Video: Diving catch to win state See Ryan Ramos of La Cueva put an exclamation point on his team's state title win.
As the Major League Baseball Draft approached, baseball pundits had various pitchers from Arizona and Florida tabbed as the top high school pitcher to be chosen, but instead it was Ryan Weathers of Loretto (Tenn.) who earned that distinction with his No. 7 overall selection by the Padres.
The pick by the Padres highlighted a spectacular season for Weathers, the son of former MLB pitcher David Weathers, as he earned five different state Player of the Year awards. Now, he adds the MaxPreps Small Schools National Player of the Year honor.
With an 11-0 record and a minuscule ERA of 0.09, Weathers also struck out 148 batters and had over 400 strikeouts in his career. He helped lead Loretto to the Tennessee Class 1A state championship game where it fell to Columbia Academy.
Weathers heads a group of 60 small school players, 30 on the first team and 30 on the second, named to the MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Baseball Teams. Players are chosen from schools that participate in state enrollment divisions with generally less than 1,000 students.
Jeff Miller of
Knappa (Astoria, Ore.) is the Small Schools Coach of the Year after leading his team to an undefeated season and a Class 2A/1A championship. Only four teams in Oregon state history, according to OregonLive.com, have gone undefeated in a season in baseball and Knappa has done it twice in the past four seasons, including a 24-0 finish this year. Miller led Knappa to the state finals each of the past four seasons with state titles in 2015 (27-0) and last year (20-3). Knappa also won a state title in 2010 (23-3) under Miller.
Beginning next year, Knappa is tied with Argyle (Texas), the No. 1 team in the MaxPreps National High School Baseball Rankings, with the longest win streak at 37 games in a row.
2018 MaxPreps Small Schools All-American Baseball Team
First Team
P — Ryan Weathers, Loretto (Tenn.), 6-2, 225, Sr.
Honors: Gatorade State Player of the Year, Baseball Coaches Association Class A Mr. Baseball, Tennessee Baseball Report All-State Team, Nashville Tennessean All-MidState Player of the Year, Perfect Game State Player of the Year, Prep Baseball Report State Player of the Year, ABCA All-Region 4 Team, American Family Insurance State Player of the Year, drafted first round by Padres.
Stats: 11-0 record, 0.09 ERA, 148 strikeouts, 76 innings pitched, .434 batting average, 31 runs, 26 RBIs.
P — Grayson Rodriguez, Central Heights (Nacogdoches, Texas), 6-5, 230, Sr.
Honors: Drafted first round by Orioles, Texas Sports Writers Association Class 3A state Player of the Year (junior season).
Stats: 12-0 record, 0.19 ERA, 17 walks, 156 strikeouts, 75 innings pitched, one no-hitter, nine shutouts, .479 average, 10 doubles, nine home runs, 49 RBIs.
P — Kayden Seriani, Paonia (Colo.), 6-2, 180, Sr.
Honors: CHSAA Now Class 2A State Player of the Year.
Stats: .550 average, 50 runs, 61 RBIs, three doubles, three triples, 13 home runs, 7-1 record, 103 strikeouts, 0.84 ERA, 50 innings pitched.
P — Landon Kennedy, Trenton (Fla.), 6-5, 225, Sr.
Honors: Florida Dairy Farmers Class 1A All-State Player of the Year, Gainesville Small Schools All-Area Team.
Stats: .324 average, 20 RBIs, 10 doubles, 11-1 record, 79 strikeouts, 1.13 ERA, 62 innings pitched.
P — Ty Bothwell, Boone Grove (Valparaiso, Ind.), 5-8, 160, Sr.
Honors: Northwest Times Player of the Year, Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team, Post Tribune All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: 10-2 record, 0.42 ERA, 170 strikeouts, 75.2 innings pitched, five no-hitters, .349 average, 30 RBIs.
P — Luke Laskey, Tattnall Square Academy (Macon, Ga.), 6-0, 150, Sr.
Honors: Georgia Dugout Preview All-State Class 1A Private Player of the Year.
Stats: .345 average, 18 runs, 44 RBIs, eight doubles, four home runs, 12-1 record, 1.24 ERA, 89 strikeouts, 79.1 innings pitched.
