Steve Bell didn’t give up on the Fairfield baseball team after it won just four games in 2025, and he didn’t lose faith in his squad when it stumbled to an 0-4 start this season.
Instead, the coach went back to the drawing board and molded his team into a contender. The Knights advanced to the District 3-1A championship game and qualified for the PIAA tournament.
Bell’s coaching peers in the YAIAA took notice of his scrappy Fairfield boys and selected him as the Division III Coach of the Year. Bell was one of nine of Fairfield selections to the YAIAA All-Star teams, with five of those picks coming from the Knights’ baseball squad.
Jacob Liller was a first-team baseball selection following a monster season that saw him bat .443 (31-for-70) with seven doubles, three triples, three home runs, 23 runs, 37 RBIs and 11 stolen bases. Liller was joined on the All-Star team by honorable-mention selections Haden Hicks, Layton Wilhide, and Riley Brown.
Fairfield’s softball team landed two All-Star selections: first-teamer Maddy Payne and honorable-mention pick Reese Sweeney. Payne batted .478 (22-for-46) with eight doubles, 12 runs, 12 RBIs and six stolen bases. She was also the Knights’ primary pitcher and won three games, while striking out 64 batters over 70 innings.
Austin Snyder and Julianna Estes were both honorable mention to the All-YAIAA track and field team.
Below is a complete look at the YAIAA spring All-Star teams:
YAIAA Spring All-Stars
Baseball
Division I
Player of the Year: Jaden Freeze, South Western
Pitcher of the Year: Carson Meyer, Dallastown
Coach of the Year: Don Kauffman, Northeastern
First Team: Caden Snyder (P, Dallastown), Wyatt Mahler (P, Central York), Brandt Johnson (C, Northeastern), Jacob Desort (IF, Spring Grove), Luke Burch (IF, Central York), Roosvert Ramos (IF, York), Jason Reese (IF, South Western), Braden Wolf (IF, South Western), Connor Bissinger (OF, Northeastern), Connor Ray (OF, Red Lion), Ashton Parks (OF, Spring Grove), Isaac Pakstis (OF, Central York), Bennett de los Santos (Utility/DH, Red Lion).
Honorable Mention: Ben Martin (P, Red Lion), Ryland Neutzel (C, Dallastown), Isaac Woods (IF, Northeastern), Calvin Johnson (IF, Northeastern), Cooper Lawrence (IF, Red Lion), Regan Koons (Utility, Red Lion), Ethan Smith (OF, South Western)
Division II
Player of the Year: Jake Harris, Kennard-Dale
Pitcher of the Year: Gavin Holmes, Kennard-Dale
Coach of the Year: Bobby Holmes, Kennard-Dale
First Team: Tristyn Yerka (P, New Oxford), Hunter Chronister (P, West York), Logan Howard (P, Eastern York), Carter Wagaman (P/OF, New Oxford), Quinn Bramble (P/SS, Eastern York), Gavin Haifley (P/SS, New Oxford), Gio Sisti (SS, Kennard-Dale), Billy Greenwell (3B/P, Kennard-Dale), Chase Ferguson (IF, Dover), Nick Nace (1B/OF, Susquehannock), Brady Cook (IF, Eastern York), Noah Hoffer (OF/C, Kennard-Dale), Avery Chenoweth (OF/1B, Kennard-Dale), Matt Vitale (OF, Eastern York), Noah Hare (OF, Dover).
Honorable Mention: Blake Boyd (OF, Eastern York), Everett Dietz (C, Eastern York), Max McLeod (P, Kennard-Dale), Jackson Brown (IF, New Oxford), Alex Brown (OF, New Oxford), Nolan O’Brien (C, New Oxford), Landon Kleiman (OF, Susquehannock), Henry Heilman (C, Susquehannock), Caden Price (IF, West York), Wes Sweitzer (DH, West York), Caleb Kanode (C, York Suburban).
Division III
Player of the Year: Aidan Hoffman, Biglerville
Pitcher of the Year: Branson Diller, Bermudian Springs
Coach of the Year: Steve Bell, Fairfield
First Team: Parker Black (P, Biglerville), Colton Miller (P, Hanover), Teegan Byers (C, Bermudian Springs), Lane Hubbard (IF, Bermudian Springs), Brayden Heller (IF, Bermudian Springs), Peyton Bossom (IF, Littlestown), Logan Hoover (IF, Littlestown), Jacob Liller (OF, Fairfield), Connor Latrechiano (OF, York Catholic), Nate Ogle (OF, Bermudian Springs), Logan Chermaie (Utility/DH, York Tech).
