Valley players named all-conference

PALMER — If the All-Southcentral Conference first-team is any indication, the balance of power in the region may be shifting north.

Mat-Su Valley athletes earned seven of the 10 first-team spots on the list, released earlier this week.

“I was impressed with how the kids in the Valley played this year,” said Colony head coach Jaime Mayo, whose program placed four players on the first-team list.

Seniors Colter Peterson, JD Mayo, Mike Wagner and Kody Ziter each received a first-team nod for the Knights. Each was a three-year starter for Colony and the foursome helped the Knights win their third straight conference title in 2010.

“It’s easily the best senior class as far as wins and losses go,” Mayo said. “Obviously all of the other coaches thought the same thing.”

Wasilla seniors Eric Washington and Chris Bydlon, and Palmer senior Tommy Brown were also named to the first-team, a list voted on by Southcentral coaches.

“I was a little surprised that there were only three other players from (Soldotna), Kodiak and Homer,” Mayo said. “But when you only have 10 spots, somebody’s going to be left out.”

Mayo said the Valley’s ability to grab 70 percent of the first-teamers speaks highly of the improvement of baseball in the Valley. The longtime baseball coach said another program in the Valley also deserves some credit.

“You look at the guys that made all conference from the Valley, those seven kids, they’ve all played for this American Legion club,” Mayo said, referring to the Wasilla-based Alaska Road Warriors. “I don’t think that’s an accident.”

Peterson, Colony’s No. 1 pitcher and regular third baseman, was named to the Southcentral teams for the third year. He named to the second team as a sophomore, and earned first-team honors as both a junior and a senior. Ziter, Colony’s starting catcher for the last three seasons, was first team as a sophomore, second team as a junior and first team as a senior. JD Mayo, Colony’s regular right fielder for the last three years, was second team as a junior and first team as a senior. Wagner, who started in center field this year and battled Peterson for the role as Colony’s ace on the mound, was also second team as a junior and first as a senior.

“We’re definitely going to miss them next year,” Mayo said. “They’ve worked real hard.”

Washington and Bydlon, a four-year starter for the Warriors, helped an improved Wasilla squad fight for a playoff spot. Even though the Warriors did not make the state tournament, Wasilla was in the conversation for much of the season.

Brown has been a leader on a young Palmer Moose squad for the last four years. The senior sparked Palmer at the leadoff spot, and anchored the infield from his shortstop position.

All-Southcentral Conference

First team

Mike Wagner, Colony; Colter Peterson, Colony; JD Mayo, Colony; Kody Ziter, Colony; Raphael Matautia, Kodiak; Connor Caldwell, Soldotna; Stan Westerman, Soldotna; Eric Washington, Wasilla; Chris Bydlon, Wasilla; Tommy Brown, Palmer.

Second team

Shane Wandersee, Kodiak; Patrick Pickett, Soldotna; Josiah Covey, Soldotna; Tyler Marcuson, Soldotna; David Newman, Wasilla; AJ Corbin, Palmer.

Honorable mention:

Chris Watry, Homer; Taylor Palmer, Colony.