Savage and Shallenberger are tops in 1-5A

RIO RANCHO — The Cleveland Storm and the Rio Rancho Rams dominated District 1-A on the baseball diamond this spring, with each having one district loss — to each other — so it should come as no surprise that the city’s teams combined to nearly field a full team with first-team selections, lacking only a catcher and a second baseman.

Cleveland High School’s only varsity baseball head coach since his debut in 2010, Shane Shallenberger, was named the 1-5A Coach of the Year. He led the Storm (24-7) to the Class 5A championship game, a frustrating 3-2 loss to La Cueva the evening of May 18 at Santa Ana Star Field.

Rio Rancho senior centerfielder Casen Savage was tabbed as the 1-5A Player of the Year.

Named to the first team were Savage, fellow outfielder Dean Ellison, first baseman Nick DiGregorio, third baseman Ryan Lewis and designated hitter Dylan Archuleta of Rio Rancho.

Cleveland had pitchers Jaden Davis and Joseph Stevenson, outfielder Brandon Hennessy, shortstop Jarren Villa and utility player Anthony Del Angel on the first team.

Named to the second team were Rams pitcher Brandon Segal and shortstop Wyatt Tinker, plus Cleveland outfielder Silas Hilton and second baseman Jacob Brevig.

Rams outfielder Sean Vigil and catcher Jordan Sena received honorable mention.