By GANNON HANEVOLD
Moapa Valley Progress
Moapa Valley High School Head Baseball Coach Ed McCann has made the commute each and every day from Las Vegas to coach the Pirates. But he has never taken his drive into the valley for granted.
“When I come over that hill every day from Vegas, it is like a breath of fresh air,” McCann said. “It has been that way since I was there in the 70s.”
McCann, himself a graduate of Moapa Valley High School, knows that the students at this school and families in the community are nothing short of special.
“These are good kids,” he said. “I’m from the valley. But I’ve recruited kids from all around the nation. I’m not biased, I’m just telling it like it is. These kids here are special young men. They are the most unselfish kids I’ve ever surrounded myself with.”
One story that McCann tells involves Moapa Valley senior Drake Staheli. Staheli has been playing second baseman for much of his high school baseball career. But he was willing to make the change to short stop in his final year when the coach asked him to.
“You have to put your best kid where it makes your team the best,” McCann said. “Drake Staheli is so unselfish. He said, ‘I’ll do whatever it takes.’”
With such success on the diamond in any given season, award recognition is expected. Ten different players on the Pirate roster were awarded on the All-Sunrise League Team. A few were even rewarded higher honors.
On the All-Sunrise First Team was sophomore pitcher Chase Hadley, senior outfielder Dayton Wolfley, junior third baseman Daxton Longman, and senior catcher Anthony Cornwall.
Pitcher Jade Marshall and outfielder Tyler Peterson, both seniors, were also rewarded with All-Sunrise Second Team honors. Second baseman Hunter Wininski, shortstop Drake Staheli, utility player Colby Longman, and outfielder Chase Guesman all received honorable mentions.
On the All-Southern Region teams, the Pirates were well represented as well. On the All-Southern Region First Team would be Anthony Cornwall. On the second team was Dayton Wolfley, Daxton Longman, and Chase Hadley.
After an incredible season, Cornwall was also honored with the title of Sunrise League MVP and Southern Region MVP.
Head coach Ed McCann was recognized as the Sunrise League Coach of the Year as well as the Southern Region Coach of the Year.
Though the season ended short of the state championship for the Pirates, McCann was optimistic about the future of the program.
“The support from the valley is absolutely second to none,” he said. “I think what this special group of seniors leaves us is the attitude of ‘It’s not over until it’s over.’ The future is really bright for Moapa Valley baseball going forward.”
