Catcher
Joe Mercer, senior, Carson: A four-year varsity letterman, Mercer earned first-team all-conference honors during a season in which he hit .507 with 34 RBIs, two home runs and 30 runs scored in conference. Was also named All-Carson Country catcher last year.
First base
Matt Leck, senior, Carson: Another first-team all-conference pick, Leck led the Senators this season with 10 home runs and 38 RBIs, plus he hit for a .486 average.
Second base
Brian Kleidosty, senior, Carson: A third-year varsity veteran, Kleidosty earned first-team all-conference honors as he hit .522 with 32 RBIs, four home runs and a team-high 16 walks. He was also a stalwart with his glove, having committed just three errors in three varsity seasons.
Shortstop
Joe Hooft, junior, Galena: Though he played out of position, Hooft was voted first-team all-conference on the strength of some eye-popping overall stats, including a .640 average, 73 hits, 74 runs scored, 16 home runs, 15 doubles, 45 RBIs, plus he was 14-of-15 in the stolen base department.
Third base
Tyler Selden, junior, Fernley: Played several positions and may have been the best overall player for the 3A state runner-up Vaqueros. Was a first-team All-Division I pick, first-team on the 3A all-state team during a season in which he hit .456 with four homers and 55 RBIs.
Outfield
D.J. Stacy, senior, Galena: A dependable hitter who came on strong late in the season to earn first-team all-conference honors. He hit .404, with nine home runs and 37 RBIs. Plans to join former Galena teammate Rusty Miller at Modesto (Calif.) College this fall.
Bobby Lee, senior, Douglas: A strong-armed right fielder who received second-team all-conference recognition. Lee hit .425 with three home runs and 23 RBIs in conference and helped the Tigers earn their zone tournament berth.
Tony Faulkner, senior, Carson: A third-year varsity veteran who switched from shortstop to the outfield at midseason, Faulkner hit .393 and earned second-team all-division recognition for the Senators.
Designated hitter
Billy Paganetti, junior, Galena: Limited to DH duty throughout the season due to a shoulder injury, the 6-foot-5, 215-pound Paganetti compiled some impressive stats by hitting .515, with 15 home runs, 56 RBIs, 12 doubles, 53 hits, 48 runs and 8-of-8 in stolen bases.
Utility player
Bob Nylen, junior, Dayton: Had a 7-1 pitching record and received the Dust Devils' Impact Player Award. Here's why: Dayton was 15-1 before he sustained a shoulder separation; his playing time was limited after that and the Dust Devils won just seven of their last 18 games. He split time between the mound, second base and shortstop.
Pitcher
Ken Heald, senior, Carson: Earned second-team all-conference recognition - he went 5-3 with a 5.21 ERA and 46 strikeouts in 45.1 innings - plus the 6-foot-4 right-hander won two games and saved another during the Northern 4A zone tournament.
Levi Diaz, junior, Fernley: The left-hander was named 3A Division I MVP and proved the award was no fluke when he won back-to-back games - one as a starter, another in relief - to help the Vaqueros finish second at the 3A state tournament.
Kyle Wentz, senior, Douglas: Went 5-1 overall, 3-1 in league, with a 4.92 ERA, 30 strikeouts and 15 walks in 37 innings. The right-hander beat Fallon in the zone tournament 2-1 and threw four shutout innings in relief against Sparks. Wentz also hit .421 with a team-high five home runs and 24 RBIs in league.
Billy Snow, senior, Yerington: Started for the Lions as a sophomore, transferred to Reed and played as a junior, then returned to Yerington for his senior year. The right-hander went 6-4 with a 3.27 ERA and earned first-team all-division recognition.
Gold Glove
Bryan Reeder, soph, Fernley
Fans who saw the 3A state tournament in Mesquite remember the over-the-shoulder catch the Fernley center fielder made while crashing into the wall in right-center to end Bishop Manogue's seventh inning rally in the winners bracket final. Fernley fans were accustomed to the sight, though, having seen Reeder reach over the center field fence at Quincy to save a home run and preserve an 8-7 victory.
HONORABLE MENTION
Catcher
Rusty Miller, senior, Galena .400, 28 RBI, 6 HR, 10 2B
First base
Zach Roots, junior, Yerington
Ryan Ferrell, Fernley
Second base
Garrett Hall, senior, Fernley
Richard French, senior, Douglas
Chuck Sindlinger, Galena
Shortstop
Shane Vanzant, junior, Dayton
Matt Farler, senior, Yerington
Carl Winter, soph, Carson.400, 6 sac
Third base
Mark Folgner, Galena
Josh Tippit, Fernley
Chandler Allen, junior, Carson.328
Outfield
Aaron Keller, senior, Fernley
Bryan Reeder, soph, Fernley
Trevor Crawford, Douglas
Alex Tapia, Yerington
Chris Murray, Douglas
Marc Liveratti, senior, Carson.380
Clayton Friskey, senior, Dayton hit .605 in league
Al Polito, junior, Fernley
Utility player
Matt Lambeth, soph, Fernley
Steve Lerud, freshman, Galena .442, 10 HR, 35 RBI (played six positions for Grizzlies, will likely start at catcher next year)
Designated hitter
Nick Gitthens, junior, Carson hit .476, 20 RBI
Austin Graham, freshman, Douglas
Pitchers
Chris Padgett, senior, Carson 5-2, 5.78, 40 K, 36.1 inn.