P — Nate Lamb, Chesnee (S.C.), 6-6, 200, Sr.
Honors: Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team.
Stats: 6-2 record, 2.18 ERA, 101 strikeouts.
P — Chris Villaman, Ledford Senior (Thomasville, N.C.), 6-2, 185, Jr.
Honors: Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team, Dispatch All-Davidson County Team.
Stats: 10-2 record, 0.67 ERA, 139 strikeouts, 73.1 innings pitched.
P — Brooks Baldwin, Whiteville (N.C.), 6-2, 165, Sr.
Honors: Star News Player of the Year, Coaches Association Class 1A All-State Team.
Stats: 11-0 record, 0.62 ERA, 114 strikeouts, 78.2 innings pitched, .455 average, 44 RBIs, nine home runs.
P — Logan Whitaker, Ledford Senior (Thomasville, N.C.), 6-4, 160, Sr.
Honors: Dispatch All-Davidson County Player of the Year, Coaches Association Class 1A Player of the Year.
Stats: 13-1 record, 1.70 ERA, 140 strikeouts, 78 innings, .440 average, 44 RBIs, five home runs.
P — Jared Kelley, Refugio (Texas), 6-2, 200, So.
Honors: Caller Times All-South Texas Team, Victoria Advocate All-Area Pitcher of the Year.
Stats: 9-2 record, 0.34 ERA, 153 strikeouts, 62.1 innings pitched.
C — Ethan Hearn, Mobile Christian (Mobile, Ala.), 5-11, 193, Jr.
Honors: ASWA Super All-State Team, Class 3A State Player of the Year, All-Coastal Alabama Team.
Stats: .416 average, 39 RBIs, 14 home runs.
C — Luke Hancock, Houston (Miss.), 5-11, 190, Sr.
Honors: Jackson Clarion Ledger All-State Team.
Stats: .545 average, 37 RBIs, 13 doubles, three triples, five home runs.
C — Mike Zeuli, Kirtland (Ohio), 5-11, 175, Sr.
Honors: Baseball Coaches Association Division III Player of the Year.
Stats: .524 average, 24 runs, 38 RBIs, 13 doubles, three triples.
1B — Angel Tiburcio, Trinity Christian Academy (Lake Worth, Fla.), 6-3, 210, Sr.
Honors: Sun Sentinel All-Palm Beach County Team.
Stats: .419 average, 37 RBIs, 24 runs, eight home runs, 5-1 record, 80 strikeouts.
1B — Trae Harmon, Somerset (Ky.), 6-5, 240, Sr.
Honors: Coaches Association All-State Team
Stats: .379 average, 29 runs, 37 RBIs, 12 doubles, nine home runs.
IF — Jeremiah Jackson, St. Luke's Episcopal (Mobile, Ala.), 6-0, 175, Sr.
Honors: American Family Insurance State Player of the Year, ASWA Alabama All-Super State Team, Class 2A All-State Player/Hitter of the Year, ABCA All-Region 3 Team, AL.Com's Coastal Alabama Player of the Year, drafted second round by Angels.
Stats: .637 average, nine doubles, four triples, 15 home runs, 49 RBIs.
IF — Will Richardson, Woodlawn (Rison, Ark.), 6-3, 190, Sr.
Honors: Arkansas Preps All-State Team.
Stats: .506 average, 46 runs, 62 RBIs, eight doubles, 14 home runs, 4-1 record, 75 strikeouts, 1.72 ERA, 53 innings pitched.
IF — Kendall Logan Simmons, Tatnall Square Academy (Macon, Ga.), 6-1, 185, Sr.
Honors: Georgia Dugout Preview Class 1A Private All-State Team, drafted sixth round by Phillies.
Stats: .343 average, 43 runs, 25 RBIs, nine doubles, two triples, two home runs.
IF — Kyler Fedko, Vincentian Academy (Pittsburgh, Pa.), 6-2, 215, Sr.
Honors: American Family Insurance Pennsylvania State Player of the Year, Post-Gazette Class 1A All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: .661 average, eight home runs, 40 RBIs46 runs.
IF — JD Tease, North Florida Christian (Tallahassee, Fla.), 6-0, 185, Jr.
