The Snyder News All-Decade series

The Ira Bulldogs dominate this week’s installment of The Snyder News All-Decade series, with all six first-team all-decade baseball players.

First Team

Karson Valentine

Ira (2017 to 2020)

Despite losing his senior season to the COVID-19 pandemic, 2020 Ira graduate Karson Valentine excelled both on the mound and at the plate during his three-year varsity career, earning all-state honors as both a sophomore and a junior. 

He first appeared as a utility player in 2017, earning first-team all-district utility player honors.

As a junior, Valentine hit .447 with nine doubles, a home run and 28 RBIs, earning his first all-state award and was named the district MVP.

He became the Bulldogs’ ace as a junior, recording a 1.94 earned run average (ERA) with 30 strikeouts in 18 innings pitched. At the plate, he hit .419 with a double, triple, 12 RBIs and nine stolen bases. He won his second district MVP award and was named to the all-state team for the second year in a row. 

Anthony Coy

Ira (2017 to 2020)

Coy powered the offense for the Bulldogs from 2017 to 2020. 

He was named the district Newcomer of the Year as a freshman in 2017 and hit .455 with nine doubles, three triples and 17 RBIs on his way to Offensive Player of the Year and all-state honors as a sophomore. As a junior he hit .567 with five doubles, two triples, a home run and 13 RBIs. He won his second Offensive Player of the Year award and made his second consecutive all-state team.

In 2020, Coy had already homered once and looked poised to build on his first three years before the COVID-19 shutdown.

Austin Cullifer

Ira (2012 to 2015)

Cullifer earned first-team all-district honors each of the four years of his high school career, while playing several different positions.

After starting his career in the outfield, Cullifer added part-time infielder to his repertoire as a sophomore and earned first team all-district honors as a utility player. As a junior, he moved to the infield full-time and hit .360 with 23 RBIs.

He spent his senior season in the outfield, and his offensive numbers improved. Cullifer hit .439 with a home run, three doubles and 23 RBIs. 

Jared Cotton

Ira (2011 to 2014)

Cotton was the Bulldogs’ go-to pitcher from 2011 to 2014. After earning all-district honors in 2011 and 2012, Cotton moved to the infield as a junior. He won the district Offensive Player of the Year award and made his first all-state team. Despite his offensive production, he was primarily a pitcher for the Bulldogs in 2014. He went 6-1 for Ira with 58 strikeouts to just 11 walks in 46 innings pitched. He finished his senior season with a 2.33 ERA and made his second all-state team.

Logan Morris 

Ira (2012 to 2015)

Morris was a four-year starter.

He manned the infield his first two seasons, earning first team all-district honors in both his freshman and sophomore seasons. As a junior, he hit .354 with three doubles, two triples, four home runs and 17 RBIs. He made his first all-state team and was named the district’s Offensive Player of the Year.

As a senior, Morris excelled on the mound, going 7-3 with a 2.74 ERA in 46 innings. 

He struck out 48 and walked just 12 and was named a first team all-district pitcher. 

Tyler Goodwin

Ira (2013 to 2014)

In his two years as a varsity starter, Goodwin was a two-way player for the Bulldogs.

He earned first team all-district honors as a pitcher in 2013. 

As a senior, Goodwin hit .431 with seven doubles, three triples, a home run and 19 RBIs. On the mound, he compiled a 6-2 record in 44 innings. 

He struck out 59 batters and allowed just 20 walks. He was named the district MVP and made his first all-state team his senior season.

Second Team

Dylan Sorrells, Hermleigh (2014 to 2017)

Sorrells was a four-year starter. He earned second team all-district honors as an infielder and pitcher in 2014 and 2015. In 2016, the Cardinals turned to Sorrells as the ace of their pitching staff and he pitched his way to the first team all-district as a junior. 

In his senior season, Sorrells was recognized for both his pitching and his efforts at the plate, being named the district’s first-team utility player.

Nathan Goodwin, Ira (2017 to 2020)

Another member of the 2020 class that lost a year due to COVID-19, Goodwin was all-state twice in his baseball career. 

As a senior, Goodwin hit .515 with three doubles and 10 RBIs, earning himself the district’s Offensive Player of the Year award. Goodwin finished his career with three all-district selections.

Zach Goodwin, Ira (2012 to 2015)

Another four-year starter, Zach Goodwin was a steady presence in the Bulldog infield. In his first three seasons, Goodwin made the all-district team every season as an infielder. As a senior, Goodwin hit .373 with seven doubles and drove in 22 runs. He was the district’s Offensive Player of the Year and was named to the all-state team.

Honorable Mentions

Hunter Cotton

Ira (2014 to 2017)

Dylan Randolph

Hermleigh (2013 to 2016)

Matthew Brazil

Ira (2017 to 2020)

Kylor Fine

Ira (2010 to 2011)

Up next in The Snyder News All-Decade series is a look at Snyder softball and the best of the Lady Tigers since the start of the decade.