For a list of the other Gatorade State Baseball Players of the Year, click here.

THE WINNER: Austin Riley

THE BASICS

School: DeSoto Central (Southaven, Miss.)
Grade: Junior
Position: RHP/IF/C
Height: 6-foot-3
Weight: 225 pounds

Athletic achievement: He led the Jaguars to a 28-9 record and the Class 6A championship series. At the time of his selection, Riley owned an 8-3 record with a 1.51 ERA and 79 strikeouts in 60.3 innings pitched. A 2013 First Team All-State selection, he also batted .472 with nine home runs, 34 RBI, an .824 slugging percentage and a .577 on-base percentage through 37 games.

Academic excellence: Riley has maintained a 3.36 GPA.

Exemplary character: A member of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, he has volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics and as a youth baseball coach.”

THE PRAISE

“Austin Riley is a very well-rounded athlete,” said David Lara, head coach at Hernando. “He has power at the plate and can be a very dominant pitcher. I can say without reservation that he is very high quality young man.”

THE FUTURE: Riley has verbally committed to Mississippi State.