Colleyville Heritage High School pitcher Alex Scherff is named the Gatorade Texas baseball Player of the Year for 2016-17.
The Panthers' senior starter currently boasts an 8-0 record, along with a 0.44 ERA and 89 strikeouts in 48 innings pitched this year. He's also thrown two no-hitters.
Gatorade established the award in 1985 to "recognize the nation’s most outstanding high school student-athletes for their athletic excellence, academic achievement and exemplary character."
Past winners of the award include Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw (Highland Park, 2006), 2003 World Series MVP Josh Beckett (Spring, 1998-99) and former AL Rookie of the Year Ben Grieve (Arlington Martin, 1994).
Scherff doesn't have long to celebrate, though, as his team is currently deep in a run in the Texas 5A baseball playoffs. After dispatching four teams, the Panthers face rival Grapevine High School in the regional finals at Dallas Baptist University Friday and Saturday. The winner of the three-game series faces the winner of a series between Brenham and Port Neches-Groves for the 5A state title.
Afterward, Scherff will likely turn his attention to the 2017 MLB Draft, where he's likely to be a top-50 pick. He'll then have to decide if he'll sign a pro contract or head to college station and pitch for Texas A&M.
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"It’s going to be a lot to think about," he said. "I haven’t made any decisions yet."
Online: Gatorade Announces Alex Scherff as Texas Baseball Player of the Year
