Bradford named Southeast’s Player of the Year

Before Chris Bradford’s freshman year, Liberty’s baseball team had never posted a winning record.

In his senior season, the Patriots advanced to the Sunrise Region title game, and coach Nick Didier thinks the transformation started with Bradford.

“It’s pretty much evident, when he first stepped on the campus, the whole program turned around,” Didier said.

Bradford went 6-2 with a 1.83 ERA as a senior and batted .493 with two home runs and 24 RBIs. For his efforts, he was named the Southeast League’s Player of the Year by the coaches.

There was no pitcher Didier would rather have on the mound in a big game.

“Every time we gave him the ball, we knew we had a chance ,” Didier said.

The versatile Bradford started his prep career catching when he wasn’t on the mound. Didier moved him from behind the plate to save his arm, and he played every position on the field in his four years. He played second base as a senior.

“When he first came in, he was our best catcher and still might be,” Didier said. “He’s played everything. A kid like that is just a great leader. Everyone looked up to Chris on the team, especially with his work ethic in practice. He showed how the kids should act and conduct themselves on the baseball field.”

The other Division I Players of the Year were Bishop Gorman’s Kenny Meimerstorf (Southwest), Spring Valley’s Dylan Drachler (Northwest) and Silverado’s David Kuzma (Northeast).

Bradford earned a spot on the infield on the All-Southern Nevada first team and was a second-team pick as a pitcher.

Drachler was a first-team pitcher, Meimerstorf a first team outfielder and Kuzma a second-team pitcher.

The other pitchers on the first team were Coronado’s Chandler Blanchard, Shadow Ridge’s Logan Hold and Cimarron-Memorial’s Larry Quaney.

Bradford was joined on the infield by Sierra Vista’s Tyler Burdett, Eldorado’s Lucio Arreola and Spring Valley’s Michael Macove. Durango’s Anthony Parry was the first baseman, and Desert Oasis’ Cody Schmidt was the catcher.

Liberty’s Jesse Keiser, Sierra Vista’s Cole Crosby and Las Vegas’ Jose Sanchez were the other outfielders.

Rancho’s Keifer McClendon was picked as a utility player, and Liberty’s Giovanni Battistoni was the designated hitter.

Boulder City shortstop Tanner Howell, who hit .491 with five homers and 59 RBIs, highlighted the Division I-A All-Southern Region team as the Most Valuable Player.

The other infielders on the first team were Faith Lutehran’s Andrew Hudgins, Desert Pines’ Iquan Corsey and Chaparral’s Tommy Crone.

The outfielders were Boulder City’s Corbett Fleming, Chaparral’s Mark Nick O’Connor, Pahrump Valley’s A.J. Segura and Faith Lutheran’s Caleb Summerhays.

Boulder City’s Bill Barth was the catcher, Desert Pines’ Juan Cruz was picked at utility, and Sunrise Mountain’s Saul Blanco was the designated hitter.

The pitchers were Howell, Crone, Western’s Josh Yocum and Faith Lutheran’s Brenden Meyer.

Chaparral’s David Soto was the Coach of the Year.

Contact prep sports editor Damon Seiters at dseiters@reviewjournal.com or 702-380-4587. Follow @DamonSeiters on Twitter.