Eric Mausser from Franklin Regional is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestling Coach of the Year (Photo: Sean Simmers/PennLive.com)

Eric Mausser from Franklin Regional High School in Murrysville, Pa., has been selected as the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestling Coach of the Year for 2014-15.

The selection was made by Jason Bryant of MatTalkOnline.com. Bryant has covered high school, college and Olympic-level wrestling for over 20 years and is the President of the National Wrestling Media Association.

RELATED: ALL-USA Wrestling First and Second Team

RELATED: ALL-USA Wrestling Third Team

RELATED: Meet ALL-USA Wrestling Coach of the Year Eric Mausser

COACH PROFILE

Name: Eric Mausser
School: Franklin Regional, Murrysville, Pa.

For the last 10 seasons, Eric Mausser has been part of the Franklin Regional wrestling program. Named head coach eight years ago, Mausser has taken the Panthers from a solid program in western Pennsylvania to one of the top programs in the nation.

Under Mausser’s leadership, the Panthers set a Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic Association state record for team points (152), state finalists (five) and champions (four) in a single season. Franklin Regional won its second consecutive 3A state team championship in 2015 and also repeated as 3A dual meet state champion.

The bulk of Mausser’s individual state championships and state place-winners have come from a talented senior class. Devin Brown, Michael Kemerer and Josh Shields all ended their careers with state titles, and sophomore Spencer Lee, an ALL-USA first-team selection at 120 pounds, won his second state championship.

Kemerer joins Lee on the ALL-USA first team, while Shields was third-team ALL-USA. Brown was a second-team selection ALL-USA last season at 106 pounds. Senior Josh Maruca finished as a state runner-up. Brown has signed with West Virginia and Kemerer with Iowa, and Shields and Maruca both will attend Arizona State.

“The most fulfilling part about this group is watching them grow as wrestlers and more importantly watching them become great young men,” Mausser said of his senior class. “This group of seniors was extremely special because of how much time they put into the sport, not only to accomplish their goals but to help their teammates become better wrestlers. They also spent a great deal of time giving back to the sport by volunteering their time at our youth practices.

“This group built their legacy not only on their accomplishments, but by giving back and establishing a tradition of excellence.”

The Panthers won three sectional titles, three county championships, two Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League championships and two titles at the Powerade Christmas Wrestling Tournament in Canonsburg, Pa., considered one of the toughest holiday events in the country.

Before coaching at Franklin Regional, Mausser was on staff at Duquesne University under coach John Hartupee. He wrestled collegiately at Clarion.

2014-15 ALL-USA Wrestler of the Year Mark Hall (Photo: Aaron Lavinsky/Star Tribune)

Mark Hall from Apple Valley (Minn.) has been selected as the 2014-15 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestler of the Year.

The selection was made by Jason Bryant of MatTalkOnline.com. Bryant has covered high school, college and Olympic-level wrestling for over 20 years and is the President of the National Wrestling Media Association.

RELATED: ALL-USA Wrestling First and Second Teams

RELATED: ALL-USA Wrestling Third Team

RELATED: Meet ALL-USA Wrestling Coach of the Year Eric Mausser

WRESTLER PROFILE
Name: Mark Hall
School: Apple Vally (Minn.)
Weight class: 170
Year: Junior

Minnesota’s Mark Hall had a busy summer.

Between stints at the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs and trips to Slovakia and Uzbekistan, the high school junior hasn’t had much time to think about anything other than wrestling.

But that’s probably what makes Hall so good. Yes, Hall went 42-0 this season and is a five-time state champion in one of the nation’s toughest states. Next season, he looks to become the first six-time state champion in Minnesota’s proud wrestling history.

Hall has long had Olympic aspirations, and at the Cadet World Championships last summer in Snina, Slovakia, Hall completed the first step toward that journey – he was one of the three freestyle wrestling champions from the U.S.

The other U.S. winners were ALL-USA first-teamer Spencer Lee of Franklin Regional in Murrysville, Pa., and ALL-USA third-teamer Mason Manville, formerly of Blair Academy in Blairstown, N.J. Manville and Hall were teammates at Apple Valley as eighth-graders.

“My ultimate goal in wrestling is to be an Olympic champion,” said Hall. “Unfortunately, wrestling doesn’t have an NFL or NBA, so the Olympics is the absolute pinnacle. It’s something every wrestler dreams of doing.”

While Hall is eyeing six individual state championships, he’s also well aware that he could double up on history.

“This challenge has been sitting in the back of my head for the last five years,” he said. “The individual aspect of a high school wrestling season is a huge part in how far I’ve come, but what a lot of people forget is that I’ve been a part of five state team titles as well. So it’s a big deal and it’s important to look for that sixth individual title, but achieving the sixth team state title will be an amazing feat for me as well. Twelve gold medals is the ultimate record.”

Hall’s talk of Olympic glory might seem ambitious or cliché. How does he stack up? According to USA Wrestling national freestyle and resident coach Brandon Slay, a 2000 Olympic champion, Hall has the potential because he’s willing to learn.

“Mark has spent the last three summers training with Team USA and our National Team coaches at the Olympic Training Center. That summer commitment is really starting to pay off for him,” Slay said. “We need and want more 15- to 18-year-olds like Mark who desire to train with 26-year-old men like (Olympic and World Champion) Jordan Burroughs with the hopes and confidence of becoming Junior World champions and Olympic champions.”

“Mark’s best attributes are his attitude, his coachability and faith,” Slay said. “He is always willing to respectfully listen and learn about wrestling and life.”

And learning is the key for Hall.

“As long as I keep learning and getting better every day, I truly believe I can be ‘the guy’ when the time comes,” he said.

Hall has come a long way from this video shot when he was a seventh grader and soon to be first-time state champion as he approached his 14th birthday:

USA TODAY High School Sports is proud to announce its second annual American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestling Team.

This team was compiled by Jason Bryant of MatTalkOnline.com. Bryant has covered high school, college and Olympic-level wrestling for more than 20 years and is president of the National Wrestling Media Association.

Click the photo gallery to see the first and second team selections.

RELATED: Meet ALL-USA Wrestler of the Year Mark Hall

RELATED: Meet ALL-USA Wrestling Coach of the Year Eric Mausser

RELATED: ALL-USA Wrestling Third Team

After a slow start, catcher Blake Swihart is hitting well for the Pawtucket Red Sox. Associated Press photo by John Bazemore.

Last week, Kris Bryant, who was an American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player out of Bonanza (Las Vegas) in 2010, got his big-league call-up. After going 0-for-4 in his first game, he’s hitting .300 and had his first extra-base hits, presumably the first of many. Here are five other former ALL-USA players would could get called up to the majors, and soon:

Blake Swihart, catcher, Pawtucket Red Sox (Class AAA)

He started the season hitting a woeful 3-for-17, but has turned it around and is now hitting .389 with nine RBI in eight games. He was an ALL-USA player from Cleveland (Rio Rancho, N.M.) in 2011. The Boston Red Sox could call up Swihart if Ryan Hanigan doesn’t improve much on his .125 batting average.