Honors: Florida Dairy Farmers Class 3A State Player of the Year, Tallahassee Democrat All-Big Bend Team.
Stats: .505 average, 45 runs, 37 RBIs, 19 doubles, triple, home run.
IF — Nathanael Hibbs, Century (Sykesville, Md.), 5-9, 185, Sr.
Honors: Carroll County Times All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: .493 average, 12 doubles, 10 home runs, 38 RBIs.
OF — Drew Williamson, T.R. Miller (Brewton, Ala.), 6-4, 200, Sr.
Honors: ASWA Class 3A Hitter of the Year, All-Coastal Alabama.
Stats: .544 batting average, 33 runs, 19 RBI, 16 doubles, two home runs.
OF — Garret McDaniels, Pee Dee Academy (Mullins, S.C.), 6-2, 170, Sr.
Honors: American Family Insurance South Carolina State Player of the Year, All-Pee Dee Team, drafted Round 30 by Marlins.
Stats: .468 average, 18 RBIs, two home runs, 0.72 ERA, 98 strikeouts, 48.2 innings pitched.
OF — Parker Pillsbury, Seven Rivers Christian (Lecanto, Fla.), 6-1, 185, Sr.
Honors: Florida Dairy Farmers Class 2A State Player of the Year, Citrus County Player of the Year.
Stats: .595 average, 42 runs, 26 RBIs, 11 doubles, two triples, nine home runs, 3-3 record, 2.83 ERA, 75 strikeouts, 42 innings pitched.
OF — Max Dineen, Pennsville Memorial (Pennsville, N.J.), 5-11, 185, Sr.
Honors: NJ.com All-State Team, All-Group 1 Team, ABCA All-Region 2 Team, Perfect Game New Jersey Player of the Year, Philly.com All-South Jersey Team, drafted Round 35 by Reds.
Stats: .560 average, 15 home runs, 47 RBIs.
OF — Jack Washburn, Webster (Wis.), 6-2, 175, Jr.
Honors: American Family Insurance Wisconsin State Player of the Year, Coaches Association All-State Class 3A Player of the Year.
Stats: .443 average, 45 runs, 55 RBIs, 10 home runs, 9-1 record, 0.88 ERA, 98 strikeouts.
OF — Giovanni DiGiacomo, Canterbury (Fort Myers, Fla.), 6-1, 185, Sr.
Honors: Fort Myers News Preps All-Area Team, Florida Dairy Farmers Class 3A State Player of the Year.
Stats: .379 average, 26 runs, 34 RBIs, five doubles, two triples, six home runs.
AP — Alex Williams, Redwood Christian (San Lorenzo, Calif.), 6-3, 205, Sr.
Honors: Bay Area News Group All-Area Team, San Francisco Chronicle All-Metro Team.
Stats: .500 average, 23 runs, 27 RBIs, 10 doubles, six triples, two home runs, 10-1 record, 133 strikeouts, 0.50 ERA, 70 innings pitched.
AP — Seth Halvorsen, Heritage Christian Academy (Maple Grove, Minn.), 6-1, 198, Sr.
Honors: American Family Insurance Minnesota State Player of the Year, Prep Baseball Report State Player of the Year, Coaches Association Mr. Baseball, Gatorade State Player of the Year, drafted Round 30 by Twins.
Stats: 7-1 record, 0.92 ERA, 117 strikeouts, .422 average, 25 RBIs, three home runs.
AP — Garrison Gunby, Benedictine (Savannah, Ga.), 6-1, 175, Sr.
Honors: Georgia Dugout Preview Class 2A State Player of the Year, All-Greater Savannah Area Team.
Stats: 11-3 record, 2.03 ERA, .390 average, 15 doubles, three triples, 39 RBIs.
Second Team
Matt Queen, Polytechnic
Photo by Tom Houston
P — Matt Queen, Polytechnic (Pasadena, Calif.), 5-10, 160, Sr.
Honors: Pasadena Star News All-Area Team, Southern Section Division 6 Player of the Year.
Stats: 12-1 record, 0.43 ERA, 64,2 innings pitched, 86 strikeouts, .379 average, 23 RBIs, three home runs.
