Grant County has some of the best class 1A/2A softball and baseball players anywhere in Oregon, with a combined 12 players named to the 1A/2A all-state teams for 2024 and their coaches earning recognition as well.

The Grant Union/Prairie City softball team, fresh off back-to-back state titles, had a pair of statewide award winners for the second consecutive year in Drew Williams, who was named the 1A/2A Pitcher of the Year, and catcher Addy Northway, who was selected as the 1A/2A Player of the Year.

Williams and Northway were also named to the all-state first team as pitcher and catcher, respectively. They were joined by teammates Sivanna Hodge and Savannah Watterson in the infield and Reece Jacobs in the outfield.

Lady Pro home run specialist Halle Parsons was named to the all-state second team in her final season.

Grant Union/Prairie City softball coach Zach Williams expressed pride in the accomplishments of his six all-state selections, calling the honors validation of the hard work they’ve put in.

“I am extremely proud of the girls and they absolutely deserve the recognition, which is voted on statewide by the 2A/1A coaches,” he said. “The girls have worked very hard to get where they have, and having the Player of the Year and Pitcher of the Year again is a testament to that.”

Leading the picks from the Grant Union/Prairie City/Monument baseball team was Talon Van Cleave, who was selected second team all-state as a pitcher. Eric Culley and Sheldon Lenz also found their way onto the all-state team, being selected to the third team as an outfielder and infielder, respectively.

Unlike Van Cleave, Culley and Lenz, the Prospectors also had three all-state honorable mentions who will all be back in a Grant Union uniform in 2025: Charley Knowles in the outfield, Lukas Blood at designated hitter and Baryn Huerta at catcher.

Grant Union/Prairie City/Monument head baseball coach RC Huerta had nothing but good things to say about his crop of six all-state players, especially departing seniors Van Cleave, Culley and Lenz.

“They meant a lot, especially those three seniors — they’ve been grinding, working hard and playing hard,” he said. “It really helped set a foundation for the program — they were there with me at the beginning.”

Huerta said the accomplishments of his three seniors also give the program’s returning players something to strive for.

Part of the Prospectors’ success lies in having the kids buy into the culture Huerta is trying to create, although he stresses that the team’s accomplishments are not due to his coaching prowess alone.

“I surround myself with good staff members, too; I’ve got a lot of guys with good knowledge,” he said. “I just try to get kids to believe in what their abilities are and what they aspire to be — you know, get the best out of them so they can get the best out of themselves.”

Both coaches picked up postseason accolades as well.

Williams was named the state’s 1A/2A Softball Coach of the Year by the Oregon Coaches Athletic Association in 2024.

Huerta was named the High Desert League’s Baseball Coach of the Year after picking up a similar honor as the Prospectors’ basketball coach.

Williams said he looks at the statewide award as validation for all the preparation it took to get the softball team to where it is now.

“Of course it’s an honor to be recognized as Coach of the Year, but I would say it is confirmation of the many years of hard work the girls have put in as well as the hard work of my assistant coaches, both present and over the past nine or 10 years,” he said.

Huerta said he appreciates the Coach of the Year honors, but for him the credit goes to his players and staff.

“I just appreciate that they have put in the hard work, they’ve done the right things, that they’ve helped me get to this point,” he said. “I couldn’t do it without them.”