Saturday, May 28, 2005
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

THE BEST OF THE BEST: Cheyenne's Mills honored

Star catcher named Southern Nevada's best in Class 4A

By DAMON SEITERS
REVIEW-JOURNAL

Members of this year's Southern Nevada All-Star team from top left: Mike McDade, Kevin Wells, Mark Willinsky, Brandon Trodick, Mike Smith, Chris Carter, Evon Buhecker, Chad Riddle and Trevor Diez. Front, from left are: Niko Vasquez, Koa Kahalehoe, Daniel Tilche, Kris Cichoski, Robert Mills, Jordan Salazar, Mike McClaren and Scott Berke. Photo by Craig L. Moran.

When Mike DeMaria took over Cheyenne's baseball program this spring, he said he was sure his top players could play with anyone in the city.

His catcher, Robert Mills, certainly proved his point.

Mills was named the Class 4A Southern Nevada Player of the Year by area coaches.

"Everybody said he's going to hit for you and be pretty good behind the plate, and he did all of the above," said DeMaria, who came to the area from Illinois this year. "Rob really lived up to the hype."

A left-handed hitter, Mills batted .544 with nine home runs and 47 RBIs for the Desert Shields. He added 12 doubles and four triples for a 1.067 slugging percentage.

DeMaria said he batted Mills leadoff for the first five games to get him more at-bats before dropping him to the No. 3 spot for more RBI opportunities. The coach said his star was willing to do whatever it took to make the team better.

"He was a great, great kid," DeMaria said. "He's a great ballplayer and a better person, too. I wish I had him for a couple more years."

The one knock DeMaria kept hearing was Mills' size. He stands 5 feet, 8 inches.

"Would you rather have a 6-2 kid that stinks?" DeMaria said. "I'll take nine Rob Mills and I'll win a lot of games.

"I've been coaching for about 10 years, which isn't that long, but he's the best I've ever had. He would start on any team I coached and any team I played against in Illinois."

Though he was named the area's top player, Mills shared the Northwest Division Player of the Year honor with Cimarron-Memorial center fielder Brandon Trodick, who batted .463.

Sierra Vista center fielder Scott Berke, who hit 12 homers, was named the Southwest Division Player of the Year. Eldorado shortstop Anthony Griffith, who hit .505 with two homers, was the Northeast Division Player of the Year. Green Valley right-hander Greg Krause, who went 7-1 with a 1.60 ERA, took the Southeast Division honor.

Mills was the catcher on the All-Southern Nevada first team. Cimarron's Mark Willinsky, Green Valley's Krause, Durango's Mike McClaren, Bonanza's Colby Shreve and Sierra Vista's Chad Riddle were the pitchers.

Palo Verde's Mike Smith was picked at first base, Centennial's Jordan Salazar at second, Basic's Kevin Wells at third and Durango's Niko Vasquez at shortstop.

Mojave's Daniel Tilche and Desert Pines' Humberto Rodarte were selected as infielders at-large.

Durango's Kris Cichoski was the designated hitter and his teammate, Mike McDade, was selected as a utility player.

The outfielders were Sierra Vista's Berke, Las Vegas' Josh Chasse, Cimarron's Trodick and Durango's Koa Kahalehoe.

Derek Stafford of Bonanza was selected as the Sunset Region's Coach of the Year, and his high school coach, Silverado's Brian Whitaker, took the Sunrise coaching honor.