The following baseball and fastpitch results were compiled and voted on by Kitsap News Group’s sports writers.
League MVP: Jared Prince, North Kitsap — All-star football quarterback by the fall and all-star baseball pitcher by the spring, Prince does it all. On the mound, he’s gone 8-1 on the season and has a 0.85 ERA with a powerful fastball that teams are often late — for entire games — to hit. At the plate he’s batting a league leading .549, with 26 RBIs and 18 runs scored.
“He works very hard,” said NK coach Steve Frease. “He works hard in the weight room and in the off-season. He helps keep the fire going on this team.”
First team
Jeff Shaw, Olympic — Shaw had his greatest impact on the diamond with a .356 average with a team-best 15 RBIs in the season.
Shea Baumgartner, Olympic — In a 14-10 win against Central Kitsap on April 21, Baumgartner went 5-for-5 with 2 home runs and 8 RBIs.
Travis Tobin, North Kitsap — With a .438 average, the Viking junior has crossed the plate for 28 runs on the season. He’s also managed to drive in 17 RBIs. “Like all the kids he’s really versatile,” Frease said. “He can perform at any position and has had a great year at the plate.”
Pat Kelly, South Kitsap — Kelly has been on 35 times in 59 chances for a .593 on-base-percentage.
Shawn Squires, Klahowya — Squires primarily served as the Eagles’ third baseman, batting .392 and also serving as a pitcher.
Chris Anderson, South Kitsap — The senior left-fielder is batting .500 with 2 home runs and 21 RBIs.
Chester Thomas, Olympic — The center fielder batted .328 but Thomas’ value came from saving extra-base hits and home runs with acrobatic catches.
Matt Phillips, Central Kitsap — He posted a 3.45 ERA. and led the Narrows Bridge with 8 HRs.
Aaron Cunningham, South Kitsap — Cunningham is hitting .414 with 9 extra-base hits.
Brent Nickerson, South Kitsap — The senior is hitting .481 with 2 home runs and 19 RBIs.
Marcus Curtis, North Kitsap — Curtis has caught for fellow NK All-Kitsap representatives Dan Peck and Prince all season, allowing only nine base runners to steal while on his watch. “He’s the reason we’re such a good defensive team,” said NK coach Frease. “He loves the game and loves to compete.” Curtis has also batted clean-up all season, slugging for 27 RBIs and keeping up a .437 average.
Dan Peck, North Kitsap — The senior standout pitcher leads his team with a quiet aura. He is the “2” in the 1-2 North Kitsap pitching punch with teammate Prince. He’s a combined 4-0 on the season and has held teams to a little over one run per game when pitching. He’s batting .413 with 12 RBIs and 25 runs. “He has a quiet confidence about him,” said coach Frease. “He just loves to compete and is an intense competitor.”
Matt Hudson, South Kitsap — Went 6-1 with a 2.82 ERA while striking out 30 batters in 40 innings.
Nick Bankus, Olympic — Bankus had a team-best 4 wins, 33 strikeouts and a 1.18 ERA.
Bryce Wentworth, Central Kitsap — Wentworth had a 2-2 record with a 2.19 ERA and 30 Ks.
Coach of the Year: Steve Frease, North Kitsap — Frease, in his 11 years as the Vikes’ skipper, is quick to pass off coaching honors to the other coaches who assist him all season, as well as former little league and Babe Ruth coaches who worked with his players over their careers in North Kitsap. The Vikings’ varsity is aided by four others — Clary Carlsen, pitching coach, Ollie Kenyon, defense coach, Brent Stenman, base-running coach and Bryan Johansen, outfield coach — who make up the collective staff. The effort of all the coaches had led North Kitsap to its best record in six years, going 16-3 overall and losing only one game in league. “We’ve got very good coaches here,” Frease said. “And we all give a part to the game.”
