Lerud is state player of the year

Despite receiving the attention as arguably Nevada's best high school baseball player, Galena High's Steve Lerud put up numbers that were worty of that title.

Lerud, a four-year varsity player, was honored for his numbers as he was named as the Gatorade Nevada State Player of the Year.

Lerud joins the other top players honored from the 50 states and the District of Columbia who are eligible for the National Player of the Year award to be announced in the following week.

"There's no question that he's deserving and I'm glad the right guy got it," Galena coach Gary McNamara said. "I kind of said from day one, I thought he was the best player in Nevada."

Lerud hit .465 this season with 21 home runs, 11 doubles, 64 RBI and was walked 41 times. "A lot of people pitched around him," McNamara said.

He also finished with an astronomical slugging percentage of 1.205 and ended with the state career record for home runs with 60. Lerud helped lead Galena to the semifinals of the NIAA 4A State Championships this past season.

"Steve can hit at the Division I level right now," McNamara said. "The most impressive aspect of Steve is that he has spent his senior year constantly working to improve instead of getting caught up in all the attention he has received."

One could attribute Lerud's 21 home runs to the friendly confines of Galena at altitude. But McNamara said that wasn't the case.

"Of the 21 home runs, 19 were hit about as hard as you could hit them. He didn't have a lot of Nevada-typle home runs.

"He did an outstanding job of putting up huge numbers. He just continued to improve. He was a much better player this year than last year. He did an unbelievable job."

Lerud maintains a 3.2 grade point average and has signed to play with Santa Clara. But Lerud may also have a tough decision to make as he's expected to be taken in June's Major League draft. As a left-handed hitting catcher with opposite field power, Lerud's skills are coveted at the higher level.

McNamara said Baseball America ranked Lerud as the state's second highest prospect behind University of Nevada pitcher Mateo Miramontes.

"If he were taken in the third to fifth rounds, I would not be surprised one bit," McNamara said. "I believe he's have a big decision to make come June. His future is definitely bright."

Lerud is the third straight Northern Nevada player to be named as State Player of the Year. Manogue's Kevin Jepsen was honored in 2002 and Galena's Billy Paganetti was honored in 2001.