Ryan Murken

Your Prep Sports

The annual Your Prep Sports baseball team recognizes some of the best players in the area for their performance on the diamond this season.

This year’s team 12-member team features division I recruits, state tournament qualifiers, all-state, all-conference and all-district performers as well as school record holders.

There are four repeat selections from the inaugural Your Prep Sports baseball team on this year’s squad.

Solon senior Luke Ira, West High senior Braden Houston and Regina seniors Blake Berns and Ryne Schooley were all named to the first Your Prep Sports team last August.

Ira is the captain of the 2018 Your Prep Sports team after a senior season in which he led the state in home runs while directing Solon to the Class 3A state tournament.

The South Dakota State recruit earned first-team all-state honors for the second consecutive season after hitting .452 with 19 home runs and 58 RBI to go with a 6-3 record and 1.73 on the mound.

2018 Your Prep Sports Baseball Team

P – Mitch Gahan, Sr., Regina: Thrust into the role of Regina’s ace Gahan delivered in his final season allowing one or fewer runs in eight of 11 starts. The senior right-hander posted a 9-3 record, 1.41 ERA and .87 WHIP in 64 1/3 innings but was especially impressive in the postseason. Gahan had a 1.79 ERA and struck out 23 in 27 1/3 postseason innings while leading Regina to its first state title game appearance since 1994.

P – Cam Miller, Soph., Solon: Followed up an impressive freshman campaign with a strong sophomore season that featured a 9-3 record and 1.16 ERA in 66 innings. Opponents hit just .135 against Miller as the right-hander allowed just 37 hits and struck out 82.

C – Lucas Karwal, Sr., West High: In his first season as a full-time starter Karwal quickly became one of the top catchers in the state. Karwal led West High with a .412 batting average, 19 extra-base hits and 32 RBI and threw out 10 of 12 potential base stealers.

*INF – Luke Ira, Sr., Solon: A five-year varsity starter, Ira closed his career with a bang hammering a state-best 19 home runs while leading Class 3A with 58 RBI. The shortstop/pitcher was among the most consistent hitters in the state with hits in 37 of 43 games and 22 multi-hit games. Ira also posted a 6-1 record and a 1.73 ERA in 52 2/3 innings and his 85 strikeouts ranked seventh in Class 3A.

INF – Travis Reyhons, Sr., City High: The City High career and single season record holder in both triples and stolen bases, Reyhons ranked in the top 10 in Class 4A in runs (45), stolen bases (29) and triples (6) while hitting a career-high .423. Reyhons hit safely in 34 of 42 games with 18 multi-hit games and drove in 28 runs from his leadoff spot.

INF – Braden Houston, Sr., West High: Among the best all-around players in the state Houston was a Class 4A all-state pick as an infielder after earning all-state honors last season as a pitcher. Houston hit .390 with three home runs and led West High in runs (33), doubles (10), stolen bases (20) and walks (28) while posting a 6-3 record with a 2.75 ERA and 58 strikeouts in 51 innings.

INF – Tyler Dahm, Soph., Liberty High: Dahm emerged as a leader for the Lightning during their first varsity season hitting a team-high .371 while leading Liberty High in runs (27), walks (20), on-base percentage (.533) and slugging percentage (.461).

OF – Blake Berns, Sr., Regina: Berns earned all-state honors both seasons in a Regina uniform while helping the Regals reach back-to-back state tournaments. He was a unanimous selection to the River Valley Conference Elite team after hitting .345 with 11 doubles, five home runs and 31 RBI.

OF – Kendrick Harris, Sr., Solon: A three-year starter in centerfield, Harris enjoyed his best season as a senior. Harris hit .376 with 19 extra-base hits, including five home runs and drove in 23 runs. He was second on the team with 53 runs and stole 14 bases while posting a .640 slugging percentage.

OF – DJ Heck, Jr., City High: Heck made his presence felt in his first season in the Little Hawk lineup hitting .346 with 12 extra-base hits. The junior center fielder stole 21 bases and scored 40 runs while earning Mississippi Valley Conference second-team all-division honors.

UTIL – Camden Armstrong, Sr., Clear Creek Amana: In his first full season as a pitcher Armstrong turned into one of the WAMAC’s most effective hurlers posting a 7-3 record and 1.95 ERA in 68 1/3 innings. Armstrong also hit .264 with a team-high 12 doubles, scored 26 runs and drove in 23.

UTIL – Ryne Schooley, Sr., Regina: A two-time all-state pick as a pitcher, Schooley did his damage this season with his bat after an arm injury kept him off the mound. The Iowa Western Community Collge recruit led Regina with a .423 batting average, 45 runs, 13 doubles, five home runs, 41 RBI and 19 stolen bases.
*-Captain