After putting up eye-opening numbers and helping lead Sugar-Salem to another state title, Dawson McInelly tabbed Gatorade Idaho Player of the Year

SUGAR CITY – Accolades continue to roll in for Sugar-Salem’s Dawson McInelly.

Coming off a second straight baseball state title, the senior was selected Tuesday as the 2024-25 Gatorade Idaho Baseball Player of the Year.

Per the press release, the award celebrates the nation’s best high school athletes for their success on the field, in the classroom and in the community.

McInelly hit .558 with 41 RBIs and led the state with 14 home runs while scoring 44 runs. He homered and finished 2 for 2 with three RBIs in the state title game against Fruitland.

He was also a force on the mound, finishing 8-0 with a 0.31 ERA and 69 strikeouts in 45.2 innings.

From the release: “McInelly has volunteered locally with his high school government class in a program called Operation Merry Christmas, helping to raise more than $20,000 for food and gifts to families in need during the holidays. He has also donated his time to help elderly people in his community with yard work through his church youth group.”

McInelly, who signed to play baseball at Utah Tech University, maintained a 3.75 GPA.