Griffin, Ga., shortstop Cornelius Griffin hit .526 with seven homers this season. Photo: John Sullivan/Griffin Daily News

Cornelius Randolph didn’t make the American Family Insurance ALL-USA preseason baseball team but has played his way into contention for the postseason team, hitting .526 with seven homers, 11 doubles and a .934 slugging percentage in 76 at-bats this season for Griffin, Ga. 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: Pitchers wary of Richland’s Trenton Clark

PLAYER PROFILE:

Name: Cornelius Griffin
School: Griffin, Ga.
Height, weight:  6-1, 190
Bats/throws: Left/right

Baseball future: The senior shortstop has signed with Clemson but is considered a likely first-round draft choice.

Cornelius Randolph is drawing comparisons these days to former Griffin baseball player Tim Beckham, who made the 2008 ALL-USA team.

Like Beckham, Randolph has the skills to go high in the first round, though it’s not likely he will be the first overall choice, like Beckham was in 2008, though Randolph has the higher upside as a hitter. He grew up hitting left-handed because that’s the side of the plate his older brother Xavier, who played on the same team as Beckham, hit from.

“My brother went through a lot growing up that helped me,” Randolph said. “He didn’t know about the travel ball scene, but he wound up playing for a small college in Alabama until his career ended with a blown-out knee. He wants me to do better and never take the game for granted.”

The senior shortstop could eventually end up as a third baseman or an outfielder, but Griffin needed him at shortstop and occasionally, as a pitcher.

“I put him at shortstop because he was the best athlete on the field,” Griffin coach Alex Wyche said. “He doesn’t try to do too much at the plate. He has a wide base and stays on top of the ball. Of his seven homers, four were to dead center and maybe one was pulled to right. The rest were to left.”

Randolph hit .446 with 27 RBI last season so Wyche had Randolph hit leadoff this season to make sure teams had to pitch to him. Still, he finished with 27 walks.

“At the beginning of the year, teams tried to pitch around him,” Wyche said. “He didn’t miss pitches. He drove the ball really well, especially the second half of the season when it wasn’t so cold. After the fifth or sixth game of the season, he was really stroking the ball.”

Randolph’s relaxed attitude served him well when the pressure was on. In an early season game, there were 40 scouts to see him hit against Pike County (Zebulon) pitcher Tristin English, who has signed with Georgia Tech. Randolph went 2-for-4 with an RBI.

“For a high schooler, he plays the game above his ears and understands the game,” Wyche said. “He was never overwhelmed by the situation or the pressure. In the game against English, he led off the game with a double off the left-center field wall. He knew his future was on the line and everyone wanted to see what he would do against this pitcher and he was calm and collected the whole time.”

Follow Jim Halley on Twitter @jimhalley

Saints quarterback Drew Brees greets Callaway baketball star Malik Newman (Photo: Joe Ellis, Clarion-Ledger)

JACKSON, Miss. – Malik Newman sat amongst more than 1,000 high school athletes from all over Mississippi Thursday night at the Clarion Ledger’s first Best of MS Preps awards banquet watching intently as New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees took the stage at the Jackson Convention Complex and talked about the values of leadership, perseverance, sacrifice and never giving up.

“That’s how I got my wife, by never giving up!” Brees said with a laugh. “So use that as a lesson; keep pushing!”

As impressed as Newman was with Brees’ story of how he landed his wife Brittany, the biggest thing Newman took away from Brees’ words, bigger than the American Family Insurance ALL-USA first team honor or the Boys’ Basketball Player of the Year and Male Athlete of the Year hardware, was the realization that he hasn’t accomplished anything.

RELATED: The Malik Newman Blog

Wait, what?

“Drew Brees talked a lot about always pushing yourself to go harder and I have to have the mindset that what I did in high school doesn’t mean anything,” Newman said. “Because the reality is, it doesn’t. It’s like if you take a test on a Monday and get an A; your teacher isn’t gonna just give you another A for your test on Friday. The past is the past; now I’m hungry to prove myself for the future.”

Brookhaven linebacker Leo Lewis’ coach Tommy Clopton received Lewis’ ALL-USA first team honor. Lewis, who racked up 76 tackles (58 of which were solo tackles) a sack and fumble recovery last season, was unable to attend. Lewis is a Mississippi State signee.

RELATED: More coverage from the Best of MS Preps event

Newman’s memory loss motivational tactic will be tough to realistically pull off; c’mon, his list of accolades reads like a lifetime achievement speech.

