 10 doubles.
OF — Taylor Hayes, Piedmont (Ala.), 5-11, 190, SeniorHonors: Alabama Sports Writers Association Class 3A Player of the Year.
Stats: 10-5 record, 1.76 ERA, 132 strikeouts, .461 batting average, 16 doubles, three home runs, 43 runs, 31 RBIs.
OF — Jeffrey Elkins, Ascension Episcopal (Lafayette, La.), 5-10, 175, SeniorHonors: Louisiana Sports Writers Association Class 1A State Player of the Year; All-Acadiana Team.
Stats: .626 batting average, 13 doubles, five triples, 11 home runs, 62 runs.
OF — Brennan Gick, Summit Country Day (Cincinnati), 6-1, 180, JuniorHonors: Ohio Baseball Coaches Association Division III All-State Team; Cincinnati Enquirer All-Division III Team.
Stats: .481 batting average, 12 doubles, three home runs, 24 RBIs 28 stolen bases.
OF — Wyatt Blessing, Goodpasture Christian (Madison, Tenn.), 6-1, 200, SeniorHonors: Tennessee Baseball Coaches Association Class 1A All-State Team; Tennessee Baseball Report All-State Second Team.
Stats: .351 batting average, 13 runs, five doubles, three home runs, 37 RBIs, 12-0 record, 1.87 ERA, 58 strikeouts.
OF — Garrett Kilcrease, Kerens (Texas), 6-0, 200, JuniorHonors: Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team; All-Golden Circle Offensive Player of the Year.
Stats: .563 batting average, 56 runs, 42 RBIs, nine doubles, three triples, six home runs.
AP — Austin Hicks, Bell City (Mo.), 6-0, 170, SeniorHonors: Missouri Baseball Coaches Association Class 1 All-State Team; Southeast Missouri Player of the Year.
Stats: .481 batting average, 30 RBI, 26 runs, 11-1 record, 116 strikeouts, 0.83 ERA, 75.2 innings pitched.
AP — Evan Hafley, Peaster (Texas), 6-0, 220, JuniorHonors: Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Team; All-Parker County Player of the Year.
Stats: 10-3 record, 109 strikeouts, 78 innings pitched, .522 batting average, 59 RBIs, 10 home runs.
AP — Kayden Seriani, Paonia (Colo.), 6-1, 200, JuniorHonors: CHSAA Now Class 2A Player of the Year.
Stats: 10-0 record, 0.75 ERA, 125 strikeouts, 56 innings pitched, .553 batting average, 44 runs, 40 RBIs, eight doubles, two triples, nine home runs.

Kayden Seriani, Paonia
Photo by Jeffrey Tucker