NOTES: Four undefeated league teams sweep volleyball top awards
The boys volleyball season probably will be remembered for Palo Verde’s run from third place in the Northwest League to the Class 4A state championship.
But when coaches recently voted on all-league selections, it was the four teams that went undefeated in league play that swept the top awards.
Palo Verde did have senior outside hitters Tyler Capko and Shaun Carroll garner first-team all-Northwest League honors, and senior setter Matt Lish was named to the second team.
Coronado senior outside hitter Eric Boman was named Southeast Most Valuable Player and Brock Mitchell took Coach of the Year.
The Cougars made it the farthest of the four league champions, eventually losing 3-2 to Palo Verde in the state final May 20.
Mitchell called Boman, a three-year starter who had 394 kills and 146 digs this season, a “calming influence.”
“He’s been a real special player to coach and made my job easier,” Mitchell said. “Being around a kid of his integrity and class, it never got to the point where (success) got to his head in a negative way.”
Northeast honors went to Las Vegas senior setter Danny Farias and coach Sue Thurman.
Northwest awards went to Shadow Ridge senior libero Jeff Elmer and coach Christian Augustin.
Southwest accolades were given to Sierra Vista senior setter Zach Waldron and coach Camille McComas.
ALL-STAR GAMES — Football and baseball all-star games will be played this week, both pitting seniors from the Class 4A Sunset Region against those from the Sunrise.
The 38th annual Lions Club High School All-Star Football Game is at 7 p.m. Saturday at Las Vegas High, with Palo Verde’s Darwin Rost coaching the Sunset and Las Vegas’ Chris Faircloth coaching the Sunrise.
A halftime ceremony will honor former Cimarron-Memorial coach Greg Spencer, who died of esophageal cancer at age 52 in January.
The baseball game will be at 6 p.m. Friday at College of Southern Nevada.
OTHER HONORS — Coaches recently voted on small-school baseball and softball league awards.
In Class 3A Southern League baseball, Virgin Valley senior pitcher Travis Leavitt was named MVP and Boyd Wittwer Coach of the Year. Softball honors went to Boulder City junior catcher Paxton Fleming and coach Bruce Reid.
In 2A Southern League baseball, Needles (Calif.) sophomore shortstop Bobby Stahel and coach Ken Parker took the top awards. Needles senior Lexi Baldwin and junior Alex Chandler shared softball MVP, and Sandy Chandler took Coach of the Year.
In 1A baseball, Lake Mead senior pitcher D.J. Johnson and Pahranagat Valley senior third baseman Brady Whipple shared Southern League MVP, with Pahranagat Valley’s Brad Loveday taking Coach of the Year. Central League awards went to Indian Springs senior pitcher Nick Vandever and coach Eric Hauge.
Lake Mead junior catcher Amanda Wellman and Pahranagat Valley junior pitcher Addie Canning shared 1A Southern League softball MVP. No coaching honor was awarded.