Newman led Callaway to four consecutive 5A state titles and a 31-3 record this season while averaging 29.8 points. 5.7 rebounds and 4.2 assists per game. He was MVP of the FIBA World Championships while playing for USA Basketball’s U17 National Team, an ALL-USA first teamer, a McDonald’s All American and a Jordan Brand All American.

All that mentally wiped away?

“Yeah because that won’t get me better in college,” said Newman, who will report to Mississippi State on June 2. “I’ll enjoy these awards tonight, but I’ve already graduated high school so that part of the book is over. This is a new chapter. I feel like we’ve got the pieces to make noise next year, but we’ve gotta work. I’m coming in there like I’m a nobody, I’m looking at the team like we’re nobody and we’ve got to make people know who we are. That takes work; I’m ready to work.”

More than 2,500 people attended the inaugural event. It was the largest dinner service in the convention center history, according to Clarion-Ledger publisher Jason Taylor.

“We’re overwhelmed at the attendance, excitement and energy in the room,” Taylor said. “Some of the stories are so powerful. I think it is really inspiring because sometimes Mississippi is treated as an underdog, but tonight we’re celebrating champions.”

Follow Jason Jordan on Twitter: @JayJayUSATODAY

McQuaid’s Henry Buholtz struck out 16 and threw a no-hitter in a 2-0 win over Rush-Henrietta. (Photo: Jamie Germano/Democrat and Chronicle)

Henry Buholtz, a senior left-hander from McQuaid (Rochester), threw a 16-strikeout no-hitter in a 2-0 defeat of Rush-Henrietta (Henrietta) on Thursday for the New York Section V Class AA championship.

To make things even more interesting, the Dayton-bound player had to pitch himself out of a bases-loaded jam in the seventh and deciding inning, throwing his final strikeout  to end the threat.

“Every kid dreams of pitching a big game at Frontier Field, as a senior, any year in high school,” Buholtz told the Rochester Democrat and Chronicle. “It’s just the biggest dream in high school. I didn’t even know I had a no-hitter for the longest time. I just wanted it (the victory) for my team because this has been our goal since Day 1.”

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

Zoe Casas, softball, Aquinas, San Bernardino, Calif.

The senior outfielder, a Florida State signee, ended her high school career Thursday with one hit in a 2-1 CIF Southern Section Division 4 playoff loss to Dos Pueblos (Goleta), increasing her state-record career hits total to 251. She struck out only three times in four years at Aquinas.

Morgan Day, girls lacrosse, Kennard-Dale, Fawn Grove, Pa.

Senior attacker set the national career record for most goals in her team’s 15-11 District 3 tournament defeat of Susquehannock (Glen Rock) on May 21. On Wednesday, she finished her high school career with four more goals in a 17-7 state tournament loss to Great Valley (Malvern) to boost her record to 465 goals.

Zach Duff, baseball, Jefferson Forest, Forest, Va.

Radford signee, a senior catcher, hit a walk-off three-run homer in a 5-3 defeat of Salem on Wednesday in a Conference 24 semifinal.

Allie Gaff, softball, DeKalb, Waterloo, Ind.

Junior hit a walk-off two-run home run with one out in the eighth inning to give her team a 3-1 defeat of Carroll (Fort Wayne) Tuesday in a Class 4A sectional semifinal.

Kelsi Gamble, track and field, Douglas, Wyo.

Junior sprinter won four gold medals at the state 3A meet last weekend in Casper, winning the 100 and 200 meters and finishing on the winning 4×100 and 4×400 relay teams.

Kendal Judge, softball, Providence Catholic, New Lenox, Ill.

Junior pitcher, who has committed to Minnesota, struck out 20 batters in a seven-inning perfect game defeat of Thornton Fractional South (Lansing) on Wednesday in a Class 4A Providence Regional semifinal. It was her first no-hitter, though she already holds the school career record for strikeouts.

Peter Lambert, baseball, San Dimas, Calif.

UCLA signee improved to 12-0 with a 0.37 ERA last Friday in a one-hit 9-0 defeat of La Quinta in a CIF Southern Section Division 3 playoff game. He also homered in the game.

Mike Messere, boys lacrosse, West Genesee, Camillus, N.Y.

Coach won his 800th game as his team defeated Cicero-North Syracuse 13-3 on Saturday. He is the all-time leader in boys lacrosse victories. His team then defeated Auburn 16-9 on Wednesday for the Section 3 Class A title.

