The Sacramento Bee’s All-Metro baseball team: Two teammates share Player of the Year award

They didn’t just look the part as stout baseball stars on the mound or at the plate. They played the part, too.

Nic Abraham and Nolan Stevens were an incomparable 1-2 power punch for Franklin High School this record-setting spring campaign, and they fueled the top team in the CIF Sac-Joaquin Section with leadership and production in earning Sacramento Bee All-Metro co-Players of the Year honors.

A senior-to-be at the Elk Grove Unified School District program, Abraham at 6-foot-5 towered on the mound as he fashioned a 10-0 record with a 0.61 ERA. A freshly graduated senior headed to Mississippi State on scholarship, Stevens at a muscled 6-2 was the power source at the plate for the 30-5 Wildcats, a feared hitter whose deep fly outs to dead center field prompted players and fans to stand, peer and ponder.

Stevens batted .360 with a team-high 40 hits, nine doubles, four home runs, 23 RBI and 35 runs scored. He also went 5-0 on the mound with a 1.26 ERA.

Sprinkled into all of this production for the players was a blast of humility. The stellar students regularly raved about one another and their teammates and coaches more than they would about themselves.

After defeating Whitney in the section Division I baseball finals for the program’s first such championship, Stevens insisted that his pal Abraham earned the start on the mound, arguing that he was “the best pitcher in the state.” Abraham said Stevens as a four-year starter also earned that honor to start a title game. It was that sort of sportsmanship that put the Wildcats over the top.

“Growing up, being taught to be humble and to be grateful, it really hit me,” Stevens said. “And stop using the word ‘I’ because it’s a team. The coaches I played for, you learn to respect everyone and that you can learn from everyone. I learned a lot from Nic, how talented he is, and how nice he is.”

Said Abraham: “When you’re a leader with a positive attitude, it makes a difference. When I wasn’t pitching, I was our spirit commissioner, backing everyone, and when I pitched, everyone backed me.”

Abraham is a national recruit who expects to get better and stronger as he adds weight and experience. Stevens reports to Mississippi State soon for summer classes and a head start on baseball while Abraham has a summer full of travel baseball on his schedule with scouts taking notice. The two live for this. Baseball is their element.

“Baseball is something I can do and love to do, and we’re with each other so much through fall ball, weight lifting, the season,” Abraham said. “Baseball is so much more than just the games. Someone once told me that you’re not a baseball player. You’re someone who plays baseball. It makes sense.”

Stevens has long been motivated by older brothers who starred at Franklin. Grant Stevens pitched at University of the Pacific in Stockton and will finish at Oklahoma as a graduate transfer. Carson Stevens is a catcher at Cal Poly.

“Baseball means a lot to me and my family, and it has for my whole life,” Stevens said. “My brothers played when I was a kid, and I was a bat boy following them, watching them, and I saw how far baseball has taken them, the education. I just love this sport. I love watching college games on TV and MLB. It’s just so fun.”

Abraham has also been inspired by his older brother, Zach, who is six years older, though they see eye to eye on a lot of things.

“He’s been a role model my entire life, 100%,” Abraham said. “He’s always been someone I’ve looked up to. He’s honest with me. He tells me that the world is not going to end if I have a bad day in baseball.”

Franklin coach Bryan Kilby said his star players exemplify what’s good about prep sports.

“Nic and Nolan are winners in so many ways,” he said. “They lead by example in the field and in the classroom. They impact their teammates, students and staff in so many positive ways. They are two of the best players we have had come through our program, incredible young men. If I were to rate each one, it would be easy — 10 out of 10.”

All-Metro Baseball Teams

Players of the Year: Nic Abraham, Franklin, Jr.; Nolan Stevens, Franklin, Sr.: The heart and soul of the Delta League champions, Abraham as the ace and Stevens as the slugger led to the program’s first CIF Sac-Joaquin Section Division I championship. Abraham went 10-0 with an 0.61 ERA in helping power the Wildcats to a D-I NorCal semifinal showdown at eventual champion De La Salle of Concord. Stevens was 5-0 on the mound with a 1.26 ERA and batted .360 with a team-high 40 hits and 35 RBI.

