Nyquist earns Gatorade Idaho baseball honor

CHICAGO - Coeur d'Alene High senior Nick Nyquist was named 2014 Gatorade Idaho Baseball Player of the Year on Tuesday, the third Viking to be chosen from Coeur d'Alene High.

Nyquist, a 6-foot-2, 190-pound shortstop and right-handed pitcher, batted .506 with six home runs, 35 runs scored and 30 runs batted in, leading the Vikings to the state 5A tournament. Nyquist had a .567 on-base percentage, a .988 slugging percentage and stole 15 bases without being caught.

Nyquist has maintained a 'B' average in the classroom, volunteered locally on behalf of the Salvation Army, Home Runs for Homeless and as a youth baseball coach.

"Nick Nyquist's attitude and effort are exceptional," Coeur d'Alene coach Nick Rook said. "In my experience, his personality and skill set are in the top five percent of the players who I have coached both at the high school and collegiate levels. His character is all that a coach can ask for and more."

Nyquist, who has signed with Gonzaga, joins Levi Pereira (2013) and Devon Austin (2010) as state players of the year from Coeur d'Alene High.