West Valley’s baseball team made a historic run to win the Northern Section Division III title and advance two games in the NorCal regionals.
The Eagles made a bit more history as first-year head coach Willie Church was named All-Northern Section Coach of the Year. He becomes the first coach win such honors in both baseball and softball after winning in 2023 on the girls side.
Pitcher Jayden Knight, shortstop Degan Ross were named first-team selections for the Eagles while catcher Manny Sleezer received a second-team nod.
West Valley went 23-5 on the season, winning 21 of its final 23 games.
Chico’s Jaden Neugebauer was named the section MVP after leading the Panthers to a 28-2 record and section title in which they didn’t lose to a team from the Northern Section.
All-Northern Section teams are selected by area media members from the Enterprise-Record, Red Bluff Daily News, Redding Record Searchlight, Marysville Appeal-Democrat and MaxPreps.
Other Shasta County players earning all-section honors include catcher Waylon Stripling of U-Prep (first team), and second-team nods Eli Kennedy of Shasta and Blake Schwerdt of Foothill.
First Team
Second Team
MVP: Jaden Neugebauer, Chico
Coach of the Year: Willie Church, West Valley
This article originally appeared on Redding Record Searchlight: All-Northern Section baseball teams announced. Who was named MVP and Coach of the Year?
Reporting by Aaron Williams/Special to the Record Searchlight / Redding Record Searchlight
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