Coach of the Year: Stewart Peterson, Sutter: After coaching the Huskies to eight of the previous nine Northern Section championships, Peterson and company never broke stride after the school moved into the much larger Sac-Joaquin Section, winning the D-IV title and then the CIF NorCal Division IV crown. Sutter went 26-5-1.

Large School Player of the Year: Tyler Allen, Whitney, OF, Sr.: The MVP of the Sierra Foothill League, Allen hit .413 with 26 RBI and stole 25 bases for a team that won the stacked Sierra Foothill League and reached the Division I section finals.

Medium School Player of the Year: Kurt Marton, P, Oakmont, Sr.: The ace of the D-IV section champions went 8-1, playing his best in the biggest games. He struck out 103 with a 1.37 ERA in 71.2 innings.

Small School Player of the Year: Landon Sable, C, Sutter, Sr.: An anchor leader behind the plate, Sable was paramount in leading the Huskies to section and NorCal championships. He batted .478 with 30 RBI and finished with a 17-game hitting streak.

Smaller School Player of the Year: Drew Perry, Leroy Greene, Utility, Jr.: Perry led the section with a .707 batting average and 55 RBI in powering the Lions of Natomas to their first league championship and CIF Section title, winning it in D-VI. He had eight home runs, including a state record-tying two grand slams in one game.

First Team

Conner Barth, Woodcreek, SS/1B, Jr.

Jagger Beck, Sutter, P, Jr.

Eli Campbell, Cordova, Utility, Sr.

Brian Chin, P, Davis, Sr.

Chase Christenson, Rio Americano, SS/P, Sr.

Dylan Drake, Christian Brothers, SS, Sr.

Jack Erickson, Colfax, C/P, Sr.

Cody Ferrante, Granite Bay, INF, Sr.

Jake Fields, Oak Ridge, P/1B, Sr.

James Garceau, Yuba City, INF, Jr.

Jace Gillmore, Whitney, P, Sr.

Jax Gimenez, Whitney, INF, Jr.

Dom Giusti, Franklin, INF, Sr.

Jaylen Hodges, McClatchy, INF, Sr.

LaJon Johnson, Florin, C, Jr.

Tony Lira, Oakmont, INF, Jr.

Jordy Lopez, Franklin, OF, Jr.

Marcus Maeder, Colfax, P/OF, Sr.

Sam Marr, Rio Americano, INF, Jr.

Gavin McLendon, Whitney, P/OF, Sr.

Matt Moses, Del Campo, C/P, Sr.

Jordy Nelson, Franklin, OF, Jr.

Jackson Nichols, Valley Christian, INF, Sr.

Austin Nye, Woodcreek, P, Jr.

Timmy Reed, Granite Bay, OF, Jr.

Carson Timothy, P, Pioneer, Sr.

Second Team

Caden Beloian, Rio Americano, P/1B, Sr.

Colin Callahan, Folsom, INF, Sr.

Sean Carey, Folsom, P, Sr.

Joe Carroll, Oak Ridge, 3B, Sr.

Cy Dempsay, Vacaville, INF, Sr.

Eddie Fines, Elk Grove, INF, Sr.

Tyler Finley, Delta, Utility, Sr.

Jack Ghufran, Granite Bay, P, Jr.

Dylan Green, Woodcreek, INF, Jr.

Jamie Groshong, Bella Vista, INF, Sr.

Aidan Hall, Galt, P, Jr.

Andrew Hanson, Sutter, INF, Sr.

Mike Santos-LaPlaca, Capital Christian, INF, Sr.

Ricky Larsen, Ponderosa, P, Sr.

Shon Lor, McClatchy, P/INF, Sr.

Ethan Louie, Woodcreek, OF, Sr.

Dylan Messier, Christian Brothers, P, Sr.

Dylan Minnatee, Franklin, OF/INF, So.

Bradley Nave, Colfax, INF, Jr.

