If the post season honors are any indication, the Ballard Beavers made great strides in earning respect in the always tough KingCo conference.

Head Coach Kevin Miller was named the Coach of the Year in KingCo and two players received were named to the all league team. Six others made Honorable Mention.

Ballard finished with a 12 and 8 record, 13 and 10 overall. The conference record qualified them for the playoffs, where they beat Lake Washington, before falling to Woodinville and Redmond.

Miller was given the award during a meeting of KingCo coaches. "It was pretty fun. It was exciting. They (coaches) are established and well respected coaches," said Miller.

As a Ballard High School graduate himself, Miller earned the Metro League player of the year honor in 1995. He went on to become a two-time University of Washington All-American and was drafted by the Oakland Athletics.

First baseman Andrew Wyman was named KingCo First Team. Miller said Wyman is a well-rounded player who manned first base and was third in the hitting order.

Wyman excelled at first base. "He saved a lot of throws at first that would have been caught. He did a good job pitching," Miller said referring to Wyman.

Infielder Shawn Oughton made the KingCo Second Team. Oughton was named to the as a DH (Designated Hitter). "He was our big offensive threat. He was one of our bigger clutch players," said Miller.

KingCo Honorable Mention went to: catcher David Ringold; infielder Nick Tsagalakis; pitcher/outfielder Max McGraw; outfielder Zack Complita; outfielder Stephen Kelsey; and pitcher Ted Kolb.

Ballard developed the team camaraderie necessary to compete in KingCo this year. "By the end of the season, players had not given up," said Miller.

Ballard defeated Eastlake (twice), Bothell (twice), Franklin, Garfield (twice), Roosevelt (twice), Juanita, Inglemoor and Lake Washington this spring.