Baseball
Honorable Mention
Carter Erritt- East Sac- Sophomore
The sophomore led the Raiders with 9 RBI while ranking 3rd on the team with a .280 batting average. He helped his team by finding a way on base with 5 walks and 4 hit-by-pitches. His .383 on-base-percentage ranked 3rd on the team.
Luke Wernimont- East Sac- Junior
Wernimont led East Sac with a .345 batting average, having a team leading 5 doubles and a team high .472 on-base-percentage. He tied for 3rd on the team in RBI and was 2nd on the team in runs scored. Luke led the Raiders in stolen bases.
Colby Wallace- Glidden Ralston- Sophomore
The sophomore was a workhorse on the hill for the Wildcats, pitching a team high 41 ⅓ innings with a team leading 4.40 ERA, only giving up 26 earned runs. He struck out 50 batters, walking only 36. He garnered half their wins on the hill.
Daniel Thooft- Glidden Ralston- Sophomore
Thooft saw his first significant action this season and made an immediate impact with his bat. He was used as their DH, finishing 2nd on the team with a .346 batting average and was tied for 3rd on the squad in doubles and RBI.
Brody Schultes- Audubon- Freshman
The freshman shows the Wheelers have some talent to lean on in future seasons. He batted a team high .338 while finishing 2nd on the team in RBI and 4th in doubles. He showed a lively arm on the mound, allowing 11 earned runs in 16 ⅔ innings.
Evan Alt- Audubon- Junior
Alt did a nice job getting on base with a team high .442 on base percentage. He walked a team high 16 times along with batting .284. He finished 4th on the team in RBI and led the team in runs scored with 18. Alt added 14 stolen bases.
Carson Meaike- Audubon- Sophomore
Meaike was sharp on the hill for the Wheelers this season, throwing the 3rd most innings, giving them three good starters. His 3.14 ERA ranked 2nd on the team as did his 13 earned runs allowed. He tied for the team lead in wins.
Kasche Huehn- IKM-Manning- Sophomore
Huehn put together a nice season for the Wolves at the plate, finishing 3rd on the team in batting average, at .270. Kasche finished in double digits in runs scored and singles for a team that struggled on offense this season.
2nd Team
1st Base- Mark Lensch- Glidden Ralston- Junior
Lensch continues playing good baseball for the Wildcats with several area coaches mentioning his name as a tough out. He led the Wildcats with 22 RBI, helped out by a team high 3 home runs. His 16 runs scored, tied him for the team lead. Mark ranked 4th on the team in batting average. He only made 2 errors all season at 1st base.
2nd Base- Brock Nattress- South Central Calhoun- Junior
Nattress was strong at the plate and on the base paths for the Titans. His .396 batting average ranked 2nd on the team. He was also 2nd on the team in doubles, RBI and runs scored. Brock led the Titans in stolen bases with 18 in 20 attempts. He was solid in the field as well, making just 4 errors.
3rd Base- Wade Ragaller- Ar-We-Va- Sophomore
The sophomore battled injuries early in the season but came back with a vengeance. He finished the season, batting .448, a team high and was 2nd on the team in runs scored. He struck out only twice all season. Ragaller was perfect on the base paths going 8-8 in stolen bases.
SS- Ben Ramsey- IKM-Manning- Freshman
The freshman put up 1st team type numbers, leading the Wolves with a .357 batting average, 3 doubles, 2 triples and 19 runs scored. His .433 on-base-percentage was 2nd on the team. He was a major threat on the base paths, stealing 35 bases. He added a 2.42 ERA in 17 ⅓ innings pitched.
Catcher- Jacob Estrada- Coon Rapids Bayard- Senior
Estrada had a typical strong season behind the plate, helping one of the top pitching staffs in the area put together a 2.45 ERA as a team. He threw out 5-runners trying to steal bases. Jacob found ways to get on base, walking 19 times, helping him finish with a .378 on-base-percentage. He was 4th on the team in doubles.
Outfield- Cooper Pottebaum- Kuemper- Senior
Pottebaum never gets ripped off at the plate with one of the hardest swings in the area. That helped him pound out 4 doubles and a triple this season while knocking in 24-runs, ranking 5th on the team. His 33-runs scored put him 2nd on the team. He added 12 stolen bases and his strong arm in right field keeps runners from moving bases.
Outfield- Tate Schleisman- Carroll- Junior
Schleisman took big steps forward this year, helping the Tigers improve from 1 win to 7 wins. Tate batted .319 this season with a pair of doubles and scoring 15 times. His .385 on-base- percentage was 5th on the team. Schleisman ranked 3rd in steals with 11 in 12 attempts. His biggest jump may have been in outfield, moving to left field and having a strong year on defense.
