Mikal Hill is All-Observer player of year

Published June 12, 2010 at 10:20 p.m.
Mallard Creek junior Mikal Hill, who committed to South Carolina before his sophomore year, is the 2010 All-Observer player of the year.

The Observer annually names all-star teams for its entire 125-school coverage area in North and South Carolina (All-Observer) plus area teams in Mecklenburg County (All-Mecklenburg) and its coverage area outside Mecklenburg (All-Region).

Hill is also player of the year in Mecklenburg County.

A 5-foot-10 shortstop, Hill hit .566 with seven home runs, 39 RBIs and nine doubles. He stole 18 bases in 26 games and was named player of the year in the I-Meck 4A conference. He helped Mallard Creek to a 17-9 record and a school-best second round N.C. 4A playoff appearance.

Hill's older brother, Alex, plays Division I ball at UNC-Wilmington. His father, Chris, played four seasons of AA ball in the Pittsburgh Pirates' organization. Next season, Mikal Hill is expected to be a Major League Baseball Amateur Draft selection.

"Sometimes," Mallard Creek coach Shawn McGeorge said last month, "the only thing I think he can't do (is make an out). He's an incredibly talented kid with a very bright future."

The All-Observer coach of the year is East Rutherford's Bobby Reynolds, who guided his team to the state 2A championship after losing in the finals in 2008 and losing in the third round in 2009.

Reynolds has won five state titles at East Rutherford and 399 games in 17 years. He's won 553 games with the Cherryville and Gastonia Legion teams plus four more state titles.

The 2010 All-Observer Baseball Team

INF: Jake Watson, Charlotte Christian, Sr.: Shortstop signed with South Carolina hit .431 with 39 RBIs and 6 HR.

INF: Noah Holmes, East Rowan, Sr.: Third baseman hit .468 with 29 RBIs and 16 doubles. North Piedmont conference player of the year helped his team to state title.

INF: Mikal Hill, Mallard Creek, Jr: South Carolina commit hit .566 with 7 HR, 39 RBIs. Had nine doubles and 18 stolen bases in 26 games. Shortstop was I-Meck conference player of the year.

INF: Maverick Miles, South Rowan, Jr.: Shortstop hit .595 with 36 runs scored plus seven doubles, two triples and nine home runs. Has 12 stolen bases. Signed with High Point.

OF: Brett Austin, Providence, Jr.: Southwestern 4A player of the year also played catcher. Hit .436 with 12 HR, 29 RBIs. Had 8 doubles and 2 triples.

OF: Will Sapp, East Rowan, Jr.: MVP of the N.C. 3A state finals hit .351 with 23 RBIs and 14 stolen bases. Had three hits and four RBIs in championship-clinching game.

OF: Ty Linton, Charlotte Christian, Sr.: Considered state's top senior, Linton hit .448 with 10 HR and 43 RBIs. Three-time all-state pick was selected by Arizona in the 14th round of the MLB Amateur Draft.

C: Brian Holberton, Myers Park, Sr.: Runner-up SW4A player of the year to Providence's Brett Austin hit .512 with 5 HR and 31 RBIs. Picked off 13 and made one error - and allowed one passed ball - all season. Threw out 9 of 14 runners trying to steal; signed with UNC.

P: Drew Reynolds, East Rutherford, Sr.: MVP of the N.C. 2A state finals hit .505 with 4 HR, 41 RBIs and was 13-1 as a pitcher with 143 strikeouts in 83.2 innings. South Mountain conference player of the year.

UT: Jeremy Null, Bunker Hill, Jr: 6-foot-7 pitcher was 8-1 with 0.24 ERA. Gave up two earned runs all season and throws up to 91 mph. Threw three 15-strikeout games. Hit .412 with 7 HR and 21 RBIs.

Coach of the year: Bobby Reynolds, East Rutherford.

Player of the year: Mikal Hill, Mallard Creek.

All-Mecklenburg baseball

FIRST TEAM

INF: Jake Watson, Charlotte Christian, Sr.

INF: Jake Fincher, Providence, Sr.

INF: Mikal Hill, Mallard Creek, Jr.

INF: Jack Reinheimer, Ardrey Kell, Sr.

OF: Ty Linton, Charlotte Christian, Sr.

OF: Olen Little, East Mecklenburg, Sr.

OF: Brett Austin, Providence, Jr.

C: Brian Holberton, Myers Park, Sr.

P: Hunter May, Hopewell, Sr.

UT: Nathan Sharp, Southlake Christian, Jr.

Coach of the year: John Spencer, Myers Park

Player of the year: Mikal Hill, Mallard Creek

SECOND TEAM

INF: Jackson Campagna, Providence, So.

INF: Alex Jensen, Charlotte Catholic, Jr.

INF: Logan Ratledge, Ardrey Kell, Jr.

INF: Grant Fisher, Myers Park, Sr.

OF: Chase Carbone, Charlotte Latin, Sr.

OF: Kyle Himler, Hopewell, Sr.

OF: Matt Mezger, Providence Day, Sr.

C: Nick McGee, West Meck, Jr.

P: Kurt Semeniuk, Providence, Sr.

UT: Jared Fortune, Southlake Christian, Jr.

All-Region baseball

FIRST TEAM

INF: Noah Holmes, East Rowan, Sr.

INF: Maverick Miles, South Rowan, Jr.

INF: Cameron Beard, Bunker Hill, Sr.

INF: Colten Burris, South Stanly, Sr.

OF: Demetrius Ingram, West Stanly, Jr.

OF: Will Sapp, East Rowan, Jr.

OF: Julian Ridings, Boiling Springs Crest, Sr.

C: Lukas LaSalle, Alexander Central, Jr.

P: Drew Reynolds, East Rutherford, Sr.

UT: Jeremy Null, Bunker Hill, Jr.

Coach of the year: Bobby Reynolds, East Rutherford

Player of the year: Drew Reynolds, East Rutherford

SECOND TEAM

INF: Brad Elwood, Unionville Piedmont, Jr.

INF: Cal Hardee, Watauga, Sr.

INF: Corey Dick, Albemarle, Jr.

INF: Matthew Johnson, West Iredell, Sr.

OF: Alex McGree, Draughn, So.

OF: Peter Hendel, Cuthbertson, Jr.

OF: Nick Chapman, Morganton Patton, Jr.

C: Ross Lisee, Rock Hill, Sr.

P: Dakotah Thomas, East Rutherford, Sr.

UT: Eric Brenk, Concord, Sr.

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