P — Jacob Perry, Columbia Academy (Columbia, Tenn.), 6-5, 195, Sr.
Honors: Tennessee Baseball Report All-State Team.
Stats: 11-1 record, 68.1 innings pitched, 50 strikeouts.
P — Jonah Smith, Sweet Water (Ala.), 6-3, 205, Sr.
Honors: ASWA Class 1A Player of the Year, All-Coastal Alabama Team.
Stats: 13-2 record, .476 average, 28 RBIs, 30 runs, 0.68 ERA.
P — Dylan Register, Long (Skipperville, Ala.), 5-11, 160, Sr.
Honors: Dothan Eagle Super 10 Team, ASWA Class 2A All-State Pitcher of the Year.
Stats: 11-0 record, 1.68 ERA, 117 strikeouts.
P — Ben O'Meara, Lovett (Atlanta), 6-3, 160, Sr.
Honors: Georgia Dugout Preview All-State Class 3A Player of the Year.
Stats: 11-2 record, 2.07 ERA, 82 strikeouts, 67.2 innings pitched.
P — Liam Pulsipher, Center Moriches (N.Y.), 6-1, 165, Sr.
Honors: News Day All-Long Island Team.
Stats: 8-1 record, 0.78 ERA, 65 strikeouts, 49 innings pitched, .320 average, 27 RBIs.
P — Travis Perry, Rocky Grove (Franklin, Pa.), 6-6, 200, Sr.
Honors: District 10, Region 1 Player of the Year.
Stats: 7-0 record, 0.58 ERA, 89 strikeouts, 48.2 innings pitched, .449 average, 17 runs, 14 RBIs, seven doubles, two triples, two home runs.
P — Maxx Countryman, Avon (N.Y.), 6-0, 150, Sr.
Honors: New York Sports Writers Association All-State Team (2017, current year not released yet).
Stats: .400 average, 34 runs, 26 RBIs, 11 doubles, four home runs, 10-1 record, 100 strikeouts, 1.35 ERA, 78 innings pitched.
P — Damon Casetta-Stubbs, King's Way Christian (Vancouver, Wash.), 6-4, 195, Sr.
Honors: Columbian All-Region Player of the Year, drafted Round 11 by Mariners.
Stats: 6-1 record, 0.68 ERA, 97 strikeouts, 51.1 innings pitched.
P — Zach Argo, Norris (Firth, Neb.), 6-2, 205, Sr.
Honors: Lincoln Journal-Star All-Super State.
Stats: 7-1 record, 0.87 ERA, .359 average, 24 RBIs.
P — Brandon Walker, North Florida Christian (Tallahasee, Fla.), 6-1, 190, Jr.
Honors: All-Big Bend Player of the Year.
Stats: .346 average, 27 runs, 40 RBIs, four doubles, three triples, four home runs, 10-2 record, 104 strikeouts, 66.1 innings pitched, 2.22 ERA.
C — Mason Minzey, Bishop Foley (Madison Heights, Mich.), 6-2, 195, Sr.
Honors: Michigan Baseball Coaches Association Dream Team.
C — Brant Vanaman, Hall (Spring Valley, Ill.), 6-1, 195, Sr.
Honors: News Tribune All-Area Player of the Year, Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team.
Stats: .538 average, 59 RBIs, 59 runs, 18 doubles, six triples, 10 home runs.
C — Dylan Minghini, Gordon Lee (Chickamauga, Ga.), 6-1, 185, Sr.
Honors: Georgia Dugout Preview Class 1A State Player of the Year, Chattanooga Times Free Press Best of Preps All-Area Team.
Stats: .477 average, 14 doubles, six home runs, 28 RBIs.
1B — Jake Andrey, King's Christian (Cherry Hill, N.J.), 6-1, 205, Jr.
Honors: NJ. Com All-State second team, Philly.com South New Jersey second team, All-NonPublic first team.
Stats: .611 average, 11 doubles, two triples, three home runs, 39 RBIs, 34 runs.
1B — Christian Stapleton, Carmel (Calif.), 6-3, 240, Sr.
Honors: Monterey Herald All-Bay Area Player of the Year.
