Before Game 3 against Stringer, St. Aloysius coach Clint Wilkerson told his club that to be the best, they’d have to beat the best.

The Flashes did take over the perch at the top of the mountain with the Class 1A state championship after beating Stringer in Game 3 of the South State finals and sweeping West Union at Trustmark. With that kind of body of work, the postseason awards would likely come calling for the Flashes.

Wilkerson had no idea, however, that his club would be as honored as they were on Tuesday, as four St. Al mainstays were named to the Class 1A All-State team.

Catcher Sean Weaver, pitcher/infielder Ryno Martin-Nez, infielder Pierson Waring and pitcher/infielder Stephen Evans were all named to the first team.

“It’s really a tribute to our team, how hard our kids played and the respect they earned from the other teams that had seen them play and voted for them,” Wilkerson said. “It’s unreal to have four on the first team.”

The Flashes won 28 games and the Class 1A state title in a sweep over West Union, with all four playing huge roles in St. Al’s first baseball title in 33 years.

Weaver, a five-year starter, was not only a defensive bulwark behind the plate, but was very talented offensively as well. He hit five home runs and drove in 38 runs. According to Wilkerson, he considers him the state’s best defensive catcher.

Waring was the team’s most consistent offensive player and quickly became an RBI machine, leading the county with 48. He was second in the county in batting average, hitting .468 with 15 doubles, a pair of triples and four home runs. He also scored 50 runs.

Evans was dominant as the Flashes’ No. 1 starter, but was a force on an offense that scored runs in bunches. His ERA was a sparkling 1.18 as he went 13-2 with 89 strikeouts in 71 1/3 innings pitched. Offensively, Evans drove in 33 runs, third in the county, and had two home runs and 10 doubles.

Martin-Nez had four home runs, two triples, 11 doubles and scored 41 runs. As the Flashes’ No. 2 pitcher, he had 47 strikeouts with a 5-2 record in 43 2/3 innings pitched. He pitched a two-hit, complete game in the Game 2 win over West Union.

Wilkerson, who got to watch the four grow from struggling youngsters to state champions, was overwhelmed by the pride he felt in the achievements of the four.

“It’s one of the greatest feelings in my life,” Wilkerson said. “To watch these four grow up, mature, become better baseball players and become men, that is just incredible. I wouldn’t trade it for any feeling in the world.”

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Contact Steve Wilson at swilson@vicksburgpost.com