Joey Gallo, third baseman, Frisco RoughRiders (Class AA)

You think Bryant has power? Gallo broke car windshields during spring training and hit 82 homers over the past two minor league seasons. The 2012 ALL-USA player from Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) began this season on the disabled list. Once he gets healthy, the Texas Rangers could give him a shot at first base or the outfield, or even at third if Adrian Beltre gets hurt.

Byron Buxton, centerfielder, Chattanooga Lookouts (Class AA)

A true five-tool player, he played in only 31 games last year because of various injuries. He’s hitting only .225 this season, but he has a .296 batting average in four minor league seasons with 73 stolen bases so he’s likely to come around and when he does, the Minnesota Twins could use the 2012 ALL-USA player from Appling County (Baxley, Ga.). Buxton is ranked as the No. 2 prospect in the game by Baseball America, behind Bryant.

Francisco Lindor, shortstop, Columbus Clippers (Class AAA)

The 2011 ALL-USA player from Montverde (Fla.) Academy is one of the best defensive players in the minors and he showed he could hit a little too, with a .297 average and six extra-base hits during spring training. He’s off to a slow start with the Clippers, hitting .212, but once he comes around a bit at the plate, he’ll likely be traveling north to Cleveland.

Gavin Cecchini, catcher, Binghamton Mets (Class AA).

The 2012 ALL-USA player from Barbe (Lake Charles, La.), the younger brother of Red Sox third baseman Garin Cecchini, has nice tools behind the plate and seems to be finding his power stroke. He hit only one homer in his first two minor league seasons, but had eight last season. This year, he’s already homered and is hitting .333 with an on-base percentage of .412 and seven RBI in 30 at-bats. He’s probably two seasons away, though a late-summer call-up wouldn’t be out of the question.

Bettendorf’s (Iowa) Fredy Stroker leads the 2014-15 ALL-USA Wrestling Third Team. (Photo: Michael Zamora/The Des Moines Register)

Introducing the 2014-15 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Wrestling Third Team. The team was selected by Jason Bryant of MatTalkOnline.com. Bryant has covered high school, college and Olympic-level wrestling for over 20 years and is the President of the National Wrestling Media Association.

RELATED: ALL-USA Wrestling First and Second Team

RELATED: Meet ALL-USA Wrestler of the Year Mark Hall

RELATED: Meet ALL-USA Wrestling Coach of the Year Eric Mausser

THIRD TEAM

106 pounds
Gavin Teasdale, Jefferson-Morgan (Jefferson, Pa.), Fr.

113 pounds
Justin Mejia, Clovis, Calif., So.

120 pounds
Daton Fix, Charles Page (Sand Springs, Okla.), So.

126 pounds
Mitchell McKee, St. Michael-Albertville (St. Michael, Minn.), Jr.

132 pounds
A.C. Headlee, Waynesburg, Pa., Sr.

138 pounds
Boo Lewallen, Yukon, Okla., Sr.

145 pounds
Fredy Stroker, Bettendorf, Iowa, Sr.

152 pounds
Jordan Kutler, Blair Academy (Blairstown, N.J.), Sr.

160 pounds
Josh Shields, Franklin Regional (Murrysville, Pa.), Sr.

170 pounds
Logan Massa, St. Johns, Mich., Sr.

182 pounds
Keegan Moore, Jackson County Central (Jackson, Minn.), Sr.

195 pounds
Hunter Ritter, John Carroll (Bel Air, Md.), Sr.

220 pounds
Kenneth Brinson, Marist (Atlanta, Ga.), Sr.

285 pounds
Osawaru Odighizuwa, David Douglas (Portland, Ore.), Jr.

George Campbell, a wide receiver from East Lake (Tarpon Springs, Fla.) runs for a touchdown catch during Florida State’s spring game. Photo: Melina Vastola, USA TODAY Sports

Only a handful of the 2014 American Family Insurance ALL-USA football first and second-team players enrolled early, but several of those who did are having standout springs.

Natrez Patrick, LB, Mays, Atlanta

Patrick has had to move from outside to inside linebacker this spring at Georgia and the early enrollee had eight tackles and a sack in the G-Day game.

“He’s got good instincts,” Georgia coach Mark Richt told the Macon Telegraph. “Sometimes he was just flat out unblocked and made a play in the hold, but he brought the wood. He laid the wood to people. He’ll strike. He’s a pretty good athlete. He’s a pretty sharp kid.”

Kevin Toliver II, CB, Trinity Christian, Jacksonville, Fla.

Toliver had the only interception in Louisiana State’s spring game.

George Campbell, WR, East Lake, Tarpon Springs, Fla.

Saturday in Florida State’s spring game, Campbell caught two passes for 99 yards, including a 65-yard touchdown on his first catch.

“I thought some of those high school guys – those early entry guys – took advantage of some situations,” Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher told the Orlando Sentinel. “Thought George jumped out there and made a big play early.”

Jacques Patrick, RB, Timber Creek, Orlando

Saw plenty of reps in Florida State’s spring drills and had an 11-yard touchdown run in the Seminoles spring game. He also had a 68-yard touchdown run in the game that was called back for holding.

Derwin James, DB, Haines City, Fla.

Worked with Florida State’s second team defense during spring drills but started in Seminoles’ spring game and returned an interception for a touchdown in the game.

Malik Jefferson, LB, Poteet, Mesquite, Texas

Had six tackles and forced a fumble in Texas’ spring game:

Josh Rosen, QB, St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif.

Has been impressive in UCLA spring drills, and is one of four quarterbacks in the mix for a starting job next fall.

“It’s impressive, it’s very impressive, how fast he developed. Two weeks in, three weeks in, he’s learned the offense and he can run it,” UCLA wide receiver Jordan Payton told the Orange County Register. “That’s why he was rated so high, why he had so much hype behind him, because he can do things like that. He has great potential and I’m excited to see his future.”

Shy Tuttle, DL, North Davidson, Lexington, N.C.

Tuttle has been impressive since the first day of practice at Tennessee, which has its spring game this weekend.

“He came off the football, and you could see the disruptive quickness, you could see the explosiveness, you could see the use of his hands,” Vols coach Butch Jones told The Daily Beacon. “The thing I really liked about it was you could see his competitive nature.”

Jake Browning, QB, Folsom, Calif.

Browning has played well in Washington’s spring practices and gets a chance to show his stuff to the general public this weekend in the Huskies’ spring game.

