The state baseball tournament is wrapping up over the weekend in Des Moines, and the Iowa High School Baseball Coaches Association has already honored the players for the 2016 All-District Teams.
In our listening area, we had dozens of players receive accolades for their work on the diamond this season.
In Class 1A in the Southeast District First Team, Moravia sophomore Mateo Varese was honored for his work as a pitcher. He was joined by Tanner Jansen of BGM on the pitching staff. In the infield, BGM’s Eric Weiss was selected as the second baseman and the Bears’ Kaiden Fiebelkorn was listed as the shortstop. Moravia third baseman Tucker Babbitt was also on the First Team, with the Mohawks’ centerfielder Avery Waybill also listed. Sigourney’s Peyton Crawford was also named to the outfield. Twin Cedars’ Trace Embray and North Mahaska’s Troy Roose were both named utility players on the First Team.
The second team has Cardinal’s Austin Bride listed as one of the catchers. He’s joined by Comet teammate Kaleb Aschenbrenner who is the Second Team Third Baseman. All four outfield slots were occupied by area athletes. Moravia’s Jake Martin, BGM’s Austin Keller, North Mahaska’s Clay Gleason, and English Valleys’ Andrew Kerkove were the outfielders. Cardinal’s Trevor Albert and Twin Cedars’ Marty Beary were two of the four utility players on the Southeast District Second Team in Class 1A.
In Class 2A, there were three different districts with area schools. The Central District had PCM’s Austin Brown listed as a pitcher on the Second Team.
In the Southeast District, Pekin’s Keaton Winn, an Iowa baseball commit, was named to the pitching staff. He’s joined by Centerville first baseman Daniel Hargrave and Treye Rinehart, who was listed as one of the five utility players. Albia’s quartet of shortstop Bryce Leshen, third baseman Gannon Osing, outfielder Cobi Thomas, and utility player Tyler Maddison rounded out the area players on the Southeast District First Team. Mid-Prairie’s Adam Schrock was listed as a utility player on the Southeast District Second Team.
Pleasantville got to the semifinals in Class 2A this season, and were listed in the Southwest District. The Trojans had first baseman Zeb Adreon and outfielder Brock Busick named to the First Team, while Colton Major was listed as a utility player on the Second Team.
In Class 3A, there were several top-notch baseball teams and that is reflected by the number of honorees in the Southeast District. On the First Team, Pella ace and Iowa commit Grant Judkins was on the pitchings staff. He was joined by teammate Tyler Hillman, who was named a utility player. Fairfield had four players on the First Team. Freshman catcher Kasta Papazaglou was joined by second baseman Alex Crile, shortstop Jordan Reid, and outfielder Cameron Baumann. Oskaloosa’s Ethan Arnold joined Papazaglou on the first team as a catcher.
On the Southeast District Second Team, Pella’s Lucas Hileman, Knoxville’s Ben Wallace, and Fairfield’s Tristen Ledger were all a part of the pitching staff. Pella’s Jaden Rolffs and Knoxville’s Calyn Bumgardner were named the two catchers on the Second Team. Fairfield’s Austin Simpson and Oskaloosa’s Bennett Spry were on the infield at first and second base respectively.
Finally, in Class 4A, Ottumwa had three players listed as a part of the South Central District. On the First Team, junior Austin Shotts was named to the pitching staff with senior Parker Thode named one of the utility players. Drake Craver was a utility player on the Second Team.
With Pella and Pleasantville making it to state and a handful of others substate qualifiers, it was a memorable baseball season in the Mahaska Zone Network listening area.