Jared Silveira, senior, Douglas3-2, 3.09, 45 K, 27 BB in 43 innings in conference
Randy Loff, senior, Carson 5-1, 3.81, 43.1 inn., 28 K, 18 BB.
Brandon Evans, Galena
John Zuppan, Galena
SOFTBALL
Pitcher
Nicole Freeman, senior, Carson: Freeman was named first-team all-conference at third base. Just look at her offensive numbers: .544 batting average, four home runs, .816 slugging percentage, .619 on-base average and 38 RBIs overall. Furthermore, she was 15-6 with a 1.41 ERA, 189 strikeouts and 23 walks over 149 innings of work as a pitcher. A repeat All-Carson Country selection.
Jenn Molinari, soph, Galena: Earned first-team all-conference honors for the second year in a row, posting a 14-3 record against Northern 4A opposition. She was 20-9 with a 1.00 ERA and 169 strikeouts in 194 innings of work overall.
Sherry Conway, senior, Yerington: The Division I co-MVP turned ironwoman at the 3A state tournament, Conway threw in four straight games to lead the Lions to the runner-up trophy. She was 17-5 with two no-hitters during a regular season in which she never allowed more than five hits in one game. Conway also hit .468.
Tarrah Kizer, freshman, Douglas: Stepped in as a rookie and took over the Douglas pitching staff. She was also second-team all-conference DH for the Tigers.
Catcher
Carrie Kordonowy, senior, Dayton: Led the Dust Devils offensively with her .558 overall batting average (.890 slugging percentage), 16 doubles, four home runs and 45 RBIs. Her slugging percentage was .890. She was named first-team all-division and is a repeat All-Carson Country pick at catcher.
First base
Tiffany Kristie, senior, Galena: Supplied clutch hits all season, including a game-winning home run in the eighth inning at Carson, Kristie hit .431 and carried a .994 fielding percentage in conference. She hit .384 with nine home runs and 46 RBIs overall. She was the first-team all-conference pick at first base.
Second base
Brandi Cotroneo, senior, Carson: A catalyst from the leadoff spot in the order who hit for a .396 average and .442 on-base percentage overall, led the team with 35 runs scored and only struck out seven times in 126 plate appearances. Earned honorable mention all-conference recognition.
Third base
Michelle Roza, senior, Douglas: Was a team leader for the Tigers, who finished sixth during the regular season and went on to earn a state tournament trip. Was solid with the glove and a versatile offensive player who could hit for power or lay down a bunt when needed.
Shortstop
Letitia Talbot, senior, Yerington: Made the switch from outfield to shortstop. A multi-sport athlete, Talbot .476 with two homers, earned first-team all-division and second-team all-state recognition. Was All-Carson Country last year as an outfielder.
Outfield
Brooke Holland, junior, Galena: A mainstay in left field - known as a player who can dive to get to a fly ball (.941 fielding percentage) - Holland hit .412 with 25 RBIs in conference (.339, 30 RBI overall overall). Earned first-team all-conference honors.
Dena Wagner, senior, Fernley: Hit .450 with six doubles and five triples, and her ability to bunt was an asset from the No. 2 spot in the order. The team co-captain and three-sport athlete was also a stalwart with her glove in center field. Was selected to the 3A all-state first-team.
Annalee Hatcher, senior, Yerington: A hard-nosed player with a strong arm from the outfield, Hatcher hit .551 in division play and was named first-team on both the all-division and all-state teams. Hatcher and Conway plan to go on to play at Porterville (Calif.) College.
Designated hitter
Hillary Moreira, junior, Douglas: Was named to the all-conference second team for the second year in a row. Moreira hit five home runs, batted .508 and finished the year with a .980 fielding percentage in conference. The Tigers' cleanup hitter rarely a good pitch to hit; in zone tournament wins over Reed and Reno, she walked five times in seven at-bats.
Utility player
Teresa Miller, soph, Galena: Posted a school conference season record .571 batting average - she delivered eight home runs and 35 RBIs overall - and earned first-team all-conference recognition as a utility player.
Gold Glove
Chrissy Joseph, junior, Carson - Was known for her ability to do the splits while stretching for throws to first base and her ability to dig those throws out. She also hit .400 with four triples and 34 RBIs and was the team's hottest RBI producer the last half of the season.
HONORABLE MENTION
Pitching: Amy Sceirine, Yerington - Division I co-MVP, leadoff hitter
Melissa Stone, Carson
Jennifer Dillie, Dayton - hit .520, 765 slugging percentage, three home runs, 41 RBIs, three triples and nine doubles in addition to throwing several no-hitters
Christina Thomas, Fernley first-team all-division
Bree Block, Fernley
Catcher:
Kellie Karasek, senior, Carson - hit .375 with a team-high nine doubles and also had a ,500 on-base percentage. She struck out seven times in 132 plate appearances. A second-team all-conference selection behind the plate.
Michelle Sinclair, Yerington first-team all-division and all-state
Second base: Allie Walling, Douglas honorable mention all-league
Third base: Monica Dietz, Galena honorable mention all-league
Kendra Carlsen, Carson
Shortstop: Angela Volpp, Galena
Tricia Hudgins, Carson
Lindsey Rollins, Douglas
Cayla Reese, Dayton
Outfield:
Abby Parker, Galena: .310, 4 2B, 2 3B, 13 RBI, .920 fielding, learned to hit lefty this year to become switch hitter, second-team all-conference
Amanda Hoff, Carson
Mindy Foley, Yerington
Kendall Castellani, Yerington
Kirsten Drury, Galena honorable mention all-conference
Jeannette Holt, Douglas