Tristen Hoge, OL, Highland, Pocatello, Idaho,

Has played well in spring drills at Notre Dame

Neil DeNicola’s run of homers in consecutive games ended Thursday. Courier-Journal photo by John Sommers

Neil DeNicola did something unusual Thursday. He didn’t homer.

In his five previous games, the Atherton (Louisville) senior homered, tying a state record set by Aric Burkhart of Madison Central (Richmond) in 1993. Thursday night, against Pleasure Ridge Park (Louisville), the streak ended, as he went 0-for-2.

“It feels good, obviously, to tie a state record, but it wasn’t my goal to hit home runs,” DeNicola told Jason Frakes of the Louisville Courier-Journal. “I just try to hit it where it’s pitched, and I’ve gotten pitches to put over the fence.”

His streak began April 15 with a homer in an 8-5 loss at LaRue County (Hodgenville). Then, last Thursday, in a 4-2 loss to Ballard (Louisville), he homered again. Last Friday, he homered in a 13-3 defeat of Jeffersontown (Louisville). The final homer came in an 8-2 win at Waggener Traditional (Louisville).

DeNicola’s five consecutive homers is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performance of the Week. The rest of the top performances:

Cassidy Doster, lacrosse, LaFayette, Onondaga, N.Y.
Senior midfielder, a Massachusetts signee, had six goals and three assists in a 15-10 defeat of Jordan-Elbridge (Jordan) on Thursday.

Chesdin Harrington, baseball, Patrick Henry, Ashland, Va.
Virginia signee struck out 14 and threw a no-hitter in a 6-0 defeat of Mills Godwin last Friday and was just two batters away from a perfect game. He also was 2-for-4 with an RBI.

Matthew Maton, track and field, Summit, Bend, Ore.
Senior ran the 1,500 meters in the Oregon Relays last Friday in 3:42.54, the third-best time ever for a high school runner.

Leonel Perez, baseball, Palmview, Mission, Texas
Sophomore threw a 12-strikeout no-hitter Tuesday in a 9-0 defeat of Juarez-Lincoln (Mission).

Marlo Roadcap, softball, Millersburg, Pa.
Senior threw a no-hitter with 14 strikeouts in a 8-0 defeat of Line Mountain (Herndon, Pa.) on Thursday.

Justin Torres, baseball, Springfield High School of Science and Technology, Springfield, Mass.
Senior went 5-for-5 with two singles, a double, a triple, a homer, drove in eight runs and stole six bases in an 18-15 loss to Holyoke Catholic (Chicopee) on Wednesday.

Jacob Weirich, baseball, Jefferson City, Mo.
Sophomore threw an 11-strikeout perfect game in a 3-0 defeat of Helias Catholic (Jefferson City) last Friday.

Ryan Zwier, baseball, Christ School, Arden, N.C.
Junior third baseman went 4-for-4 with six RBI, hitting for the cycle, including a grand slam, in a 13-0 defeat of the Asheville School last Friday.

Joe DeMers has thrown three no-hitters for College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.) this season and may pitch this week for a chance at a third no-hitter in a row. Photo by Chris Oar.

Joe DeMers wasn’t on the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team, but he’s played his way into ALL-USA contention by leading his team at the plate and with three no-hitters this season.Until the regular season American Family Insurance ALL-USA baseball team comes out in June, we’re looking at players who deserve consideration for that team.

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Homepage

Name and school: Joe DeMers, College Park, Pleasant Hill, Calif.

Height, weight:  6-2, 235
Bats/throws: Right/right
Baseball future: The senior pitcher/shortstop/first baseman has signed with Washington.

If Joe DeMers has ice in his veins, it might not be hereditary.

“My gut gets in a knot,” says his dad, Tom DeMers. “I’m a nervous Nellie when he pitches. It’s the last batter who always gets me.”

Imagine how tough things would be on his dad if DeMers wasn’t hitting a team-high .490 and 23 RBI, wasn’t 8-0 with a 0.26 ERA, wasn’t going for his third consecutive no-hitter in his next start.

In 54 innings, he has 57 strikeouts with only six walks. In his second start this season, a 9-0 defeat of Monte Vista (Danville), he threw a perfect game. On April 16, he no-hit Concord in a 3-0 win, allowing two walks. On April 21, in his last start, he gave up one walk in an 11-0 no-hit defeat of Northgate (Walnut Creek). He will likely get a start this week, with a chance at a third consecutive no-hitter.

“He’s a dart thrower,” said College Park coach Andy Tarpley. “He’ll miss inside of a soup bowl, that’s about it. With Joe, throwing a no-hitter is almost expected.”

DeMers throws in the mid-to-low 90s with plenty of movement. Last summer, when he wasn’t also playing shortstop or first base and had a chance to rest his arm more, he hit 96 mph.

He helped lead College Park to a 2013 state runner-up finish in basketball as a sophomore and was on the basketball team as a freshman and junior, but concentrated solely on baseball this season, to the detriment of the Falcons’ opponents.

“I never had an offseason,” DeMers said. “This year I was able to get in the weight room and get out on the field earlier than usual and really prepare for this season.”

DeMers was pretty solid last season, with a 12-2 record, 0.65 and 94 strikeouts with only nine walks in 86 innings. His improvement has been steady, thanks to a consistency in pitching mechanics, teammates and instruction.

College Park, the No. 17 team in the Super 25 rankings, has seven players who have signed with Division I schools. Six of them have played together since they were in grade school for the Condors’ PONY League team in the Pleasant Hill Baseball Association: DeMers and infielder Willie MacIver, who have signed with Washington; catcher Noah Burnham, who has signed with UC Santa Barbara; left-handed pitcher Chris Brown (UC Davis); center fielder Jeffrey Mitchell (Cal); and right fielder Trevor Larnach (Oregon State). Another Division I signee, left fielder, catcher and first baseman Nick Oar (Stanford), joined the team as a freshman.

With such talent behind him, DeMers doesn’t worry so much about getting strikeouts. On DeMers’ last no-hitter, Larnach, playing shallow in right field, threw a batter out at first base.

“That was a heck of a play,” DeMers said. “I would rather give up a hit than give up a walk. I just make my defense work and it’s really worked out so far. … I can throw to a zone and know they’ll make the plays behind me, which is great for a pitcher, for your mentality, to go after hitters.”

Tarpley has been College Park’s coach since DeMers was a sophomore, but DeMers has worked with kinesiologist Angel Borrelli since he was 10.

“She’s the main reason that I stayed healthy and why I have good pitching mechanics,” DeMers said. “She’s one of the smartest people I know, so I trust her 100 percent.”

DeMers has also played with USA Baseball since he was on the 14-under national team in 2010 and has won three gold medals with various Team USA teams.