Honorable Mention: Haden Hicks (Fairfield), Layton Wilhide (Fairfield), Riley Brown (Fairfield), Brody Parr (Biglerville), Braden Peterson (Biglerville), Gavin Althoff (Biglerville), Colton Kabrick (Littlestown), Timmy Wagaman (Hanover), Mason Hewitt (Delone Catholic), Jack Wilson (Delone Catholic), Colton McMaster (Delone Catholic).
Softball
Division I
Player of the Year: Ella Honaker, Red Lion
Pitcher of the Year: Maddie Sowers, Central York
Coach of the Year: Megan Pilarcik, South Western
First Team: Olivia Bateman (OF, South Western), Logan Craiger (OF, Central York), Bailey Daughenbaugh (IF, Central York), Kennedy Fultz (OF, Red Lion), Brooklyn Horick (OF, New Oxford), Peyton Keim (C, Dallastown), Miranda Leatherman (P, New Oxford), Laney Lippy (IF, South Western), Zoe Roland (Utility/DP, Dallastown), Kelsey Smith (IF, South Western), Jayde Stuth (IF, Red Lion), Hailey Webster (IF, Dallastown).
Honorable Mention: Marley Daily (Central York), Chloe Diggs (York), Leah Himes (Northeastern), Payton Hostetter (New Oxford), Alyssa Lighty (Red Lion), Aniyah McCane (Northeastern), Brooklyn Shaffer (Central York), Chloe Smith (New Oxford), Aiyanna Vega (York).
Division II
Player of the Year: Taryn Ashenfelter, Kennard-Dale
Pitcher of the Year: Ella Wetzel, Susquehannock
Coach of the Year: Joe DiCandeloro, Kennard-Dale
First Team: Addie Argiro (C, Kennard-Dale), Maddie Argiro (IF, Kennard-Dale), Lilliana Fleming (IF, Kennard-Dale), Jozalynn Harman (OF, Spring Grove), Emma Hockenberry (OF, Dover), Calista Ilgenfritz (IF, Eastern York), Sara Lim (IF, York Suburban), Madison McGlynn (P, West York), Morgan Moyer (IF, Dover), Cam Ortiz (OF, Dover), June Wilt (Utility/DP, Spring Grove).
Honorable Mention: Mackenzie Chronister (Dover), Kloe Fetrow (Spring Grove), Reagan Hughes (West York), Ava King (York Suburban), Addie Lucas (Eastern York), McKenna Papale (Susquehannock), Callie Shue (Susquehannock), Mia Wetzel (Susquehannock), Elaina Zabkowski (Kennard-Dale).
Division III
Player of the Year: Sarah Loveless, Littlestown
Pitcher of the Year: Alexis Stonesifer, Littlestown
Coach of the Year: James Loveless, Littlestown
First Team: Libby Brown (OF, Littlestown), Ashlynn Gorsuch (IF, Littlestown), Kenzie Hess (Utility/DP, York Catholic), Sydney McLeaf (P, Biglerville), Jocelyn Miller (IF, Biglerville), Maddy Payne (Utility/DP, Fairfield), Makayla Reese (IF, Bermudian Springs), Allie Wersinger (OF, York Tech), Kaitlyn Willow (OF, Bermudian Springs), Caylee Zortman (IF, Delone Catholic).
Honorable Mention: Hannah Barthel (Littlestown), Anna Juliano (York Tech), Ella Staub (Delone Catholic), Reese Sweeney (Fairfield), Leah Wildasin (Hanover).
Boys Volleyball
Player of the Year: Trent Weinstein, York Suburban
Coach of the Year: Oliver Good, York Suburban
First Team: Luke Bair (Setter, Spring Grove), Levi Braswell (OH, Northeastern), Gordon Campbell (OH, Dallastown), Luis Garcia (MH, Spring Grove), Aaron Hildebrand (OH, Eastern York), Truett Miller (OH, York Suburban), Ray Phifer (OPP, Northeastern).
Second Team: Robert Berry (MH, York Suburban), Tysiar Bordonada (Setter, York Suburban), Ian DeVos (OH, Central York), Gavin Gurreri (Setter, York Suburban), Carson Hershey (MH, Dallastown), Shivesh Jethwa (Setter, Central York), Josh Slade (OPP, York Suburban), TJ Talley (OPP, Central York), Jacob Zambito (Setter, Northeastern).
Third Team: Jose Diaz (MH, Dallastown), James Eckert (OH, Central York), Kyle Garland (MH, Central York), Noah Good (MH, Red Lion), Cole Heffelfinger (OPP, Dallastown), Preston Ilgenfritz (Setter, York Suburban), Jeff Lawrence (Libero, Spring Grove), Zane Lawrence (OH, Spring Grove), Daniel Lowry (Libero, Dallastown), Garrett Meador (Libero, Northeastern), Cameron Stambaugh (Setter, Dallastown), Jackson Wertz (OH, Northeastern).
