Brian Ford has been named the Daily Pilot Dream Team Player of the Year.

By David Carrillo Peñaloza, 07/05/11, 2:12PM PDT

From the Daily Pilot

See actual article here

On his way to watch Brian Ford play in his final high school baseball game last month, Corona del Mar Coach John Emme talked about Ford's future.

Emme knows Ford has a bright one at UC Davis, where he plans to play for the men's soccer program. But Emme believes baseball can lead Ford to a brighter one.

To Emme, Ford can easily play baseball on the next level, not just in college. He thinks Ford has the potential to make a living playing baseball.

Emme said he talked to Ford about baseball before he played in last month's Orange County All-Star baseball game for seniors in Anaheim. He told Ford to consider the sport at UC Davis because he has the tools, the speed and arm in the outfield, a sweet and short swing at the plate, to play baseball at a high level.

Ford can be a two-sport star in college. He showed it as a senior at CdM.

How many athletes can end a successful long boys' soccer season, and then in two days turn around and join a baseball team and continue to excel?

Not many, but that is exactly what Ford proved was possible. On the soccer field, he struck a ball with his feet almost as beautifully as he struck a baseball with a bat in his hands.

Ford was one of the top soccer players in the area this season, but he wasn't the best.

In baseball, Ford was No. 1 and that is why he is the Daily Pilot Newport-Mesa Dream Team Player of the Year. Ford can flat out play baseball.

Emme wonders how much better Ford could be if he just concentrated on baseball.

Ford displayed his talents as a leadoff hitter and center fielder. He batted .444 with 10 doubles, swiped 15 bases in 17 attempts, and ran underneath balls in the outfield that should have gone for extra-base hits.

Ford did it all against stiff competition. Two of the teams reaching the CIF Southern Section Division III title game were Beckman and Woodbridge and they played in the Pacific Coast League with the Sea Kings.

The only setback for Ford this season was his team failed to reach the playoffs for only the second time in Emme's 14 years in charge. The league, the CIF and the all-star committees still recognized Ford's abilities, naming him first-team all-league, second-team All-CIF, and to two all-star games.

Ford was also the Pacific Coast League Male Athlete of the Year. In soccer, he earned first-team all-league, first-team All-CIF, and second-team All-American ESPN RISE honors.

He starred on two fields, one as a center fielder and another as a midfielder. Emme believes what Ford can do with his hands is more impressive than what he can't do with them playing soccer.

Here's a look at the rest of the our players who made the Dream Team:

Andrew McCormack

The junior pitcher joined the baseball team a couple of days after the boys' basketball season and McCormack went on to pick up almost half of the Sea Kings' 13 victories this season. The right-hander posted a 6-3 record with a 2.91 earned-run average and 49 strikeouts. He worked 55 1/3 innings, including three complete games. McCormack earned second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors.

Clark Cashion

The senior catcher excelled behind the plate and at the plate. Cashion batted .397 with 13 runs batted in and recorded four doubles. The Sea Kings missed Cashion down the stretch after he injured his leg. Without Cashion, CdM lost three of its final four Pacific Coast League games and missed qualifying for the playoffs for only the second time in Coach John Emme's 14 seasons.

Brent Lawson

The junior left fielder started the Sea Kings' season on an offensive tear before finishing with a .382 batting averaging, team-bests in home runs (four), RBIs (22) and slugging percentage (.691), and he added nine doubles. Lawson's offensive surge can be connected to CdM moving him to the outfield from the infield, where he struggled defensively. Lawson earned second-team All-Pacific Coast League honors.

Will Morrow

The senior right fielder displayed one of the best arms and swings in Orange County. Morrow batted a stellar .500 to lead CdM. He hit two home runs, drove in 17 runs, doubled four times, scored 23 runs and was five for five in stolen-base attempts. He finished with a .650 slugging percentage and .554 on-base percentage. Morrow earned first-team All-Pacific Coast League and second-team All-CIF Southern Section Division III honors.

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