Liberty Bell High School baseball player Derek Alumbaugh posed with his former coach, Don Calvert, at an All-State game Alumbaugh recently competed in.
By Don Nelson
Two Liberty Bell High School baseball players, seniors Derek Alumbaugh and Cole Darwood, were invited to play in an All-State feeder game in Cashmere on June 4, and Alumbaugh went on to play in another two All-State games in Yakima last weekend.
“Both played well, Derek especially,” Liberty Bell coach Mike Wilbur said of the Mountain Lions players who went to Cashmere. “He [Alumbaugh] was the offensive MVP for the game.”
“We have never had a Liberty Bell player involved in the second round of games before, and only a handful of players from our league over the years have been honored in this way,” Wilbur said.
Alumbaugh plans to continue his baseball career at a four-year college. He was named to the CWB All-League first team for the 2017 season; Darwood was named to the second team.
Wilbur praised both players for their approach to the game.
“Cole has played the game the right way ever since he came to Liberty Bell, and probably ever since tee ball,” Wilbur said. “He does so many things to help a team win and a lot of them don’t show up in the scorebook. Cole is a vocal team leader; he grinds out at bats and is always a tough out. He can lay down a bunt, steal a base, and he plays great defense all over the field. Cole brings energy, leadership, baseball smarts and a heckuva lot of talent every time he steps on the field.”
Cole Darwood was an important contributor to the Mountain Lions’ success this year.
“Derek has a ton of natural ability, but his hard work has made him the player he is today. He is so diligent in his preparation and the results are clear to see,” Wilbur said. “He’s great behind the plate, hits for average and power, and is lights out on the mound. After Colfax, the eventual state champ, knocked us out of the playoffs their coach told me that Derek was the best they had seen on the mound all year. I don’t doubt that’s true. They were a better team than us in almost every way, but with Derek on the mound we had the better pitcher.”
“I’m looking forward to seeing what these two guys do at the next level,” the coach added.
Alumbaugh’s father, Brett, was on the All-State team his senior year as a player from Okanogan in 1983.