Cale Ohlms, baseball, St. Charles, Mo.

Senior pitcher threw a five-inning no-hitter Tuesday in a 11-1 Class 4 playoff defeat of Miller Career (St. Louis).

The Neumann-Goretti girls basketball team accepts the national championship banner for finishing No. 1 in the Super 25 rankings (Photo: Rich Ormanowski)

PHILADELPHIA — The undefeated Neumann-Goretti girls basketball team marked its perfect season this week by receiving the Super 25 national championship banner from USA TODAY High School Sports.

Coach Andrea Peterson also was presented with the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Basketball Coach of the Year trophy.

The Saints finished 31-0 and won the Philadelphia Catholic League title, the city title and a PIAA title. The state title victory came a year after Neumann-Goretti finished 29-1 with the lone loss coming in the state title game.

RELATED: Final Super 25 Girls Basketball rankings

Neumann-Goretti took over the No. 1 spot in the rankings on Jan. 13 when it was 11-0, moving up from No. 2, and never relinquished the spot as it did not lose.

The team was led by a backcourt of Georgia Tech-bound Ciani Cryor and Towson-bound A.J. Timbers and a frontcourt led by 6-5 forward Christina Aborowa, who’s signed with Texas, and 6-9 junior Felicia “Fee” Aiyeotan, ranked as one of the top 10 post players in the Class of 2016.

Neumann-Goretti coach Andrea Peterson receives her American Family Insurance ALL-USA Coach of the Year trophy (Photo: Rich Ormanowski)

Peterson took over as coach when Letty Santarelli resigned for personal reasons just before the start of the season.

Peterson is a former player for St. John’s and Drexel and holds an undergraduate and master’s degree from Drexel. She coached AAU basketball, then spent a season as an assistant at Stetson before becoming an assistant at Neumann-Goretti.

RELATED: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Girls Basketball Teams

“Winning the state championship was the (high point) of the season,” she says. “Seeing the players’ excitement and knowing that we took care of unfinished business after going 29-1 and losing in the state championship last year. Our players fought so much controversy this season and put it aside. They bought into our motto of family first.”

Ryan Ward has led Hood River Valley (Hood River, Ore.) at the plate and on the mound. Hood River News photo by Photo by Ben Mitchell.

Ryan Ward has gone 57 consecutive innings without allowing an earned run, helping Hood River Valley (Hood River, Ore.) back to the state 5A championship game, to be played Saturday.

The senior right-hander, who has signed with Washington State, threw a no-hitter with 17 strikeouts in a 5-0 playoff win May 27 vs. Dallas. He followed that up with 10 strikeouts in an eight-inning 1-0 defeat of Pendleton in a 5A semifinal on Tuesday.

Ward (8-1), who also leads Hood River Valley with a .457 batting average and 22 RBI, hasn’t allowed an earned run since March 23. For his efforts, he leads the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Performances of the Week. The rest of the top performances:

Allison Block, softball, Starpoint, Lockport, N.Y.

Senior pitcher threw a no-hitter Saturday in a 9-0 defeat of Williamsville East (East Amherst) in the Section VI Championship. She has 39 strikeouts in her last 21 innings pitched.

Andrea Elmore, softball, Mercy, Farmington Hills, Mich.

Junior pitcher threw a five-inning perfect game in a 14-0 district semifinal defeat Monday of Stevenson (Livonia). In her previous outing, she threw a six-inning perfect game.

Justin Foley, baseball, St. John’s Prep, Danvers, Mass.

Senior right-hander, who has signed with Bates, threw a no-hitter in a 1-0 defeat of Newton North (Newton) in the first round of the Super Eight state tournament on Wednesday.

Grant Fisher, track and field, Grand Blanc, Mich.

Stanford signee became the seventh U.S. high school runner in history to run a sub-four minute mile on Thursday, finishing in third place in the Nike Festival of Miles in St. Louis in 3:59.38. He also won the state 3,200 meters last weekend.

Danny Gleaves, baseball, St. Rita, Chicago

Senior outfielder a three-run homer Thursday to lead St. Rita to an 8-4 defeat of St. Laurence (Burbank, Ill.) in a 4A Mount Carmel Sectional semifinal.

Kelsey Laughman, soccer, Ankeny, Iowa

Senior forward scored all of her team’s goals in a 4-0 defeat of Norwalk in a 2A regional semifinal on Tuesday.

