The Gatorade State Baseball Players of the Year were selected based on athletic production and impact in the 2015-16 season. Each winner also demonstrated high academic achievement and exemplary personal character, including volunteerism, sportsmanship and community leadership.

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

THE WINNER: Dalton Feeney

THE BASICS

School: Century (Bismarck, N.D.)
Grade: Senior
Position: Right-handed pitcher and shortstop
Height: 6-foot-2
Weight: 205 pounds

Athletic achievement: He had led the Patriots to a 26-6 record and a berth in the West Region tournament at the time of his selection. Feeney compiled a 5-1 regular-season record with two saves and a 0.17 ERA. He also batted .367 with 18 RBI. A Rawlings/Perfect Game Third Team Preseason All-American, he has thrown two perfect games this season and recorded 79 strikeouts and issued just 10 walks through 41.1 innings pitched.

Academic excellence: Feeney has maintained a 3.60 GPA.

Exemplary character: A devoted member of his church community, he has volunteered locally on behalf of the Special Olympics, a community food shelf and youth sports programs.

THE PRAISE

“Feeney is a special kind of athlete,” said Dewitt Mack, head coach at Mandan High. “On the mound, he throws with very little effort but he’s consistently in the upper 80s and lower 90s. He moves effortlessly in the field, his bat is strong and he’s fast on the base paths. I haven’t seen another athlete of his caliber in a while.”

THE FUTURE: Feeney has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball on scholarship at the University of Missouri this fall.