EVHS BASEBALL: Gardiner named All-American

Writing the record books

Josh Gardiner leaves Eastern View as owner of 11 of the baseball team’s individual records:

» Most triples in a season (5)

» Most total bases in a regular season (53)

» Most total bases in a season (56)

» Most RBIs in a regular season (25)

» Most home runs in a season (5)

» Most hits in a season (35)

» Most hits in a regular season (32)

» Most at-bats in a season (73)

» Highest slugging percentage in a season (.887)

» Highest on-base percentage in a season (.662)

» Highest batting average in a season (.565)

Most high school seniors plan to celebrate graduation with fun in the sun and a few days outside the watchful eye of their parents.

But Eastern View High School graduate Josh Gardiner had a different train of thought. In fact, he followed the same plan he’s had since getting called up to varsity his freshman year: Strap on some cleats, find a hat and a glove and get on the diamond.

“Josh has a goal to be a Major League player one day,” EVHS head coach Danny Nobbs said. “He has the work ethic and determination to do it, and he’s going to take the steps to make it a reality.”

Those who know Gardiner probably weren’t surprised when he stayed home this spring to play baseball instead of joining his classmates at beach week. Even less surprising to those who have seen him play is the fact that the 5-foot-9, 155-pounder was named a 2011 Louisville Slugger High School All-American last Thursday.

“I couldn’t believe it when coach Nobbs told me because I wasn’t expecting it at all,” Gardiner said. “We were stacked with seniors this year, so it’s really an honor to get nominated not to mention actually getting picked.”

Gardiner was named an honorable mention selection as a multi-positional player by the staff of the Collegiate Baseball newspaper — becoming the first baseball player in Culpeper County history to earn All-American status.

He was one of only four players from Virginia that made the cut.

“It just shows that his hard work has paid off,” Nobbs said. “On any given day you could walk out and find Josh hitting off of a tee by himself or playing catch with somebody. He has worked to perfect his craft.”

The Cyclones’ starting shortstop this spring, Gardiner also saw time on the pitching mound and spent the better part of the season batting third in the lineup during Eastern View’s run to a Battlefield District tournament championship.

He followed up a 2010 first team All-State selection as a second baseman with second team All-Region I honors and his second straight first team All-Battlefield District selection.

“If you watch Josh play, you respect what he does,” Nobbs said.

Gardiner led the Cyclones this season with a .565 batting average to go along with two home runs, five triples, four doubles, 20 RBIs and 19 runs scored.

The four-year varsity letterman leaves Eastern View with 10 career home runs after racking up five last year.

He also leaves as the owner of 11 of the Cyclones’ individual records, including: Most triples in a season (5), most total bases in a regular season (53), most total bases in a season (56), most RBIs in a regular season (25), most home runs in a season (5), most hits in a season (35), most hits in a regular season (32), Most at-bats in a season (73), highest slugging percentage in a season (.887), highest on-base percentage in a season (.662) and highest batting average in a season (.565).