Hannah Long, track and field, Eureka, Mo.

Stanford signee, who has won 13 state titles, ran the fastest high school girls 800 this season, finished in two minutes. 4.23 seconds in the Festival of Miles meet in St. Louis on Thursday. She finished fifth in a field of professional runners.

 Noah McDaniel, baseball, Marshwood, South Berwick, Maine

Senior shortstop hit an eighth-inning walk-off homer in a 5-4 defeat of Cheverus (Portland) on Wednesday.

Samantha Show, softball, East Bernard, Texas

The Texas A&M signee struck out 18, a state 3A record, in a one-hit defeat of Comanche in the state semifinals on Wednesday. She also homered for the game’s only run. In her previous outing, she threw a one-hitter with 13 strikeouts in a 2-0 defeat of White Oak on Saturday.

Kyle Tucker (Photo: Mark Weaver)

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Kyle Tucker
Position: Outfield
School: Plant, Tampa
Ht.:, Wt.: 6-4, 190
Bats/throws: Left/right
College/MLB draft: Florida/Selected No. 5 overall by the Houston Astros.

Key stats: He hit .407 with eight homers, 26 RBI, 29 runs and seven stolen bases and had a slugging percentage of .962. Is the younger brother of Astros rookie outfielder Preston Tucker.

Favorite teacher: Mr. (Ed) Lastra. He was my history teacher my freshman and senior year. He was in the Marines. He had that history background and his son played baseball for Jesuit, so we could talk about history or baseball. His class was entertaining and I like how he interacted with his students.

My reality TV competition: Probably Survivor. I like to figure out ways to solve little puzzles. It’s a competitive show.

Three objects for a deserted island: A knife so I can carve stuff and for hunting, some matches to start a fire and a compass.

Favorite cartoon character: SpongeBob. I grew up watching it and still watch it sometimes.

The last time I forgot how many outs there were: I think it was either freshman or sophomore year. It was in a JV game. I caught a fly ball and didn’t realize it wasn’t the third out and guys were tagging up and scoring.

My inspiration: My brother. Baseball-wise, you can see how he acts and how he handles himself in situations. I also see how he carries himself off the field.

My clutch moment: I think my sophomore year, we were playing Alonzo. We were down five runs in the last inning. We came back to tie it and I ended up scoring from first to home on a double in the gap. I had to run over the catcher to score. We then ended up scoring the winning run and I came on in relief to pitch the last inning.

Hidden talent: I grew up playing soccer and I was pretty good at it. I’m still into watching soccer.

If I had a time machine: I always wanted to go back to the early 1900s, where everyone is at a baseball game.

Cornelius Randolph (Photo: Griffin High)

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Cornelius Randolph
Position: Infield
School: Griffin, Ga.
Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 190.
Bats/throws: Left/right
College/MLB draft: Clemson/selected No. 10 overall by Philadelphia Phillies.

Key stats: Hit . .526 with seven homers, 11 doubles and a .934 slugging percentage in 76 at-bats.

My reality TV competition would be: I can’t sing, so it would have to be Survivor. I would do well on some of the others because I’m a charming guy. But I think I would do well on Survivor because my will is strong and I am very competitive.

Three objects for a desert island: Water, food, and a baseball and/or glove.

Mistake I’ve learned from: I was driving my car and I was in a rush and I forgot to put the car in park. It rolled down the hill. I ran and caught, hopped in the car and pressed the brake.

Cartoon character I’m like: Spongebob. I’m cheerful.

Put the bat and glove in my hand: My father. He also coached my brother. When I was watching my brother, I wanted to be like him, only better.

The last time I forgot how many outs there were: Would have to be my freshman year. I was nervous and it was my first varsity start. There were two outs, a man on first and a ground ball was hit to second. The second baseman flips the ball to me, I tag for the out and then throw to first, except there was no one there. It went over the fence and up a hill.

My clutch moment: This year, we were playing our rival, Spalding County. I pitched a game and threw nine innings. The game was tied at 4-4 in the bottom of the ninth with a man on first, but the game was continued because of rain. The next day, I get up to the plate and after fouling off the first pitch, I hit it out to right-center.

Hidden talent: I can juggle up to five balls.

If I had a time machine, I would: I like dinosaurs. I would go back to that era and try to ride a dinosaur.

