The 2009 All-Area Baseball Team

Coach of the Year

School: Rustburg

Year: 6th

Record: 21-7

The skinny: He preached the team concept from Day One, and the Red Devils bought into it and made it to their first state championship game since 1999. Rustburg’s magical

playoff run was highlighted by a couple of huge comebacks, one against Jefferson Forest in the Seminole District championship game and one against Tunstall in the state quarterfinals. When the Red Devils found themselves down, they kept clawing. They legged out singles, stole bases and successfully executed the hit and run on several

occasions. “Once they realized they could come back from being behind, I think they never felt that they couldn’t come back. They never rolled over and kept trying to apply pressure,” Godsey said.

First Team

Trevor Johnston

School: Jefferson Forest

Year: Junior

Position: P

The skinny: One of two crafty

lefties that baffled hitters for the Cavaliers this season, Johnston went 6-2 with a 1.62 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 47.7 innings pitched. Not overpowering, he stymied opposing batters with his

command of his fastball, curve and change.

All-star stuff: Seminole District’s pitcher of the year, first-team

all-district and All-Region III, honorable mention All-Group AA

Erik Heiligenstadt

School: Jefferson Forest

Year: Junior

Position: P

The skinny: Remarkably similar to Johnston in many ways. He has a similar crafty style and he put up comparable numbers — 6-1 record, 1.21 ERA, 81 strikeouts in 58 innings pitched.

All-star stuff: First-team

All-Seminole District, honorable mention All-Region III

Brett Dietrich

School: Liberty

Year: Junior

Position: INF

The skinny: He had little protection on a team that batted .247 for the season, but he still put up

monster numbers, batting .468 (.525 in Seminole District play) with 18 runs, two home runs, 22 RBIs and six steals. Also had a team-leading .661 slugging percentage and made only two errors in 70 attempts at first and second base.

All-star stuff: First-team

All-Seminole District, second-team All-Region III

Trevor Stevens

School: Heritage

Year: Senior

Position: INF

The skinny: Good contact hitter and consistent defender at second base. Two-year starter batted .390 with four doubles, a home run, 23 RBIs and 23 runs.

All-star stuff: First-team

All-Seminole, first-team All-Region III, second-team All-Group AA

Michael Mayhew

School: Gretna

Year: Junior

Position: INF

The skinny: Second-baseman batted .500 with six doubles, three home runs and 25 RBIs for Hawks.

All-star stuff: First-team

All-Dogwood District, first-team All-Region B, second-team

All-Group A

Jordan Wooten

School: Nelson County

Year: Sophomore

Position: INF

The skinny: Displayed great plate discipline for such a young hitter. Struck out only once this season and has been punched out only four times in his career. The shortstop batted .472 with 34 hits, 24 runs, six doubles, four home runs, nine stolen bases and 18 RBIs.

All-star stuff: First-team All-Dogwood, honorable mention all-region

James Carter

School: Heritage

Year: Senior

Position: OF

The skinny: One of the area’s best hitters, the centerfielder batted .507, reached base 63 percent of the time and slugged .836. He scored 37 runs, hit two home runs, had 10 doubles, three triples and 12 stolen bases.

All-star stuff: Seminole District position player of the year,

first-team all-district, first-team

All-Region III and first-team

All-Group AA

Josh Storm

School: Jefferson Forest

Year: Senior

Position: OF

The skinny: Played error free in centerfield this season and batted a team-high .405 with 23 runs and 15 RBIs in 79 at bats. One of only three seniors on Seminole District regular-season championship team, moved from leadoff to third in the order to drive in more runs.

All-star stuff: First-team All-Seminole, first-team All-Region III, honorable mention All-Group AA

M.J. Wells

School: Nelson County

Year: Senior

Position: OF

The skinny: Invited walk-on at Norfolk State batted .484 with 25 runs, eight doubles, three home runs, five stolen bases and 19 RBIs. Five-tool centerfielder was valuable on the field and off with his guidance for younger teammates.

All-star stuff: First-team

All-Dogwood, first-team All-Region B, honorable mention All-Group A

Matt Rudder

School: William Campbell

Year: Freshman

Position: C

The skinny: Had quite a debut season for the Generals, batting .490 (.568 in Dogwood District play) with two doubles, a home run and 14 RBIs. Only struck out four times. Good defensive

catcher, too. Also pitched for the Generals, mostly in relief.

All-star stuff: first-team

All-Dogwood

Brock Wilson

School: Liberty Christian Academy

Year: Senior

Position: DH

The skinny: Cleanup hitter for VIC champion Bulldogs batted .426 with three home runs, 19 RBIs and 26 runs scored. Also posted a 4-4 record and 3.04 ERA on the mound.

All-star stuff: First-team All-VIC, first-team all-state (VISAA

Division I)

Second Team

P — James Womack, Heritage

Workhorse pitched eight complete games and struck out 117 in 71 innings pitched.

P — Seth Good, Liberty Christian Academy

Ace for VIC champs went 5-2 with 52 strikeouts and 2.33 ERA.

INF — Kent Brizendine, E.C. Glass

Provided punch in punch-less

lineup. Senior hit four homers and drove in 19 runs.

INF — Desmond Rice, Liberty Christian Academy

Leadoff hitter batted .403, stole 13 bases and scored 27 runs.