Outfield- Andrew Anderson- South Central Calhoun- Sophomore
Anderson battled injuries all season long but still had a strong year, batting .375 with a team leading 20-runs scored. His 3-doubles was 3rd on the team while he also ranked 3rd in RBI. He did a great job, finding ways on base, walking 14 times and getting hit-by-pitch 12 times, finishing with a .621 on-base-percentage. Anderson added 12 stolen bases.
DH- Chase Ragaller- Carroll- Junior
The Junior was one of the Tigers threats at the plate, batting a team high .346. Ragaller led the team in runs scored with 18 while finishing 4th in RBI and tied for 3rd in doubles. Chase walked 11 times and was hit-by-pitch 11 more times, giving him a .485 on-base-percentage. His 17 stolen bases were also a team high.
Pitcher- Cooper Perdew- IKM-Manning- Senior
Perdew was the ace for the Wolves, tying for the team lead in wins and leading the team in strikeouts. He pitched a team high 35 ⅔ innings, finishing with a 3.73 ERA and allowing opponents to bat .224. Offensively he was solid at the plate, batting .257. His 12 walks and 5 hit-by-pitches both ranked 3rd on the team.
Pitcher- Dreylen Schweitzer- Carroll- Senior
Schweitzer continued his strong career on the mound, finishing with a 4.01 ERA in one of the toughest leagues in the state. He threw a team high 51 ⅓ innings, only walking 22 batters. Dreylen tied for the team lead in wins, helping Carroll improve by 6 wins this season. He walked nearly as many times at the plate this season with 16 as he walked on the mound. He added 3 doubles at the plate.
Pitcher- Linkin Weitl- Carroll- Sophomore
The sophomore gave Carroll a very strong 1-2 punch on the hill, finishing the season with a pair of wins and a 3.07 ERA. He led the team in strikeouts and had the fewest number of walks given up with the 2nd most innings thrown. Linkin allowed only 19 earned runs and his WHIP was 1.45.
Pitcher- Gavin Larsen- Audubon- Senior
Larsen was a strong 2-way player for the Wheelers, leading them with a 2.28 ERA while tying for the team lead in wins. He allowed only 10 runs in 30 ⅔ innings while striking out 41 batters. Gavin held opponents to a .171 batting average. He added a .315 batting average with 5-doubles at the plate. His .419 on-base-percentage was 2nd on the team.
1st Team
2nd Base- Logan Sibenaller- Kuemper- Senior
Sibenaller put together another strong season, putting up some big offensive numbers. His .342 batting average ranks him 2nd on the team while he led the team in runs scored with 44 and stolen bases with 41. He added 8 doubles, 3 triples and a walk-off home run, helping him finish with 27 RBI. Logan gives the Knights three top shelf starters, finishing with 5 wins in 8 starts along with a 3.62 ERA. He led the team in strikeouts with 50 while holding opponents to a .253 batting average in a team high innings at 56.
3rd Base- Lance Clayburg- Coon Rapids Bayard- Senior
Clayburg wraps up one of the best careers in the area, continuing to be a 4-sport star. He was dynamite at the plate and had another great year on the hill, helping the Crusaders to a fantastic season. Clayburg hit .361 with 5 doubles, a triple and 5 home runs. He drove in 28-runs and scored 37 times. He also walked 24 times and hit-by-pitch 19 more times as pitchers tried to work around him. Lance led the team with 30 stolen bases while dominating games from 3rd base. He went 6-1 on the mound, throwing 41 ⅓ innings with 60 strikeouts and a 1.19 ERA. He walked just 13 batters and held opponents to a 1.91 ERA.
Shortstop- Trevor Rial- Kuemper- Senior
Rial became a key leader for a great Kuemper team that was really good defensively with him at shortstop. His range allowed him to make plays other shortstops weren’t able to get too and he still finished with a .915 fielding percentage. Trevor was also strong at the plate, batting .310 with 3 doubles and 28 RBI. He scored 29 times and walked 21 times. Rial is one of the headiest base stealers in the area, finishing 20 of 20.
Catcher- Jackson Sklenar- Glidden Ralston- Senior
Sklenar has honed his skills behind the plate for 5-years at Glidden Ralston and has grown into a terrific all-around player. He paced the Wildcats this season with a .404 batting average, 21 RBI, 2 triples while finishing 4th in runs scored (playing a position that usually gets run for). Sklenar added a .554 on-base-percentage with 13 walks and 7 hit-by-pitches. He added 11 stolen bases, 2nd on the team. He made just 4 errors behind the plate.
