Already longtime friends and competitors, East Carter’s Jeremiah Shearer and Lawrence County’s Travis Feltner added region champions to their list of common bonds this season.

And now there’s more.

Shearer and Feltner were voted Co-Coaches of the Year for the 2009 version of The Independent All-Area Baseball Team, the first time either has accomplished the feat. Greenup County catcher Billy Logan and Lawrence County pitcher Chandler Shepherd shared the Player of the Year award.

In his fifth season as head coach, Shearer led East Carter to the 16th Region championship, its first region title in 25 years.

Meanwhile, Feltner guided Lawrence County to a repeat championship in the 15th Region in his first year heading the Bulldogs’ program.

Following their regional tournaments, Shearer and Feltner also faced each other in the Semi-State 8 best-of-three series. The Bulldogs took that series 2-1.

While their semi-state matchup grueled to a decisive Game 3, Shearer and Feltner were more than happy to relax a little and share Coach of the Year honors. Neither of the former Alice Lloyd teammates flinched at the idea of the co-coach label when told of the news.

“Sharing it with a guy like Travis, who I’ve known for a long time, it means a lot,” Shearer said. “Just to be voted on, it’s a big honor.”

Shearer caught up with Feltner and shared a few laughs while waiting for an All-Area Team photo last week. The competitor switch was clearly off now that the season has passed.

Feltner nearly echoed Shearer’s feeling of sharing the Coach of the Year award.

“It’s humbling considering there are a lot of great coaches up and down the river; they all do such a great job,” he said.

Feltner didn’t do too bad himself. Taking over for Lawrence County legend Randy Keeton, a more than 500-game winner, Feltner guided Lawrence County to another region championship and another trip to Applebee’s Park for the State Tournament.

The Bulldogs finished 23-16 in 2009 after a school-record 32 wins in 2008.

Reflecting on the ‘09 season, Feltner felt good about the way his team went about its business.

“We thought we’d be pretty good even though we lost five kids to college baseball,” Feltner said. “It really took most of the season to fill some spots and form those roles. But this team got a taste of state last year and they liked it.”

Shepherd was one of those players who got a taste in 2008 when he threw a shutout in the opening round of the State Tournament.

Shepherd followed that up with a six-win season in 2009. The sophomore had a 1.30 ERA and struck out 137 in 82 innings. He also hit close to .350 with five home runs.

Shearer knows all about Shepherd, too, having faced him in the semi-state. Shepherd picked up both of Lawrence County’s wins in the series.

“Obviously, he has the physical attributes, all the God-given tools,” Shearer said. “But he also goes out there and pitches with composure. He’s a kid that has the right makeup to be successful. Not just in high school but in college also.”

As for Logan, the outgoing senior was the heart of a Greenup County team that won back-to-back 16th Region championships in 2007 and 2008.

Logan was a big part of this past season’s 30-win campaign as well, though the Musketeers fell short of a three-peat, losing to East Carter in the region semifinals.

Logan, who is committed to play at James Madison, hit .439 with three home runs and 53 RBIs. Logan spoke fondly of getting a chance to play at the varsity level with his father, Greg, as the coach and of winning multiple region titles. But his faith was first.

“I have to give all the credit to God,” Logan said. “Without him, none of it would be possible.”

Logan’s teammate Eric Craft, a five-year starter, joins him on the All-Area team. Craft played shortstop and batted .457 with 35 stolen bases.

Two more Musketeers also made the team. Ethan Hardin, a right-handed junior, was 8-0 and threw two complete games. L.T. Rice hit .381 and had a team-high five home runs.

Joining Shepherd is teammate and catcher Shane Pack. Pack hit .374 with 35 runs through the region tournament.

East Carter’s Derek Stapleton, Tyler Jackson and Ty Back all made the team.

Stapleton was a two-way power for the Raiders, hitting .374 with three home runs and also leading the team with seven wins on the mound. Jackson, the team’s lone senior, led East Carter with a .458 batting average and Back hit .346 and had a team-best 32 RBIs.

16th Region runner-up Boyd County landed three on the team - Jared Spicer, Chase Pettit and Brett Moore.

Spicer and Pettit each hit better than .400 and combined to steal 38 bases. Moore had a .384 average and went 5-3 with 48 strikeouts in 45 innings.

Raceland also had a trio of players on the team. Josh Wilson had a 1.03 ERA and hit .380. John Scott Carver hit .550 with six home runs and 25 RBIs as the Rams’ leadoff man. Catcher Jeremy Barr hit .375 with 11 doubles.

Ashland got two players on the team. First baseman Nick Jackson hit .464 and Cris Duvall hit .410 with 30 RBIs. Both were seniors.

Russell’s Navarrone Alleshouse was voted on after hitting .375 with a pair of home runs and 21 RBIs. He also won five games on the mound.

Paintsville landed two on the team, junior Austin Lyons and senior Corey Adams. Adams hit .425 with eight home runs and 42 RBIs. Lyons went 8-2 with an 1.08 ERA and 104 strikeouts.

Johnson Central’s Jeremy Stacy, Morgan County’s Jon Lopez and Rowan County’s Nick Duff round out the team.

The All-Area Team is voted on by area head coaches.

ADAM VANKIRK can be reached at avankirk@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2664.

All-Area Baseball Team

Ashland: Cris Duvall, Nick Jackson

Boyd County: Jared Spicer, Chase Pettit, Brett Moore

Greenup County: Eric Craft, Billy Logan, Ethan Hardin, L.T. Rice

Raceland: Jeremy Barr, John Scott Carver, Josh Wilson

East Carter: Stapleton, Tyler Jackson, Ty Back

Lawrence County: Chandler Shepherd, Shane Pack

Paintsville: Austin Lyons, Corey Adams

Russell: Navarrone Alleshouse

Johnson Central: Jeremy Stacy

Morgan County: Jon Lopez

Rowan County: Nick Duff

Co-Coaches of the Year: Jeremiah Shearer (East Carter), Travis Feltner (Lawrence County)

Co-Players of the Year: Billy Logan (Greenup County) and Chandler Shepherd (Lawrence County)

Honorable Mention: Ashland: Chase Adkins, Dylan Delaney. Boyd County: Brad Cornwell, Chase Wiler. Fairview: Matt Jones. Fleming County: Zach McRoberts, Joe Hunt. Lewis County: Jake Bolander. Greenup County: Dakota Greenslate, Zack Reed. Russell: Storm Burgess, Andrew Feltrop, Will Rice. Johnson Central: Mike Conley, Tyler Grimm, Chase Richardson. Rowan County: Jacob Grindle. West Carter: Corey Oney, Derek Lawson. Lawrence County: Cody Moore.