When he was named All-Region MVP last year, Kevin Sikes thought he might have a shot at All-State.

Didn’t happen.

This year, the Port Aransas High School Marlin baseball team was stopped in the first round of the playoffs, and Sikes didn’t give All-State a thought.

Last week, the Texas High School Baseball Coaches Association named him to the first team, All-State Team for third base.

All-State team members are selected by high school baseball coaches from across the state, according to PAHS baseball Coach Brian Flack.

In being named to the Åll-State team, Sikes made history by becoming the first Port Aransas High School baseball player to make All-State.

Baseball was introduced to PAHS in 1999, and this year was the second consecutive year the Marlins advanced to the playoffs.

“It feels pretty amazing. (It’s) defi- nitely one of the coolest things to happen to me,” Sikes said in a text message to the South Jetty.

Later, in a personal interview, Sikes said the team didn’t do as well in terms of winning this last season as they had the year before.

Next season he will “go in with more desire to win.” He plans to make sure his teammates are all on the same page.

That means he will be a team leader, which means he has to work harder – and he’s ready.

According to his coach, he’s already a hard worker.

“I am very proud of Kevin. He works hard and plays even harder. I am happy that other coaches see his work ethic as well,” Flack said.

The son of Lisa Sikes of Port Aransas, he will be a senior when classes resume in August.

Sikes said he hopes to play college ball. Where is still up in the air.

Meanwhile, he’s concentrating on the 2010 baseball season.