The Palm Beach Post’s All-County teams are here!
The Post is proud to announce the Player of the Year nominees for large school baseball.
Player of the Year winners will be announced at an in-person ceremony. The show is May 28 at the SoFi Center on the Palm Beach Gardens campus of Palm Beach State College. Doors will open at 5:30 p.m. with the awards program at 6:30 p.m.
Award winners have been contacted by staff with invitations to attend the show, which is produced with support from Baptist Health Orthopedic Care.
First Team All-County Large School Boys Baseball
P: Cody Wexler, Sr., Park Vista
Wexler was one of Palm Beach County’s top aces in his final varsity campaign. He compiled an 8-1 record with a 0.81 ERA, fueling the Cobras’ run to the district championship and a region final appearance. Wexler was responsible for one of the school year’s most inspiring performances, hurling a complete game shutout in the district final on the same day his friend was taken off life support.
P: Max McDougall, Sr., West Boca Raton
Mover over, Ohtani. McDougall was a two-way star for the Bulls this season, leading the team in batting average (.374), RBI (34), doubles (6), triples (2) and homers (6) while also compiling a 6-3 record and 2.09 ERA on the mound. His performance against St. Thomas Aquinas in the second round regional series was heroic: McDougall was 4 for 8 with six RBI and a home run while also hurling six scoreless innings to stave off elimination in Game 2.
INF: Owen Dever, Sr., Park Vista
Dever was the top bat on Park Vista’s district championship squad. He led the Cobras with a .394 average, 28 hits and two home runs. One of those homers came in the pivotal series opener against Jupiter in the second round of regionals, propelling the Cobras to the region final.
INF: Colby Smith, Sr., Jupiter
Smith, a South Alabama commit, finished his varsity career with a season to remember. He hit .341 and led the Warriors with 30 hits, 10 doubles and 32 RBI. Smith also showed a lot of pop early in the season, too, homering in four of his first six games. Jupiter won a district championship and advanced to the second round of regionals with Smith manning shortstop.
INF: Brayden Alvarez, Jr., Jupiter
On a roster full of Division I talent, Alvarez led the Warriors in batting average .342 while playing second base. He helped Jupiter put together a district championship season and reached the second round of regionals. A three-sport athlete, Alvarez will be one of the Warriors’ top returning players next year.
INF: Tayegan Briskey, Sr., West Boca Raton
Briskey, an Air Force commit, instilled a lot of fear in South Florida pitchers and catchers this spring. He hit .370 with some pop, including a grand slam in the regional first round, and was always a threat to steal on the base paths. Briskey swiped 36 bags and was a key weapon in the Bulls’ district championship season.
OF: Hunter Bruce, Jr., Park Vista
Bruce emerged as a dangerous batter this spring with a team-best 21 RBI and five triples. He hit .342 overall and is poised to be the top returning hitter at one of Palm Beach County’s most consistent baseball programs.
OF: Jordan Chassagne, Jr., Palm Beach Central
Chassagne is a rising talent with the Broncos after a strong varsity campaign. He led the Broncos with a .359 batting average while also working 14 walks. He put his athleticism on display with four triples and 10 stolen bases as the Broncos compiled a 15-12 record this season.
OF: Owen Hewitt, So., Dwyer
Hewitt elevated his offensive approach this season and was the leading hitter for the Panthers with a .377 batting average. He also stole 13 bases and did not commit an error as Dwyer finished 15-9 and qualified for regionals.
C: Domenic DeMarzo, Sr., Jupiter
DeMarzo, a North Florida commit, hit .280 with 26 RBI in his final varsity campaign. He had six multi-hit games, including against Palm Beach Central in the first round of regionals. Jupiter finished 18-11, won a district title and reached the second round of the regional playoffs.
DH/UTIL: Dylan Zidar, Sr., Boca Raton
Zidar was a leader in many ways for a much-improved Bobcats squad. He led the team in batting average (.400), doubles (6) and stolen bases (16) while also hitting a pair of home runs. He made four saves for Boca Raton this season, striking out 26 batters in 24 innings pitched.
Second Team All-County
Honorable Mention
Coach of the Year
Larry Greenstein, Park Vista
You can never count out Greenstein and the Cobras. After a 6-4 start, Park Vista won 14 of its next 15 games to reach the region championship series. Along the way, the Cobras won a district championship and swept Jupiter in the second round of the playoffs. Park Vista finished the year 20-7 and was the highest-ranked Palm Beach County team (No. 66) in the final MaxPreps state rankings.
Alex Peterman is a high school sports reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at apeterman@usatodayco.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Spring All-County: Best of large school baseball in Palm Beach
Reporting by Alexander Peterman, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
