After two years of consideration, I decided to pull the trigger this year on an all-county baseball team.

Had I known the difficulty it would cause, I might forgotten about it.

Infinitely more difficult to choose than the all-county football team, baseball proved quite a challenge.

There were many factors to consider including level of competition, team results and individual statistics.

Unlike the football squad, where coaches simply make nominations by fax, every local coach called me after my initial e-mail requesting nominations.

Undoubtedly, some feelings will be hurt.

But I’m confident that we got it right.

Every single player included was nominated by at least two area coaches. No one left off the team was named on more than one ballot.

When it came to the superlatives, sportswriter Cobey Hitchcock and myself listened primarily to the coaches, but did weigh in on the final decisions. Congratulations players.

You all deserve it after one of the finest seasons of county baseball.

Most Valuable Player

Justin Carter, Pigeon Forge

Justin Carter was not only the Tigers’ offensive catalyst at the top of the lineup, he was one of District 3-AA’s top pitchers and one of Sevier County’s most respected players among coaches.

Offensive Player of the Year

Zach Flynn, Sevier County

Zach Flynn had nearly double the home runs and RBIs of his next closest county competition while leading the Bears to their first district title in more than 40 years.

Pitcher of the Year

Bret Gallihugh, Pigeon Forge

Bret Gallihugh put up video game numbers on the mound (1.12 ERA and 101 strikeouts in 62 1/3 innings). The ETSU signee also helped PF to sectionals — just one game from state.

Coach of the Year

Lance Traywick, Sevier County

Love him or hate him (and some opponents and rivals surely do), but there’s no questioning the success Lance Traywick has brought to Sevier County. The 2010 team won the school’s first district baseball title in 42 years -— which is a long way from the program’s humble position when he took over the job five years ago.

Freshman of the Year

Wil Crowe, Pigeon Forge

Wil Crowe had the kind of freshman year most dream of. Not only the team’s third option on the mound, Crowe proved the Tigers’ best hitter, putting up a .476 average with five homers.

Most Improved Player

Cory Clark, Seymour

Junior catcher Cory Clark made a huge jump for the Seymour Eagles. Last year he hit .285 on JV and was average behind the plate. On varsity in 2010, Clark hit .415 and threw out 55 percent of runners.

All-Sevier County team

Outfielders

Zach Flynn, Sevier County

Logan Jenkins, Seymour

Charlie Fields, Sevier County

Infielders

Wil Crowe, Pigeon Forge

Cody Fox, Seymour

Michael Farragut, Sevier County

Keegan Newport, Seymour

Pitchers

Bret Gallihugh, Pigeon Forge

Justin Carter, Pigeon Forge

Logan Sawyer, Seymour

Brandon Houser, Sevier County

Keegan Newport, Seymour

Catchers

Kyle Pope, Sevier County

Drew Barton, Gatlinburg-Pittman

Utility

Hayden Whaley, Pigeon Forge

Drew Byrd, Pigeon Forge

Charlie Gavaghan, Sevier County

Daniel Roberts, Gatlinburg-Pittman