The Arizona Daily Star‘s Greg Hansen has lamented the end of the NCAA and high school seasons by honoring those players and teams who were likely to have strong national finishes. His “Woulda List” includes two Speed School athletes: New Mexico State’s Nick Gonzales – the leading contender for NCAA Player of the Year – and Tucson High’s Carlie Scupin, an Arizona-commit who was the Arizona Player of the Year as a junior and would have factored into the conversation as Gatorade National Player of the Year. From Hansen:
Cienega High School grad Nick Gonzales, a first-team All-American at New Mexico State last year, was the NCAA leader in home runs (12) and RBIs (36). He had a realistic chance to be the NCAA Player of the Year. Gonzales was scheduled to play against Arizona at Hi Corbett Field on March 24.
Tucson High senior first baseman Carlie Scupin, who has signed to play at Arizona, entered the season as the defending Arizona Gatorade Player of the Year, with 41 career home runs and season batting averages of .683, .619 and .553. She could’ve contended for national Gatorade player of the year honors, and set hitting records Tucson softball players would be chasing for decades.