“I think we all knew Joe was going to be this guy back when he was in the eighth grade,” Tarpley said. “His composure is unparalleled at this level. The biggest reasons are his mechanics and his mental focus, but he’s also country-boy strong. You pat him on the back and it’s like hitting a side of beef.”

Ironically, it’s that size that might work against DeMers. Some scouts might not see as much upside for him as they would for a 6-5 pitcher who still has to fill out. Most mock drafts do not have him going in the first round.

“I’m not worried about that,” DeMers said. “I just go out there and try to improve every day. Hopefully, the scouts will see that.”

Luken Baker, left, and Josh Naylor of  Ontario, Canada, at the Junior Home Run Derby at the Major League All-Star Game last summer in Minneapolis. Twitter photo.

Luken Baker made the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team and has bolstered his case for the postseason team, leading Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas) to 20-1 record. He’s hitting .417 with a .792 slugging percentage and five homers. As a pitcher, he’s 8-0 with a 1.10 ERA and 81 strikeouts and 11 walks in 51 innings. Until the regular season American Family Insurance ALL-USA baseball team comes out in June, we’re looking at players who deserve consideration.

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Homepage

MORE: College Park’s Joe DeMers has consistently improved

Name and school: Luken Baker, Oak Ridge, Conroe, Texas.

Height, weight:  6-4, 250
Bats/throws: Right/right
Baseball future: The senior pitcher/designated hitter/first baseman has signed with Texas Christian but is considered a likely first-round draft choice.

Luken Baker is getting plenty of attention from baseball scouts, the only question is whether he’ll be an everyday player or a pitcher. He has a fastball that was clocked at 95 last summer, but he’s already shown major league power and a surprisingly good batting eye for a slugger.

“We had a lot of scouts here at the start of the season, especially since there was snow up in Dallas,” said Oak Ridge coach Mike Pirtle. “I checked the book and 55 scouts signed in and eight said they couldn’t get in to sign in. Half of the scouts come to see him in batting practice and the other half come to see him hit.”

He has five homers this season in 48 at-bats, and last summer, he won the Under Armour Home Run Derby in Chicago and the Junior Home Run Derby at the Major League All-Star Game at Target Field in Minneapolis. In the UA Derby, he hit five of his home runs out of Wrigley Field and onto Waveland Avenue.

“He can hit the ball to right center as well as any Punch and Judy hitter, but he’s also hit homers over our lights,” Pirtle said. “In one batting practice, he hit five homers in five pitches and a lot of his homers are major league length.”

Baker’s father, Will, said his son is used to performing in pressure situations.

“Luken has played a lot of high level baseball,” Will Baker said. “He was on a select team that won a national championship when he was nine and again, when he was 10. When he was 12, he was on a team that won three big events. He’s always stood out, size-wise, so guys are going to pitch around him, give him a lot of curves on fastball counts. He’s always shouldered a lot of pressure. In USA Baseball, he made the team trials for 14, 15 and 18. He’s been performing on a stage where he’s had to impress people who subjectively held his advancement in their hands. He realizes it’s not about how hard he throws or how hard he hits the ball, it’s about consistency in how you play.”

Jameis Winston is one of more than 20 former American Family Insurance ALL-USA selections who could be drafted. / USA TODAY Sports

More than 20 former American Family Insurance ALL-USA football players could hear their names called in the NFL Draft.

Below is a list of players expected to be selected along with their position, high school, college, where they were drafted and by what team. We will continue to update this as the draft progress.

Class of 2011 First Team

Malcom Brown, DT, Brenman (Texas) High, University Texas — Round 1, No. 32, New England Patriots
Dee Hart, RB, Colorado State
Jordan Phillips, DT, Oklahoma

Class of 2011 and 2012 First Team

Dorial Green-Beckham, WR, Missouri

Class of 2012 First Team

Stefon Diggs, WR, Maryland
D.J. Humphries, OT, Florida
Ellis McCarthy, DT, UCLA
Shaq Thompson, OLB, Grant Union High (Sacramento), University of Washington — Round 1, No. 25, Carolina Panthers
Jameis Winston, QB, Hueytown (Ala.), Florida State — Round 1, No. 1, Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Noah Spence, DE, Ohio State
Andrus Peat, OT, Corona del Sol (Phoenix), Stanford — Round 1, No. 13, New Orleans Saints
Landon Collins, S, Alabama
Mario Edwards Jr., DE, Florida State

Class of 2012 Second Team

Arik Armstead, DE, Pleasant Grove (Elk Grove, Calif.), University of Oregon — Round 1, No. 17, San Francisco 49ers
D.J. Foster, RB, Arizona State
Brad Pinion, P, Clemson
Shaq Roland, WR, Prairie View A&M
T.J. Yeldon, RB, Alabama
Nelson Agholor, WR, Berkley Prep (Tampa), Southern California — Round 1, No. 20, Philadelphia Eagles
Ronald Darby, CB, Florida State
Eddie Goldman, DT, Florida State

Johnson City’s Shane Majewski had six goals and six assists in an 18-1 defeat of Chenango Valley on Tuesday. Photo by Andrew Thayer/Press and Sun-Bulletin

Shane Majewski scored six goals and had six assists to lead Johnson City (N.Y.) to an 18-1 defeat of Chenango Valley (Binghamton, N.Y.) on Tuesday in boys lacrosse. Majewski has scored 444 career points, a Section 4 record.

For his efforts, the Robert Morris signee is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performance of the Week. The rest of the week’s top performances:

Kaira Cabato, softball, Olympic, Bremerton, Wash.

Freshman third baseman hit two homers and had eight RBI Wednesday in a 17-0 defeat of Bremerton.

Marie-Josee Ebwea-Bile, Benjamin Cardozo, Bayside, N.Y.

Senior jumped 42 feet, 1.5 inches in the triple jump, the top distance for a U.S. high school athlete this season, in the Penn Relays on Saturday, breaking the New York state record.

Eddie Estrada, baseball, Litchfield, Minn.

Senior shortstop, who has signed with Minnesota, hit three homers, including a grand slam, for 10 RBI in a 15-6 defeat of Glencoe-Silver Lake (Glencoe) on Tuesday.

Rayn Gibson, softball, Bel Air, Md.

Junior pitcher threw a seven-inning perfect game, striking out 17 and driving in the game’s only run in a 1-0 defeat of Bohemia Manor (Chesapeake City) on Wednesday.

Nate Hess, baseball, Taylorsville, Utah

Senior pitcher threw a seven-inning perfect game with 13 strikeouts in a 4-0 defeat of Granger (West Valley City) on Thursday.

Bennett Johnson, lacrosse, St. Mary’s, Annapolis, Md.

Senior scored seven times in a 14-10 defeat of Loyola Blakefield (Towson) on Wednesday.

Hank LoForte, baseball, Franklin, Elk Grove, Calif.

