Alaska News

Ferntheil named MVP

Zach Ferntheil did a little bit of everything for an undefeated Service team during the Cook Inlet Conference baseball season, and was rewarded by being named the Don Rabung Most Valuable Player.

"It's a nice way to top off a really good regular season, with an award like that," Ferntheil told CIC reporter Van Williams.

Ferntheil, who played four positions for Service, accumulated a .423 batting average and pitched to a 3-0 record, a pair of saves and a 1.12 ERA, helping the Cougars (10-0) claim their first CIC title since 2001.

The sixth Service player to claim an MVP honor since 1992, Ferntheil said he was primarily focused on pitching this season, and the hitting turned out to be a kind of bonus.

Fertheil was one of five Service players to earn first-team All-CIC honors -- the others were starting pitcher Johnny Meszaros, first baseman Garrett Brown, third baseman Trace Woodruff and outfielder Matt Ilalio.

Dimond's Sheldon Rouzan won the Big Stick Award for his league-high batting average of .524. Service's Jake Ridley and South's Bryan Baker tied for the Gold Glove Award.

COOK INLET CONFERENCE BASEBALL AWARDS

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Don Rabung MVP -- Zach Ferntheil, Service (3-0, 2 saves, 1.12 ERA, .423 batting average, played four positions.)

Big Stick -- Sheldon Rouzan, Dimond (.524 batting average, 11 RBIs)

Gold Gloves -- Jake Ridley, Service infielder; Bryan Baker, South infielder.

ALL-CONFERENCE FIRST TEAM

First base -- Garrett Brown, Service, (.500 batting average, 10 runs, 6 RBIs, .607 Slugging percentage.) Second base -- Andy Schaefer, South (.357 batting average, 8 runs, 6 RBIs.) Third base -- Trace Woodruff, Service (.308 batting average, 9 RBIs.) Shortstop -- Tyler Thompson, Dimond (.400 batting average, 14 runs, 6 doubles.) Outfielders -- Deray Alex, Bartlett (.483 batting average, 7 RBIs, 7 runs.); Matt Ilalio, Service, (.400 batting average, 15 runs, 15 stolen bases.); Justin Schneider, Chugiak, (.321 batting average, .441 on base percentage.) Catcher -- Chase Wilson, Chugiak, (.429 batting average, 14 RBIs, 7 runs, .528 on base percentage.) Utility -- Zach Ferntheil, Service, (.423 batting average, played four positions.); Jacob Hillowitz, West, (.458 batting average, played 7 positions.) Designated hitters -- Johnny Meszaros, Service (.273 batting average, 11 walks, 9 runs.) Sheldon Rouzan, Dimond, (.524 batting average, 11 RBIs.) Starting pitchers -- Zach Ferntheil, Service, (3-0 record, 2 saves, 1.12 ERA.); Max Karnos, South, (2-1 record, 0.96 ERA.); Johnny Meszaros, Service, (2-1 record, 1 save, 2.18 ERA.); Kyle Kornegay, Dimond, (2-1 record, 2 saves, 36 strikeouts in 25 innings.) Relief pitchers -- Conner Cucullu, South, (1-1 record, 1.00 ERA). Chris Parker, Eagle River, (2 saves, 2.62 ERA.)

ALL-CONFERENCE SECOND TEAM

First base -- Kyle Kornegay, Dimond. Second base -- Jake Ridley, Service. Shortstop -- Bryan Baker, South. Third base -- Colby LeBlanc, Eagle River; Sagan Osborne, Dimond. Outfielders -- Ricky Ayala, Eagle River; Braden Mitchell, Service; Conner Cleary, West; Austin Brown, Dimond. Catcher -- Logan Allred, South; Utility -- Sagan Osborne, Dimond; Connor Cimmiyotti, Chugiak; David Fuller, Eagle River. Starting pitchers -- Josh Crapps, South; Sagan Osborne, Dimond; Andrew Dickey, Bartlett; Justin Schneider, Chugiak; Wes Bennice, Eagle River. Relief pitchers -- Karson Friske, Service; Wynter Gross, Bartlett.

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