“He’s been really stellar all year, and he’s very deserving of it,” Lanphier said. “He had excellent numbers last year, and he just shattered them this year.”
Arington hit .511 with nine home runs, eight doubles, 10 triples and 42 RBIs in leading CCS to a 23-6 season that including district, sectional and Miami Valley Conference championships. He also was a perfect 25-of-25 in stolen base attempts.
And as impressive as those numbers are, they only account for half of his value. As a pitcher, Arington went 6-0 with a 0.46 ERA, striking out 73 batters in 46 innings.
“(The Player of the Year award) is a great honor, but the help of my teammates made it all possible,” Arington said. “My teammates did a great job, and God has blessed my school and our baseball organization.”
Arington, who was voted first team all-state last year as a sophomore, said the highlight of his junior campaign was winning the district championship despite being a little under the weather.
In addition to playing for the Cincinnati Spikes this summer, Arington is helping coach his dad’s U9 Spikes team. In August he plans on taking a mission trip, possibly to the Dominican Republic, he said.
“He is a superb ballplayer, but beyond that he’s a young man who is continuing to grow and develop into a wonderful person,” Lanphier said. “I expect some very fine things from him beyond high school, both on and off the field.”
The son of Phil and Lanora Arington, Ryan has numerous Division I scholarship offers, and said he plans to announce his college choice Friday.
Contact this reporter at (513) 820-2193 or jay.morrison@coxinc.com
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