Skyline honors Pirate sluggers

No wonder senior Drew Pierson and sophomore Travis Dunlap were named to the Skyline Conference all-star team.

Pierson was selected as a first-team pick as a first baseman and Dunlap as a utility player. Dunlap played first base, second base, shortstop, third base and had a 4-0 pitching record for the Pirates.

"They're the best combination of good hitters and power hitters I've had here," says Phoenix baseball coach Joe Hagler. "I've had a lot of good hitters come through here.

"But Drew and Travis are the best hitters I've coached who hit for average and power at the same time. They may hit for power, but they are both very good, consistent hitters overall. When it goes over the fence, that's just gravy for us."

Behind the power surge of Pierson and Dunlap, the Pirates -- the defending Class 3A state champions who were supposed to be in a rebuilding mode in 1999 after losing eight starters from their state title team -- advanced to the state quarterfinals before losing to top-ranked The Dalles, 8-2, on Monday.

"It was a good year for us, and Travis and Drew played a big role in it," says Hagler. "Behind them, we scored a lot of runs and hit the ball real well all season."

Dunlap, a sophomore who hit over .700 for the Phoenix freshman team in 1998, exploded to a fast start at the varsity level this spring with 12 home runs in his first 20 games. Pierson finished fast for the Pirates, raising his average to .526 to go with his 13 home runs, 12 doubles and 52 RBIs.

Dunlap's season statistics were just as impressive. He led the team and the Skyline Conference with 13 home runs, drove in 51 runs and finished the season with a .558 batting average.

"It really helped me to be able to bat next to Drew in our lineup," says Dunlap. "For a while, nobody really knew who I was and they were giving me good pitches to hit.

"Once they got to know I could hit for power, I got a lot of pitches low and outside. But by then, I was used to it."

Pierson went from one home run during his sophomore and junior seasons to 12 this year.

"I worked hard on my hitting fundamentals, and I lifted weights in the off-season," says Pierson, who plans to attend Sacramento City College next year.

"I was a stronger, better hitter this year, and that helped me hit more home runs."

Dunlap and Pierson were both named second-team all-state selections. Hagler says Pierson probably should have been named the state Class 3A player of the year.

"He did it all for us the last two years," says Hagler. "To me, a player of the year should lead his team to the state championship, or at least the playoffs. He did that for two years."

Also named to the Skyline all-star team as a first-team player from Phoenix were designated hitter Andrew Bartels. Second-team selections for the Pirates were infielder Dave Westfall and outfielder Abe Lupkin.

Steve Pergin of Rogue River was named a first-team infielder and Nick Gilbert of the Chieftains was named a second-team pick as an outfielder.

Player of the year is senior outfielder Corey Sedlacek of Lakeview and Coach of the year is Mike Reese of North Valley High.

Skyline Conference All-Stars

P --Jarrod Garwood, Rogue River, jr.; Jared Larson, Illinois Valley, soph.,; Chaste Tester, Phoenix, jr.

IB -- Steve Blivens, Mazama, sr.; Scott Dickerson, Rogue River, jr.

INF -- Kyle Michaelis, Mazama, sr.; Scott Berry, Mazama, sr.; Justin Sullivan, North Valley, soph.; Nick Hadley, Lakeview, sr.