By David Rogers. BOONE, N.C. — As befitting the league champions, Alexander Central nearly swept the individual honors and had a whopping 12 student athletes receive all-Northwestern Conference recognition.
The Cougars, coached by “Coach of the Year” selection Pete Hardee, were second place Watauga’s nemesis in the 2023 season, serving up the only two conference losses experienced by the Pioneers.
With an 18-7 overall record and an 8-1 conference record, the Pioneers enjoyed their best season since 2009-10 — when Hardee was the Pioneer coach. Having just finished their second season under head coach Mike Windish, the Watauga hardballers seem to be on a roll and had eight student athletes receive all-Northwestern Conference recognition for the 2023 season.
- Conference Champion – Alexander Central
- Player of the Year – Mason Raising – South Caldwell
- Co-Pitchers of the Year – Maddox Jack and Caleb Williams, Alexander Central
- Coach of the Year – Pete Hardee – Alexander Central
All Conference Team
ALEXANDER CENTRAL
- Jaret Hoppes
- Maddox Jack
- Sawyer Chapman
- Caleb Williams
- Mason Chapman
- Bubba Pope
- Cam Chapman
- J.D. Little
- Dyson Lewis
- Spencer Oram
- Honorable Mention: Alex Sloan, Grayson Anderson
WATAUGA
- Jacob Dilley
- Tristan Salinas
- Cooper Riddle
- Maddox Greene
- Johnny Ray
- JT Cook
- Jameson Hodges
- Honorable Mention: Cooper Critcher
SOUTH CALDWELL
- Mason Reising
- Tristan Mearns
- Elias Morales
- Graham Watters
- Davis Brown
- Easton King
- Honorable Mention: Walker Hartley, Luke Williams, Zane Dorsey
HIBRITEN
- Jake Absher
- Connor Woodward
- Ryan Winkler
- Honorable Mention: Dillan Earp, Micah Dalton
ASHE COUNTY
- Canyon Pennington
- Sam Tibbs
- Colin Estes
- Honorable Mention: Jordan Tibbs
FREEDOM
- Carson Dyson
- Eli Wolfe
- Honorable Mention: Jagger Bailey
