White named Valley League co-pitcher of the year

Berberet also first-team, all-league teams total six Warriors

On May 22, the Valley League's baseball coaches met to select the all-league teams which included six Fallbrook High School players and designated Fallbrook senior Andy White as the league's co-pitcher of the year.

White was joined on the first team by senior first baseman Reese Berberet. Fallbrook's second-team players were junior pitcher Bryson Spagnuolo and senior center fielder Birch Anson. Senior catcher Cedric Brown and junior third baseman Pepe Soto were recognized at the honorable mention level.

"It's a big deal for Fallbrook," Warriors coach Patrick Walker said of having six all-league players.

"These kids have worked so hard in practice to be able to become all-league players," Walker said. "These kids are so coachable and we have a very good group of coaches who have worked with these guys."

White, who throws left-handed, shared league pitcher of the year honors with Ramona right-handed senior Blake Workman. White posted a 10-2 record for the year, including a 10-1 mark during the regular season and a 6-0 figure against Valley League opposition. White started 14 games and relieved in two, and his 12 regular-season starts resulted in six complete games, two shutouts, and a no-hitter against Great Oak High School. His earned run average of 1.48 included an ERA of 1.08 during the regular season.

In 89 innings, White allowed 63 hits, 20 walks, and 30 runs including 11 which were unearned. Only one of the 351 batters he faced homered off him while one other batter tripled. White, who limited opponents to a .194 batting average, struck out 74 batters and retired seven baserunners by pickoff.

"He showed great leadership all year on the mound," Walker said.

Berberet batted .413 with 43 hits in 104 at-bats and had a .432 average during the regular season. Thirteen of those hits were home runs, including three in the CIF playoffs, another 10 were doubles, and one was a triple. Berberet drove in 48 runs and scored 34 times. His slugging percentage was .903, and he drew 13 walks which gave him an on-base percentage of .479. Berberet struck out 10 times in 121 plate appearances.

Spagnuolo, a right-hander, had an 11-3 record with three saves in 15 starts and five relief appearances including a 4-1 mark during Valley League competition. He had five complete games, including two in the playoffs, and threw a total of 89 1/3 innings. He allowed 69 hits and 22 walks while striking out 103 of the 382 batters he faced. Opponents hit .199 against Spagnuolo, whose earned run average was 2.35.

Anson batted .407 with 50 hits in 123 at-bats. He scored 33 runs while driving in 20, and his 14 walks gave him a .475 on-base percentage.

Brown batted .313, scored 20 times, drove in 24 runs, and had a .433 on-base percentage. Soto had a .282 batting average and a .382 on-base percentage, scored 32 times, and drove in 18 teammates.

"Their hard work and their discipline have really helped them," Walker said.

The Warriors finished second in the final league standings with an 11-4 record, which placed them two games behind Ramona and a game ahead of third-place Oceanside. Fallbrook's overall record was 22-11. The Warriors entered the post-season with a 20-9 overall record and a six-game winning streak.

"They did exactly what they needed to do," Walker said.

The all-league selections mean that Walker will have to replace four all-league players who graduated this year. "That's going to hurt, but we have a great class of juniors," he said. "We'll be fine next year."