Cadyn Grenier (Photo: Bishop Gorman)

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Cadyn Grenier
Position: Infielder
High school: Bishop Gorman, Las Vegas
Ht.:, Wt.: 5-11, 180
Bats/throws: Right/right
College/MLB draft: Oregon State

Key stats: He hit .472 with six homers, 35 RBI, 66 runs and 27 stolen bases, leading team to a state Division I title.

Season highlight: Winning the state title. The way we came back and me hitting the walk-off in the ninth inning to win it. That’s all I wanted. The draft is second to winning a state title.

Favorite teacher: Mr. (Kenneth) Stedman. I had him for three years at Bob Miller Middle School in my upper-level math classes. Naturally, I had a pretty good realationship with him. I still go back and see him.

My reality TV competition: I would probably do best in something like Top Chef or Iron Chef. I love to compete and those shows mix with my chef talents. My grandpa passed away last March and I got my love for cooking from him. He smoked ribs and that’s my best dish.

Three objects on a deserted island: My baseball glove, a baseball and a machete..

Mistake I’ve learned from: I did run into a tree while snowboarding once. Don’t go near the big things with the leaves.

 My cartoon character: I like Taz and that’s probably who I’m most like.

Put the first bat and glove in my hand: My dad. I was probably 21/2.

The last time I forgot how many outs there were: The beginning of this season. I was on second and somebody hit a fly ball. I ran like there were two outs.

My inspiration: Definitely my brother (Justen). He tells me stuff all the time that gets me inspired and watching how he carries himself. My brother inspires me a lot and my parents do a lot. They won’t let me give up on my dreams.

Hidden talent: I used to be really good at snowboarding. If that’s a hidden talent. I had to quit two years ago because of baseball.

If I had a time machine: I would probably go back to the 1920s. I’ve always loved the 20s and the culture back then, how guys acted. Obviously Babe Ruth was playing back then. I’ve done a lot of research on him.

Brendan Rodgers (Photo: Eric Steiner Photography)

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Brendan Rodgers
Position: Infielder
School: Lake Mary (Fla.)
Ht.: 6-1. Wt.: 195.
Bats/throws: Right/right
College/MLB draft: Signed with Florida State/Drafted No. 3 overall by the Colorado Rockies.

Key stats: Considered an elite fielder at shortstop, he hit .368 with 23 RBI and eight homers.

Favorite teachers: Probably Dante Bichette and Tom Gordon. I’ve been around those two for four years.

My reality TV competition: Survivor. I used to watch that when I was younger. I think that would be the most fun. You really have to work to win it.

Three objects for a deserted island: Water, some sort of first-aid kid, in case I got stung by something and a change of clothes.

Mistake I’ve learned from: My freshman year, I kind of put school behind me. I had a 3.1, but I’m a better student than that. My sophomore year, I came out of nowhere and had good grades. For the past three years, school has been first.

Season highlight: In our first preseason game (against Orangewood Christian), I probably hit one of the farthest homers I’ve had in my career. It was such a good feeling coming off the bat.

Put the bat and glove in my hand: A neighbor, Ralph Nenna. He and his son lived five blocks down and his dad asked if I wanted to come out for tryouts for baseball.

The last time I forgot how many outs there were: As the shortstop, I’m the captain of the field players, so I’m usually on top of it, most of the time, whether we’re up 10-0 or down 10-0. I may have forgotten once this season when I on first. Somebody hit a pop up and I thought there were two ours and I had to run hard back to first.

My inspiration: Obviously, my parents inspire me to play the game I love every day. They don’t let me sit on my butt and play video games. Derek Jeter is my role model because of how he played the game.

Clutch moment: In summer baseball in Jupiter, we had two games in a row where we went into extra innings in a tournament. In the quarterfinal, I came up with the bases loaded in the eighth or ninth, I think it was the third game of the day and I hit a deep pop fly to score the winning run from third. The next morning, in the semifinals, I hit the game-winning double.

Hidden talent: I’m actually pretty talented in ping-pong. That’s my pregame ritual, just to warm up before a game. I still have some soccer skills and I also played football and basketball growing up.

If I had a time machine: I would choose two or three years in advance to see where I am in my baseball career.

Coach of the Year Chan Brown of Parkview in Liliburn, Ga. (Photo: Christie Johnson)

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

Coach of the Year:
Name: Chan Brown
School: Parkview (Lilburn, Ga.)