Micah Nicholson, Bradshaw Christian, SS/P, Sr.

Levi Nyberg, Cordova, Utility, Fr.

Austin Nye, Woodcreek, P, Sr.

Luke Oyler, Whitney, SS/P, Jr.

Russell Pettis, Elk Grove, P, Jr.

Derek Pham, Franklin, INF, Sr.

Adam Reyes, Oakmont, SS/P, Sr.

Austin Stapleton, Woodland, P/3B, Sr.

Carson Timonty, Pioneer, P/SS, Sr.

Max Wiesner, Jesuit, P, Jr.

Kenny Winters, Lincoln, Utility, Sr.

David Wiser, Bradshaw Christian, P, So.

Honorable Mention

Eddie Ames, Leroy Greene, So; Ace Begovich, Argonaut, Sr.; Chase Bentley, Granite Bay, So.; Tyler Bolyard, Vista del Lago, So.; Jayce Bystrowski, Granite Bay, So.; Zach Carli, Delta, Sr.; Frankie Castillo, Kennedy, Sr.; Finn Chapman, Vacaville, Sr.; Steven Cherry, Marysville, Sr.; Kaden Clive, Delta, Jr.; Jackson Cook, Lincoln, So.; Landon Dahler, Pioneer, Jr.; Ayden Deome, West Park, So.; Lincoln Dotoli, Roseville, Jr.; Nathan Erickson, Whitney, Jr; Luke Ferreira, Pioneer, Jr.; Derrick Fisher, Woodland, Sr.; Van Froling, Inderkum, UTL, Sr.; Ned Frutchey, Elk Grove, Jr.; Matthew Gallant, Ponderosa, Sr.; Colin Gallagher, Folsom, INF, Jr.; Gabe Garcia, Colfax, Jr.; Rylan Giovannoni, Sutter, Sr.; Jacob Halseth, Laguna Creek, Jr.; John Handy, Woodcreek, Jr.; Andrew Hanson, Sutter, Sr.; Thomas Hinojosa, Marysville, Sr.; Talen Hollowell, Kennedy, Sr.; Ian Holt, Ponderosa, Sr.; Jack Howsley, Marysville, Sr.; Tyler Hutchison, West Park, Sr.; Carter Imbach, Woodland, Sr.; Cooper Kunis, Oakmont, So; Lucas Manning, Liberty Ranch, Sr.; Anthony Martinez, Del Campo, Sr.; Tyson Mayberry, River City, Sr.; Cowen Meyer, Placer, Sr.; Matt McCall, Sutter, Sr.; Mason McNany, Florin, Jr.; Jake Moreau, Jesuit, Sr.; Brenden Murphy, Vacaville, Jr.; Mario Navarro, Monterey Trail, Jr.; Hooper Notes, Yuba City, Sr.; Brooks Ochoa, Davis, Sr.; Ryan Okino, Sheldon, Sr.; Robbie Perry, Del Campo, Sr.; Nate Petz, River City, Jr.; Bryson Schelp, Davis, Jr.; Cam Staton, Placer, Sr.; Jimmy Radler, Granite Bay, Jr.; Korey Ramson, Leroy Greene, Jr.; Brady Ranallo, Roseville, Sr.; Ethan Rickert, Bradshaw Christian, So.; Jack Smith, McClatchy, Sr.; Jack Soaras, Christian Brothers, Sr.; Dylan Stallions, Colfax, Sr.; Ben Straw, Granite Bay, Jr.; Jacob Schreiber, Casa Roble, Jr.; Jackson Takahashi, Bradshaw Christian, Sr.; Leo Taormina, McClatchy, Sr.; Drew Vassar, Jesuit, Jr; Jonathan Vavak, Whitney, Sr.; Martin Vega, Florin, Jr.; Dylan Westbrook, Oak Ridge, Jr.; Luke Williams, Oak Ridge, Sr.

▪ How the teams were selected: The Bee’s All-Metro team was picked through coaching nominations and personal observation by Bee staffers. Playoff team success was also a factor.