2016 All-Area baseball: Noah Lindsay stayed within himself, then stepped up when it mattered

Player of the year: Noah Lindsay, Clover

Coach of the year: Mitch Walters, Northwestern

Noah Lindsay did a little of everything well for Clover baseball this spring, yet never did too much. He was coached as a pitcher to let the ball be put in play and ended up with a 9-0 record and a 1.47 earned run average, while helping the Blue Eagles to the state playoffs for the first time in six seasons. Then he turned his game up in the playoffs.

“Noah played his best this year when it mattered most,” said Clover coach Hank Wofford. “There were a few times when I was able to see the look in his eye and know that we had a great chance of winning that ballgame. Kid is a competitor and one that thrives when the game is on the line. He has deserved everything he has gotten this year, and I couldn’t be happier for him.”

Walters is the coach of the year because the Trojans didn’t drop off despite considerable losses to graduation from the season before. Northwestern finished 20-5 and won Region 3-4A, again; Trojan baseball skeptics were left waiting until 2017.

First team

Noah Lindsay, Clover- 4A All-State and Region 3-4A co-player of the year hit .359 with 14 RBI and seven stolen bases and was a beast on the mound. Lindsay was 9-0 with a 1.47 earned run average and 37 strikeouts. Opponents hit just .237 against him, he produced three saves, and also won three games in the 4A state playoffs. Lindsay will play college ball at USC-Lancaster.

Pierce Funderburk, Great Falls- senior shortstop and catcher hit .552 with a home run and 25 RBI. Funderburk, a 1A All-State pick, stole 20 bases and had a .672 slugging percentage. He’ll play college ball at Pfeiffer.

Bo Taylor, South Pointe- 3A All-State junior catcher committed to Coastal Carolina hit .412 with four triples, seven doubles and 15 RBI. Taylor stole eight bases and also made All-Region 3-3A.

John Gilreath, Northwestern- All-Region sophomore left-handed pitcher was 6-1 with a 1.17 ERA and 35 strikeouts in 48 innings. Gilreath, a South Carolina commitment, also saved three games for the Trojans.

Cameron Smith, Northwestern- USC-Beaufort signee was a late addition to the North-South all-star game, but had a solid senior season regardless. An All-Region 3-4A selection, Smith hit .346 with two home runs and 21 RBI and also drew 16 walks.

Jake Early, Westminster Catawba- junior All-Conference infielder hit .546 with two home runs, four triples, seven doubles and 18 RBI. Early also walked 14 times and produced a 0.626 on-base percentage. On the mound, Early was 6-2 with 60 strikeouts in 37 innings and just 13 walks.

Triston Thomas, Westminster Catawba- senior All-Conference first and third baseman hit .547 with a home run and 25 RBI. Thomas also had 16 doubles and drew 13 walks. He finished the season with a .608 on-base percentage.

Aaron Harper, York- USC-Lancaster signee hit .396 with two home runs, six doubles and nine RBI. Harper, an All-Region 3-4A pick, also stole seven bases.

Trey Keels, Lewisville- All-Region 3-A junior pitcher/infielder hit .402 and only struck out twice in 91 plate appearances. Keels was 5-5 on the mound with 57 strikeouts and a 3.16 ERA.

Second team

Conner Edkins, Rock Hill- All-Region 3-4A senior made the North-South all-star game after a solid season. Edkins hit .368 with a home run and 14 RBI and 21 walks, and also produced an air-tight 0.992 fielding percentage at first base.

Brandon Banks, Rock Hill- senior catcher also made All-Region 3-4A and the North-South all-star game after hitting .379 with three home runs and 14 RBI. Banks - headed to Limestone to play next season - also drew 16 walks and produced a 0.973 fielding percentage.

Nick Hoffman, Nation Ford- All-Region 3-4A pick hit .436 with 19 RBI.

Justin Adams, Clover- All-Region 3-4A selection did a little of everything for Clover, batting .319 with 14 RBI and going 4-3 on the mound with a 1.08 ERA and 43 strikeouts.

Jacob Wood, Fort Mill- All-Region 3-4A junior hit .403 with 16 runs scored.

Alex Reed, Lewisville- All-Region 3-A junior catcher hit .312 with five home runs and five doubles.

Jordan Starkes, Northwestern- All-Region 3-4A sophomore outfielder hit .369 with 16 stolen bases and 10 RBI.

Stephen Thompson, South Pointe- All-Region 3-3A pick hit .365 with eight doubles and 17 RBI.

Spencer Bala, South Pointe- All-Region 3-3A pitcher was 4-4 with a 1.73 ERA and only 14 walks in over 60 innings worked. Bala also produced 18 RBI and eight doubles at the plate.

Honorable mention

Luke Blanchett, Chester; Jake Wright, Chester; Cody Payne, Clover; Noah Griffin, Fort Mill; Kobie MacKinnon, Fort Mill; Daniel Gueldner, Indian Land; Nolan Bolt, Indian Land; Josh Evans, Indian Land; Denver Mosley, Lewisville; Joseph Wyatt, Nation Ford; Jordan Helms, Nation Ford; Andrew Shipman, Northwestern; Rob Hughes, Northwestern; Will McSwain, York; John Moorefield, York.

This story was originally published June 4, 2016 at 11:11 PM with the headline "2016 All-Area baseball: Noah Lindsay stayed within himself, then stepped up when it mattered."