Senior shortstop, who has signed with Cal-Fullerton, hit for the cycle with six RBI in a 16-1 defeat of Sheldon (Sacramento) on Wednesday.

Juan Carlos Lopez, baseball, Vintage, Napa, Calif.

Junior pitcher threw a five-inning perfect game Wednesday in a 14-0 defeat of Rodriguez (Fairfield).

 Amirah Milloy, softball, Redmond, Wash.

Senior outfielder, the daughter of former NFL player Lawyer Milloy, hit for the cycle, driving in three runs in a 6-5 defeat of Mount Si (Snoqualmie) on Wednesday. She has signed with Washington.

Blanche Ely coach Melvin Randall is presented with the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Basketball Coach of the Year by Matt Wade from USA TODAY Sports

Melvin Randall from Blanche Ely (Pompano Beach, Fla.) accepted the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Boys Basketball Coach of the Year award Thursday at the school.

Randall coached Ely to a 28-0 record and the Florida 7A state title. He has won four state titles at Ely since 2007.

He also won a state 6A title at Deerfield Beach in 1999 and a 5A title at Deerfield Beach in 1995. He was an All-State player at South Plantation (Plantation) and played for an NCAA tournament team at Mercer University.

He has been a coach for 23 seasons with an overall record of 482-141.

Stroudsburg, Pa., pitcher MIke Nikorak has a 0.32 ERA this season. Facebook photo

Mike Nikorak made the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team and has bolstered his case for the postseason team, leading Stroudsburg, Pa., to a 19-1 record. He’s pitched 22.1 innings with a record of 2-0, an ERA of 0.32 and 35 strikeouts against 16 walks. He’s hitting .417 with 20 RBI and a team-leading six homers in 60 at-bats. Until the regular season American Family Insurance ALL-USA baseball team comes out in June, we’re looking at players who deserve consideration.

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Homepage

MORE: College Park’s Joe DeMers has consistently improved

MORE: Oak Ridge’s Luken Baker is a double-threat as a prospect

Name and school: Mike Nikorak, Stroudsburg, Pa.

Height, weight:  6-5, 225
Bats/throws: Right/right
Baseball future: The senior pitcher has signed with Alabama but is considered a likely first-round draft choice.

Stroudsburg baseball coach Phil Stokes has sympathy for his opponents when Mike Nikorak is pitching.

“He’s got to look like a giant out there,” Stokes said. “It’s coming so fast that you don’t have time to react.”

Nikorak snared the attention of pro scouts when he pitched well in various events last summer.

“Last summer was the first year I really branched off and traveled a lot,” Nikorak said. “It was a huge eye-opener for me, being able to play with some of the greatest athletes around. It put a perspective on how I need to be and what kind of player I could be.”

Jeff Petty, the coach of Nikorak’s summer league team, the Evoshield Canes, said Nikorak’s consistency and ease of throwing brought him attention.

“He was dominant last spring, but not a lot of people saw him,” Petty said. “Then we went down to Fort Myers in the Perfect Game National Showcase and he was seen by all the major league teams and he was up to 97 mph and had demand of his breaking ball. He throws hard without maximum effort. His motion is really easy. That’s when he blew onto the scene. The next week, he pitched for us as the University of North Carolina and had similar stuff. Then, he threw in Atlanta at the Perfect Game world championship and again, just dominant stuff. He had a one-hit shutout. He continued to do that all summer.”

Though he had been Stroudsburg’s starting quarterback his sophomore and junior years, Nikorak said he knew then his future was in baseball and he skipped his senior year of football to work out more and add 25 pounds.

“I think the big thing for me is I really got after it in the offseason,” Nikorak said. “I wanted to try to put on some pounds and when I throw, I’m feeling nice and loose. My mph on my fastball climbed a little bit so it’s consistently 93 to 96. I didn’t throw my curveball much around the (summer) circuit, but during the offseason, I worked on the angle of it a bit. There was a lot going on that I wanted to do.”

Stokes said Nikorak has definitely matured in his approach to the game.

“What’s impressive is his overall composure,” Stokes said. “I would say he’s more in control this season, just in the way he handles himself and his situations and the way he goes in putting in his work. You should see him talking to the younger kids when we run clinics in the winter, the way he can command their attention.”

As this may be the last season he gets to swing the bat, he’s enjoyed taking his whacks, even if that means an occasional strikeout.

“I haven’t seen too many pitches to hit after I went 5-for-5 with two homers and seven RBI in our first game of the season,” Nikorak said. “I have been swinging the bat pretty well the last couple of years and being competitive, I’m trying to swing at anything.”

His older brother Steve played infield for Stroudsburg and Temple. He was drafted in the 32nd round in 2012 by the Chicago White Sox and on Wednesday was traded from one independent team, the New Jersey Jackals of the Can-Am League, to another independent team, the St. Paul Saints of the American Association.

“He’s helped me drastically when it comes to dealing with pro scouts,” Nikorak said. “He’s always been the guy I could go to for an answer. The fact that he’s where I’m headed really helps.”

For much of the season, he’s been held to various pitch counts, so he hasn’t had a chance for a lot of decisions.

“Right now, he doesn’t need to be taxed because scouts have seen what he can do,” Petty said. “I think it’s just a matter of getting to pro ball as fast as he can and learning how to face professional hitters and grow.”

Nikorak said he’s not concerned about his draft status.

“I still think it’s a little early to tell,” Nikorak said. “I think I’ve been performing well on the mound. As of now, I’m not exactly sure where I’ll get picked. I’m not worried about it, whatever team it is, is perfectly fine.”

Connellsville sophomore Madison Wiltrout set a national record in the javelin on Thursday. Twitter photo.

Last year, Madison Wiltrout learned how to throw the javelin with the help of YouTube videos. On Thursday, the sophomore from Connellsville, Pa., set a national girls high school record in the event. Her only throw at the Western Pennsylvania Interscholastic Athletic League Class AAA Central Regional qualifier at Norwin (North Huntington) went 185 feet, eight inches.

The previous mark was 181-2, set by Haley Crouser of Gresham, Ore., in 2012.

While Wiltrout won the state Class AAA meet last year as a freshman, her throw Thursday was stunning because her previous best, set at the Penn Relays last month, was 168-5, which was then the state record. Officials at Thursday’s WPIAL meet had to find a metal tape measure long enough to measure the throw.

Wiltrout, who also plays girls basketball for Connellsville,  honed her throwing style as an All-Star pitcher and center fielder in Little League.

Wiltrout’s record throw leads our American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week. The rest of the top performances:

Stevie Baird, softball, Beech, Hendersonville, Tenn.

Senior, who has signed with Lee University, hit a walk-off grand slam with two outs to give her team a 12-2 win by the 10-run rule on Wednesday.

