Gridley's Tanner Abbott named All Northern Section Player of the Year

With the 2026 high school baseball season having come to an end, it is time to announce the All Northern Section honors, as voted on by area media members.

Below is the full list of All-Section players, as selected on by area media members. Members of this year's panel of sports writers include Aaron Williams of MaxPreps (formerly the Record Searchlight), Brett Abrams of the Redding Record-Searchlight, Justin Couchot of the Chico Enterprise-Record, Jeff Larson of the Marysville Appeal-Democrat, Jennifer Corriea of the Colusa Sun-Herald, Rick Silva of the Red Bluff Daily News and Kevin Askeland of MaxPreps (Formerly Willows Journal/Orland Press-Register).

Gridley's Tanner Abbott received his third First Team honor in four seasons, and for the first time Abbott rose to top and received Player of the Year honor after a stellar senior season. On the mound Abbott threw three no hitters, had a 0.72 earned run average, allowed just six earned runs in 58 2/3 innings, and walk 27 and struck out 134. At the plate Abbott led the Bulldogs as well with a team-high batting average of .417, had 30 runs batted in, 20 runs scored and seven stolen bases.

Joining Abbott on the first team are several others including Eastern Athletic League MVP Scott McKeown from Pleasant Valley, McKeown's teammate at PV Holden Franks, Chico pitcher Vinny Boatwright, Chico outfielder Jaxxon Tweedt amongst others.

The newly-named Chico Carton Northern Section Baseball Coach of the Year honor goes to Los Molinos' Nathan Stelzriede. Stelzriede led the Bulldogs their third Northern Section championship in the last four years.

"Oh wow, that's unbelievable. Very unexpected and very grateful," Stelzriede said. "Honestly it's because of the seniors. I may sound cliché, but that's my first group. It's been four years. We came in together, so for me I think they're always going to hold a special place. Each one is different. Each one does something different, and that's what makes it work for us. The personalities are different, but these boys have been playing together since they were eight or nine years old; they're like brothers to each other."

Stelzriede went on to thank his coaching staff.

"Our coaches, my coaches, I'm very lucky to have that are I think the three best coaches any guys could ask," Stelzriede said. "They each bring something to the table that puts in these kids. Defensively, offensively and pitching wise, and we make it all work together."

The newly named Chip Carton Northern Section Baseball Coach of the Year Award is named after longtime Chico coach and athletic director Chip Carton. Carton was the head coach of the Panther baseball team from 1993 to 2018. Carton and his teams won seven Northern Section championships. He was named Northern Section coach of the year in 1998 and 2014.

First Team

P – Holden Franks, Pleasant Valley

P – Vinny Boatwright, Chico

P – Tanner Abbott, Gridley

C – Wyatt Denton, Las Plumas

1B – Landon Lynch, Durham

2B – Gunner Church, West Valley

3B – Blake Schwerdt, Foothill (Palo Cedro)

SS – Clayton Harris, Etna

OF – Jaxxon Tweedt, Chico

OF – Brevan Ring, Durham

OF – Colton Douglas, Foothill (Palo Cedro)

AA – Scott McKeown, Pleasant Valley

Second Team

P – Dennis Dewhurst, Biggs

P – Roy Alexander, Orland

P – Jack Ampi, University Prep

C – Colt Montgomery, Maxwell

1B – Bryton Miller, West Valley

2B – Dominic Pacheco, Orland

3B – Giuseppe Bianchi, Chico

SS – Landon Kirack, Lassen

OF – Eli Kennedy, Shasta

OF – Drason Recio, Central Valley

OF – Cole Jordling, Winters

AA – Parker Heitman, Los Molinos

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