Key stats: Won his third state title in the past five seasons. His team finished 34-2 and won its final 26 games. He has been a coach at Parkview for 12 years, including the past 11 as a head coach with an overall record of 326-121. Turns 43 on June 24. He played baseball at Tucker, Ga., then Hillsborough Community College in Tampa and Georgia State. He is married to Teaneal Brown and they have two sons, Cade, 10, and Beckett, 7.

Biggest disappointment: Losing the two games. We didn’t feel like we should have lost either of them.

Favorite teacher: David Roman was my high school baseball and football coach and was also a teacher at Tucker. He is the reason I got into this job.

My reality TV competition: Naked and Afraid or some type of grilling reality show.

Three objects on a deserted island: A baseball because I always walk around with one. A machete (I learned that watching Naked and Afraid) and probably a pillow.

Mistake I’ve learned from: As a young coach, I put so much pressure on myself, and I think some of that pressure leaked onto my teams.

Cartoon character I’m like: Growing up, I always liked the Taz.

Put the first bat and glove in my hand: My dad.

The last time I forgot how many outs there were: It’s been at least 10 years.

My inspiration: Coach (Hugh) Buchanan was my mentor at Parkview. He was here for 28 years. He and Roy Massey, who is his 52nd year as a coach, helped groom me into what I am.

Defining moment this season: We won the Perfect Game Showdown in early March. At that point, we were 8-1, then lost our first region game to Brookwood. We had a team meeting and came up with the saying, ‘Be Special.’ We won our last 26 games.

Hidden talent: If I’m not on a baseball field, I’m in a deer stand.

If I had a time machine: I think I would go forward in time to see how my two boys grew up and see what kind of men they would turn out to be. That would define what kind of job me and my wife did as parents.

Chris Betts (Photo: Steve Dachman)

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Chris Betts
Position: Catcher
School: Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.)
Ht.: 6-2. Wt.: 210.
Bats/throws: Left/right
College/MLB draft: Signed with Tennessee/Selected No. 52 overall by Tampa Bay Rays

Key stats: Hit .473 with 29 RBI and eight homers.

Season highlight: Getting to play this high school season with my friend, Jacob Barham.

Favorite teacher: Probably my fourth grade teacher, Ms. (Holly) Huber at Mark Twain Elementary because she straigtened me out. I was an awful elementary school student.

My reality TV competition: So You Think You Can Dance. I have plenty of moves.

Three objects on a deserted island: My dog, Sammie, a German Shepherd, a cowboy hat and a baseball bat.

Cartoon character I am  most like: Johnny Bravo.

Put the  bat and glove in my hand: My mom, when I was 2 or 3 and my dad was playing for UNLV.

The last time I forgot how many outs there were: I’ve honestly never done that.

My inspiration: Definitely both of my parents. They had me when they were seniors in high school. They raised me well and were great parents.

My clutch moment: Probably hitting the go-ahead base hit off one of my best friends, Kyle Molnar, against Aliso Niguel.

If I had a time machine: I would probably go back to prehistoric times, so I could see dinosaurs.

Trenton Clark (Photo: WFAA.com)

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

PLAYER PROFILE:
Name: Trenton Clark
Position: Outfield
School: Richland (North Richland Hills, Texas)
Ht.: 6-0. Wt.: 200.
Bats/throws: Left/left
College/MLB draft: Texas Tech/Selected No. 15 by the Milwaukee Brewers

Key stats: Hit .552 with 24 RBI, three homers and 11 stolen bases this season.

Favorite teacher: Coach (Kyle) Mickles. He’s an assistant baseball coach and he taught an economics class. It was my favorite subject.

My reality TV competition would be: Survivor, because I’m more of an outdoor kind of person.

My three objects on a desert island: A bottle or flask for water, a knife and a fire starter.

Mistake I’ve learned from: When I was little, I was really competitive. I was an edgy player. When I was 12 or 13, I went to cover home when somebody came in to score the winning run and their hand landed on my cleat. Out of emotion, I kicked his hand off and I came close to hitting him in the eye. The player’s parents wanted to press charges. My coach came to my home and talked to me. I had never been punished on a baseball field before because I was always one of the best players. Coach suspended me for two games and I had to address the team. I learned you have to control your emotions and learn to use them, not let them use you.

Favorite cartoon character: Arthur (a glasses-wearing aardvark on PBS).

Put the first bat and glove in my hand: My aunt. She played softball and used to watch me a bit when I was younger.

