Derrick Walters went 8-0 with a 0.51 earned run average for Fredonia this spring. P-J file photo

In trying to assess the field of top high school baseball players over the past decade, a pattern has emerged when it comes to the Fredonia Hillbillies. When looking to name The Post-Journal Player of the Year, more often than not there is going to be a big-hitting, hard-throwing candidate wearing black and orange tossing his name into the mix.

That was the case for recent honorees Cam Voss and Jarod Burmaster, and this year Derrick Walters left no doubt in anyone’s mind that the trend is still going strong.

Starting, dominant pitchers with batting averages to match become more and more rare as players climb the ladder from youth baseball, through high school and beyond, but don’t tell that to Walters.

In his final year on the diamond, the senior led Fredonia to a 16-2 record in a season that came to an end in the Class the Section VI Class B-1 final against Olean.

For his efforts, Walters was named to the Class B All-State Sixth Team by the New York State Sportswriters Association, and was honored as Pitcher of the Year in Chautauqua-Cattaraugus Athletic Association Division I West.

“Derrick really took a leadership role with us,” said Fredonia coach Vince Gullo. “After finishing really strong his junior year, we were hoping that he would come out on fire after throwing a couple of shutouts last season.”

The omens during Walters’ junior season were all good, but even considering the optimism the statistics of his final year are impressive.

To begin with the pitching, the senior finished the year with a perfect 8-0 record, giving up just 15 hits in 41• innings with five runs, just three of them earned. Walters struck out 67 batters and walked 12, ending his year with a 0.51 ERA and a .73 WHIP.

While Fredonia’s roster boasted plenty of strong hitters during this past year, Walters held his own at the plate as well, hitting .407 and finishing with 20 RBIs and 19 runs scored.

“Derrick worked hard in the off-season, throwing and getting his arm in shape,” said Gullo. “He worked hard to set the example for our team. His hitting improved a ton and he ended up being our shortstop when Reid Tarnowski was on the mound.”

Initially Walters had spent time at third base for the Hillbillies when not on the mound in years prior, but in his final season was able to establish himself as a confident defender at one of the infield’s key positions.

“He took a lot of reps at shortstop and he was our best option,” said Gullo.

In looking back on the year his team had, and some of the moments that turned into fond memories of his talented hurler, Gullo was immediately drawn to Fredonia’s 3-1 Section VI Class B-1 semifinal against No. 2 ranked Depew.

Entering the postseason as the No. 3 seed, the Hillbillies were going to need a stellar effort from Walters to move on, and, boy, did they ever get one.

The Wildcats took an early lead after Walters lost a pitch that hit leadoff batter Joe Pagano, which was followed up by an RBI single from Dante DiRienzo to make it 1-0.

“We needed Derrick in that game. Had we gone with any other pitcher we may not have made. The game was a struggle and Derrick kept us in,” said Gullo.

After the slightest of missteps early on, Walters went on to finish the 3-1, victory with two doubles and an RBI, plating the tying run.

On the hill, the numbers of the day included one run on two hits, one walk and seven strikeouts. He retired the final 13 batters he faced.

“We gave up an unearned run and then he just held them scoreless the rest of the way,” said Gullo. “We were not doing very well offensively and yet he kept in the game, and then our kids finally pushed across a run in the ninth to win it.”

Of course, no season by The Post-Journal Player of the Year would be complete without a no-hitter in the mix, and Walters earned his on May 8 against Silver Creek/Forestville, earning Gullo his 300th career win in an 11-0 final that included eight strikeouts in five innings.

Next on the horizon for Walters’ career is likely more success to come as he joins the program at Niagara County Community College.