NK's Morris named Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year

North Kingstown shortstop Ryan Morris has been named the R.I. Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year.

The 6-foot-2, 210-pound senior had produced a .443 batting average, 34 RBI, 30 runs scored and seven home runs to lead the Skippers (18-2) into the state playoffs this week. The 2009 Division I-South Most Outstanding Player , Morris had compiled an .885 slugging percentage and a .580 on-base percentage this spring.

Morris has maintained a 3.56 GPA in the classroom. He has volunteered as part of a youth mentoring program for local elementary school students in need of emotional and academic support.

"He was our most consistent hitter all year," said North Kingstown Head Coach Kevin Gormley. "He played very well at the premier infield position. He was amazing. He's always been a very good hitter, but this year he put it all together. He never had an off day. He found a way to help us in every game. Of his seven home runs, two were grand slams and three were three-run homers. It seemed like they all came when the game was relatively close. He's been outstanding all year, and I'm just fortunate to be his coach."

Morris has signed a National Letter of Intent to play baseball on scholarship at Presbyterian College this fall.

Morris joins recent Gatorade Rhode Island Baseball Players of the Year Ryan Westmoreland (2007-08 & 2006-07, Portsmouth) and Mike Seander (2006-07, St. Raphael Academy) among the state's list of former award winners.

Posted by John Gillooly  at 10:48 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)