FAIRHOPE – Daryl Norris of Fairhope has been selected as the Gatorade Alabama Baseball Player of the Year for 2010.

The Gatorade Player of the Year program recognizes a winner in each of the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

As a right-handed pitcher for the Pirates, Norris finished 11-2 with a 2.31 ERA this season, helping the Pirates advance to the AHSAA Class 6A semifinals before falling to two-time defending state champ Auburn. The Mississippi State University signee hit .444 with 11 homers, 65 RBIs, 13 doubles and 67 runs scored.

The five-year letterman played four infield positions throughout his career including first, second and third base as well as shortstop. MSU recruited him primarily as a pitcher with a fastball clocked as high as 96 mph.

The 6-foot-2 pitcher and infielder is the first Fairhope player honored as the Alabama Gatorade Baseball Player of the Year and is now eligible for the national award.

The Alabama Sports Writers Association will release its All-State team this weekend. Norris is considered a strong contender for the ASWA Mr. Baseball award. Daphne's Pat White won the Mr. Baseball title in 2004.

For more information, go to: playeroftheyear.gatorade.com and to: ahsaa.com.

–From combined reports