Sharrika Barnett, track and field, Oak Ridge, Orlando

Senior, who has signed with Florida, won the 400 meters at the Class 4A state meet Saturday in 52.67 seconds, the fastest time in the nation this season.

Jessica Eaton and Shannon Buchanan, softball, Kempsville, Virginia Beach, Va.

Eaton, a senior, went 5-for-5 with six RBI, including a two-run homer and Shannon Buchanan, a junior, threw a perfect game in an 18-0 defeat of Maury (Norfolk) on Tuesday.

Megan Gorman, lacrosse, Vero Beach, Fla.

Junior midfielder scored five goals, including three in the second half, to lift her team to an 11-8 defeat of Ponte Vedra in the state championship game Saturday. Vero Beach has won 144 consecutive in-state games.

Gabrielle Jennings, track and field, First Baptist, Slidell, La.

Junior won four events Thursday in the Class C state meet and holds 37 career state titles. She won the 3,200-meter run, ran the anchor leg on the 4 x 400-meter relay and broke her own state Class C records in the 800 and 1,600.

Jim Magson, baseball, Hamden Hall, Hamden, Conn.

Senior hit a grand slam, a double and a walk-off three-run homer for eight RBI in a 15-14 defeat of West Haven on Wednesday. He also got the win in relief.

Jordan Stringfield, softball, Wellsville, Kan.

Freshman tied the team’s single-season record for homers, going 6-for-6 with two homers and eight RBI in a doubleheader sweep of Burlingame on Wednesday.

Ben Wanger, baseball, Belmont Hill, Belmont, Mass.

Senior threw a perfect game and hit a three-run double in a 10-0 defeat of Noble and Greenough (Dedham) on Wednesday.

Daz Cameron of Eagles Landing Christian (McDonough, Ga.) is a five-tool player who hit .438 this year for the 20-5 Chargers. Photo: Photo: Jeff Hurndon

Daz Cameron made the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team and has bolstered his case for the postseason team, leading Eagles Landing Christian (McDonough, Ga.) to a 20-5 record. He hit .438 with eight homers, 32 RBI, 37 runs and 19 steals. Until the regular season American Family Insurance ALL-USA baseball team comes out in June, we’re looking at players who deserve consideration.

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Homepage

MORE: College Park’s Joe DeMers has consistently improved

MORE: Oak Ridge’s Luken Baker is a double-threat as a prospect

MORE: Stroudsburg’s Mike Nikorak putting heat on opponents

Name and school: Daz Cameron, Eagles Landing Christian, McDonough, Ga.

Height, weight:  6-1, 186
Bats/throws: Right/right

Baseball future: The senior center fielder has signed with Florida State but is considered a likely first-round draft choice.

Daz Cameron has an all-around game that would make him a natural in several sports. He could be a wide receiver or defensive back in football. In basketball, he can dunk with either hand. But not surprisingly, because his father was former Major League outfielder and one-time All-Star Mike Cameron, he’s focused on baseball.

“I have been around (baseball) since I was out of the womb,” Cameron said. “I just loved the atmosphere of coming to the ballpark when I was young. I just got used to being around it. Now, when I’m home, I’m watching baseball, looking for the little things that could make you a better player. I could have played football or basketball, but I wanted to work on one sport.”

What’s making scouts drool is there is no glaring weakness in Cameron’s game. His glove and speed are good enough that he’s will likely stay in center field in college or the pros.

Cameron hit leadoff for the Chargers and even on those rare occasions when he didn’t hit, he usually managed to reach base and somehow score a run, scoring in all but five games this season.

“I tried to do whatever I could do to help my team,” Cameron said. “I felt like if I didn’t get a hit, I would get on base somehow. If I’m not hitting, I’m trying to play hard and make plays in the field.”

In a 6-4 defeat of Hebron Christian Academy (Dacula) in March, Cameron made his most memorable catch of the season.

“I was playing a little bit shallow and the ball was hit over my head,” he said. “I went straight back, put my head down, then looked left and right and made the catch and hit the wall hard after that. I was worried that I hit my head, but I was excited because I love making good catches.”

“I’ve seen a couple of catches he’s made that have been tremendous,” Eagles Landing coach Doug Campbell said. “He glides when he runs but he gets a great jump on the first step. He doesn’t look like he’s putting that much effort, but he’s moving and is very smooth.”

Though Cameron stole 19 bases, that’s one area where Campbell could see some room for improvement.

“I think his strengths are his natural ability,” Campbell said. “His speed and his arm and his ability to hit just come natural to him. His batting is his strongest point as far as his being a good contact hitter. He doesn’t strike out much at all. If he has something to work on, it is his instincts on the bases. He’s as quick as anybody, but that extra instinct that makes you a dangerous runner.”

Cameron agrees with Campbell.

“I feel like I need to learn to run the bases a lot more and knowing situations better,” Cameron said. “My dad is working with me a lot with that. I never got the chance to focus on that part of the game.”

Cameron has had the attention of scouts since he was 14 and went down to play summer baseball at a tournament in Jupiter, Fla.

“That was what got me on the map a little bit,” Cameron said. “That’s when I started seeing good pitching. Obviously, baseball is hard and gets harder at every level. I just have to get acclimated. I feel like I am confident enough to compete and stay within my game.”

El Dorado High School’s baseball MVP? Matt Smith will play at Sacramento State next season. (Photo: Krysten Kellum, Mountain Democrat)

Matt Smith, a senior outfielder at El Dorado (Placerville, Calif.) who is headed to Sacramento State next season, hit his 14^th homer of the season to lift his team to a 2-1 defeat of Liberty Ranch (Galt) last week.

He leads the nation in homers and the state with 57 RBI and is hitting .598 with a 1.217 slugging percentage.

His effort leads our American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week. The rest of the top performances:

 Mike Brannigan, track and field, Northport, N.Y.

Senior set the state 3,200-meter record Friday in the Glenn D. Loucks Games in White Plains, finishing in eight minutes, 42.92 seconds.

Candace Hill, track and field, Rockdale County, Conyers, Ga.

Sophomore runner bested her own state records in the 100 and 200 meters at the girls 6A state meet Saturday. She won the 100 in 11.34 seconds and the 200 in 23.05, the top time in the nation this season. She also holds the top time in the 100 this season, as she ran 11.30 at the Mobile (Ala.) Challenge of Champions on April 4.

Matt Katnik, track and field, St. John Bosco, Bellflower, Calif.

Senior, who has signed with Southern Cal, threw the shot 72 feet and three inches Friday at the Trinity League Championships. It was the top high school throw this season and the No. 2 mark all-time in the state.

Dominique and Madison Martinez, softball, Othello, Wash.

Dominique, a sophomore, threw a perfect game in a 12-0 defeat of Prosser on Wednesday and Madison, a junior, followed with a no-hitter in an 18-0 defeat of Prosser.

