RIDGEFIELD — Skyview’s Noah Guyette was honored to be named the Clark County Senior All-Star Game MVP. And it had nothing to do with the $300 scholarship attached to the award.
The Air Force Academy signee intends to give the financial help to teammate Ryan Pitts, who is headed to Lower Columbia College. But as a soon to be enrollee in the United States military, Guyette was more honored by the man behind the award: Corporal Jeremiah Johnson.
The Prairie graduate, and lover of baseball, died while serving in the U.S. Army in 2007. Ever since, his parents, Beth and David, have sponsored the scholarship that goes along with the Corporal Jeremiah Johnson Memorial MVP awards.
Guyette, along with Mountain View’s Andrew Selden, earned the honors Wednesday at the sparkling Ridgefield Outdoor Recreation Complex.
“He fought for our country and died fighting for our country, so that means a lot,” Guyette said. “I’m going to the Air Force Academy, so that was kind of extra special.”
Guyette played in the second game of the doubleheader, and led his American League team to a 4-0 win. He was 3 for 4 with two doubles and an RBI.
The teammate he intends to give the scholarship money to was 2 for 6 with two runs and two stolen bases on the day. Pitts also closed both games, including the National League’s 6-3 win in the opener, and finished with five strikeouts compared to just two hits allowed in the outings.
Selden tossed three scoreless innings in the nightcap and finished 2 for 4 on the day at the plate.
“It means a lot,” Selden said. “Any scholarship, and it’s in honor of his son, too. That’s a good thing.”
Teammate vs. teammate
One of the more intriguing part of the all-star game festivities — used as a prelude this year to the West Coast League’s Ridgefield Raptors’ home opener Tuesday — was that teammates had to face each other. And quite often.
Skyview’s Lowell Dunmire, who struck out five in three innings on the hill, was tasked with putting out Pitts, the 4A GSHL Player of the Year. He took him down swinging twice.
“It was real fun striking out Pitts twice,” Dunmire said. “I loved his reaction.”
Mountain View’s Trevor Milton and Columbia River’s Justin Gress each plunked one of their teammates as well.
Trappers impress
Trapper senior Nick Laurenza doesn’t believe there’s been a Fort Vancouver baseball player represented in the all-star game in at least three years. The representation was in full force Wednesday, as the trio of Trappers — Laurenza, Zeke Block and Tyler Runkle — went 4-10 at the plate with three RBI.
Laurenza smoked two doubles in the opening game and Runkle drove home a run with a hard-hit single in the nightcap.
About those uniforms
Players were free to wear whichever one of their team uniforms they preferred. It led to a colorful display in the dugouts.
But players weren’t straying far from their own attire to say who stood out.
Skyview’s black tops and pinstripe bottoms provided a classic look. Mountain View’s Milton, who struck out three in two innings of scoreless work, was the flashiest with a bold digital blue and white print shirt.
“We don’t use those digis, and he busted it out,” Selden said. “That was probably the best one.”
Fort’s Laurenza wasn’t shy about straying from Trappers’ red. He said Hockinson’s Niko Niehaus wore the best garb, a baby blue top with grey pants the choice for the Hawk senior who allowed just one hit over two innings of work.
The Chieftains’ off-whites with yellow lettering was also a favorite, as was Battle Ground’s old-school pinstripes.
Other standouts
In total, 15 pitchers saw work on the mound, including Battle Ground’s Tanner McDonald and Avery Fettig, Washougal’s Zach Collins, Camas’ Luke Brewer, Hudson’s Bay’s Alan Merrill and Union’s Michael Whitney and Payton Jeffries.
At the plate, Ridgefield’s Spencer Andersen was 2 for 6 with an RBI. He also struck out four in 3.2 innings.
Columbia River’s Parker McNeil and Camas’ Shane Jamison were 2 for 5, Camas’ Jake Trupp was 3-4 with two runs, Prairie’s Trey Hebert was 2-2 with an RBI and stolen base and Evergreen’s Tyler Livingston was 1-3 with a two-RBI single. Union’s Jeffries and River’s Derek Mettler also drove in runs.
The top players will get nominated by coaches to participate in the all-state games in Yakima on June 8-9.
