Fallon junior Vernita Fillmore was named the region’s Player of the Year after posting a 1.72 earned-run average while leading the team in hitting with a .422 average.
Photo by Thomas Ranson.
Churchill County High School swept the major postseason award categories for softball and baseball.
Junior Vernita Fillmore and senior Baylor Sandberg were named Player of the Year for the Northern 3A’s all-region softball and baseball teams. After guiding Fallon to a state championship, Kasey Chu was named the Coach of the Year for the league, region and state. Riley Horn was named the Coach of the Year for the league and region after his baseball squad finished 1-2 in last week’s state tournament.
In addition to POY honors, Fillmore was named to the all-region’s first team and the all-state’s second team with sophomore pitcher Janessa Bettencourt. Both Fallon hurlers paced the team during the season with Fillmore’s pitching being a key component to Fallon bringing home its first state title in six years.
Fillmore finished the year with a 14-1 record and 1.72 earned-run average while Bettencourt wasn’t far behind in ERA at 2.16. Fillmore struck out 100 batters in 109.2 innings over 19 appearances, including allowing only one earned run in last week’s state tournament when she threw three perfect games.
But Fillmore was just as effective from the plate in her leadoff role. She posted team-highs in batting average (.422), doubles (13), triples (three) and RBIs (28).
Senior third baseman Reece Hutchings was named to the all-region’s second team and all-3A East’s first team. She was third on the team in batting average at .365 and tied with junior catcher Taralynn Vershum, who batted .341, for the team lead in home runs with three. Vershum, senior outfielder Kiley Wallace and freshman infielder Layla Walker picked up all-league second-team honors, and junior first baseman Maddie Keller and junior left fielder Dana Buckmaster were honorable mention.
Fallon senior Baylor Sandberg was named the league and region’s Player of the Year after he struck out 97 batters in 45.2 innings while also leading the team in offense.
BASEBALL
On the baseball diamond, Sandberg, a pitcher and centerfield committed to Sacramento State, was also named to the all-state’s first team and Player of the Year for the 3A East, and senior shortstop Brady Alves and senior first baseman and pitcher Bryce Adams were selected to the all-state’s second team. All three were selected to the all-region and all-league’s first team.
Sandberg did it with his arm and his bat, posting a sub-1 ERA (0.77) in 45.2 innings, a team-high, while striking out 97, which meant two outs per inning were strikeouts. He also batted .469, drove in 34 runs and hit a team-high three home runs, including one to beat The Meadows in the state tournament. Sandberg led the team in stolen bases with 26.
Alves finished the year with a .408 batting average after driving in 27 and hitting 11 doubles and one homer. Adams, a southpaw, posted a 2.62 ERA in 37.1 innings while striking out 43. He hit .354 and drove in 21.
Making the all-region’s second team and all-league’s first team were junior third baseman Trevor Hyde and junior outfielder and pitcher James Kelsey. Kelsey, also a southpaw, struck out 68 in 47.1 innings while posting a 2.37 ERA. He also batted .494 and led the team in RBIs with 36 and doubles with 13. Hyde finished with a .375 ERA and 15 RBIs.
Senior catcher Carter Paul, junior second baseman Chase Carnahan and junior pitcher Anthony Juarez were named all-region honorable mention and to the all-league second team. Junior outfielder Nathaniel Zackery was selected to the all-league’s second team, and junior first baseman Eric Cornejo was named honorable mention.