Rilen Niclai, a senior at Service High School in Anchorage, has been crowned Gatorade Alaska Player of the Year for the second straight season, underscoring his dominance in both baseball and basketball.
A dual‑sport standout
His impact on the diamond is measurable: he hit seven home runs in a single season, including a 400‑foot blast against the Palmer Moose at Mulcahy Stadium, while striking out 17 batters in a game — both conference records. At the plate he sports a .571 average, a .696 on‑base percentage and has gone 69 consecutive plate appearances without a strikeout.
On the mound, Niclai posted a 4‑0 record with a 47‑5 strikeout‑to‑walk ratio over 21 innings, delivering fastballs in the low 90s and maintaining a 1.33 ERA as his team finished 18‑2 and secured a berth in the ASAA Division I state tournament.
Beyond the numbers, his leadership helped the Cougars clinch a state tournament slot, where he will play his final games in Alaska before heading north to join the Langley Blaze in Canada.
Committed to Arizona State University, Niclai will enroll in the fall of 2027, bringing a blend of power hitting and elite pitching to the Pac‑12 program.
Earlier this year he was also recognized as All‑CIC in basketball, highlighting his versatility as a two‑sport athlete.