Josh Nixon, baseball, Minster, Ohio

Junior right-hander threw a seven-inning perfect game in a 2-0 Division IV baseball sectional finals defeat of Perry on Wednesday.

Nick Parr, baseball, Oletangy Liberty, Powell, Ohio

Senior right-hander threw his second perfect game of the season in a 10-0 district playoff defeat of Hayes (Delaware) on Wednesday.

Tannon Snow, softball, Chino Hills, Calif.

Senior, who has signed with Washington, hit two homers Wednesday in a 6-5 loss to Los Osos (Rancho Cucamonga), to improve her state record total to 26 this season. She also extended her state career record to 58  homers.

Josie Wood, softball, North Miami, Denver, Ind.

Senior left-handed pitcher, who has signed with Indiana, threw a five-inning perfect game in a 12-0 win at Southwood (Wabash) on Wednesday.

Kyle Tucker hit 31 homers in his career at Plant. (Photo: Brighthouse Network)

Kyle Tucker didn’t make the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team but he has muscled his way into contention for the ALL-USA postseason team, leading Plant (Tampa)  to a 16-8 record. He hit .494 with 10 homers, 27 RBI, 29 runs and 10 stolen bases and had an on-base percentage of .964. Until the regular season American Family Insurance ALL-USA baseball team comes out in June, we’re looking at players who deserve consideration.

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Homepage

MORE: Eagles Landing Christian’s Daz Cameron has been dazzling

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Kyle Tucker
School: Plant, Tampa
Height, weight:  6-4, 190
Bats/throws: Left/right

Baseball future: The senior center fielder has signed with Florida but is considered a potential first-round draft choice. His older brother Preston, who played at Plant and Florida, was called up to the Houston Astros last week as a left fielder after leading the minors with 10 homers this season.

Baseball scouts may have whiffed their judgments on Preston when he was at Plant, but they weren’t sleeping on Kyle.

“When he was a sophomore, they called him Ted Williams,” said Plant coach Dennis Braun, chuckling. “Boy, there’s nowhere to go but down from that. They throw out so many names of I can’t keep track of them. All I know is Kyle, like his brother, can hit. You can’t teach putting the barrel on the ball and that’s the quality everybody is looking for.”

Kyle and the rest of his family flew out to Anaheim with little notice last week for Preston’s major league debut with the Astros.

“That was really cool,” Kyle said. “He got the call Wednesday. He called us about an hour later after he made his arrangements. My parents were right on the computer, booking a flight for the next day and we left the next morning. It was kind of hectic, getting the flights. It was worth it, getting to see him play on a major league field. You don’t really expect to play with those big names and then all of a sudden, he’s on the field playing with them.”

Preston is nearly seven years older than Kyle and a natural lefty. Because Kyle grew up watching his brother play, he began hitting from the left side even though he throws right-handed. Kyle hit 31 career homers at Plant, breaking his brother’s record of 29.

“I didn’t talk to him about that,” Kyle said. “He’s in the middle of the season and I didn’t want to distract him. I’ll tell him (about the record) once he gets used to playing for Houston.”

Kyle didn’t play in a lot of summer showcases and wasn’t high in a lot of mock drafts, until he continued to bang out hits early in the season.

“There were times there were four or five front-office guys who showed up at our field and over the season, we saw 60 to 80 scouts,” Braun said. “For whatever reason, when they showed up, he did something great.”

“I keep to my own game,” Kyle said. “I don’t try to overdo anything and show off. You have to treat scouts like they’re just fans. Sometimes when you’re standing in the outfield or dugout, you’ll notice them, but not when you’re at bat.”

Plant plays in one of the most competitive districts in the state and several pitchers were willing to challenge Kyle, though few threw him fastballs.

“I tried to look for specific pitches in certain counts,” he said. “I knew I wasn’t going to get any fastballs, at least none down the middle. If they were going to walk me, I would let them.”

“Kyle never goes out of the zone,” Braun said. “Very rarely will you see him chase a bad pitch. That’s why he had 25 walks. They pitched to him cautiously and a lot of kids get frustrated with that but I was pretty impressed he was able to stay in the zone. He looks like a pro out there and makes it look easy.”

It is possible Kyle and Preston could eventually play in the same outfield as the Astros have two first-round selections in the June draft, at No. 2 and No. 5.

“That would be special,” Kyle said. “Because of our age difference, we’ve never been on the same team, except when we played in the backyard with the Whiffle ball and those games got kind of intense.”

Shortstop Cadyn Grenier led Bishop Gorman to a state Division I title this season. Photo by Greg Cava.

Cadyn Grenier made the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team and is in prime position to make the postseason ALL-USA postseason team. The senior shortstop led Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas) to a 32-3 record and the Nevada Division I title. He hit .472 with six homers, 35 RBI, 66 runs and 27 stolen bases. Until the regular season American Family Insurance ALL-USA baseball team comes out in June, we’re looking at players who deserve consideration.

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Homepage

MORE: Plant’s Kyle Tucker follows his brother’s career arc

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Cadyn Grenier
School: Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas
Height, weight:  5-11, 180
Bats/throws: Right/right

Baseball future: Signed with Oregon State and is considered a potential first or second-round pick in the June Major League Baseball Amateur Draft.

Cadyn Grenier ended his baseball career at Bishop Gorman in the best way possible, hitting a walkoff homer to give the Gaels a state title. With the score tied at 5-5 in the ninth inning with Green Valley (Henderson) on Saturday, Grenier hit a 1-1 pitch over the right-field wall to give the Gaels a 6-5 victory.

“If you had told me I would end my high school career that way, I would not have believed it,” Grenier said. “It was an up and away fastball that tailed a bit because it was (thrown by) a lefty. I went with the pitch, hit it to right and it kept going and going and then I saw it bouncing over the fence. Everyone was so surprised.”

Well, almost everyone. Listen to what Bishop Gorman coach Gino DiMaria said last week, a few days before Grenier’s walkoff homer.

“There’s nothing he does that surprises me after some of the things I’ve seen him do,” DiMaria said. “I think that’s why the scouts are so high on him. They’re starting to send the big guys around, so I know it’s getting serious.”

Grenier has been around baseball since he was a 4-year-old, playing in a T-ball league for 5-year-olds. His mother, Julie Grenier, is a tournament director for the Vegas Valley Baseball League. His father, now a senior account executive for CBS Radio, is a former assistant general manager for the then-Las Vegas Stars’ Triple-A team and was Cadyn’s Little League coach. Cadyn’s older brother, Justen, played junior college baseball.

