ST. GEORGE — Trey Evans is now a state champion and a player of the year.
The slugging sophomore outfielder that helped lead Crimson Cliffs to its first baseball state championship a month ago was named the Deseret News 4A Player of the Year Wednesday morning.
“I just tried not to put too much pressure on myself and had to make sure that I went out and did my thing,” Evans told St. George News. “I had a good team to play with and I know my teammates had my back. It worked out.”
Evans posted a .467 batting average with seven home runs and 38 RBIs this season. He said that schools like the University of Utah and Brigham Young University are starting to reach out to him.
“At this point, I’m thinking about it (college) but I still got a little bit so I’m trying to decide where I want to go and stuff like that,” Evans said.
Most of the Mustangs have dispersed to various summer ball teams, but the glow of winning the state title has not dimmed.
“We all still have it in the back of our minds,” Evans said. “We definitely want to relive that moment. We’ll only lose a couple of guys, we’ll have the same team and same mentality to go do our thing. Hopefully, we’ll get another state title.”
Mustangs pitcher Beau Sampson also earned recognition by the Desert News and was named Playoff Most Valuable Player.
In the title-clinching win against Snow Canyon, the tall left-hander allowed only two hits in six innings of work.
“Beau did his job out there,” Evans said. “Every time he went out to the field we knew he’d strike out a couple guys, put the ball in play and he’d get the job done.”
Mustangs teammate and shortstop Petey Soto joined Evans and Sampson on the Deseret News First Team.
Crimson Cliffs catcher Brexton Starley and first baseman Jayz Estridge were both named to the Second Team and Mustangs Canyon Kutch, Jaiven Ross, Logan West and Jayger Baldwin all earned honorable mention.
Region 10 selections
Snow Canyon senior Luke Anderson continues to collect postseason awards.
After earning Region 10 MVP honors, Anderson was named Utah’s Gatorade Player of the Year on June 3rd and the Deseret News named him Mr. Baseball in 4A.
Anderson is headed to BYU to start his collegiate career.
Warriors teammates joining Anderson on the Deseret News First Team were Logan Mendenhall and Jake Johnson. Snow Canyon placed Isaac Lyon and Sam Lindsey on the Second Team.
Desert Hills saw Payton Gubler and Cole DeCastro get named to the First Team while Karson Irvin made the Second Team.
Pine View was well represented after Brock Roundy and Luke Iverson made the First Team and Brandon Roundy made the Second Team. Andrew Shakespeare received an honorable mention for the Panthers.
Dixie pitcher GJ Erickson was the only Flyer to make the First Team while Malcolm Bartholomew, Cayson Bell and hard-hitting shortstop Boston Vest were all selected to the Second Team.
Three Flyers received honorable mention: Shea Anderson, Ridge Erickson and Logan Leavitt.
Two Cedar Reds earned honorable mention: Kason Crandall and Braxton Torres.
Grant Scholzen was the lone Hurricane Tiger to receive an honorable mention.
2A Player of the Year
Parowan’s Shaydon Benson was named 2A Player of the Year by the Deseret News.
On his way to Utah Tech, Benson led the Rams in batting with a .530 average, seven home runs and 33 RBIs.
The left-hander was also Parowan’s ace on the hill, striking out 91 batters and allowing 13 earned runs all season.
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