Skyview’s Hamilton is All-Region baseball player of year

Ian Hamilton would not discuss specific details other than saying it was going to look pretty cool.

“It” would be the state championship baseball rings he and his senior teammates at Skyview High School are designing.

Just one more benefit of playing a lot of games in May, of winning it all.

Alec Chaney, jr., Skyview: State champ will try to make his third 1st-team, all-league next year.

Dakota Clevidence, sr., Heritage: 4A GSHL co-player of the year helped team reach Elite Eight.

Oscar Golberg, sr., Columbia River: Big part of River’s big comeback to win share of league title.

Tim Hergert, sr., Heritage: Three-sport standout is baseball player first; drafted by the Braves.

Hunter Huddleston, jr., Woodland: Led Woodland to Elite Eight by leading team in homers, RBIs.

J.T. Kaul, sr., Mountain View: Ace pitcher led Thunder to a share of the Class 3A GSHL title.

Braydon Maney, sr., Skyview: State champion was Skyview’s biggest bat for most of the season.

Michael McCann, sr., Columbia River: 3A GSHL player of the year was drafted by the Mariners.

Joe Siegel, sr., Ridgefield: Represented Clark County 2A teams in All-State Baseball Series.

Alex Smith, sr., Heritage: Ace was great all year, better in playoffs: He shut out top-ranked team.

Seaver Whalen, sr., Union: First-team all-4A GSHL pick will take his skills to Santa Clara Univ.

Hamilton, the ace of the staff who would also become the lead-off hitter during Skyview’s state playoff run, is The Columbian’s All-Region baseball player of the year.

It would be easy to just cite his statistics: He went 8-1 with a 1.17 ERA with 78 strikeouts in 60 innings. He hit .417 in the month of May. Clutch time.

It is easier to just write this: He is the MVP of the first big-school (4A or 3A) baseball team from Clark County to win a state championship since Fort Vancouver won it in 1990.

“Skyview hadn’t got this far in its history,” Hamilton said. “It was definitely something people will remember for a long time.”

Hamilton struck out 12 in the first-round game and did not give up an earned run in a 3-1 victory over second-ranked Gonzaga Prep.

“That was more nerve-racking than all the other ones,” Hamilton said. “After a while, I started to feel all the pitches. Everything was working for me.”

Later that day in the quarterfinals, Hamilton hit a double and scored two runs against league rival Heritage, sending Skyview to its first final four appearance.

The next week in Pasco, Hamilton was on the mound for the semifinal against Kentridge, and once again, on his game. He struck out 10 in what turned into a five-inning shutout because Skyview ended the game via the 10-run rule. Hamilton went 2 for 4 with a double and drove in a run.

In the title game, Hamilton went 3 for 4 and drove in a run in an 8-5 victory over South Kitsap.

Late this summer, Hamilton will be headed to Washington State to prepare for his freshman year of college baseball with the Cougars.

But there is still some unfinished high school business. The Storm are looking forward to when their rings arrive. They designed them because they earned them.

Season highlights

• Voted by the coaches as the co-player of the year in the Class 4A Greater St. Helens League, which covers the league season.
• Dominated the postseason, including a 2-0 mark on the mound in the state tournament. He struck out 22 batters in 12 innings, leading the Storm to the state title.
• Moved into the leadoff position for the state tournament, he ended up with six hits in the four games. He hit .417 in May.

More about Ian

• Most inspirational person: His dad, Shawn Hamilton. “He taught me I needed to work hard. He said, ‘People don’t pay attention to lazy people.’ ”
• He underwent platelet-rich plasma treatment to heal his injured pitching arm this winter. It must have worked. He went 8-1.
• Favorite book: “No One Here Gets Out Alive,” the story of Jim Morrison of The Doors. “It’s weird,” Hamilton said.

Next year and beyond

Hamilton ended up signing late because of the injury, but made it to the Pac-12 at Washington State. “It looks like they get after it with their workouts. That will show up on the field.” The goal is to play pro ball.

“I got to hang out with my friends, and I learned a lot about teamwork and myself. I need to work hard to get what I want.”

Ian Hamilton

on playing baseball at Skyview