All-Region baseball: Ryan Pitts, Skyview

Pick your baseball poison with Ryan Pitts: face him on the mound, or in the batter’s box?

The same Skyview Storm player with a sub-1.00 earned-run average in this spring also hit .378 as a third baseman.

A dual-threat player with power is what Pitts, The Columbian’s All-Region baseball player of the year, turned himself into his senior year to lead the Storm to their third consecutive state trophy.

And that power all starts with self-confidence, he said.

“If you go up to the mound of the plate,” he said, “… you have to think the person across from you isn’t as good as you, and you think you can do what you do.”

And what Pitts did spoke volumes. He earned the 4A Greater St. Helens League MVP, hit .378 with 34 hits, including nine doubles, and went 6-1 with a 0.90 ERA.

As much as Pitts prides himself on defense, pitching is what he perfected the most this spring. He grew into the closer’s role throughout last season’s playoff run to the 4A title game, and turned into a top arm on a veteran staff when Skyview won five loser-out bi-district games to reach the state semifinals.

At regionals, Skyview won consecutive 1-0 games and Pitts impacted both wins. He threw a complete-game four-hitter and struck out eight in the opener against Inglemoor, and had one of Skyview’s four hits against Kentlake in the state quarterfinals.

Was this a state semifinal-bound team at the start of the season? Talent-wise, no doubt, Pitts said, but it took more than that to get to Pasco.

That, and the growth of his friends and teammates is made the Skyview’s season memorable for Pitts.

“Everyday,” he said, “we came in ready to work hard, as the season went on, we just got better and better.”

Rest of All-Region baseball team

Spencer Andersen, Ridgefield

First-team all-2A GSHL player allowed two earned runs over 10 postseason innings.

Nick Alder, Columbia River

2A GSHL’s pitching MVP posted a sub-1.00 ERA leading Chieftains to league title, state tournament.

Cooper Barnum, Skyview

All-league center fielder hit .341 with 23 runs scored, and a 1.74 ERA over 35.1 innings.

Kellen Bringhurst, Ridgefield

2A GSHL MVP helped Spudders to district title, first state win since 2003.

Noah Guyette, Skyview

Air Force-bound shortstop hit .342 at lead-off to help Storm reach 4A semifinals.

Grant Heiser, Camas

Led the 4A GSHL in batting average, and hits to help Camas to league title, first state berth since 2011.

Garrett Moen, Mountain View

Thunder’s lead-off hitter hit .386 with 24 runs scored to help Mountain View repeat as league champions.

Carter Monda, Evergreen

Two-time all-league outfielder hit .394, helped the Plainsmen reach the 3A bi-district tournament.

Isaiah Parker, Mountain View

First-team all-3A GSHL shortstop scored 23 runs, led Thunder to first state win in program history.

Andrew Selden, Mountain View

Two-time 3A GSHL MVP went 10-1, allowed 11 earned earned runs with 70 strikeouts.

Carter Sutton, Union

All-league center fielder struck out 45 batters over 28 1/3 innings to get the Titans back to the playoffs.