no one from the east should even be considered in STATE player of the year....the west stats are always inflated (im not accusing them of lying or anything, but if you look at the west stats from last year, it seems like every player hits at least 5 bombs)and the hitting out there outweighs the pitching by a longshot. Tom Ebert, last year's East POY was 12-2 with a .74 era, 112 K's and 3 HR's. And he wasnt even on the ballot for Gatorade Player of the Year.
Gatorade State Players of the Year are selected not only for their outstanding athletic performance, BUT for their academic achievement and exemplary personal character.
I don't know how well he did in the class room or how he was off the field but those could be two reasons he wasn't.