A pair of 2021 Westbrook Christian graduates recently received national recognition.
Samuel Dutton and Will Noles were named to the 2021 Collegiate Baseball High School All-America first and second team respectively.
Dutton and Noles helped the Warriors go 29-9, win a 14th straight area title and capture the program’s first-ever state championship.
A pitcher/centerfielder, Dutton (pictured at right) went 9-0 on the mound this past season with a miniscule 0.39 earned run average, which according to Alabama High School Athletic Association records, was the sixth-lowest all-time in one season. In 53 innings, the LSU signee allowed 14 hits, three earned runs and five walks while striking out 117 batters. He pitched seven shutouts, including four no-hitters and one perfect game. A shoulder injury prevented Dutton from pitching after the first round of the postseason.
At the plate, Dutton finished with 50 hits (including nine doubles and one triple), four home runs, 39 RBI, a .515 batting average and a .621 on-base percentage.
According to AHSAA records, Dutton’s four no-hitters tied for first all-time and his seven shutouts tied for fifth all-time. His 32 and two-third consecutive scoreless innings this season was fifth all-time. For his high school varsity career from 2017 to 2021, Dutton posted the lowest career ERA at 0.77, finished 19th in strikeouts with 377 and finished 26th in career wins with 29.
A pitcher/first baseman, Noles (pictured at left) was named MVP of the Class 2A state championship series. In 80.2 innings, the UAH signee allowed 11 earned runs and 28 walks while striking out 135 and posting a 0.95 ERA. He threw five shutouts, including one no-hitter. Noles went 11-2 and went 5-0 in the postseason with shutouts in the first round, semifinals and finals. At the plate, he batted .446 with 50 hits, nine doubles, two triples, two home runs, 39 RBI and an on-base percentage of .552.
Chris McCarthy contributed to this article