JACKSON – Six Northwest players have been named to the 2013 MACJC All-State baseball team, including three first-team and three second-team selections, after a vote by the league's head coaches that was announced on Tuesday.
Pitcher
Cody Reed and outfielders
Dylan Castoria and
Jordan Barnes are first-team honorees while second team members include pitcher
Matt Ferguson, shortstop
Jay King and designated hitter
Kramer Hollenbach.
Reed, who's expected to be drafted in the first two rounds of the 2013 MLB First-Year Player Draft on June 6, went 8-3 with a 2.39 ERA in 73.1 innings and single-season record 96 strikeouts this season – also tops in the MACJC.
A product of Horn Lake, Reed ends his Northwest baseball career as the school's all-time leader in strikeouts (161), wins (16), innings pitched (137.2), batters faced (601), starts (23) and shutouts (five). He's second in career complete games (10) and third in opponent batting average (.219) and strikeouts/7 inn. game (8.19).
Castoria played in all 49 games on the year and led the team in average (.358) for nearly the entire season. His 59 hits, 41 runs scored, 12 doubles, five home runs, .533 slugging percentage and 17 multi-hit games also led all Rangers. He was 20-for-24 in stolen bases, tied for second on the team.
Both Reed and Castoria were named NJCAA All-Region 23 and are eligible for All-American honors.
Barnes hit .324 with 10 doubles, three triples, a home run, 24 RBIs and 31 runs scored and made his biggest impact on the bases. He led the team with a .475 on-base percentage and ended the year a perfect 22-for-22 in stolen base tries which tied him for ninth in a single season. He is expected to be drafted somewhere after the 10th round of the MLB draft.
Ferguson, a year removed from Tommy John surgery, had a solid debut season on the mound. The right-handed freshman went 7-2 with a 3.65 ERA and two complete games. He struck out 36 against 25 walks and allowed just 10 extra-base hits in 55.2 innings of work.
King hit .296 with two doubles, four home runs and 20 RBIs, and flashed leather all year from his shortstop position. He had 108 assists and just 11 errors in 172 chances.
Hollenbach got better and better as the season progressed and ended the year second on the team with a .333 batting average. He had a team-best 11-game hitting streak during the year and provided multiple clutch hits, including a walk-off double to beat EMCC. He led the team in RBIs with 29 and also added nine doubles, a triple, two home runs and 18 stolen bases in 20 tries.
Northwest ended the year 31-18 overall and 17-7 in the north, finishing as division and state runners-up.