Boys Track and Field
Division I
First Team: Gabe Annan (Sprints, Dallastown), Wyatt Carbaugh (Javelin, South Western), Markus Edwards (Hurdles, Red Lion), Benjamin Farbman (Distance, Dallastown), Andrew Gerber (Sprints/Mid-Distance, Spring Grove), Chance Keithan (Jumps, Red Lion), Maxwell Marcini (Distance, Central York), Matthew Muniz (Shot Put, Dallastown), Ghage Schmelyun (Jumps, South Western), Bredon Smith (Sprints, Spring Grove), Matthew Wise (Discus, Red Lion).
Honorable Mention: Joshua Bahr (Central York), Brendan Benzing (South Western), Ryne Coble (Red Lion), Christopher Cromartie (Dallastown), Camden Hoff (Spring Grove), Steven Hutchins (Northeastern), Justice Rawlins (South Western), Jacob Rosovensky (Dallastown).
Division II
First Team: Brayden Billman (Jumps, New Oxford), Dalton Griffin (Sprints, Dover), Will Ifill (Jumps, Dover), Tayvon Jacoby (Hurdles/Jumps, New Oxford), Xander Myers (Distance, Dover), Patrick O’Brien (Pole Vault, Susquehannock), Nathan Tedesco (Mid-Distance/Distance, York Suburban), Dru Thompson (Distance, West York), Connor Whitesel (Mid-Distance, West York).
Honorable Mention: Sean Brubaker (York Suburban), Ian Bucalo (Susquehannock), Jadon Bucholz (Susquehannock), Sebastian Fonticoba (Dover), Silas Leonard (York Suburban), Dayne Merica (Eastern York), Xavier Mitchell (Eastern York), Tayvon Thomas (West York), Luke Watkins (New Oxford).
Division III
First Team: Zach Ayers (Pole Vault, Bermudian Springs), Ryan Bungard (Hurdles, Biglerville), Joey Bunty (Hurdles, Delone Catholic), Liam Donnelly (Pole Vault, Delone Catholic), Adam Gaidos (Mid-Distance/Distance, York Tech), Magnus Mitchell (Sprints, York Tech), Luke Rebert (Jumps, Delone Catholic), Zander Spillan (Jumps, Littlestown), Liam Watts (Jumps, Bermudian Springs).
Honorable Mention: Jonathan Bianchi (Delone Catholic), Declan Crawford (Bermudian Springs), Colton Cue (Hanover), Parker Dell (Littlestown), Jensen Emlet (Delone Catholic), Cameron Hackman (Bermudian Springs), Brady Kabrick (Littlestown), Dylan Klunk (Delone Catholic), Matthew Mummert (Delone Catholic), Austin Snyder (Fairfield), Easton Tanner (Bermudian Springs).
Girls Track and Field
Division I
First Team: Ella Bahn (Sprints/Hurdles, Spring Grove), Abigail Evans (Distance, Dallastown), Gabrielle Houck (Sprints, Red Lion), Madison Eyster (Javelin, South Western), Ajaya Jordan (Sprints, Central York), Molly McLaughlin (Jumps, Dallastown), Ava Metzler (Jumps, Northeastern), Leah Navarro (Distance, Dallastown), Kemyia Parker (Jumps, York).
Honorable Mention: J’Ontai Bailey (York High), Esther Fernandes (South Western), Neila Granger (Dallastown), Keira Peake (South Western), Alayna Schopf (Red Lion), Meredith Staub (South Western), Teanna Wakefield (Central York).
Division II
First Team: Halana Brubaker (Sprints, Eastern York), Sara Hilsmeier (Shot Put, Kennard-Dale), Brooklyn Horick (Javelin, New Oxford), Maddie Marks (Discus, Susquehannock), Vivian Millar-Kellner (Distance, New Oxford), Minh Nguyen (Mid-Distance, West York), Annalise Renner (Pole Vault, Kennard-Dale), Melanie Thoman (Shot Put, Dover), Lily Weaver (Hurdles, West York).
Honorable Mention: Diamond Bailey (Eastern York), CJ Henry (West York), Chloe Hill (York Suburban), Keira Reider (Dover), Camryn Thoman (New Oxford), Lexy Weaver (West York).
Division III
First Team: Samantha Bealmear (Mid-Distance, Delone Catholic), Jaydyn Brown (Shot Put/Discus, York Tech), Aniyah Jones (Jumps, York Tech), Lillian Kane (Discus, Delone Catholic), Benedicte Parker (Long Jump, Littlestown), Evelyn Peters (Jumps, Bermudian Springs), Audrey Regentin (Jumps, Biglerville), Brielle Wittmer (Jumps, Delone Catholic).
Honorable Mention: Kaylie Brown (Delone Catholic), Liliana Escobar (Hanover), Julianna Estes (Fairfield).