Stats: .623 average, 22 runs, 39 RBIs, 13 doubles, two triples, 10 home runs,
IF — Landon LeBlanc, St. John (Plaquemine, La.), 5-9, 165, Sr.
Honors: LSWA Class 1A State Player of the Year, Baton Rouge Advocate All-Metro Player of the Year.
Stats: .415 average, 14 home runs, 16 doubles, 59 runs, 59 RBI, 9-2 record.
IF — Carson Atwood, Silo (Okla.), 6-0, 200, So.
Honors: Oklahoma City Oklahoman All-State Team.
Stats: .490 average, 52 RBIs, eight home runs.
IF — Chase Swain, Ravenswood (W. Va.), 6-4, 205, Sr.
Honors: Class A All-State Player of the Year, American Family Insurance West Virginia State Player of the Year.
Stats: .556 average, 10 home runs, 51 RBIs, six wins, 2.93 ERA, 59 strikeouts, 45.1 innings pitched.
IF — Sammy Gonzales, Winters (Calif.), 5-11, 185, Sr.
Honors: Northern Section Player of the Year, Sacramento Bee All-Metro Team.
Stats: .473 average, 51 runs, 30 RBIs, eight doubles, 14 triples, four home runs.
IF — Logan Bravo, Austin Prep (Reading, Mass.), 6-5, 200, Sr.
Honors: Boston Globe All-Scholastics Division 3 Player of the Year.
Stats: .427 average, 25 RBIs, three home runs.
IF — Drew Reischman, Oran (Mo.), 6-0, 190, Sr.
Honors: Coaches Association Class 1 All-State Team, Standard Democrat All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: .523 average, 34 RBIs, 29 runs.
OF — Nolan Clegg, Toronto (Ohio), 6-3, 195, Sr.
Honors: Coaches Association Division 4 State Player of the Year.
Stats: .446 average, 37 RBIs, eight home runs.
OF — Christopher Goldston, Leedey (Okla.), 5-9, 160, Sr.
Honors: Oklahoma City Oklahoman All-State Team.
Stats: .543 average, 42 RBIs, 11 home runs.
OF — Desmond Parisotto, Freeman (Rockford, Wash.), 6-1, 195, Sr.
Honors: Class 1A Tournament MVP, Northeast League MVP, Washington Baseball Coaches Association All-State Team (2017).
Stats: .513 average, 36 runs, 38 RBIs, 11 doubles, three triples, one home run, 9-1 record, 1.76 ERA, 77 strikeouts, 63.2 innings pitched.
OF — Brandon Hendrix, Big Sandy (Dallardsville, Texas), 6-1, 175, Jr.
Honors: Coaches Association Class 2A All-State Team.
Stats: .413 average, 11-0 record.
OF — Tanner Patino, Brock (Texas), 5-8, 165, Sr.
Honors: Coaches Association Class 3A All-State Team.
Stats: .468 average.
OF — Andrew Miller, Seacrest Country Day (Naples, Fla.), 6-1, 215, Sr.
Honors: Naples News All-Area Team.
Stats: .506 average, 41 runs, 37 RBIs, 14 doubles, two triples, 13 home runs.
AP — Jake Kuntzendorf, Aurora Christian (Aurora, Ill.), 6-0, 180, So.
Honors: Coaches Association Class 1A All-State Team, Fox Valley All-Area Team, Aurora Beacon All-Area Team.
Stats: 10-0 record, 1.67 ERA, 105 strikeouts, 71.1 innings pitched, .438 average, 41 runs, 13 doubles, 36 RBIs, four home runs.
AP — Hayden VanderRoest, Shallowater (Texas), 6-0, 185, Jr.
Honors: Lubbock All-Area Player of the Year.
Stats: .484 average, 53 RBIs, 52 runs, 8 home runs, 7-2 record.
AP — Nick Hershey, Gilbert Christian (Gilbert, Ariz.), 5-9, 160, Sr.
Honors: Arizona Baseball Coaches Association Class 2A State Player of the Year.
Stats: .643 average, 57 runs, 32 RBIs, 21 doubles, 10 triples, three home runs, 10-1 record, 130 strikeouts, 0.59 ERA, 59.1 innings pitched.

Sammy Gonzales, Winters
Photo by Anthony Brunsman