The last time I forgot how many outs there were: This past year.

An inspiration: Our head coach has really inspired me. Being in this program was about coming out a better man, preparing you for future life. We talk a lot about that.

Clutch moment: Last year, I hit a go-ahead home run in the top of the seventh, into the window of a classroom at Arlington High.

Hidden talent: I’m a very talented ping-pong player.

My time-machine destination: My favorite baseball player is Stan the Man (Musial). I would go back to 1948 to see his best season (.375 batting average, 39 homers, 131 RBI).

Most improvement: I improved a lot on defense this year because I started taking my defense seriously and made sure I was locked in every single pitch.

Luken Baker of Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas) is the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year. (Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle )

The ALL-USA Baseball Teams were selected by Jim Halley after discussions with high school baseball coaches. All of this year’s selections are seniors.

PHOTO GALLERY: ALL-USA First and Second Team Selections

Last year’s player of the year, pitcher Brady Aiken of Cathedral Catholic (San Diego), was selected No. 1 overall by the Houston Astros but did not sign. He has entered this year’s draft.

HONORS

Player of the Year: Luken Baker, Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas)

Coach of the Year:  Chan Brown, Parkview (Liliburn, Ga.)

FIRST TEAM

Chris Betts, C, Wilson (Long Beach, Calif.)

Daz Cameron, OF, Eagles Landing Christian (McDonough, Ga.)

Trenton Clark, OF, Richland (North Richland Hills, Texas)

Joe DeMers, P/OF, College Park (Pleasant Hill, Calif.)

Cadyn Grenier, IF, Bishop Gorman (Las Vegas)

Mike Nikorak, P, Stroudsburg (Pa.)

Cornelius Randolph, IF, Griffin (Ga.)

Brendan Rodgers, SS, Lake Mary (Fla.)

Kyle Tucker, OF, Plant (Tampa, Fla.) 

SECOND TEAM: Click here for the list of second-team selections

American Family Insurance ALL-USA Player of the Year, Luken Baker (Photo: Brett Coomer / Houston Chronicle)

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

PLAYER OF THE YEAR:
Name: Luken Baker
Position: Pitcher/infield
School: Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas)
Ht.: 6-4. Wt.: 250.
Bats/throws: Right/right
College/MLB draft: Texas Christian

Key stats: Was 12-1 with 120 strikeouts and an 1.02 ERA through 82 innings pitched. He hit  .468 with eight homers and was walked 33 times.

Season highlight: During one of our district games, we were down 4-1 going into the bottom of the seventh against College Park. We came back and won it and have been on a roll since.

Favorite teacher: Mrs. Larissa Cox for English. She’s helped me improve, not just in my schooling, but with my interactions with other people. She has been real supportive, almost like a second mother.

My reality TV competition: Top Chef because I can bake a little, especially for desserts.

Mistake I’ve learned from: There was one week where we prepared really well and did well in the game. The next week, I was dwelling on the last performance and didn’t work as hard as I should have and we came out and when I got the ball, nothing good was going right.

Cartoon character I like: Peter Griffin from Family Guy.

Put the first bat and glove in my hand: My dad. When I was 4 or 5, he put me on the baseball and taught me how to play. He played in high school. But baseball wasn’t my only sport. I started out playing soccer and did some swimming.

The last time I forgot how many outs there were: Was the third round of the playoffs. I struck a kid out and started walking off the field with two outs.

My inspiration: I’d have to say my dad. He’s inspired not to just work hard but to be the person I’ve strived to be.

My clutch moment: Last year in the first round of the playoffs, in the first game. We were a four seed playing a one seed and I threw one of my best games, with 15 strikeouts in seven innings and I went 2-for-3 at the plate with a homer and we won 4-0.

Hidden talent: I’ve gotten pretty good at lassoing things.

If I had a time machine: I would probably go forward in time to see the first time the Astros win the World Series.

Take a look at members of the 2014-15 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Teams in action.

MORE: American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball Team

Player of the Year: Luken Baker, Oak Ridge (Conroe, Texas)

Coach of the Year:  Chan Brown, Parkview (Liliburn, Ga.)

USA Today Sports’ Jim Halley breaks down the players selected for this year’s 2014-15 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Baseball First Team.

The 2014-15 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Second Team was selected by Brentt Eads of FloSoftball.com.

