DeVall, Forehand are Baseball Players of the Year

By ADAM PRUIETT

adamp@nwfdailynews.com

Peering out to the pitcher's mound, it must have been an intimidating sight to see either Niceville senior pitcher Brett DeVall or Paxton junior hurler Colby Forehand.

Both stand well over 6-feet with lean frames and lively arms, a prototype for a dominant high school pitcher. Of course, their look wouldn't have meant anything if they didn't have the arsenal to back it up.

Unfortunately for their opponents, appearances weren't deceiving.

DeVall became one of the most celebrated high school pitchers in the country this season, dazzling Niceville fans and professional scouts alike with his 90-plus mph fastball and capping the year with his first-round selection in the Major League Baseball draft by the Atlanta Braves.

Forehand was the linchpin of a Paxton team that was supposed to face a rapid decline after losing a slew of seniors to graduation. Instead, behind Forehand's steady arm and bat, the Bobcats stunningly made a repeat run to the regional finals.

For their considerable contributions to teams that went deep into the postseason, DeVall and Forehand are this year's All Sports Association/Daily News Baseball Players of the Year. DeVall was honored for big schools (Class 4A-5A), while Forehand was tabbed for small schools (Class A-3A).

DeVall, labeled by Baseball America as the top high school left-handed pitching prospect heading into the draft, transferred to Niceville from Rutherford this year. He lived up to his reputation and then some, compiling a 13-2 record with a 0.63 ERA and 160 strikeouts in 100 innings.

"It had always been a goal to get over 100 strikeouts and have a low ERA, but 160 strikeouts ... I was right there at 100 when coach (Kevin) Berry congratulated me, then the next thing I know we're done with the playoffs and he told me I finished with like 155, 160 strikeouts and I was like, ‘Wow,' " DeVall said.

DeVall proved his value the most in the postseason when he won four games and had an 18-inning shutout streak in leading the Eagles to their first final four appearance since 1989. He did it with droves of pro scouts watching his every pitch.

"That's the thing about what made him great is that under pressure he never got rattled," Berry said. "He never feared failure in his existence at Niceville High School. He pitched because he loved it. That's where I got my thrill: He did it because he loved the game."

Forehand had to make a quick transition from Paxton's accomplished basketball team, which also advanced to the regional finals. He excelled on the mound, where he went 5-2 with a 1.43 ERA, and at the plate, where he batted .333 with 15 RBIs.

"I was really proud. I heard all year how we didn't have any seniors and we weren't going to be as good as we were last year," Forehand said. "It was hard to compare to a team that had seven seniors and to go exactly as far as them with what we had this year, it surprised me a lot. I think it's probably my best year playing and having to battle."

What impressed Paxton coach Jeff Bradley the most about his standout righthander was his maturity. With no seniors, Forehand was thrust into the role of leader.

"A junior isn't supposed to assume that responsibility," Bradley said. "All those young kids looked up to Colby because he had been in those big games. He's been able to kind of keep us in the playoff run the past couple years, even as a freshman."

Big schools (Class 4A-5A)

Player of the Year: Brett DeVall, Niceville

Coach of the Year: Kevin Berry, Niceville

First team

INF - Danny Collins, Niceville

INF - Cory Wenrich, Crestview

INF - Jacob Bacon, Navarre

INF - Chase Dodson, FWB

OF - Matt Herndon, Niceville

OF - David Pyle, Crestview

OF - Josh McDorman, Niceville

OF - Augie Willis, Crestview

C - Michael Wells, Niceville

DH - Jeff Boyer, Niceville

UTL - David Weber, Choctaw

UTL - Brett Moore, Crestview

P - Austin Wood, Niceville

P - Brett DeVall, Niceville

P - B.G. Hill, Navarre

Honorable mention

Choctawhatchee: Jonathan Parish, Taylor Kelley, Jace Blanchard, Channing McGlockton, Justin Coppock

Crestview: Cody Hancock, Nathan Bell, Josh Edwards, Andrew Wirth, Danny Arnette

Fort Walton Beach: Luke Barnes, Austin Sullivan

Navarre: David Rahmes, Charlie Windfelder, Aaron Sargeant, Zack Briggs

Niceville: Robby Campbell, Shawn McDorman, Jordan Demos

Small schools (Class A-3A)

Player of the Year: Colby Forehand, Paxton

Coach of the Year: Jeff Bradley, Paxton

First team

INF - Jace Smith, LH

INF - Colton Henry, Baker

INF - Dan Geoghagan, Paxton

INF - Hunter Infinger, SW

OF - Issac Jackson, Walton

OF - Dion Jones, SW

OF - Jesse Crawford, Paxton

OF - Drew Farris, Freeport

C- Jake Wright, SW

DH - Noah Mosley, RBCS

UTL - Brian Feick, Baker

UTL - Jon Lyons, LH

P - Colby Forehand, Paxton

P - Cole Weeks, Freeport

P - Ethan Jackson, LH

Honorable mention

Baker: Brandon Henderson, Preston Nixon, Josh Yost

Freeport: Spencer Martin, Thomas Suggs, C.J. Bates

Laurel Hill: Will Sherwood

Paxton: Zack Forehand, Ryan Lewellen, Michael Smith

Rocky Bayou: Scott Listak, Brian Redmon, Steven Griffith, Ben Donahue, Jacob Terry

South Walton: Jake Hawkins

Walton: James Towery