Kyle Nobach not only played like an MVP, he dressed like one.
Nobach, an infielder from Marysville Pilchuck High School, was named the All-State Offensive MVP Sunday after leading Team Baker to the championship of the annual Senior All-Star Baseball weekend in Yakima.
Batting in the leadoff spot Saturday, Nobach scored twice and drove in a run as Team Baker defeated Team Adams 9-3 to advance to the title game. At the event’s banquet that evening, Nobach was the only one of the 72 players to wear a tie.
“My grandma made me do it,” he told the Yakima Herald-Republic newspaper. “She thought it was the right thing to do.”
On Sunday, Nobach led off the championship game with a double, sparking a four-run first inning. He singled in the second and scored a run in the fourth as Team Baker beat Team Rainier 7-2.
“I moved up to batting leadoff this year and I really like it,” he told the Herald-Republic. “I’m usually an aggressive hitter and I look for any way to get on base and get things started. It’s challenging and fun to be in that position.”
The only hitch in Nobach’s weekend was getting thrown out at home after Sunday’s leadoff double. He fell victim to a strong throw from right field by Kentwood’s Tanner Wessling and a quick sweep tag by Archbishop Murphy catcher Alex Galgano … or did he?
Nobach, an all-state defensive back on MP’s football team, had a different view.
“I was safe,” he told the Herald-Republic. “It was close but I got in there.”
Justin Vernia of Issaquah was named the All-State Defensive MVP. Pitching for Team Baker, he threw four scoreless innings in the championship game, allowing just two hits and striking out six.
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