Click the photo gallery below to see the second team:

RELATED: ALL-USA Softball First Team

RELATED: ALL-USA Softball Honorable Mention

RELATED: Meet Player of the Year Kelly Barnhill

RELATED: Meet Coach of the Year Dennis Krivett

USA TODAY High School Sports is happy to announce the 2014-15 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Softball Team chosen by Brentt Eads of FloSoftball.com.

Click the photo gallery below to see the first team:

Ten players are on each of the first and second teams with 20 players receiving honorable mention recognition.

The players were chosen based on a combination of individual performance, talent and leading their team to success.

Players are eligible for the team regardless of whether their states play softball in the fall or spring. Several states such as Georgia, Missouri and Oklahoma play in the fall.

Players making the top two teams represent 13 states with California (7) and Texas (2) being the only two with multiple honorees.

RELATED: ALL-USA Second Team

RELATED: ALL-USA Honorable Mention

RELATED: Meet Player of the Year Kelly Barnhill

RELATED: Meet Coach of the Year Dennis Kivett

Reed (Sparks, Nev.) pitcher Julia Jensen is one of the few sophomores honored (Photo: Andy Barron/Reno Gazette Journal)

Honorable Mention selections for the 2014-15 American Family Insurance ALL-USA Softball Team.

Players are listed alphabetically and were selected by Brentt Eads of FloSoftball.com.

RELATED: Meet the ALL-USA Softball First Team

RELATED: Meet Player of the Year Kelly Barnhill

RELATED: Meet Coach of the Year David Kivett

HONORABLE MENTION:

Kaitlyn Alderink, IF, Sr., Keller (Texas) — Texas A&M

Nicole Bates, IF, Jr., Ceres (Calif.)— Washington

Ciara Bryan, OF, Jr., Newton County (Ga.) — Georgia

Meghan Beaubien, P, So., St. Mary Catholic Central (Monroe, Mich.) — Michigan

Brittany Edmondson, OF, Sr., Ezell Harding Christian (Antioch, Tenn.) — Tennessee

Miranda Elish, P/UT, Jr., Crown Point (Ind.) — Oregon

Kendra Friedt, P, Sr., Southington (Conn.) — Boston College

Jenna Goodrich, P, Sr., American Heritage (Plantation, Fla.) — Georgia Tech

Julia Jensen, P, So., Reed (Sparks, Nev.) — Nevada

Kayla Konwent, C/3B, Jr., Central (Westosha, Wis.) — Wisconsin

Abby Lockman, C/IF, Sr., Norco (Calif.) — Tennessee

Alexis Mack, IF, Sr., Brecksville-Broadview Heights (Broadview Hts., Ohio) —  South Carolina

Kelsey Oh, P/1B, So., Mount St. Dominic (N.J.) — Boston College

Taylor Pack, C, Sr., Sutter Union (Sutter, Calif.) — UCLA

Toni Polk, SS, Sr., Niagara Falls (N.Y.) — Penn State

Julie Rodriguez, OF, So., Old Tappan (N.J.) — UCLA

Sydney Smith, P, Sr., Maple Grove (Minn.) — LSU

Taylon Snow, F, So., Chino Hills (Chino, Calif.) — Washington

Emily Sorem, P, Sr., Tualatin (Ore.) — Lehigh

Lacey Sumerlin, SS, Sr., Baker (Ala.) — Georgia

Yucaipa (Calif.) softball coach, David Kivett. (Photo: Courtney Kivett)

Coach David Kivett of Yucaipa, Calif., has been selected as the American Family Insurance ALL-USA Softball Coach of the Year.

The selection was made by Brentt Eads of FloSoftball.com.

RELATED: ALL-USA Softball First Team

RELATED: Meet Player of the Year Kelly Barnhill

COACH PROFILE:
Name: David Kivett
School: Yucaipa (Calif.)

Highlights:

Kivett was born and raised in Yucaipa, Calif. and attended the high school where he has coached the last 11 years. This season he led the Thunderbirds to a California Interscholastic Federation (CIF) Southern Section Division I title, beating then-No. 1 team in the Super 25, Mission Viejo.

Kivett has been a teacher for 27 years and been an assistant football coach for all of them. He began coaching softball 17 years ago and since taking over at his alma mater, his teams have gone 198-88.

This year’s squad went 31-3 with two of the defeats being one-run losses to Mission Viejo in the championship of the Bullhead City (Ariz.) tournament and the semifinals of the Carew Classic (Calif.).