“They’ll all say something if they see something they don’t like,” Grenier said. “My mom is worse than my dad in that sense. If she sees something she doesn’t like, she’s going to confront me and tell me about it. She won’t talk about my batting, she knows she doesn’t have the experience to fix that. She’ll let me know if I don’t hustle, or if I reach for a ground ball.”

Baseball has also allowed him to blend the sport he loves with charity work, as one of his regular volunteer activities is with the Miracle League of Las Vegas, which allows children with cognitive or physical challenges the chance to play baseball with the assistance of “buddies” such as Grenier.

“At Gorman, we’re required to have 100 hours of community service,” Grenier said. “For me, that was easy. Volunteer work has become a big staple in what I do. It’s a big part of my life. I got to work for different organizations in Vegas. The Miracle League is baseball-oriented. It’s for girls and boys and even for those older. All the age groups are out there having fun. There’s no keeping score. My mom helped me set up something where our whole varsity team went out there and it was awesome. It mixes my life with baseball and allows me help these people experience the most I can for them.”

Grenier got to where he is by grinding, trying to improve every day, but he said one area he needs to work on is forgetting his own mistakes and moving on.

“As a player, I’m really a perfectionist,” Grenier said. “When I struggle a bit, I get down a bit. I’ve gotten so much better at brushing things off and going out there, no matter what happens. At the same time, being a perfectionist is what has driven me.”

Lake Mary, Fla., shortstop Brendan Rodgers is expected to lead a strong group of shortstops in this year’s draft, which means it is hard to gauge where Grenier will land.

“Even if I go in the first 15 spots in the draft, it will be a hard decision for me (whether to go pro or to Oregon State),” Grenier said. “Regardless, I have a great support system with my family. I know I am going to make the right choice for me. Having this kind of decision is a good problem.”

Trenton Clark hit .552 with three homers and 11 stolen bases with 34 walks this season for Richland (Richland Hills, Texas). WFAA photo.

Trenton Clark made the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team and has bolstered his case for the postseason team, hitting. .552 with 24 RBI, three homers and 11 stolen bases this season for Richland (North Richland Hills, Texas). Until the regular season American Family Insurance ALL-USA baseball team comes out in June, we’re looking at players who deserve consideration.

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Homepage

MORE: Cadyn Grenier leads Bishop Gorman to state title

PLAYER PROFILE:

Name: Trenton Clark
School: Richland, North Richland Hills, Texas.
Height, weight:  6-0, 200
Bats/throws: Left/left

Baseball future: The senior center fielder has signed with Texas Tech but is considered a likely first-round draft choice.

After hitting 10 homers last season, including one at Arlington that went through a classroom window, Trenton Clark got used to being pitched around this season. He walked 34 times, including three times with the bases loaded.

“They did pitch around him a bunch,” Richland coach Chuck Wells said. “They walked him twice during district play with the bases loaded. He still hit over .500 in the district and with runners in scoring position, his average was around .800. More importantly that that, he was a phenomenal teammate. At times, we might have 70 scouts at batting practice, but at no point this year, did it become about him.”

Clark led Team USA at the COPABE 18U Pan American Championship with a .538 average. He also put the international experience to use this season, particularly on defense, he said.

“I started taking my defense seriously this season,” Clark said. “It meant making sure I was locked in every single pitch. In the past, I got by on my athleticism, but I did a much better job of getting a good jump and reading the play. I felt like I came into the year knowing I would have a big role on the team and I had the opportunity to leave a legacy of being positive.”

Wells said he encouraged Clark to swing away more.

“We had to tell him to be less selective at the plate,” Wells said. “He had to change his approach at the plate because people would throw a lot of pitches off the plate. One time, they were trying to walk him and he hit it over the left-field wall. He only had four or five swings for misses, where he didn’t make some type of contact.”

In one game, Richland trailed 9-3 when Clark came up with the bases loaded and was walked.

“He told the guy on deck, ‘It’s your turn’ and the kid hits it off the left-field wall for a bases-clearing triple,” Wells said. “He had a lot of confidence in the rest of his teammates. For us to get into the league playoffs as one of the smaller schools in our division, he was a big reason.”

Follow Jim Halley on Twitter at @jimhalley

Sandia Prep pitcher Joe Martinez (13), in center, celebrates with teammate after his perfect game in the New Mexico 4A state championship on Saturday. Twitter photo

Joe Martinez came up with the perfect moment to throw a perfect game. The Sandia Prep (Albuquerque, N.M.) sophomore struck out 15 and allowed no base runners in his team’s 4A state championship defeat of Rudioso on Saturday.

It was only his second career start. For his effort, Martinez leads the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week. The rest of the top performances:

Rai Benjamin, track and field, Mount Vernon, N.Y.

Senior broke a 38-year-old state record in the 400-meter hurdles Sunday at the Westchester County Championships in Byram Hills with a time of 50.45 seconds. He also won the 100 and ran one of the legs on the winning 1,600-meter relay.

Tate Brock, baseball, Hurricane, W.Va.

Senior catcher, a West Virginia signee, hit a walk-off grand slam to give his team a 13-0 defeat of Lincoln County (Hamlin) on Wednesday.

Taylor Conley, softball, Dennis-Yarmouth, Yarmouth, Mass.

Junior shortstop hit for the cycle, finishing with five RBI, in an 11-1 defeat of Martha’s Vineyard on Monday. On Wednesday, she went 4-for-5 in a 15-3 defeat of Nauset (Eastham).

Micaela Dix, softball, Hunterdon Central, Flemington, N.J.

Junior third baseman-pitcher hit a two-out, three-run walk-off homer in her team’s 15-12 defeat of Marlboro in the state Central Group IV quarterfinals on Wednesday. She finished the game 4-for-5 with five RBI.

Zach Gentle, lacrosse, Westfield, Mass.

Sophomore scored seven goals and assisted on two in a 15-6 defeat of Minnechaug (Wilbraham) on Monday.

Kate Kinsella, lacrosse, Wall, Wall Township, N.J.

Junior scored seven goals, including one with 53 seconds left in regulation to send the game into overtime and the game-winning goal in overtime, in a 13-12 South Group III quarterfinal defeat of Colts Neck on Monday.

Hannah Larson, softball, Marysville-Pilchuck, Marysville, Wash.

Junior first baseman hit for the cycle, including a ninth-inning walk-off grand slam, in a 14-10 defeat of Oak Harbor on May 11.

Stephanie Lin, badminton, Lyons Township, La Grange, Ill.

Senior defeated Judy Yang in three sets Saturday to become the first person in the state to earn three state badminton titles in a row, finishing her career with a record of 45-2.

Nicole Montgomery, track and field, Lewis-Palmer, Monument, Colo.

Kansas signee ran the 400 meters in 52.95 seconds, the second-fastest time in the country this season, to win the event at the state 4A meet on Saturday. She also won the 200 and 100 meters at the state meet.