Outfield- Carter Putney- Kuemper- Junior
What a season for Putney this year, being one of the finalists for the player of the year. Putney does everything well as an elite outfielder, great hitter with power, terrific base runner and a strong pitcher, giving the Knights added pitching depth. Putney batted .323 this season with 5 doubles, 5 triples and 2 home runs, both coming in a District Final. He added 25 RBI and scored 28 times. Putney has only been picked off once stealing bases, with 39 on the season. His range in center field is outstanding, finishing with only 3 errors. Putney went 2-1 on the hill, going 20 innings with a 3.15 ERA.
Outfield- Kolby Culbertson- Coon Rapids Bayard- Junior
Culbertson does everything very well for the Crusaders. He finished an outstanding season, batting .380 with 9 doubles, a triple and 3 home runs, including a walk-off in extra innings in a District game. Culbertson had 17 RBI and scored 41 times, adding 25 stolen bases. He gives them a tremendous arm on the hill, going 8-2 with 49 ⅓ innings with a 1.84 ERA. Kolby allowed 13 earned runs with 84 strikeouts. He held opponents to a .183 batting average.
Outfield- Koby Lampman- Kuemper- Senior
Lampman helps solidify a strong outfield for the Knights, making just 1 error with good range in left field. He swings a strong bat as well. Lampman batted .324 with 34 RBI, having 5 doubles and scoring 30 times. He added 20 walks and 8 hit-by-pitches, including 3 in the District Final. Koby helped the Knights dominate teams with their aggressive baserunning, finishing the season with 28 stolen bases.
DH- Charlie Nattress- South Central Calhoun- Freshman
The freshman was huge for the Titans this season, batting .471 with 26 RBI. He doubled 9 times and scored 11 times, 3rd on the team. He was a solid base stealer, going 9 of 10 and was solid in the field. He added 29 ⅔ innings on the hill, striking out 25 batters, leading the Titans in wins.
Pitcher- Ethan Loew- Kuemper- Junior
Loew had the best season of his career this year, pitching the Knights into the SubState Final with a strong night in the District Final. Ethan finished the year 4-1 with a 2.69 ERA. Loew struck out 35 batters in 39 innings, allowing just 15 earned runs. His biggest jump may have been at the plate, finishing with a .392 batting average and 17 RBI. He added 30 runs scored and 24 walks while striking out only 7 times. Loew added 18 stolen bases in 21 attempts.
Pitcher- Mason Knerl- Kuemper- Sophomore
Knerl was 2nd on the Knights in innings pitched with 44 while finishing with a 2.86 ERA. He used a great breaking ball that is always around the zone to strike out 28 batters while walking only 18. He was tied for 2nd on the team in wins with 5, allowing only 18 earned runs. Knerl will be a big factor for the Knights on the hill the next couple seasons.
Pitcher- Cade Behrens- Coon Rapids Bayard- Junior
Behrens was really strong on the hill for the Crusaders, winning all 5 of his decisions with a 1.74 ERA. He pitched 40 ⅓ innings, giving up 10 earned runs. Behrens held opponents to a .163 batting average, striking out 47 batters. Offensively he added 13 RBI and scored 12 times while walking 21 times.
Player of the Year and 1st Team 1st Base
Cal Heydon- Coon Rapids Bayard- Freshman
Heydon followed a great 8th grade year with a better freshman season. He batted .413 with 14 doubles, 7 triples and homered 5 times. Cal drove in 40-runs and scored 38 times. His slugging percentage was .827. He struck out only 10 times in 104 at-bats. Cal stole 11 bases in 11 attempts. He is extremely good at 1st base, finishing with only 1 error and a .994 fielding percentage. Heydon isn’t just a strong bat and defender. He became one of their top pitchers this season, finishing 3-2 with a 2.38 ERA, allowing 11 earned runs in 32 ⅓ innings pitched. He struck out 50 batters, 3rd on the team.
Coach of the Year
Randy Sndyer- Kuemper
Snyder continues to be one of the state’s top coaches, leading the Knights back to the SubState with 25 wins and a dominating run to the SubState. They have won 7 of their last 8 games and entered the postseason playing their best baseball. Snyder does a great job, allowing his assistant coaches, Riley Bach and Matt Lujano to handle pitchers and baserunning as Kuemper leads Class 2A in stolen bases by over 50 steals and are tops in walks. Kuemper finished the season ranked 2nd in runs scored this season and 3rd in RBI. The Knights took 3rd in the Hawkeye 10 Conference with a 14-6 mark.
